back packing with kids

**Taliesin96** · 04-30-2013, 18:32

i have a 9, 11, 16 they carry packs with all thier things ie

clothes, pad, sleeping bag, dehydrated food, water tp, soap hiking towel, each kids packs are 55L 75L my kids backpacks for school way 10lbs and up, don;t sekll your kids short they will surprise you

**lilprincess** · 04-30-2013, 19:34

Sounds like you are doing everything right and getting great advice. Our 8yo climbed Mt Greylock last year with a 12lb pack. They can certainly surprise you!

Now we will anxiously await your trip report full of smiling faces!

**Brute1100** · 04-30-2013, 20:04

I agree that a big first aid kit is no replacement for being safe... But I will up my first aid kit when I'm out with the little one or the wife... As careful as I am, they aren't used to walking on rocks and out in the outdoors as much as me... As much as I wish they would get out with me more, a few times a year is all I can manage to steal them away from the ac... I add a little more of everything, more gauze, more toilet paper, more bandaids, more of all the little stuff because there are more people and all the small stuff in modern world can be bad in the back woods in a hurry... But to each his own...

**TN Cereal Killa** · 04-30-2013, 20:47

Originally Posted by stalker42

I usually carry a deck of cards or some light game. Helps fill some time if you get to the campsite early.

They asked if they can pack there Nintendo ds's

**qcv123** · 04-30-2013, 21:13

My boys (6 years old) carry their sleeping bags, clothes and pads. As much as I hate to admit it, the ds's were also packed on the last trip.

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**TallPaul** · 04-30-2013, 21:51

Here's my advice...
Trail selection is key... Low mileage... If you are going slow, they'll have time to see things... Butterflies, frogs, whatever...

If you are a person with a bunch of rules or set expectations, relax them ... Just focus on the kids having fun. Didn't cover 5 miles? Who cares. Let the success of the trip be their joy.

Food selection... Silly as it sounds its things like what they ate that they remember. Marshmallows, chocolate... Hot chocolate with marshmallows.

Stop when you come to fallen logs, so they can act like its a balance beam. Crossing creeks? Who doesn't love to go from rock to rock! Feet get wet? No worries. Crossing creeks is much easier once you already have wet feet.

Get them each a disposable camera and watch them take terrible pictures that they think are the greatest. They'll probably shoot half the shots in an hour...no sweat... It served a purpose of having them see things.

Finally, on a serious note, be safe. The above is the side I present to them, but I'm always prepared for bad weather, rain, cold, mosquitos, etc.

**peripatew** · 04-30-2013, 21:55

Kudos to TallPaul! Great advice!

I'll have to pickup a disposable camera and give that a try this trip.

We just got a Pac NW nature book too, going to do some drawing and ID'ing.

**TallPaul** · 04-30-2013, 22:00

Oh and bring more than one roll of TP(or divide it up multiple ways).

If you are ever in Linville Gorge, you might find the one roll we had that my daughter left behind some bushes.

**Likeapuma** · 04-30-2013, 22:18

Man, this thread has me hoping for the future! My daughter is only 2,but I've already started getting her out backpacking. Right now, I carry her, but she started getting down & walking on her own. I just need to remember to pack a warm layer since I get cold at her pace. She did walk almost an entire mile over a flat "carriage trail". Took 45 minutes, but she loves to explore

We picked up an REI Sprig 18 a few weeks ago & she fell over (hysterical to watch) with some stuff in it. I think we'll start with maybe just her blanket, get her used to it.

She was born @26 weeks, 1lb 3ozs, so she's a bit "behind" other kids her age, but what's better for a kid than walk in the woods?!

**Nighthauk** · 05-01-2013, 07:34

I have taken my family out a couple of times and they have gone other times with their Gramma. This Saturday I am taking my youngest son out, He is 8. He loves nature, wild edibles and sleeping in his hammock. I can't wait for this trip. He wanted to go on his birthday which is on February 24th. We still had 1-1/2' of snow still out there. He has an Osprey Jib 35 and he carries a few things like clothes, sleeping bag a little food and a few other things. He weighs only 60lbs so it will be pretty light.
Other than that I echo what everyone else has mentioned. Keep the time loose and on their schedule. This was something that was hard for me to learn. I am the type to want to get from point A to point B fairly quickly. Don't make it a death march. Lol.