Our first backpack with both boys, 2 & 4.5, to Diamond Lake. Just two-ish miles in. N hiked it all but O needed the carrier most of the way. Which brings us to a sad reality: big kid carriers are really heavy (about 8 lbs by themselves) and just aren't made to carry a big load (nor is there a good way to strap it all on).

Our gear is pretty lightweight but the sleeping bags, pads and tent combined are bulky (as in huge). Rather than try to fight with each part individually - stuffing and strapping and smashing away at it until it was attached - we decided to embrace our exterior bulkiness and put everything into two big duffels and then strapped them to the carrier's sides. Effective AND striking, what's not to like?
(And yes those are Spectra/Dyneema duffel bags from my Kelty days - great lightweight no-frills duffels that I made for traveling with full backpacks inside).

2 duffels lashed to the sides conquered our bulky gear AND proved to be a fountain of wonder (or at least WTF) for those whom we met on the trail. without O it was about 55 pounds - very manageable. With O it was more like 80 - woof! 

The dangers of such large loads are falling and/or injuring something (like straining a muscle). No falls, but, alas, I actually strained my calf this time – stretched it just a little too far on an upward step. Boo!

champs: N (4+) walked the whole 2+ miles, O (2-) got in about 1/3rd mile. we averaged .5 mi/hr in and .67 mi/hr out 

Elephant Head

Diamond Lake

nice little 'M' style bear line made with 100' of Lawson's UltraGlide bearline. oddly enough, the neighboring site's kids came over to inspect it four or five times

the bearline tighteners used the same micro-biners that come with the MoonLight tents. I invented this method while working on my SuperTent project, trying to make fully winter-worthy guyline tighteners. it works really well for this too

more Diamond Lake

our neighbors' site: nylon fabrics sagging as they do

the joy of throwing sticks into a lake

oh yeah, I got the chair zero...

instant oatmeal with raisins (way too much sugar, we're not doing the flavored ones again)

not bad wild flowers for so late in the season

so many flowers it almost makes your eyes hurt

T and I

quality creek time at the outlet of Diamond Lake

the world is his spaceship 

a serving of Indian Paintbrush with Lousewort on the side

Kitty shows the way (yes N named his stuffed dog "Kitty")

I think this was a dragon ride

our two luxuries: a tent a little bigger than we absolutely needed and 2 Chair Zeroes  (3 lbs total extra - hey, coffee is not a luxury, nor the 1/2&1/2 - that's my story and I'm sticking to it!)

Zen moment cooking

saying cheese at the micro-falls