Our family has been hiking for nearly 20 years. I am continuously awed by how beautiful and inspiring our outdoors can be. Over the years we have learned about new plants, new animals, and the weather. There is nothing like a rainstorm half way through a three-hour hike to make you pay more attention to the sky! But the most important part of our family hikes is the "family" part. We talk, we joke, we enjoy the silence, we discover, we climb, and we work together. I will never forget my three year old trying to push a very pregnant mom (me) up a hill, "Come on mommy, you can do it!" Today, going on a hike with either mom or dad (usually dad LOL - he is more daring), is a favorite one-on-one date idea for our children.
Hiking costs very little. Use the equipment you have in your home. Start with easy to moderate hikes in your neighborhood. Remember to bring along a water bottle. Wear a sun hat and comfortable shoes (NOT SANDALS!!) If you go on a vacation, take in one of the local trails. The more you hike, the easier it gets. Pretty soon, you can't wait to plan the next hike. And when Christmas comes along, you will know what to ask for - REAL HIKING BOOTS (or a gift certificate from the local outfitter's store). And you will know what to tell grandma and grandpa to get the kids - their own bright red, orange, or yellow hiking backpack stocked with small mirror, whistle, and orange instant rain poncho. Don't get suckered in by all the "fancy gear" sold in the stores. Keep it simple, you probably have everything you need right in your own home.
Three things are important to us when hiking:
- Good hiking shoes and/or boots.
- Safety and being prepared.
- Knowing where we are going (don't ask us how this came to be LOL).
Good hiking shoes and/or boots
Our hikes have taken us across prairies, into foothills, mountains, and even a bayou (that was a new one for us!). The number of people who are hiking with sandals, or worse, flip-flops always amazes us. Ouch - blister city! About 12 years ago, we were hiking with good friends in Waterton Park, Alberta, Canada and along the trail we found a single man's sandal sitting on a stump with a broken strap. I thought it was so funny I even took a picture. This guy was four miles into a mountain trail with only ONE shoe!
My husband insists on good shoes. The kids wear boots with ankle support. They are even allowed to wear these boots in the house (when new) to break them in. Depending on the hike, I will wear either hiking shoes or boots. My boots are only a year old, so I am still breaking them in. This year!
There are many excellent outfitter and outdoor shoes stores. Ask someone for assistance in fitting a boot or shoe for you. The store I went to had an "uneven" walking path made of rocks and a small incline to check out how the shoes would work going up and down hills!
Safety and Being Prepared
I firmly believe in being prepared when we go hiking. And yes, I have brought along extra pounds of stuff we have never used, and yes I will do it again and again. Plus, I make my children and my husband carry extra pounds of stuff that they will probably never use, but should an emergency ever come up - we will be prepared. And (I have a big smile on my face right now) I found a "gadget" that my husband actually likes to carry around LOL.
Each of us has a small day-hiking backpack. The kids' backpacks are bright red so they can be spotted amongst the trees. Ours are blue (I am still looking for a bright colored one I like). The packs are loaded up with the following:
- our names, address, and phone number (including the cell phone number), and emergency contact number
- a good quality whistle - to signal if lost
- a small non-breakable mirror - to signal if lost
- a large orange garbage bag or rain poncho - to wear in the rain (plus it is easier to spot amongst the trees)
- a few snack bars
- a water bottle - filled of course
- a jacket
- a toque - knitted cap to wear if stranded overnight
- a few band aids - for blisters
- an apple - I love apples when we are hiking
- matches (in the adult pack)
- a small lightweight flashlight - check batteries before you go
- and the electric gadget - 3 mile radios - one for each of us (check the batteries before you go)
- back country map (in one of the adult packs - for longer hikes)
- cell phone (in the adult packs) - caution, there may not be coverage where you are hiking
- trash bag (in the adult packs) - no littering, you take out what you take in
- sun screen and sometimes mosquito spray (in the adult packs)
- If we bring the dogs, I add water and plastic bags for them.
- If we are hiking for more than an hour, we pack lunch.
- I also bring a camera.
Remember, to practice safe hiking. The family stays together in a group. No one strays too far ahead of the pack. And the dog stays on the leash in bear country. We don't want a dog running back to the family with bear in tow! Also remember to talk about what to do if the group happens to get separated, how to use the equipment in the backpack in case you are lost, and worse case scenario, have to spend a night in the forest.
If you are a smoker, please, please, please, take proper care of the butts. Make sure they are completely extinguished. Pack them out with you. So many forest and grass fires are man-made. Please don't start a fire.
Something We Learned About Bear Bells...
We hike in bear country. Every store in the area sells bear bells, and for many years, we dingled, ringled, and tinkled with our bear bells as we hiked. Then we went to a lecture at one of our national parks. An expert in bear safety cracked the myth about bear bells - they don't work! Her instructions to the group (and she made us practice - the kids had a blast) were as follows:
- Have one person yell "HEY BEAR" whenever a trail changes direction, or goes around a blind corner, or if the wind changes direction, or if you are approaching a thicket of berries, or every once in awhile. Let the kids do this, they love being able to yell as loud as they can. Just make sure they take turns LOL - it gets pretty loud.
- If you get tired of hearing "HEY BEAR" all the time, change to the hog call - "SOU-EEEEEEEE".
Yes, we have seen bears on our hikes, but they were always a far distance away, and we avoided them. Most National Parks will post signs if there is a known bear in the area and we obey those signs! Once, in the Rockies, we actually saw a grizzly bear (from the safety of our truck). He was high up on a mountain ridge digging with those powerful front claws and then he ambled along and disappeared. It was beautiful. (Note: The picture is of a black bear and yes, I have a good ZOOM lens on my camera!)
Another story about the time we hiked in Lousiana. We pulled into a State Park between Texas and Shreveport (I don't remember the name of the park anymore). When we paid the park attendant for our night's stay, he handed us the typical brochures about "don't feed the animals, put away your food, etc". BUT the animals were not bears as we were used to, no, they were ALLIGATORS! I tell you, this prairie gal was a little nervous that night.
Knowing Where You Are Going and What You are Getting Into...
I have a fear of getting lost. It is a real fear. So, when we are about to go hiking in a new area, I pick up a book about the local trails. We have several of these now LOL. The great part about doing a little research before you start the hike is that many of these books include information about the plants and animals or other special features you may see on the trail. Stop in at the local tourist information office and ask for information about the hiking trails.
The Internet also has huge amounts of information. Let the keyboard do some of the pre-hiking - hee hee!
Last, But Not Least...
Start with just one trail. It does not need to be some huge wilderness adventure. One of my favorite trails is located right in the city along a number of beaches and parks. Don't take on more than you can handle. If you are not used to lots of walking, especially with hills, check with your doctor first. You don't want to hurt yourself.
