outdoor – Page 17 – Mommy Hiker

Exploring Monrovia Canyon Falls

Posted on March 26, 2013February 24, 2016 by Jennifer Fontaine

Last Friday our hiking group took to the foothills of the San Gabriel mountain range to explore the Monrovia Canyon Falls Trail. The Monrovia Canyon Park boasts some 80 acres of trails and serene picnic areas a mere 10 minutes off the 210 freeway. It was agreed by all in attendance that this is now one of our new favorite trails!

Starting out at the trailhead, you ascend fairly quickly via a number of semi-steep switchbacks with breathtaking views!

The weather couldn’t have been more gorgeous, but I would think that even in the middle of the Los Angeles summer, this would be an ideal trail for toddlers because of its abundance of shade and generally easy incline, just watch out for the poison oak! The kids had a blast navigating the numerous creek crossings and were rewarded handily with an early spring frolic in the falls!

Photo by fellow Mommy Hiker & Blogger Betsy Webster

What better way to spend the day! Lunch on a boulder, next to a creek, listening to the peaceful sounds of the waterfall and exploring nature with the babes!

Photo by Megan Flowers

Next week, we are Big Sur bound!!!! Let the countdown BEGIN!!!!

Remembering Axel – A Tribute

Posted on March 12, 2013February 24, 2016 by Jennifer Fontaine

Love Fiercely.

It is with a heavy heart that I sit down to write this mid-week post.

Almost two weeks ago, one of our own, a devoted mother, lover of mother nature and single track trails and beaches and all things bikes, Jen of VeloMom and her husband Randy were told the unthinkable. Their youngest boy was tragically killed.

I have been following Jen and her family’s incredible journey since September of last year when they set out across the country with their two kids, travelling from coast to coast and then down south to Mexico. They were living their ultimate dream, their Big Adventure. Travelling, working, exploring and loving life, I lived vicariously, listened intently and admired them deeply.

Live Boldly.

I have never had the pleasure of meeting Jen or her family, but they are my brothers and sisters. The memory of their son lives on in each of us; in every wave that breaks on the shore, in every leaf tickled by the afternoon breeze, in every breathtaking vista we look out upon, we remember you Axel.

Go out today and do something for someone you love; Make their heart sing, make their eyes sparkle, let them know, without a doubt, that you love them.

_____________________________________________

If you would like to send a donation, the Charrette Family has set up a Fund that will be used to continue Axel’s passion for bike-riding by providing bikes to kids who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford one. You may send checks to:

The Axel Charrette Fund

Alpine Bank

119 Liddell Drive

Ridgway, CO 81432

This post was written in concert with my Outdoor Colleagues, in honor of Axel’s memorial service today.

Read my colleague’s tributes to Axel here:

Tales of a Mountain Mama

Being Spontaneous with Toddlers Means Being Prepared!

Posted on March 11, 2013February 24, 2016 by Jennifer Fontaine

As most of you know, the little peanut and I started the LA Mommy Hiking group almost a year ago (crazy!) and we hike, weather permitting, every Friday, with an amazing group of moms, toddlers and infants!

The winter in LA is the rainy season and it seems as though for the past few months, when ever there is a chance of rain it mysteriously falls on a Friday! In a lot of cases, drops don’t even fall, but by the time we figure out that the skies aren’t going to open up on us, everyone has already made alternate indoor plans.

Like clockwork, this past Wednesday mister weatherman was predicting an 80% chance of rain on Thursday and Friday. We were so bummed because we had plans to go with a bunch of friends and their babes to the Huntington Library, a gorgeous botanical garden, on Thursday and that morning the sky was ominous, so we opted out. It didn’t rain a single drop! Arg!! So, when we awoke Friday morning, we were firmly fixated on making it to the top of some LA mountain trail! After a few hurried texts, we had company!

At the trailhead, the blue skies reaffirmed our decision was the right one, soon after the sprinkles started.

Conquering Middle Earth

We all looked at each other and smiled; Nothing like a few raindrops to add charm to a hike! The kids ran ahead screaming and laughing, pretending they were in a jungle, scaling the slippery, mud-soaked walls of the trail as if they were tigers and the rain came down a little harder.

An umbrella came out to cover our youngest member and a few looks were exchanged between moms. The temperature was dropping and a small river was starting to run down the trail. It was time to turn around, but of course the kids had no intention of doing a U-turn! Just as we were trying to coax the kids down the mountain, I looked down to discover little dime-sized white things falling on my black turtle neck shirt. I was dumbfounded. It was hailing! Seriously?? I picked up the peanut, threw her in the ergo, much to her dismay, took a few pictures for posterity sake and we high-tailed it down to the warm safety of the car!

Luckily, I brought along the peanut’s down-filled, waterproof jacket and had two changes of clothes in the backpack, so no toddlers were harmed in the making of this story!

Sometimes, it’s hard to take the chance and go out and do it “even if”, but when you do it can lead to some of the best memories and the greatest of adventures (just make sure you’re prepared for anything!)

I’ll leave you with this picture of the aftermath of The Great Los Angeles Hail Storm of 2013 taken by my friend and colleague Marci Liroff! The look on her Rhodesian Ridgeback, Juma’s face says it all!