Getting into Backpacking

Camping with kids is one thing.  Their natural love for the outdoors brings plenty of excitement. Now you add weight to their back and ask them to walk a while and it becomes a little more challenging.  

I attempted this first backpacking trip when the kids were 5, 8 and 11.  With the age ranges came varying requirements on what they would carry. As always, the goal was for them to want to come again so I put some thought into what each kid could handle.  With that the weight was distributed as follows: 

• Everyone carried some water and snacks.  This is a general rule so that they always have those basics in their pack. They don’t exactly walk away from the group but as they find different paces and more independence I could see the day that one of them doesn’t notice a fork in the road and goes a different way.   At least they’ll have water and food while they wait.

• Pajamas and underwear for all 

• The 8 year old carried his sleeping bag 

• The 11 year old carried all her clothes and some of the food and of course her sleeping bag

• Mom carried the tent, which unfortunately was huge and all the remaining water and food.  Since we were close to a water source I had a filter so I only had to carry 64 oz. 

There were a few things I kept in mind to pick our first location at Opal Creek.  First of all a trail with plenty of spots to go explore on the way and I always said “Yes” to a “can we go take a look?”.  

The end point had natural slides that the kids were familiar with so they had natural excitement to try and continue.  

And of course there were full size Snicker bars.  The power of some protein, and sugar is impressive and it gives them some fullness, some energy for about an hour and you have a sense of your timeline.  Snickers bars are handed out close to the end or when they are needed I know our end point needs to be in sight when possible.