Family Hikes Part 2

by Janelle Baarspul

You may look at my list from last week and think that I’m one of those people that packs 3 suitcases for every day of travel, containing clothes ranging from a bikini to a parka (just in case!). The thing about hiking that makes it so wonderful is its unpredictability – you can rarely foresee the exact conditions that you will encounter, even on a trail that you have traveled before. Most of the safety gear I have listed in my last post is very small and light, and once you have it then all of your emergency planning is taken care of! I’ve seen whistles with built-in compasses and waterproof match holders, and water bottles that come prepackaged with all of the emergency supplies you will ever need.

Some of the more common issues you will encounter when hiking with your family are blisters, splinters (make sure your first aid kit has tweezers!), foliage problems, and tired kids. The only way to truly know your child’s endurance on the trail is to get out there and try it, so it may go without saying that you should start small. 2 miles is a pretty good walk for young kids, and will give you a good indication of how much further they can travel without problems. If your child is young enough to be able to be carried (usually if child weighs under 45 lbs., though some packs can carry up to 60 lbs.), make sure you have a backpack or similar device along, even on the shorter trips. You’ll be extra glad to have it when the little feet decide to stop moving!

Knowing the rough terrain you’ll be encountering is crucial for avoiding what I like to delicately term “foliage problems”. This can be everything from poison oak and poison ivy to eating random unknown leaves to knowing which berries are actually okay for children to snack on along the trail. Research your local terrain before hiking so that you will recognize common plants to watch for (hint: both poison oak and poison ivy have compound leaves made of 3 smaller leaflets).

During my years of hiking with kids of all ages, I’ve encountered scrapes, scratches, blisters, sunburn, bee stings, and a few children who were just plain sick of walking around and figured sitting was a better option. The key to enjoying the journey is being flexible and willing to sacrifice the larger goal (getting to the end of the trail) for a more reasonable one (enjoying what you find along the way). Take lots of breaks, bring more snacks than you think you’ll need, and do your best! Exposure to nature does a whole family good, and will bring memories for years to come.