Getting the Kids Out Hiking

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Whether you're a lifelong hiker or a new hiker, getting young children out on the trail certainly levels the playing field.

When my son was born six years ago, I thought I knew what I was doing. Wrong! On his first hike, he got chilled by the mist of Bridal Veil Falls. On his second hike, he started overheating on his way up Thunder Knob. And that was when he was in the backpack. Soon he wanted to walk, not ride. I recall several lunches (and turn-arounds) in the most un-scenic of places. At two, he didn't care about the destination like I did. He'd just be done, and we'd better be close to the car or we'd pay for it.

But my husband and I kept at it. And we learned from our mistakes. Short hikes. Interesting stuff along the way. Enticing food to encourage walking. Letting go of our adult expectations. With his toddler sister, last year we covered a number of trails on the Olympic Peninsula - with pretty good success. This spring, he and I took to Central Washington and sprinkled in three hikes among camping, fishing and paddle boating. And he loved it.

And now, if you're like me, you're planning your outings for the summer. Where should you take the kids? What are good hikes? How should you prepare?

The good news is that you don't have to figure all of this stuff out alone. There are LOTS of excellent resources to get you and your family hiking. Washington Trails Association's website has oodles of resources, including:

• A Families Go Hiking section that features tips for hiking with kids, hiking suggestions by guidebook author Joan Burton, backpacking and camping info and lots more.
• The Hike Finder, which allows you to hone in on a family-friendly hike in the place you are going. Behind this map-based guide is the guidebook content to six of Mountaineers Books Day Hiking series.
• Camping with the Crew, an article from the current issue of Washington Trails magazine. It chronicles taking kids backpacking and includes some invaluable tips. The upcoming July-August issue will including a family gear review.

Would you rather talk to an expert and get personalized tips? Then come to WTA's Hiking with Children workshops on Tuesday, June 7th at the Tacoma REI or Tuesday, June 14th at the Olympia REI. Joan Burton, author of Best Hikes with Kids: Western Washington and the Cascades (Mountaineers Books) and WTA's youth manager Krista Dooley will be on hand to talk about tips and tricks for moving kids down the trail - and will offer up suggestions on where to take them.

Another upcoming event is National Parks Family Day, hosted by the National Park Service and National Parks Conservation Association. It will be held at Seattle's Magnuson Park on Saturday, June 25th.

All of these resources and events are great ways to learn about hiking with children - from babies to teenagers. Then you can start your own version of trial and error with a realistic set of expectations and knowledge. And before you know it, your kids will be grown and taking you out on their favorite hikes.