My views on children hiking

[BlueDog]

I can attest that Rex's boys are VERY good hikers. I'm late 30s and I'm sure both of them can teach ME how to be a better hiker.

Harm is all in the perception. IMHO, a parent that takes their kid out into the mountains to hike if far more responsible and in a safer environment than one that lets the kid sit in front of the TV playing PlayStation all day.

[Addicted]

I won't say much different than anyone else. I don't have kids. I do fully intend to bring them hiking when I do have them. I wish I went more as a child. The White mountains can be dangerous. I have hiked enough to know what would be reasonable with a child though. There are plenty of adults who hike where they are not capable to hike (have seen a lot of stupid stuff), but anyone that is a true hiker knows limits and what would be reasonable, based on the child. Would I bring my 8 year old nephew who HATES to go for walks and hikes? Absolutely not. He loves the outdoors and hunting for bugs and snakes and critters, but doesn't like the walking part. If it's not going to be fun for them, why force it? Kids have a lot more energy than us adults and I wish I could bounce from rock to rock like they do and still be ready to go. They dont' have the fear that we do (one slip and I'm a big chicken on the way down, waiting for the next slip) but that's where they need someone to keep an eye on them and show them the way. I think children are totally capable. I think little Alex has shown all of us that.

[Bill O]

You guys are too nice. Besides bordering on troll-like, it is a completely inaccurate statement, with no data or reasoning behind the claim.

A bit like me going into a forum for CT residents and stating that CT sucks.

[Brad]

It is an interesting question and the answer is - it all depends. I took my oldest grandson to the summit of Mt Washington when he was 9. We were prepared - he is very athletic and strong and he follows directions. I am very experienced - but know to pick my days for good weather to not have an issue.

I would like to believe no parent puts their kids in harms way knowingly. Hiking or walking in a park can be done "gently" or in a very strenuous and done in a difficult manner. Part of a parent's job to to make sure the kids are safe. They might stretch themselves more than they thought they could, but you certainly strive to be safe. Whether a person is a child or an adult you go at an activity in stages. Starting with Mt Washington is not a good approach for anyone of any age. But, with the proper preparation a person can hike the mountains of NH just fine.

We have had house guests who wanted to climb Mt Washington because they had heard so much about it - and we have steered them to something more in line with their capability. This is adults - it does not matter what their age is, they should do things within their ability range. This past summer we had a friend join our grandchildren here for several weeks. There had been discussion about doing Mt Washington and as soon as I saw him get out of the car I knew that was out of the question. We steered the activities and objectives to be in line with capability. And even that he was not able to do as a "very active kid". He was not used to pushing himself to achieve.

The key is it is up to us as adults to manage expectations and provide activities that can be done safely. I would have no problem going with my oldest grandson in any weather in the summer. We may do some winter hiking this year. But, it will be a very safe thing to do. The younger grandson is not there yet. We are still working up to more difficult hikes with him. If he likes it, we will continue. There are parents here on the forum who have been hiking with their kids for years and climbing a mountain, knowing how to be well prepared, understanding the weather are all a part of those kids' experience. They are very comfortable outdoors having fun.

[KD Talbot]

You guys are too nice. Besides bordering on troll-like, it is a completely inaccurate statement, with no data or reasoning behind the claim.

A bit like me going into a forum for CT residents and stating that CT sucks.

Gotta agree with Bill!

I thought for sure we had our first real blowout in the making. I guess it shows the good nature of the folks here.

It is a testament to the citizens of this forum.

KDT

[njgail11]

I would like to thank all of you for your thoughts on the subject. I was nervous on the comments i would receive. You all took the time to explain and not in a harsh way. I do have a better understanding why parents hike with thier children in the whites. I was raised in the city most of my life and now i live in the suburbs near the shore. Me and my husband only just started hiking in the last couple of years. My daughter is 25 and my son is 22 and i also have 2 stepdaughters one is 20 and the other is 23. The kids are grown and mine do not live with me anymore, so this is why we got into hiking to do something together. Well I would like to thank everyone again, and if anyone else would like to comment that would be great.

[njgail11]

Bill O and KD Talbot you were the only ones with that kind of answer.

[Bill O]

Bill O and KD Talbot you were the only ones with that kind of answer.

Kevin and I have been around the block a few times. He is correct though, because this forum is made up of such nice people you received rational and friendly replies. Be careful trying that on another forum though. The number of views on this thread suggest that many other people simply refrained from commenting.

[FisherCat]

Our folks started my brother and I when we were pretty young. We had always been active outdoors anyway, but that's what happens when you grow up in the Whites. I would say there were just as many families that didn't hike as there were that did, but it was never an issue of not going because of safety concerns as much as it was probably a lack of interest. Even in Jefferson where I grew up there were residents who never bothered hiking, but were active outdoors in other areas. My folks never took us on a hike where I remember being terrified because in the end they knew they would be responsible, especially if it meant carrying us out! And I think that's what hiking led to. Just as many outdoor activities such as downhill & nordic skiing, snowshoeing, hunting, fishing, mountain biking, hockey-pond, rink, street varieties, trail running, sap collecting, wood harvesting, all certainly with a measure of inherent risk, but confidence in one just grew to confidence in another. Start 'em when their young, immerse them with similar activities, and in the end you get a pretty well-rounded, capable individual.

Geez, I mean our parents let the woods be our playground and I'm glad they did. I ended up in many situations, even when young, encountering wildlife on my own and such. It was just all a part of it. Even though we had a black bear that regularly slept under our porch on hot, hot summer nights ( those nights were rare mind you, but there was a nice patch of sand he would dig into where it was cooler) they had no qualms about us running around outside the next day after they checked to make sure it was safe. That's life in NH folks. Remember, my folks didn't get a flush toilet in the house until 1987and our two homemade solar panels did quite well too.

[mtruman]

The reason that I spend so much time on this forum and other hiking forums is because of the people (at least the majority). It's one of the reasons that I like hiking so much as well. It isn't just the mountains and the woods and the trails - it's the wonderful people (again the majority) that you meet out there. That's the kind of person that I want my child to be and one of the many reasons that I think kids should be out there.