From Baby To Tweener - Getting Them Out

Spring is an awesome time - you have flowers coming up, birds out
like crazy, slugs & snails! The temperature is warmer at night, the
days dryer. Think about getting the kids out - be them yours or
inviting a friend(s) with kids and taking a family hike.

We often read and/or hear parents comment that they are waiting for
the child to be "X" years old before their first backpacking or "real"
hiking trip. Don't fall to that though! Take them young, let them build
a love of the outdoors. We will be first to admit it isn't always easy
- little ones get tired fast, they get the whines, they want to be
carried, they might sit down in the middle of the trail and refuse to
go on. But oh when they enjoy it, their faces light up - well you know
it is worth it.

My friend Teresa's daughter turned 3 this winter (Wow, they grow up
fast!). When Teresa was pregnant we talked about how the hiking would
be. Teresa was of course excited about it. As soon as she was old
enough to sit up, she was in a pack carrier and on the trail.

One great hike when she was 1 1/2 was a trip to Owyhigh Lakes in Mt. Rainier NP:

The years between 6 months and 2 1/2 are great ones for hiking, if you can use a child carrier
backpack. There are many options by a number of good brands. Deuter,
Kelty, REI and Sherpani are good choices. Most budgets can be
accommodated, as can body size (many packs will fit both mom and dad).
You can pick up ones designed for short hikes, to those designed for
the parent who wants to continue backpacking and carry gear as well as
child. One thing to consider with child carriers is work on those ab
and back muscles - you will need them to carry the child comfortably.
Trekking poles will take some of the burden off your knees and provide
stability on uneven trails. The umbrella tops are well the extra cost
if not included for sunny or wet days. When our son was little I had
wear a thick wind proof fleece outfit with mittens so we wouldn't get
cold. Sitting in the carrier they are not moving, so their little
bodies will chill faster. For the youngest, take the time to attach a
small toy and if they use a pacifier, one as well, to the pack. Many
packs come with pre-attached loops for this. That way you don't spend
your hiking time squatting down to retrieve "dropped toys". As long as
you can handle carrying the child you can hike as many miles as you
like. Just be sure to take breaks and let them move around. The
youngest ones will happily snooze for hours while you walk. I enjoyed
my years with Ford when he was tiny, though I would be first to admit
that pack hurt - I did not have the muscles for it.

Of course while kid carriers are great you only get a couple years
out of them till the kid gets either: too heavy, too tall or too vocal
and you start to hear "I wanna walk". At this point, around 2 to 3
years of age don't get rid of the carrier yet. The little one that
walks may well want a ride on the way out. Keep it for a couple months
and push them to walk but wear the pack just in case. The pack will fit
better than carrying a 35 lb child on your shoulders for 3 miles. Safer
as well for everyone balance wise!

The toddler years are fun though trying. You will hear a lot of "I
wanna" from the young ones. They want so badly to be big kids but are
not quite there. You will hike 1 mph yet you might see things you never
noticed before. These are the years to get them excited about water,
trees, bugs and whatever else you see. Forget making miles if they are
walking, though with hikes under them you can expect a mile per years
age (or more!). Always encourage a bit more on each hike, slowly build
them up on miles and elevation. Expect they will need help getting up
and down and may still be wobbly in the legs. If they start falling ask
them if they would like a break, or a ride in the pack to rest.

Then the good years start to come - in the 4th year their legs
become longer, they don't need the long naps as much. They have more
strength as well. When Ford was little he was hiking 3 miles when he
turned 4, by 4 1/2 he had passed the 10 mile mark. Now of course, not
all children will want to do that many miles! It does though open up
the chance to do more interesting hikes where they can walk faster. As
4 blends into 5, two mph becomes possible.

Now is the time to get your little walker a small backpack for them
to wear. Even at 3, a small pack with a toy teaches them to wear one.
By 4 to 5 they can be carrying their rain gear, snacks, a sit pad and
more. Buy as light as you can and fit it well. They needn't be
expensive of course!

For me though it was Ford turning 6 that made all the difference.
Yes, he could dayhike strongly before but it wasn't till 6 that we
could fit a backpacking pack to him. There now are so many styles on
the market, Ford wore a Deuter Fox 30 for a a couple years. By 6 a
child has more strength and can handle carrying 7 to 12 lbs depending
on their strength/height and weight. Start them on easy backpacking
trips to somewhere scenic - a gentle creek, a lake, a beach - somewhere
with a fun ending where they can play. We tried to always keep his gear
light, to make it more enjoyable for him. Trail runners worked well for
shoes.

From 7 and on, the kids continue to grow and are able to do more by
the year. Again, figure out what their limit is and slowly push that
limit up. If they complain after 5 miles, make it 6 miles with longer
breaks while hiking. Take them walking at home with you to strengthen
their legs. Get them involved in the trip planning - where would they
like to go? What would they like to eat? Once involved it gets them
excited.

This age has it better for gear than ever before. More companies are
making gear just for them now. Trekking poles are a worthwhile
investment once they start backpacking. You will find they have less
ripped up knees and mostly quit tripping.

