…And don’t forget a few steps off trail to go look at that mushroom under the log…

Cragbaby putting his hiking legs to the test at 9,000 feet in Ten Sleep Canyon, Wyoming.

In the past year we’ve gone from hiking with an enthusiastic little Cragbaby who loved to take in the world from the confines of his backpack carrier to chasing after a headstrong toddler that wants to do it “on my own.”  In some ways its a lot easier (when C decides to hoof it there’s an automatic 30 pound decrease in pack weight…).  But C’s newfound independence has also opened up a whole ‘nother can of issues that we’ve had to work through.  Here’s a few basic ideas that we’ve found useful to get us all from Point A to Point B in one piece.  

-FOCUS ON THE JOURNEY – As rock climbers, 90% of our hiking mileage is logged as secondary to the main event.  The approach hike is simply that – a way to get to the base of the cliff so that we can start climbing.  We don’t waste time and walk at a pretty good clip, rarely stopping to linger at overlooks or picturesque vistas (we’ve figured out that the best views are gained from the side of the cliff, or better yet, a summit). But if you have any experience with 2 year olds, you’ll know that “hurry” is not in their vocabulary.  And that’s the thing – I don’t want him to feel hurried or rushed.  My legs are 3 times the length of his sweet little chubby ones, so it’s unfair of me to expect him to keep up with the grown-ups.  So needless to say as C has steadily increased the amount of time he spends hiking in on his own, so have our approach times.  If my mindset was purely destination-focused, this speed bump would prove quite frustrating.  Instead I shift my focus to the actual journey – and I can see that the extra time on the trail is time well-spent with my son as we discover (often hand in hand) what a beautiful Creation we are a part of.  Which brings me to my next point…

C usually starts off as a strong leader…

ALLOW EXTRA TIME – Taking time to enjoy the process may mean you’ll have to get started a little earlier if you’re itching to be the first to tie in at the crag.  We’ve also had success with sending 2 scouts on ahead to get the rope up on our warm-up, while everyone else saunters along.  Usually the timing works out perfectly, and the Cragbaby crew arrives right as the scouting party is finishing up.  Of course, if the goal of the day is simply to hike rather than climb, you may not have to make any changes other than your mindset, although if your toddler’s pace will put you back by more than an hour or so, I’d recommend packing extra food and water.  

GEAR JUNKIES UNITE – If your closet is overflowing with outdoor paraphernalia, don’t forget that the apple doesn’t far too fall from the tree.  A solid pair of approach shoes (like these from KEEN!), trekking poles, and/or a small backpack can make your little guy/gal feel prepared and part of the gang.  Keep in mind that successfully gearing out a toddler doesn’t have to break your budget, especially if you aren’t afraid to get creative.  Long sticks often make better hiking sticks than their carbon fiber counterparts.  I’ve also found several nice pairs of shoes and outdoor clothes at consignment shops – many of which look like they had never been worn.  

…and he’s determined to tackle every obstacle…

IT’S ALL FUN AND GAMES – Toddlers do not buy into the “no pain, no gain” strategy.  When their legs get tired, their first instinct is to give up, regardless of how close they are to the end or a convenient stopping point.  However, if you can keep a child’s mind occupied with thoughts other than how tired they are, it’s amazing how much longer they can last.  For example, C is really into chasing right now, so a lot of times all I have to say is, “Mommy’s going to get you!”, and he takes off giggling.  (This is also a subtle way to shave a few minutes off your hike time 😉 )  For an older child, turning the hike into a game, such as a scavenger hunt with items that can be checked off along the trail, can be quite effective.  Finally, most kids are quite receptive to bribery extrinsic motivators using treats or other special incentives.  I know one family that doles out M n M’s at certain waypoints along the trail.  We’ve never employed that strategy with C since he’s still in that in between stage – when he poops out, we just load him up in the pack, no questions asked.  But I can certainly see where a reasonable amount of splurge items like candy could come in handy with an exhausted 60 lb child that doesn’t have a “carry me” option.  

…but sometimes it catches up with him by the end of the day.

BE PATIENT IN TRANSITIONS – Know your toddler, and know his/her limits.  Sometimes C is into it, and sometimes not.  On epic hiking days he’s got unbelievable endurance – on several occasions I’ve seen him hike in and out of crags with a steep, strenuous approach that would take most pack-laden adults 20–30 minutes.  But there are just as many other times where he doesn’t want to hike at all.  Most days fall somewhere in between.  Since I want him to grow up with positive experiences of hiking as a family, as opposed to fleeting memories of parents giving out death march orders, we haven’t pushed.  We let him set the pace, and his ability to maneuver over tough terrain continues to amaze me week after week. 

SAFETY FIRST – If you’re goal is to turn your toddler into a happy hiker, make sure to choose kid-friendly trails more often than not.  Each successful outing will lead to another and another.  On the other hand, don’t feel bad if every now and then you want to hit up an area that is less conducive to toddler tracks – just be safe about it.  Sometimes we hit sections of trail that aren’t okay for C to handle on his own.  He may not always be happy about it, but his brief forced stints in the backpack are long forgotten once we get to our final destination.  

Who else out there has gone through the transition from Cragbaby to Happy Hiker?  I would love to hear some more input, especially from those with older children (it’s always nice to get a glimpse into the next “phase.”)  What has (or has not) worked for your family on the trail?