Take A Hike (No, Really!) - Grandparents.com

Traipsing the trails instills a sense of patience, thought, and most of all, togetherness

Mary Yeo didn't discover hiking until she was in her 40s. Now 72, Yeo is still an avid hiker and mountaineer, but these days, the Maine resident often brings one or more of her 11 grandchildren along on outdoor expeditions.

"It's a natural leap, to share passions with your family," says Yeo, who has traversed peaks around the globe, from Mount Fuji in Japan, to Annapurna in Nepal, and Aconcagua in the Argentinean Andes. "Hiking is something you can do at any age and ability," she says. First, my children got involved, and now the grandchildren."

From infant to age 18, her brood represents a range of interests and skill levels. "We get them started on our backs in a pack, but when they're old enough to walk, they can take short hikes," she says. Start off at a mile or two, and then as the child's interest grows, increase the distance.

The key is to keep it fun — no forced hikes — and be observant. "Watch them. Keep the emphasis on having a good time," says Yeo. "And remember you don't have to get to the top. It's about what you see along the way."

Reene Patterson, 57, agrees that the quickest way to turn children off the hiking experience is to push them too hard, too long, without enough breaks, and without enough to eat and drink. "Listen to them and be flexible," she says. Patterson, who helps develop camping equipment for L.L. Bean in Freeport, Maine, frequently hikes with her grandsons Joe, 3, and Matthew, 5. She has found that a variety of terrain adds to the experience for her

“You don't need to invest in a lot of equipment when they're young. Just get them out on the trail.”

little ones. "Walking along a flat nature trail isn't all that exciting. But kids love to climb over boulders, walk through streams, and navigate hills. They're never happier than when they're scrambling like billy goats."
While she doesn't recommend a pack for a child younger than 6, Patterson has found that grandchildren do like to feel they are part of the team by carrying some of the gear. "They love headlamps, or crank LED flashlights," she says. And a sturdy branch can make the perfect junior-size walking stick.

Safety is always paramount, said Jeff Richards, a hiking and canyoneering guide for Zion Rock & Mountain Guides, just outside Zion National Park in Utah. "Let the kids know that you're out to have fun, and the goal is to respect each other and be safe," says Richards, who takes family hikes with his six nieces and nephews.

"But I don't start out with 'don't do this' and 'don't do that.' They are already having a bad time when they hear that. I do insist that if I ask them to stop whatever they're doing, it's because there is immediate danger," he says. Packing the necessary safety and emergency gear is also a must, as is comfortable footwear. Sturdy sneakers are fine for younger children. "You don't need to invest in a lot of equipment when they're young," says Patterson. "Just get them out on the trail."

Turning a hike into a treasure hunt using pictures of flowers, insects, or wildlife is a good method to engage the youngest hikers. "There's so much to see and talk about along the way," says Richards. Hiking along a river is a popular option, offering the chance to uncover salamanders, chase dragonflies, and imitate the quacking and honking sounds of ducks and geese.

For Yeo, instilling a love of the outdoors in her grandchildren, and giving them a feeling of self-esteem in their physical accomplishments, is a big part of the hiking experience. "It's also real quality time," she says. "Away from phones and computers and television. So many things come up in conversation when you're alone together on the mountain."