collapse

Advertisement


Author Topic: Backcountry with kiddos  (Read 9393 times)

Offline swanny

  • Washington For Wildlife
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Sep 2008
  • Posts: 1852
  • Location: Kent
    • 9to5active
Re: Backcountry with kiddos
« Reply #30 on: February 06, 2018, 09:25:21 AM »
It has been awesome seeing all of the different pieces of advice to offer! I have an 18 month old right now. We did two overnight backpack trips but one thing we are struggling with is their sleeping situation. My wife nor I have a big wnough bag to accommodate one of us and the baby (toddler now). So I am wondering what others have done. Because if it is backpacking, weight doesn't sound enjoyable. But is it just one of those things to do? But is it safe for them to have their own sleeping bag? Just curious what everyone else has done..
My wife and I had the kid sleep in between us on our trips last summer. Except one warmer trip where he slept on his own at our heads on a foam mat with has blanket. We also had good luck with those synthetic puffy and/or fleece suits that Columbia makes for kids.  We use an EXPED SynMat HL Duo mat with a 2-person quilt in our tent to fit all 3 of us on.

Offline Calvin Rayborn

  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Oct 2013
  • Posts: 1383
  • Location: Columbia Basin
  • Groups: NRA Life Member, ATA Gold-Card Life Member
Re: Backcountry with kiddos
« Reply #31 on: March 15, 2018, 01:33:30 AM »
Deuter Kid Comfort

Offline Shawn Ryan

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jul 2008
  • Posts: 1026
  • Location: Battle Ground, WA
  • Snoozing in elk country.
Re: Backcountry with kiddos
« Reply #32 on: March 16, 2018, 11:41:50 AM »
JPMiller, in contrast to most everything else written here:  My main hunting buddies and I took our kids (four boys, three girls) on a lot of trips, hunting, hiking, shed hunting, scouting, cold creek swimming, frog finding, etc.  and pushed them much harder than most, apparently.  Lots of miles, carry some of their own stuff--more as age allowed, all day, make their own fires, carry the elk bones they want to take home, push their own bike when they were too tired to pedal, etc.  Sure, we had lots of snacks, kept them hydrated, carried them on shoulders or in packs when they were 3 and too short to hike all day. 

Those kids all developed different desires for the outdoors as adults based on their personalities, but all of them still enjoy the outdoors and find renewal in the wilderness.  At least two get more outdoor time as adults than any of us parents ever did.  I've backpacked with them as adults in the Hells Canyon, Bear Tooth, Flat Tops, Cloud Peak, and Pecos Wildernesses on 5-day trips. Headed to the Sawtooths with them soon.  My buddies' kids are adamant that we get together at least once a year in the wilderness.

My parents did the same with me.  Me and my 5 siblings all backpacked as teenagers carrying all of our own gear.  My week-long, backpack hunting trips started at age 14 in the Wenaha Wilderness.  Those times were important in developing my desire for the outdoors.

Kids are resilient and usually in far better physical shape than their mental toughness.  Grit is learned from tough and demanding times.  Demanding doesn't necessarily mean "fun," but "enjoyable," "worthwhile," and "rewarding" may be more valuable than "fun."    I'll probably get bashed here for not being PC and for being old-school, so I'll guess I have to just rely on our unique and particular results.

Good for you for desiring to get your three-year-old out in the woods.  I hope its the beginning of many trips.

Offline Jpmiller

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+2)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: May 2016
  • Posts: 4056
  • Location: Martin, ND
Re: Backcountry with kiddos
« Reply #33 on: March 16, 2018, 06:10:01 PM »
That's kind of how i parent at home lol. My kids fail alot over and over but they eventually get it and it seems to work. I'm really hoping not to make the outdoors no fun for him, something to think about...

 


* Advertisement

* Recent Topics

49 Degrees North Early Bull Moose by washingtonmuley
[Today at 12:00:55 PM]


MA 6 EAST fishing report? by washingtonmuley
[Today at 11:56:01 AM]


I'm Going To Need Karl To Come up With That 290 Muley Sunscreen Bug Spray Combo by highside74
[Today at 11:07:49 AM]


Kings by Gentrys
[Today at 11:05:40 AM]


Nevada bull hunt 2025 by High Climber
[Today at 10:32:52 AM]


2025 Crab! by ghosthunter
[Today at 09:43:49 AM]


AUCTION: SE Idaho DIY Deer or Deer/Elk Hunt by Dan-o
[Today at 09:26:43 AM]


Survey in ? by hdshot
[Today at 09:20:27 AM]


Bear behavior by brew
[Today at 08:40:20 AM]


Bearpaw Outfitters Annual July 4th Hunt Sale by bearpaw
[Today at 07:57:12 AM]


A lonely Job... by Loup Loup
[Today at 07:47:41 AM]


2025 Montana alternate list by bear
[Today at 06:06:48 AM]


Accura MR-X 45 load development by kyles_88
[Today at 05:27:26 AM]


Son drawn - Silver Dollar Youth Any Elk - Help? by Boss .300 winmag
[Yesterday at 09:42:07 PM]


Toutle Quality Bull - Rifle by HntnFsh
[Yesterday at 08:09:14 PM]


MA-10 Coho by WAcoueshunter
[Yesterday at 02:08:31 PM]


KODIAK06 2025 trail cam and personal pics thread by kodiak06
[Yesterday at 01:52:01 PM]

SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2025, SimplePortal