Families Go Hiking ORGAN Like many of us, my first memories M of hiking were less than positive. AVE Something about that trail above But Why? , D Ross Dam was just too steep, and IEKEMA D my father was so darn cheery even OUG though it was hot and we didn’t 10 great things about hiking , D have much water. Here were all AULSON The smell of fir trees Cooling your feet P these amazing mountains of the ON North Cascades before us and all I Hiking is a way to experience the On a hot day in August, there’s : D sights, sounds and nothing like dipping your could think about was getting back OTTOM smells of the out- toes in an ice-cold B TO to the car and the grape sodas in doors. And whether stream. OP the cooler. , T it’s the taste of alpine But despite that early stumble, I HOTOS snow or the smell of P stuck with hiking and camping, Douglas fir, hiking is Yodeling and now it’s an important part of a treat for all the Hey, when you’re high my life, and my own family’s. I first senses! above a valley, there’s took my daughter on a trail when nothing like letting out a she was an infant and now at 2 big yell or a yodel to hear she’s starting to lead the way. You M & Ms the echoes. Or try just go much slower than you did Okay, we’ll admit singing something when you were 22 and trying to get it—the main from the “Sound to the summit of Granite Mountain reason we like of Music.” in record time. It’s an excuse to trail mix is it’s an linger, and really see a forest. She excuse to chow You picks up nearly every rock and leaf, on M & M’s. but she’s having fun. With peanuts, probably Call it “green bonding” or experi- preferably. won’t meet encing nature. Studies show, playground (including one undertaken by REI) bullies that kids who experience the Marmots They’re cute, furry, Hikers are nice outdoors early may eventually lose people. interest for a while. But when and boy can they they’re in their twenties and out of whistle. Hiking is a great opportu- the house they often retain that nity to see critters like pikas, deer Stars interest in the outdoors. No doubt and mountain goats in There are a LOT more my daughter will reach an age their environment. stars in the where she’ll complain about a wilderness than back particularly “dumb” hike. Strong legs at home. But hopefully we’ll keep other Hiking is a great way to experiences fun enough that she’ll get strong, healthy and Because it’s want to keep going back as an confident. there adult. Okay, maybe you’re not The following series of articles are Finding your way the first person to get to aimed at encouraging families to Learning to use a map and the top of Rattlesnake Ledge, but get out and hike. It’s like eating compass is a pretty cool thing— you can always pretend. All those your vegetables and ice cream at think about it: just a piece of paper great climbers had to start the same time: good for you, and if and a little compass and you can somewhere. you’re smart about it, a heck of a say, “I am here.” lot of fun, too. —Andrew Engelson May 2005 WASHINGTON TRAILS Families Go Hiking adventure. Every trail has some kind of adventure in it. Speculate about its first Bring the Kids! users and why they built the trail. What were they looking for? At the summit or How to take children of all ages on the trail high point, get out the map and try to identify the peaks you can see, guessing which is which. AVIS D Look for discoveries along the way: Teach your kids to be good observers EBORAH , D by looking for animal footprints, claw scratches on tree trunks, and insect and ORSGAARD bird holes in dead trees. Small ponds F ARL usually have tadpoles or frogs they can , K watch for. LIMECKY Plan for multiple destinations and K turnaround places: If your child is RIKA : E faltering or the weather is changing, RIGHT look for a streamside log or boulder where you can stop. Be ready to change FROM , the goal and to point out why this destination is a good place for lunch LOCKWISE C and a turnaround. Stress safety: Carry a first-aid kit designed with kids in mind. (Some insect repellents and sunscreens are too harsh for children’s skin.) Watch their Hiking is great fun. Just remember to feet for hot spots that can turn into keep your goals realistic, always pay blisters. Carry moleskin. Be sure the attention to safety, and turn your outing soles of boots or shoes have enough into an adventure of discovery. tread to prevent slipping. When camping, keep a sharp eye on kids By Joan Burton around any fire-related activities. If kids get wet or cold, they can easily Why would you want to take your slip into hypothermia. Watch for kids hiking with you? shivering, and be ready with a change of If you wonder why you should make warm clothes. the effort to take your kids hiking, answer these questions honestly: How Do You Hike with Kids? Would you prefer that your kids Put yourself in their boots. Their legs remember a childhood spent playing are short and some of the steps in the video games and watching TV sports? trail are high for them to reach. Or would you like to give them a Would you want them to grow up Remember their sense of time. Have childhood in which they hiked to alpine with no connection to the natural patience when they stop and ask lakes, waterfalls, ocean beaches and old world, and therefore no commitment questions. They may be seeing their growth forests ? to saving it? Or do you want to help first trilliums. Call for rest stops before Would you want them to become them build a bond to the precious and they ask for them and praise them for overweight from lack of exercise? Or fragile Northwest environment? how well they are doing. would you prefer that they hiked, What better way can you think of to Be in the moment with them. waded, swam and scrambled on trails, have uninterrupted time together with Experience the feel of the hike and talk beaches and mountains? your family, free of distracting phone about it. Remember how you felt when Would you prefer to only drive them calls, TV and video games? hiking a trail was a new adventure to to and from athletic turnouts, practices, you. and games? Or do you want to hike What Makes a Good Hike? Joke with whiners and gru)mblers, with them to places of Northwest A good hike is one that appeals to a unless they are justified. Be sympathetic beauty and wonder? child’s sense of exploration and about legitimate complaints. Make the WASHINGTON TRAILS May 2005 Families Go Hiking hike fun by laughing and and slow down to your kids’ pace. If being positive about you are a new hiker and a new parent, ERBERT H what you are doing and the good news is that hiking with your RANK seeing. kids can be fun and that you can have a F Take siblings, neigh- great time discovering hiking together. bors, and companions Your nine-year-old not only will want along with you. Extra to reach the destination, but he or she kids are actually less will also want to compete with a trouble because they brother or companion to be the first entertain and compete and fastest. You will want him to slow with one another. down enough to see the old growth forest and the distant view of Mount Top Things to Baker. (Views aren’t as exciting to kids Remember as they are to you; so don’t be surprised You’ll learn to see things in much more detail if she doesn’t ooh and ah over it.) If you Have confidence. when hiking with toddlers and young children. Don’t be afraid, but do are backpacking, she will want her pack to seem large and imposing to others be realistic. Kids can she will see the ground, footprints, sense your fear and they will echo it. A on the trail, and once at camp, she will stones, leaves, moss, flowers and want you to give her tasks to help in storm can be a problem, but not branches up close and will want to stop something to fear. setting up the tent and making meals. to investigate them, interminably. If a The challenge to you is to make her feel Know where you’re going. Read frog jumps across the trail, plan to stop about the hike before you go and carry she contributes in important ways. Let to watch for it to do it again. her fill the water jug and carry it back to a good map. Your five-year-old will care more Be sure their boots or shoes are camp. Let her help filter the water about reaching the destination. He or before preparing the dinner. appropriate. Some sports shoes give no she will want to play in the lake, look for ankle support and have slippery soles.