Sunday morning dawned bright and clear, the dazzling sun revealing a cloudless, impossibly blue sky. The morning air was crisp and cool, but would soon heat up as in the string of unseasonably warm October days before it. My husband and I agreed that it was perfect weather for a family hike through the woods.

We decided to hike up beautiful Bear Creek Mountain in Macungie. The trail we hiked was perfect for children, with just the right amount of inclines and only a few rocky areas to navigate. This is also the same trail that my husband mountain bikes on, so like an enthusiastic tour guide he pointed out meaningful landmarks…the rock that he hit his head on when he sustained a mild concussion, the tree branch he flipped over the time he required ten stitches in his chin, and the obtrusive boulder that bent his front bike tire into a pretzel. He seemed quite proud of his brushes with danger, while I sent up a silent prayer of thanks that he is still with us.

The fall foliage that Pennsylvania is known for was brilliant, with vibrant reds, yellows, and oranges everywhere we looked. A multicolored carpet of leaves blanketed the trail, and I reminded my son that he has to collect leaves for a second grade project. Autumn would not be complete without one of my children’s teachers assigning the ubiquitous leaf project. The kids have all the fun gathering the most unique leaves they can find, and then I am left to properly prepare the leaves using a scientific method of drying and preservation. I have done this so many times I think I have earned the right to be called a horticulturalist.

The trail we were on was very clearly marked by red arrows every 50 feet or so, so unless you are color blind, there is no chance of getting lost. I should have listened to my husband when he told me not to load up my backpack with energy bars, a day’s supply of drinking water, blankets, the large first aid kit, flashlight…you get the picture. There is nothing wrong with being prepared, but when you feel the need for a Sherpa to carry your bag up the mountain, that’s a clue that you may have packed too much.

We brought our dog with us, a little Bichon Frise named Beau. I started out holding his leash, but he was pulling so hard he was choking himself, so I decided to let him run free. He scampered away as surefooted as a little mountain goat and was soon far ahead of us, exploring and sniffing to his heart’s content. He looked like he was having the best day of his life. I swear he was smiling!

Each child discriminately selected the obligatory walking stick, useful for support along treacherous terrain and more importantly for whacking at trees, pounding on boulders, digging in muddy patches, and poking siblings until screams and howls are elicited.

Normally our family is the loudest element in the forest, due to the aforementioned stick-prodding and the fact that our kids’ normal tone of voice is shouting. But on this particular day, we were surprised to discover that the Bear Creek Convention Center was hosting a Harley Davidson convention, when our ears were assaulted by the loud engine rumblings from hundreds of motorcycles ascending the road to the main parking area. Of course the male members of my family thought this was “Awesome!”, and my preteen daughter was listening to her I pod, which left me as the only one who was perturbed that the quiet sounds of nature – crackling twigs, crispy leaves, crunchy gravel, birds singing – were drowned out by gunning motorcycle engines. I almost lost it when my ears detected rock music blaring (“Awesome!”) from camouflaged speakers near the ski lifts, which were now in full operation as they incongruously transported people in shorts and t-shirts up the snow less mountain to some unseen party on the peak.

At this point, our formerly obedient dog became aware that there were other, more interesting humans on the mountain than us. He raced off in the direction of the ski lift, ignoring our desperate cries of, “Beau! Come! Come back!!!”, as he tore down a steep uncharted trail, and with a flying leap landed on the grass beneath the ski lift and started barking wildly at its passengers. My husband heroically forged ahead, slipping and sliding down the steep mountainside in hot pursuit of our disobedient pet. Worse than him having to endure the scrutiny of the amused ski lift passengers was the male voice that boomed over the loudspeaker, “There is a man chasing a white dog on the field below!”, the way someone might shout, “Look at that three-legged elephant!”, or some other oddity that is rarely seen in one’s lifetime and is not to be missed.

Once Beau was captured and securely tethered to his leash, I suggested that this might be a good time to turn around and begin our descent back down the mountain. The further down the mountain we got, I found myself once again enjoying the sounds of crackle, crunch, and chirp, the rock music now barely audible in the background.

Hiking as a family is a wonderful opportunity to connect with your children without the distractions of home. We had some great conversations about school, friends, God, nature, outdoor survival, and more. My favorite was when my 11 year old daughter told us that we are “cool” parents. “Why do you say that?” we asked almost in unison, fishing for more compliments. Please understand that preteen declarations of parental coolness are as infrequent as comet sightings. “Because Dad always takes us places and teaches us stuff, and mom always plans fun stuff for us to do,” she said. Grinning proudly at each other, my husband and I shared a look that read, “See? We must be doing something right!” Our joy was short-lived as our sons were now beating each other with their walking sticks. We broke up the fight, and it reminded me that I should teach the kids about the safe way to carry a large stick down the mountain. “Drag the stick behind you,” I admonished. “Why?” came the expected response. “Well, if you have it out in front of you and you trip, you could get impaled.” “What’s impaled?” “Impaled means the stick pokes into your body.” “And comes out the other side? Whoa!!!” (Boys). “Well…I guess it could. The most important thing to remember is never, ever pull it out. You have to go to the hospital and let the doctor do it. Then you will be ok.” My daughter, who had been strangely quiet during this conversation, now glared at me. “Thanks a lot, mom. Now you had to ruin the hike by making us worry about getting stabbed in the heart with a stick!” I was now demoted back to un-cool parent status. “Well,” I defended myself, “I can’t watch my kids do something dangerous and not tell them about it.” Now I wrestle with my thoughts. Maybe that was too much information. As an RN, I take for granted that everyone is as comfortable discussing traumatic injuries as I am. Ah, this parenting adventure. Wanting to do your best and always second guessing yourself…

Since my dear daughter had now somewhat aroused my ire, I decided to address the I pod she was listening to. “Hun, should she be listening to that thing on our family hike?” I asked my husband. He replied that it wasn’t a big deal if it was motivating her to keep hiking. “I’m only wearing it in one ear. That’s how come I can hear everything you are saying to dad,” she retorted, still glowering. I reminded myself to pick and choose my battles wisely. That behind us, we continued our descent, once again talking companionably, collecting leaves, pointing out little caves, fallen trees, spider webs and other interesting sights. We laughed and joked around and when we finally reached the bottom we all agreed how much fun the hike had been, and that we should do it again.

I’ve compiled a list of Dos and Don’ts to make your hike even more enjoyable should you decide to visit majestic Bear Creek Mountain for yourself.

Don’t

- Carry a heavy backpack filled with unnecessary items

- Bring electronics

- Talk about anything unpleasant

- Wear long earrings (advice from my daughter)

- Go on the same day as the Harley Davidson convention

Do

- Bring a water bottle for each person

- Bring a plastic bag for collecting leaves and other interesting souvenirs

- Wear sturdy hiking shoes/boots/sneakers

- Dress in layers

- Keep your dog on a leash

- Check everyone for tics after the hike

- Initiate interesting conversations with your kids

- Bring along a few band aids and antiseptic wipes

- Bring your cell phone (for emergencies)

- Above all, have fun!!!

I encourage everyone to take advantage of the beautiful fall weather and the proximity of a large mountain practically in our backyards and go for at least one hike this autumn. Maybe we’ll see each other on the trail. You will recognize my family by the three kids beating one another with walking sticks, unearthly shouting, and possibly a little white dog on the loose. But whatever we may look like, we are having the time of our lives! Happy hiking!