Taking Kids for a HikeWritten by Kathy Burns-Millyard
With a little planning and forethought, hiking with children can be a fun and rewarding experience. Hiking is a wonderful way to help them develop a love and respect for nature, stimulate their imagination and encourage them to stay active.Even Snoopy Hikes: A great way to introduce children to idea of hiking is through stories featuring their favorite animated characters. Several great children's books about hiking are available: "Curious George Goes Hiking," "Take a Hike Snoopy," "Berenstain Bears Blaze a Trail," and "Sheep Take a Hike," just to name a few. The stories give you an opportunity to talk about expectations before leaving home and give you something to refer to on trail. Where to Go: Start small children on short trails over easy terrain. In terms of ability, children can cover about 1 mile for every year they are in age. They may not want to hike that far, but they probably have ability to do so. Short attention spans are kept busy on trails occupied with activities along way (rocks to climb on, water to splash in, etc.). Older children are often motivated by promise of something at end a trail like a scenic vista or waterfall. Don't forget to plan for bathroom breaks and rest stops along way. Clothing and Footwear: Ideally, children (like adults) should be prepared for any weather and dressed in layers. They should also have access to suitable rain gear. Properly fitting hiking boots or tennis shoes are a must to avoid sore and tired feet. Leave open-toed shoes at home.
| | Selecting a Good Hiking TrailWritten by Kathy Burns-Millyard
The type and location of trail you select can play a significant role in determining enjoyment you get from a hiking experience. Before heading out on your next hike, evaluate trail based on following criteria. Define Your Objectives: Select a trail according to your planned activities. Hikers hoping to photograph wildlife are going to want a quiet, secluded trail that sees little foot-traffic. Short trails over easy terrain are better suited to hiking with children. A trail with miles of ups and downs will be great for physical conditioning. Consider Your Level of Experience: If you're going to hike alone, take an honest assessment of your experience and physical abilities. Are you in good shape or has your physical activity been limited? Can you navigate with a compass and map? If you have a cell phone, take it along. Realize though, that it may not work on trail and if something goes wrong, you need to know what to do. Unless you have a lot of experience, don't hike alone. If you're hiking with a group, select trails based on those with least amount of ability and experience. If you want to reach summit of mount Buena Vista, make sure you hike with companions that can reach top. Novices should start on shorter trails over easy terrain until they are comfortable with navigation and carrying a backpack. Account for Distance & Time: It's easy to underestimate time you need to complete a hike. This can turn a planned 3-hour hike into a 6-hour ordeal. A good rule of thumb is to plan on 5-10 miles per day over moderate terrain if carrying a full load. On flat terrain, you'll probably cover a mile in about 30 minutes. For every 1,000 feet you gain in elevation add another hour. For every 1,000 feet you lose in elevation add 30 minutes. Factor in 5 minutes of rest for every hour hiked and remember that multi-day trips should include a full rest day for every 4-6 days on trail.
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