walkswithblackflies
Trail Wise!
Resident terrorist-supporting eco-freak bootlicker
Posts: 6,926 
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Post by walkswithblackflies on Jan 4, 2016 6:38:32 GMT -8
Before this past summer, I would take my kids on short hikes, but they always treated it more like a chore than a fun activity. So I limited the number of times because I didn't want to force them to the point that they would hate it.
Then this past summer, while my wife was away for a couple of weeks, I took the kids hiking up a couple small mountains, and they really enjoyed it. We then went to Lake Placid and decided to hike the upper part of Whiteface Mountain (their first big mountain), and they LOVED it. Sometime during that hike, I must have mentioned Mt. Washington in a passing comment. Since then, my 6-year-old son is OBSESSED with it. To the point we have made a list of mountains he needs to climb before he is ready for Mt. Washington (in 2 years).
Last weekend we finally got some snow, and with the tick danger now gone, I took my kids bushwhacking in a seldom-visited part of our local State Park. They learned how to spot deer trails, and found that they often offer the best way around/through obstacles such as blowdown, brambles, and gully headwalls.
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rebeccad
Trail Wise!
Writing like a maniac
Posts: 12,666 
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Post by rebeccad on Jan 4, 2016 10:46:13 GMT -8
Congrats! That makes it a lot more fun  |
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mk
Trail Wise!
North Texas
Posts: 1,217
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Post by mk on Jan 4, 2016 15:35:10 GMT -8
How wonderful for you to be able to share your passion with your kids. Although, it may now be a long time until you get to go alone ... My youngest hated to hike (we about dragged her through Glacier NP) -- until she turned 19 or so. Now she loves it. Go figure.
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Westy
Trail Wise!
Diagnosed w/Post-Trail Transition Syndrome
Posts: 1,952
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Post by Westy on Jan 6, 2016 13:30:38 GMT -8
Well Done!
Started our boy and girl beginning when they were 2. Did the carry-ups, semi-carry-ups, super easy hikes, the works. Now, fifteen years later the young lady has developed as my hiking, rock climbing, ski partner. The young man will go on an annual family hike or backpack once a year if "asked". He trains 18 hours a week during school year and 20-30 hours per week in summer for his sport, thus earning a hiking and just about everything else bye.
Go for it!
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Admin
Trail Wise!
Posts: 486
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Post by Admin on Jan 9, 2016 16:47:19 GMT -8
Every time I see the title of this thread I think your kids got tick bites! I was so glad to see you have them being excited about hiking! Much better. You're going to have a great summer, teaching them about what's what as you move through the forest.
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idahobob
Trail Wise!
many are cold, but few are frozen
Posts: 198
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Post by idahobob on Feb 12, 2016 20:29:43 GMT -8
We started backpacking when my son was 6, daughter 9. Thier two older sisters had gone backpacking with me but didn't love it. When daughter 3 was 16 she said "never again!" to backpacking. Now at 25 she and her boyfriend want to get started in backpacking. Now my son is 20 and doing the jmt with me, carrying my Geritol and oxygen tank. It's a great family tradition, great background for kids.
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rebeccad
Trail Wise!
Writing like a maniac
Posts: 12,666
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Post by rebeccad on Feb 12, 2016 20:38:11 GMT -8
Yeah, our older son (18 now) still seems to want to backpack with us. His younger brother, at 16, prefers to go see the world. Can't argue too much with that. We took the first one backpacking as a baby of 8 and 9 months, but waited on the other until he was a year (he was a May baby, and I wasn't up for the BP season his first summer. We did take him car-camping that summer).
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