Hi! Welcome! We are a family of four with a deep love of travel, the outdoors, staying active, and new adventures of any kind. We are passionate about sharing our experiences adventuring with our little ones. We hope that other families can get inspiration, tips, and tools they need to embark on adventures of their own. Questions? Email us!
Back Road Family
Follow us on Instagram!
Approaching a pregnant run with a beginners mind means I often wonder... Will my left butt cheek cramp up and cause me to limp back to the car? Will my tight sports bra cause boob rash? Will my right hip flexor give out? Will I need a full meal? (Better to pack one just in case). Will I be warm enough? Will my maternity leggings slide down? How many times in an hour will I have to squat in the woods so I don’t pee in my pants? Might I just pee in my pants? Where are the most densely forested areas so I get some peeing privacy? All real possibilities, mostly centered around my bladder. (Mamas, I know you feel me) I’m not giving up what keeps me sane SO I do my wondering. Then I say, “Come what may, I’m running anyway.” Every run brings a new surprise 🙏🏼 @__magneticnorth__ for teaching me about a beginners mind and how important it is for my endurance practice. Stay curious. Keep moving.Maybe a third kid will help us figure out this parenting gig. Third time’s a charm right? #saycheese #marchbaby #boyorgirl #itsasurpriseThe Alpaca and I are the only ones cooperating for this picture. #thanksalpaca #bestsockseverI love when people share the real moments behind their social media pictures so here is our real moment. 30 mins prior to this picture Sage was sprayed with poop. Cedar had a sudden, leaky, diarrhea incident covering his legs, onesie, and shorts. Peter got C’s clothes off and was holding him naked, I was holding the solar shower up high, and Sage was hosing him off. While Sage was hosing, the incredible force of Cedar’s bowels shot round two poop all over Sage’s dress and fleece. Her response was, “ I WAS HIT!” I took this picture post-poop with Cedar recovering on my lap, Sage recovering with hot chocolate, and Peter packing up our entire campsite so we could canoe back to our car. We were bummed to leave our secluded lakefront campsite but in the packing process there was beautiful light to capture the resilience of our daughter who can really handle just about anything. 💩Just add water.South Sister Summit. Powered by a steady stream of M&Ms and her own two legs. Today Sage’s inability to sit still, her fiery will, and puppy-like energy manifested into something profound and powerful. I was so proud of her I think I cried three different times on the way up. Sage you are my Queen ❤️ As long as my legs will carry me I will follow you up mountains. A Blog post with more details about our South Sister Summit can be found at backroadfamily.com link in bio.
Category Archives: US travel
A Bird Over Jackson
Here is what you can do in Jackson Hole when you aren’t really into skiing.
https://elizabethbauer.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/img_1957.jpg Continue reading
Travel: A Canyon Fit for a King!
Just east of Fresno, CA, in an area geographically similar to Yosemite, lies Kings Canyon National Park. After hearing about the canyon’s reputation for unrivaled beauty, we decided to meet some friends and check it out. We pulled into the entrance and I felt like I missed something.
Posted in Camping/Outdoors, hiking, Sierra Mountains, US travel
Tagged biking, camping, cedar grove, hiking, Kings Canyon, Kings Canyon National Park, muir rock, Sequoia
Leave a comment
Tips for Backpacking with a Small Child
Parents are often reluctant to take their child on multi-day visits to the backcountry. On the surface, I can understand their concerns but when I dig deeper it’s more often assumptions and irrational fears that keep a family inside. Hopefully this post will provide motivation and tips for outdoor sleepovers! Continue reading
Rae Lakes Loop with a 2 year old (Packing and Prep)
Today we spent over 12 hours packing. Yes, it really took over 12 hours and we don’t have the kid to blame.
Utah: Zion 100.
The last portion of our vacation was the big motivator for taking the trip. Our friend Greg was participating in the Zion 100, an ultra-marathon spanning 100 miles of the Zion wilderness. I was so excited about his race that I begged Peter to plan a vacation to Utah around the same time. He agreed and there we were, meeting everyone at Greg’s hotel to learn about our responsibilities as support crew and pacers. The race began in the dark, early in the morning on a Friday. (I was already so jealous of him)
Good morning Greg! Ready to run 100 miles?! Continue reading
Posted in Running/hiking, US travel, Utah
Tagged road trip, road trips with babies, ultramarathon, zion
Leave a comment
Utah: Zion. Angel’s Landing
The hike to Angel’s landing is another ass kicker. The hike is straight up and carved into the side of sheer rock, the trail is an aggressive approach to a flat and gorgeous look out above.
That peak above Peter’s head is Angel’s Landing, where we are headed.
