• Food
  • Family Life
    • Books
    • Lifestyle
    • Motherhood
    • Parenting
    • Time Management
    • Travel
    • Shopping
  • House & Home
    • Home Decor
    • DIY
    • Crafts
    • Cleaning
    • Organizing
  • Kids Activities
  • Photography
  • Social Media
    • Resources for Blogging
    • Twitter Parties
    • Work At Home
  • Giveaways

5 Minutes for Mom

  • Home
  • Topics
    • Family Life
    • Fashion & Beauty
    • Food
    • Giveaways
    • Health and Fitness
    • Kids Activities & Education
    • Photography
    • Travel
    • Work At Home
    • Videos
    • Archives
  • Trending
    • Activities for Preschoolers
    • Exercise Tips
    • How to Blog
    • Organizing Tips & Resources
    • PicMonkey Tutorials & Tips
    • Pinterest Tips
    • Rice Krispies Treats
    • Stop Bullying
  • Advertise
  • About
  • Contact

Up! A Mother and Daughter’s Peakbagging Adventure

05/28/12 | By Jennifer Donovan

12
SHARES
ShareTweetPinPlusStumble

Like me, you might wonder what exactly “peakbagging” is. It’s a goal of reaching the summit of mountains in a certain region or having certain characteristics. In the case of Patricia Ellis Herr, she and her five-year-old daughter Alex set a goal to hike all 48 of New Hampshire’s peaks over 4000 feet. I was drawn to read Up: A Mother and Daughter’s Peakbagging Adventure for several reasons:

  • I love project books, and the mother/child angle made it even more interesting
  • a detailed look at family hiking, an activity I’ve enjoyed with my family
  • the promise of a way to use real-life experiences to teach lessons

The book delivered on those points. What I did not expect was such a moving (yet never overly sentimental) and well-written account. I’ve hiked with my kids (especially when we lived in New England), and they were young as well**. But until I watched this book trailer, I never quite realized just how young she was. She’s a precocious kid, so when reading, I think that I upped her age to her maturity level mentally.

Several of the hikes are shared in a fair amount of detail, along with any obstacles they faced, including a combative bird and bad weather. A lesson is also tied in such as “Ignore the Naysayers,” “Know What You’re Getting Into,” “Some Risks Are Worth Taking.”

One of the best parts was the conversations that came out of the time on the trails, such as why Alex’s mom — who once pursued a Harvard graduate degree — chose not to work. Her answer to Alex is that she wanted to spend time with her children and raise them, and didn’t even plan to finish her degree or go back to work anytime soon because she wants to homeschool her children. The time also allowed Trish to fully observe and affirm certain qualities in Alex such as maturity, perseverance, and her love for and care of animals.

If you live in New England, you might even be inspired to try one of the hikes of the 48 4000-foot mountains that Alex and Patricia hiked. **If not, maybe you’d try the oft-hiked 3100 foot Mount Monadnock that I actually hiked with my two kids (then 6 and 12). Re-reading my account while writing this review, I remember what a struggle that 4 1/2 mile hike was for Kyle (and for me!!), but I was also heartened by my recollection of the encouragement I gave my kids and the memories we made.

We have TWO copies to give away of Up: A Mother and Daughter’s Peakbagging Adventure. Please leave a comment if you’d like to win. We’ll announce the winner here in our weekly book giveaway column on Monday June 11.

The winner of Use Your Words: A Writing Guide for Mothers is #4 Grace.

12
SHARES
ShareTweetPinPlusStumble

About Jennifer Donovan

Jennifer Donovan has been a part of the 5 Minutes for Mom team since 2007. She writes product reviews, covers events, and manages the 5 Minutes for Books weekly column and website. She lives in Houston and blogs at Snapshot about life with her family.

« Around the Blogosphere-Add YOUR Giveaway Link
Remember the Heroes ~Memorial Day Tribute »

Comments

  1. laurie brown says

    June 10, 2012 at 10:03 pm

    would love to win!

