📷 FAVORITE IMAGE FROM THIS ADVENTURE
“Upward” — in the Missouri & the Midwest and Trees galleries.

Take an adventured with my family of five and another family of five as we take on the Whispering Pines Trail at Hawn State Park in Missouri. With five kids between the ages of 9 and 15, this was an adventure filled with hiking, laughter, tired legs, beautiful scenery, and plenty of memories.

For one of the families, this was their very first backpacking trip ever. It was also the first backpacking adventure for my two youngest children, making the experience especially meaningful for our family. Ten people, backpacks loaded with everything we needed, and a couple of days immersed in the woods gave us the perfect opportunity to slow down, explore, and experience the outdoors together.

This video captures the little moments that made our journey along the Whispering Pines Trail an adventure we would always remember.