Applegate Trails: How to Prepare for a Hike with Young Children
It is time to get out in the woods, but you have a new “problem.” Not a weak ankle or a lost compass, you have a snack-happy toddler that you somehow need to transport into the wild, complete with lunch, diaper bag, and accessories. How do you carry all of the necessary gear and leave behind those worries about the unknown? Fear not: hiking adventures with your growing family will be wonderful if you take a few minutes to prepare for the inevitabilities and remember to breathe deeply of the fresh pine-scented air.
First, figure out where you would like to go. Find a hiking book such as Evelyn Roether’s Williams Area Trail Guide. Contact local hiking groups such as Applegate Trails Association or Siskiyou Upland Trails Association for ideas. Look at maps (and bring one with you), but don’t let the research bog you down so much that you don’t make it out to the woods! Little kids love creeks, but are often not so crazy about a hot, steep climb to a gorgeous vista unless you are carrying them!
Even if you are not planning on carrying your child, most children under the age of seven will ask to be carried along some portion of a longer hike. Be prepared with a good child carrying pack unless you are comfortable sporting your child piggyback for the return trek. I don’t go anywhere without my Ergo baby carrier which has a recommended weight limit of 40 pounds, but has been weight tested up to 90 pounds. I like to use a large waist pack that fits beneath the Ergo, but sometimes I wear a backpack on my front. If you’re starting to feel weighed down between your child and your gear, you might consider finding a fairly level trail that will accommodate a jogging stroller. I love hiking in the Jacksonville Woodlands with my BOB jogging stroller because it allows me to stow all of our cargo below the rider(s), but some of the steeper grades could seriously cause us to tumble down the hill. If you are relying on a stroller, be sure to bring a tire pump and patch kit because Goatheads (a.k.a. Puncturevine) can leave you flat and stranded.
Next, look outside at the weather. Versatile layers are your best bet since your extra shirt can serve as headwear, a blanket, or an emergency bandage. As we know here in Oregon, the weather can change radically within a few hours, so you might want both a sun hat and a warm hat on the same hike! I prefer lightweight wool clothing during the rainy season as it keeps you warm even when wet, while cotton spells disaster in the cold rain. Always bring a change of clothes and shoes, even if you leave them in the car for after the hike. In cold weather, watch hands and noses for frostbite. And if you forget your mittens, you can use your extra socks!
In hot weather, watch for overheating and dehydration. Always bring LOTS of water. Don’t make the mistake that I made last week of only bringing warm herbal tea on a four-mile trek. My toddler would not drink the tea, but luckily she still loves breast milk. Add children’s sunscreen to your list and cotton bandanas to dip in the creek and tie on your hot heads. I prefer long-sleeved shirts and long pants for my fair-skinned family in the sun. As I already mentioned, kids love creeks and will get wet. Be prepared with swim gear, roll up their pants, or just let them get naked.
A note on footwear: even in the summer, sturdy shoes or boots protect your feet from sharp sticks and snakes. If you come to a rocky outcropping where rattlesnakes may live, keep your kids close and remind them to look where they are going and to stop and back slowly away from a snake.
After running all over the woods, everyone will be starving. Never hike with kids without snacks! We like jerky, dried fruit and nuts, seeds, canned sardines, salami, and crackers.
Uh-oh. Little Joey has to poop! Talk to your kids about peeing and pooping in the woods. Some kids will be resistant to going to the bathroom outdoors if they are not accustomed to the practice, so don’t make it a big deal. If you’re hiking on BLM or Forest Service land where camping is permitted, you can dig a 6-8 inch cat-hole at least 160 feet away from a water source or trail, and let them do their business. But if you’re in a more populated area, you will want to collect the little specimen in a baggy to bring home. Be prepared for bathroom emergencies with a plastic bag and some TP. Before my kids were potty-trained, I carried cloth wipes and a 1 oz bottle of Homestead Baby’s wipe spray.
Oops! Sister Susie started traipsing around in the poison oak while you were helping Joey. You can gently brush dry dirt over the exposed skin and then wash her up at home with warm water and Marie’s Poison Oak soap.
Carry a first aid kit, including an epi pen if anyone may have allergies. Include bug spray. Lemon eucalyptus oil wards off ticks, while tea tree oil treats cuts, burns, and bites. You can treat bee stings in the field by scraping away the stinger, washing with cold water, and applying a compress of mud for 30 minutes. Go to the hospital immediately in you see any signs of an allergic reaction.
For a day hike in a remote backcountry location, you will want extra supplies such as a topographical map, compass, rope, knife or multi-tool, magnesium stick, and a tarp or emergency blanket. Check your car tires and gas gauge before you leave home.
When you return home, wash up and check for ticks. Stretch your body and daydream about your next trip.
Michelle LaFave
Applegate Trails Association, Board of Directors