  2. G Bailey says

    June 10, 2012 at 12:21 pm

    would like this book for my daughter and grandchildren

  3. Donnetta says

    June 9, 2012 at 3:07 pm

    Sounds great! We are starting to camp and hike with our 4 & 6 year olds this summer.

  4. Daniel M says

    June 5, 2012 at 10:27 pm

    looks like a fun read!

  5. jennifer says

    June 5, 2012 at 7:25 am

    That sounds wonderful!

  6. Sarah says

    June 4, 2012 at 7:00 pm

    We’ll never know what our children are capable of if we do not allow them to experience what life has to offer.
    Having a child is like getting to live one’s life over a little ~ and getting to do things you might not have done while you were young or doing things again that most adults wouldn’t do – unless in the company of a child!
    Get out, enjoy and don’t forget to stop and relish every minute!

    Can’t wait to read the whole book after reading Patricia’s facebook pages and blog…perhaps she’ll come to my favorite bookstore on Cape Cod – Titcomb’s. They LOVE author visits!!

  7. June says

    June 4, 2012 at 1:17 pm

    This lady has allot of courage.

  8. Lori D. says

    June 4, 2012 at 11:54 am

    Would enjoy reading this.

  9. Diane Mason says

    June 3, 2012 at 8:17 pm

    Love Hiking, Family & Reading. Would love to read this book. Thanks for the chance to win!

  10. Mama Zen says

    June 3, 2012 at 11:18 am

    Looks like an awesome read!

  11. Barb: 1SentenceDiary says

    June 3, 2012 at 8:40 am

    We’re big hikers around here. New England is a GREAT place to hike.

  12. BusyWorkingMama says

    June 2, 2012 at 8:38 am

    Sounds like a good read. Thanks!

  13. Libby says

    June 1, 2012 at 10:57 am

    Count me in! This looks like fun.

  14. Amy says

    May 31, 2012 at 3:54 pm

    I wanna win!

  15. Travis says

    May 31, 2012 at 3:53 pm

    Love to win for wife & daughters

  16. Melissa P. says

    May 30, 2012 at 7:50 pm

    We are a family that loves camping in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. I would love to win a copy of this book. I think it would be a wonderful read.

  17. connie black says

    May 30, 2012 at 5:56 pm

    This looks like such a good read. We hike as a family alot and would love to read this with my children.

  18. Jeff says

    May 30, 2012 at 9:50 am

    We have gone camping often with the kids, don’t think we would do too long of hikes though.

  19. Anne says

    May 29, 2012 at 8:57 pm

    I’ve gone hiking and camping with my kids since they were 2 years old. I remember finding trails I could bring my stroller on while my little guy walked along with me. The book sounds great and it also teaches kids they really can climb any mountain.

  20. Idaho Jill says

    May 29, 2012 at 6:25 pm

    Sounds like a great book – anything I can do to teach my daughter something new is an activity worth doing (or reading about!)

  21. Chuck says

    May 29, 2012 at 3:41 pm

    What great gourage this woman has.

  22. Garrett says

    May 29, 2012 at 9:36 am

    Very adventurous person.

  23. Vilmarys says

    May 29, 2012 at 9:04 am

    I’d love to win this. Thanks for the chance!

  24. Irene says

    May 29, 2012 at 8:09 am

    Looks like a great book..would love to read it one day. Thanks for having the contest.

  25. Katie Carr says

    May 29, 2012 at 6:41 am

    Just finished a great hike last night with my friend. We take our kids regularly but not for hikes that are more than 2 miles! I would love a copy of this book so I could pass it around to my friends after reading.

  26. Amber Smith says

    May 29, 2012 at 12:51 am

    What a courageous pair these 2 are. This sounds like a very inspiring book and I’d love to win a copy. Thank you for the opportunity.

  27. Jessica t says

    May 29, 2012 at 12:39 am

    LooKs like a good one!

  28. Sarah says

    May 28, 2012 at 9:33 pm

    Would love to win–sounds like a great book! Thanks!

  29. Sandra U. says

    May 28, 2012 at 8:10 pm

    Sounds good, thank you for the chance!

  30. Margaret says

    May 28, 2012 at 8:03 pm

    This sounds like a fab book I’d love to win thanks!

