Do you take kids in deep?

[carmen]

For us it would depend on their age and how experienced they are. I know our youngest right now can only handle short trips at a time so anything long haul like would not be a cake walk for her by any means.

[Theosus]

Taking my 9 year old on a day hike with an experienced group saturday. Its 7 miles. If she likes it I have an overnight planned with the same group in the spring. I have to get her into this quickly before she gets to be a teenager and Im suddenly profoundly stupid and embarrassing to be with. I understand when she gets to be 20 or so, I'll become smart again though.

[ponderosa]

I think it depends entirely on the kid... their experience, fitness, personality, behavior, etc. I was backpacking 5-6 days with extended family members when I was 8 years old, doing 7-9 miles a day in the mountains. I've taken my own toddlers deep in the backcountry. I have some nephews that I'd take on serious backpacking trips, and others that I wouldn't take to the city park.

[shaun]

My son is 6 years old and he loves coming on challenging hikes with me. He has grown up coming on hikes with me, I used to carry him around. My son is experienced and he is enthusiastic, this obviously helps. i think you should take them if they want to go with you and you have told them what to expect, but I would opt for an easy hike if they have no experience.

[altavista111]

It would be a great idea.

[TroyS]

Originally Posted by ponderosa

I think it depends entirely on the kid... their experience, fitness, personality, behavior, etc. I was backpacking 5-6 days with extended family members when I was 8 years old, doing 7-9 miles a day in the mountains. I've taken my own toddlers deep in the backcountry. I have some nephews that I'd take on serious backpacking trips, and others that I wouldn't take to the city park.

For me, it's a bit of both. I completely agree that it all depends on the personality of the kids. Of my three kids, the only one I've been able to bring to any hiking trip is my eldest since he is the only one who's the most interested about it. My other two are not really thrilled with the idea.

At the same time, it depends on the parents. No matter how thrilled my eldest is when it comes to hiking, I have to say I haven't really taken a hiking trip with him more than 3 miles both ways, mainly because it's the most comfortable I am going (we've just started doing this for a few months). Of course, we'll eventually go further and further until I'm comfortable to go on an overnight hiking trip. After all, if I can't be comfortable to say that I can take care of myself out there, how much more with my kid.