If they like them at home, let them take a video game system like a
Nintendo, if they are older and can take care of it. It will give them
something to do in camp at night, keep them safe while you set up camp,
cook and more than anything...burn off some steam - kids need kid time.
If they are not into video games (which of course they need not be!)
encourage them to take a book to read or an activity book. Ford one
year took his homework with him on trips, we were gone nearly weekly.
We would lounge in the tent working on it. Not as much fun as goofing
off though ;-)

And ah, those 'Tweener years....we are in them now! Suddenly one day
your child can out hike you and is stronger than you. How did that
happen? And hey, how did that kid get so tall? ;-) Yet, a different
problem can crop up from 10 to 11 and up. Suddenly mom and dad are
about as uncool as plaid corduroy pants.......the stooped over
shoulders and posturing can start. Easy at this age to give up, just
like back in those toddler years! Yet, they will have fun if you drag
them out there - even when they claim you are "like, so uncool". Let
them carry their iPod and wear headphones while hiking. Maintain a rule
that they stay in sight and they don't get ahead. Let them carry their
Nintendo DSL to play in the tent after dinner. Or a book, a sketch pad
or something they like doing that is light and small. They are old
enough to carry it and to take care of it. Let them unwind in camp and
kick back - at this age they can do serious miles on those trails you
had been missing. They are with you and they have earned that time.

Still, don't overburden them. Yes, they look strong at 11 to 13, but
those bones are still growing. Keep their gear as light as you can and
aim for no more than 15% of body weight.

Keep the miles going and the trip planing on and the teen years
could fly by smoothly. And don't worry when they ask for a solo tent -
it just means they are growing up! A 'Tweener who is experienced will
love having their own gear, and they can still put the tent next to
yours for safety!

More gear thoughts. So what does a kid really need? A
backpack that fits, rain gear (needn't be fancy), gloves, hat, comfy
shoes and an insulating layer such as fleece. A sit pad is nice for
those lunch breaks. Trekking poles are nice, though a stick is always
handy....and can be tossed if said child bores of it. Kids don't need a
lot and can share with us if needed - but realize that just like
adults, kids do like "their own" gear. So for Ford he got smaller
versions of ours, be it a water bottle, sleeping pad, sleeping bag or
that he had his own gaiters for wet days, gloves designed for kids and
even waterproof hiking guides to nature just for him.

Outside of gear, food is always asked about. How does one
feed their kids, especially picky children? Figure out what they like
and then go from there to making it 'trail friendly'. For all ages
snacks are very important. Try to balance treats with protein so they
have energy but don't crash. You can rarely over pack snacks! If you
start hearing the whines coming on, stop, take a break, have something
to drink and a snack. Kids run down easily and often their
grumpiness/crabbing is due to hunger.

While matching their foods to what they prefer, never forget you are
the parent - and a diet of solid junk food will not make a winner
athlete ;-)

For snacks think chewy granola bars, cracker packs, small packs of
jerky, freeze-dried fruit, fresh fruit on dayhikes or first day out,
cheese, be it shelf stable or fresh, bagels and tortillas topped with
cream cheese, nut butters or 'salads' made of chicken or tuna. Wander
the aisles of Costco or a large grocery store to see all the options
now out for single packs (100 calorie packs work well). They may be
pricier, they stay fresh in the pack and allow variety. Many organic
companies have started producing them as well. Be sure to teach your
children to not share bags of food as dirty hands are often the cause
of stomach problems on the trail. (Hand Wipes for kids are a good idea.
Do the cleaning for them, getting under their fingernails as well
before eating and after bathroom visits.)

If they like mac n' cheese, make it whole grain mac n' cheese with
veggies and protein added in some form. Never forget dessert though! It
is what makes a trip - to see a kid's face light up over pudding topped
with crushed cookies is picture worthy.

Ford loves this recipe - perfectly kid sized for him:

Chicken Alfredo Couscous

In a quart freezer bag:
1/3 cup instant couscous (whole wheat is good as well)
1 Tbsp dried onion
1 Tbsp dry alfredo mix (preferably organic)
1 tsp dried parsley
1/4 tsp dried granulated garlic
1 Tbsp dry milk

Also take:
3-ounce can of chicken (with pop top).
1 Tbsp shelf stable Parmesan cheese (in a small bag) or 3 packets

FBC method:
Bring 1/2 cup water to a near boil. Add the chicken with its broth to
the bag along with the hot water.  Stir well, seal tightly and put in a
cozy for 10 minutes. Stir again and top with Parmesan cheese.

Mug method:
Add the chicken with broth and 1/2 cup boiling water to the dry
ingredients. Stir well, cover tightly and let sit for 10 minutes. Stir
again and top with the Parmesan cheese.

Serves 1.

Trail Pudding

In a quart freezer or storage bag put:
1 4-serving package instant pudding mix, whatever flavor you like
1/2 cup dry dairy milk

Add 2 cups very cold water. Stir well and seal TIGHTLY. Holding the
top, start shaking that bag good for a couple minutes. Put the bag in a
stream or cold lake and let chill for 20 minutes.

Serve clean snack size bags or in mugs. Top with crumbled cookies, graham cracker crumbs or mini candies.

Serves 2 - 4.

~Having kids needn't mean the end of adventures for parents, rather
see it as having new adventures! Slow and steady, tune out the whines
and take them to fun places. And you might have a kid who asks YOU to
hike with them in college :-) And that is what I am hoping for down the
road.

~Sarah