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Exploring God's Creation in Nature and Science
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Subject Topic: Hiking with 3yo and 1yo--any advice? Post ReplyPost New Topic
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Maggie
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Posted: Aug 20 2008 at 2:12pm | IP Logged Quote Maggie


Hi everyone,

I am new to the list...and figured some of you have more experience with this than my husband and I.

Because we both went to college in New England, we developed a deep love for the mountains and hiking.

However, we now live in FL...and the closest thing to a "mountain" is the "big hill" in the golf course down the street.

So...we decided to vacation in the Blue Ridge Mountains in GA with our 3.5 year old and 14 month old...we plan on doing "day hikes"...we hiked a few canyons in UT and AZ when my first was 1---not a problem with the back pack...but with two...I'm wondering how we carry water and children? Any advice on hiking with two littles in general?

Thank you!
Maggie
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Lisbet
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Posted: Aug 20 2008 at 2:35pm | IP Logged Quote Lisbet

Maggie,

Welcome! :)

We do alot of hiking, but here in Ohio, it's more like big hills than mountains. Anyhow, our last big hiking trip was in the Hocking Hills in Jan. of last year. Lots of snow and cold. We had a 3 year old, 20 month old, and a 5 month old. I wore the 5 month old on my back in a wrap with the option of wearing another on my front/hip. My dh wore the 20 month old on his front and a backpack on his back. Our 3 year old suprised us all and hiked the entire time. (we took about 4 different 3 mile hikes over the course of 4 days.) We kept water and light snacks, and first aid in the backpack.

My advise would be to keep the hikes fairly short, 3 or 4 miles at a stretch, and be patient. Don't head out too close to dark and expect it to be slower going.

Be sure that bellies are full and bladders are empty. Pack something to keep treasures in and enjoy it! :)

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PDyer
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Posted: Aug 20 2008 at 4:30pm | IP Logged Quote PDyer

Lisbet wrote:
Our 3 year old suprised us all and hiked the entire time. (we took about 4 different 3 mile hikes over the course of 4 days.) We kept water and light snacks, and first aid in the backpack.


We had the same experience with our (at the time) three year old. We still call her 'our little mountain goat'.   

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JodieLyn
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Posted: Aug 20 2008 at 4:35pm | IP Logged Quote JodieLyn

We've had some that could hike good distances.. and others that could but would rather watch the ants and pick up every stick along the way and.. it can be VERY slow going.. those kids usually get to ride up on daddy's shoulders for a bit at least (doable with another in the backpack) I carry the youngest unless I'm past the point I can do so comfortably when pregnant.. so depending on the age depends on what carrier I use.

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vmalott
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Posted: Aug 21 2008 at 7:57am | IP Logged Quote vmalott

We're a double backpack family...backpack being the kind you carry kids and minimal supplies in, not a full gear pack. When our current 5 and 7yo boys were 9mos and 2, we hiked many places in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. We had three older children to keep tabs on, too.

We also hiked in Hocking Hills here in Ohio with our sixth in the sling when she was about 3mos and the next youngest was nearly 2. The third youngest transitioned just fine to life outside the pack, but we each still had free hands to help him navigate tricky paths.

Now our free time is taken up by sports, sports, and more sports, so we barely have a free weekend where we can just take off to go hiking. Maybe in the dead of winter we'll do like Lisa did and return to Hocking Hills!

Valerie

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