Posted in hiking, Roadtrips, US travel, Utah
Tagged Angel's Landing, hiking, road trip, road trips with babies, zion
Leave a comment
Utah: Zion National Park
Zion From Bryce we drove down the gorgeous highway 89 and into the northern entrance of Zion. Having never visited Zion national park before I really had no idea what to expect.
Posted in Camping/Outdoors, hiking, Roadtrips, US travel, Utah
Tagged camping, hiking, road trip, road trips with babies, springdale, zion
1 Comment
Utah: Bryce Canyon
On the long deserted stretch toward Bryce we were surprised when three Pronghorns bolted across the road in front of us. Peter swerved left, the confused Pronghorn ran right and slammed into the side of our car. I screamed the foulest of foul words and it’s nothing short of a miracle that Sage has not started running around dropping F bombs whenever she sees a animal. Somehow the word didn’t stick and fortunately we slowed down enough that both the Pronghorn and the car were ok. Well I think the Pronghorn is ok. It sauntered of into the wilderness and was only a short distance behind its friends. At the time we had no idea what the animal was and were both in shock. We found the closest pullout and drove in to catch our breath. The shock turned into tears of laughter (me) when this sign was staring at us from the side of the road.
Utah: Kolob Canyon. Zion National Park
Upon seeing the signs for Kolob Canyon we made a last minute decision to get off the highway and check it out. Sage was sleeping so we stayed in the car but from the car we saw many hiking opportunities and were interested in the overnight backcountry possibilities leaving this side of the park.
Posted in bike touring, Biking, Roadtrips, US travel, Utah
Tagged arch, cycling, kolob, road trip, road trips with babies
Leave a comment
Saint George, Utah
When our friend Greg announced he was going to run one hundred miles for the Zion 100, I jumped at the chance to make supporting him, a vacation for us. We explored many different options for the trip, bike touring was on the table for a while, taking the camper trailer, backpacking… when finally what seemed like the best way to do it all was to leave the camper trailer at home, make reservations for hotels and campgrounds, pack up the car, load the mountain bikes, and hit the road.
Posted in bike touring, Biking, Roadtrips, Rock climbing, US travel, Utah
Tagged biking, ibert, road trip, Rock climbing, Saint George, travel, travel with toddlers
1 Comment
Washington D.C.
Sage and I tagged along for Peter’s work trip and had such a great time exploring the city. We flew out a few days early so Peter could spend time with us over the weekend and we must have walked at least 20 miles in one weekend around the city. I forgot how fun cities are with children and it makes me miss living in New York. With all the stimulating sights and sounds Sage’s words practically doubled.
Posted in US travel, Washington D.C.
Leave a comment
Wisconsin round two!
We had so much fun last time we visited Twin Lakes Wisconsin that we decided to return! Lucky for us, Brian’s family extended a second invitation and didn’t mind that we were returning with one more in tow.
Cactus to Clouds-Pregnant
Cactus to Clouds. It’s a 26 mile hike with a 12,000 foot elevation gain… pretty much one of the toughest day-hikes in the United States.
[caption id="attachment_382" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]
We weren’t telling people about the pregnancy yet so I am trying to hide the mini belly with my down jacket![/caption]
Posted in hiking, US travel
4 Comments
Boulder, CO
The last leg of our honeymoon was spent in lovely Boulder Colorado with our friends James and Rebecca. If there were an award for the “awesomest outdoor couple” these two would win.
Crossing the river to Sherwood Forest[/caption]
Continue reading
Posted in Colorado, hiking, Rock climbing, Running/hiking, US travel
2 Comments
Wisconsin- Go BIG or Go Home!
Brian won’t make you rich, but he will make you fat, tan, and happy!
San Gorgonio Mountain
During our 16 miles and 6,000 vertical feet together, Gorgonio threw some good punches. First it tried to get me with an achy left hip flexor followed by my own tears as I pondered whether or not this was a result of my age. My present for my 31 ½ birthday is achy hips?
Posted in hiking, Southern California, US travel
1 Comment
Joshua Tree
After a long week, knowing I am heading into nature always rejuvenates me. It’s like an instant second wind.
Posted in Camping/Outdoors, Joshua Tree, Roadtrips, Rock climbing, US travel
Tagged camping, Joshua Tree, Rock climbing
1 Comment
San Clemente-Temecula Bike Tour
I have been mourning our wedding week and its absolute perfection for almost a week now. It was our dream come true and then…with some hugs and tears… it ended.
But, as with all big events in life, I learned something about myself.
Posted in bike touring, Biking, Southern California, US travel
Tagged bike touring, oceanside, Temecula, wine tasting
2 Comments
