from the franks: for 4 nights and 5 days.

We just returned from our spring trekking trip. Each semester the interns have a holiday and most chose to go trekking. We never complain about a chance to get into the back country as a family. It is also significant for us to be able to take a trip with interns who have served in the office all semester. So, we all ventured to Dodital. The night before the trip, if given the option, Graham and I would have bailed because of the daunting task it felt to go trekking with 3 young children and another on the way after just getting back from a dizzying trip to Delhi scouting out neighborhoods for our move. But instead of backing out, we loaded our patched up Maruti 800 for a 6 hour drive to the trailhead.

If asked how do you trek with kids, I would be quick to say that it is not easy and one has to be willing to deal with extremely demanding moments. At one moment, Everett would not stop crying over a plate of noodles given to him in a small and dark Indian stall after a big day of hiking. After finally getting him to settle down and eat, he crashed into Graham’s hot chai and it spilled all over his face. His hair was crusty from sugary chai for the rest of the trip. Another moment happened when Hudson would not stop crying about riding on the donkey for multiple reasons, one of which was that Priya(his donkey riding partner), was copying everything that he would say. Because of this, he decided to tease her by playing with her cochlear implants which caused her to scream and get annoyed. We had to try to resolve the situation as fast as possible due to the kilometers left to hike with looming storm clouds ahead and behind us. I just can’t figure out how to get Priya not to urinate all over her pants when squatting to use the “outdoor toilet” aside from taking everything off. An already dirty child crying about very wet pants is not very peaceful and change of clothes are few. Changes of clothes are few also when in the car and on the mountain roads. During some stretches, Everett expels vomit at continuous intervals. At one point he sprayed Priya. Luckily, she has the innocence of a three year old and just giggled and said “Everett is spitting at me”!

The compelling thing is that looking back on all those stressful moments doesn’t bring regret. We are actually already trying to figure out how to navigate another trip like this with a flock of four. The stressful moments make the finest moments of the trip more powerful and notable. Barring that we don’t scar our kids for life, we delight in being able to do the things we love along side our most treasured ones. Allowing them to experience the core of who we are together. We hope in some way, that this impacts who they are and who they become. Other then a few moments of chaos, they took it all in with wonder, peace and contentment.

The photos tell the story.