    Margaret
    singitm(at)hotmail(dot)com

  31. Joy says

    May 28, 2012 at 7:59 pm

    Wow-Awesome! This sounds like a great book!

  32. Ginny says

    May 28, 2012 at 7:14 pm

    Book looks great, I have daughters so will enjoy this read!

  33. neal says

    May 28, 2012 at 5:52 pm

    This is an AMAZING idea. My daughter is only two now, so I don’t think we’d make it very far quite yet. I had once thought it would be fun to hike with her strapped to my back, but then I heard a story about how a mom was doing just that, and slipped on a rock and fell backward. The kid ended up okay…but the mom broke both her arms cushioning the fall so she wouldn’t crush her daughter.

    Still, I can’t wait to go hiking (and backpacking) with my daughter. I loved doing that sort of thing before she was born, but have given it up for a couple years because it didn’t feel right to go out on my own and leave her with her mother while I had fun. But when I can safely take her with me (and give my wife a break!)…I can’t wait.

    I’m going to check this book out.

  34. Joni says

    May 28, 2012 at 5:35 pm

    Would love this book!

  35. Cindi says

    May 28, 2012 at 4:26 pm

    What an amazing and introspective book…
    And one that I would definitely enjoy readings
    and then passing forward to my friends and
    family!
    Many thanks, Cindi

  36. paige says

    May 28, 2012 at 3:43 pm

    We hike as well alot. My two and half year old loves to ride in his backpack when we go hiking. This would be a perfect gift for my sister in law with three girls.
    rendancechick at yahoo dot com

  37. Beth C says

    May 28, 2012 at 3:25 pm

    Looks like a very enjoyable book! Thanks!
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

  38. Susan says

    May 28, 2012 at 3:21 pm

    That mom and her daughters are an inspiration. I love it when mom said “little kids can do big brave thugs” she’s so right!

  39. Ellie says

    May 28, 2012 at 1:58 pm

    Thanks for this lovely giveaway.

  40. Jennifer says

    May 28, 2012 at 12:45 pm

    Sounds like a great book!

  41. Sarah says

    May 28, 2012 at 12:34 pm

    I was eyeing this in the bookstore the other day. Would love to read it!

  42. liz says

    May 28, 2012 at 12:08 pm

    One of my brother’s favorite hiking areas!

  43. Julie says

    May 28, 2012 at 12:04 pm

    Yes please! I would love to win a copy of this book! My husband, oldest daughter and I have all made a goal to go backpacking together this summer, and I’m so excited! I can’t wait to give this book a read. How interesting!

  44. Kerri says

    May 28, 2012 at 11:44 am

    What a great book, just from reading your blog and watching the video. I’d love to have a copy of it.

  45. Carolyn says

    May 28, 2012 at 9:57 am

    Looks great – would love to read it.

  46. Gidgetnfroggi says

    May 28, 2012 at 7:08 am

    Would love a chance to read this. We live hiking

Connect With Us

Welcome to 5 Minutes for Mom.

We are Janice and Susan, twin bloggers and work-at-home moms. Along with our team of writers, we're here to inspire, encourage & empower you. Read More…

How to start a blog

Twitter-Parties-Everything-You-Need-to-Know 300

We Love Likes

Pin with Us


 

Pinterest is Our FAVORITE!

Find and Follow Us at
pinterest.com/5minutesformom

Categories

Archives

Recent Posts

  • Bring Stories to Life with Circle Round – Storytelling Podcast for Kids
  • Favorite Muffins and Quick Breads – Delicious Dishes Recipe Party
  • Is Your Pet Bored with their Pet Food?
  • Spring Gardening Tips – 5 Ways To Get Your Garden Ready For Spring
  • Around the Blogosphere – Add YOUR Giveaway Link #Giveaways

Categories

Disclosure Policy    |     Terms & Conditions
© 5 Minutes for Mom
5 Minutes for Mom is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

Pinterest is Our FAVORITE!

Find and Follow Us at
pinterest.com/5minutesformom

Connect With Us

Copyright © 2018 · Tasteful theme by Restored 316