Cape Lookout Hike

Our family went on a gorgeous 5 mile hike at Cape Lookout earlier this week. Looking back, it was probably a bit ambitious to go on a moderate hike of that length with a toddler who feels like he weighs 400 pounds, but we are so very glad we just went for it because the experience was wonderful!

Our new OE Carrier was super helpful when Cole’s legs became tired, or when we were on precarious parts of the trail– or when we just wanted to move faster than a curious two year old’s pace!

Isla walked every step of that 5.5 mile trail— happily! In fact, she was nearly giddy the entire time, saying over and over how excited she was that we were spending the day hiking and how much she loved being in the forest. She admired the towering trees, marveled at all the foliage growing atop nurse logs, and investigated every hole or burrow we passed.

Here Isla is carefully guiding Cole through a tangle of roots. She was so genuinely interested in helping him that we let her take the lead and watched this tender interaction unfold— even though a tiny stretch of the trail took a solid 15 minutes! We just stood back and soaked up the sweetness of every stumbly step, their little hands intertwined, Isla’s enthusiastic encouragement, and Cole’s complete adoration of his big sister.

Despite growing so tired he fell asleep toward the end of the hike– in his carrier, with his head propped upon Isaac– Cole also loved the experience! Like his sister, he wanted to stop and examine everything! He kept looking up at us, eyes sparkling, and saying, “We go hiking!”

We enjoyed a picnic lunch at the end of the cape… and a few snuggles too!

When we got home Isla joyfully recounted the harder parts of the trail, “First we had a rock challenge, then a root challenge, then a mud challenge!” She has been writing and illustrating a story of our experience. Eager to encourage the kids’ curiosities, and inspired by questions that Isla asked on the trail, we will be doing some research on plants native to the the Oregon coast, as well as learning more about the formation and geography of headlands. I am sure we will find an art project or two to complete as well! We will be sure to share the activities in a separate post.