Our little hiker

Aaron has become quite the little hiker! A couple of weekends ago we took him hiking at a nearby trail. We brought the pack thinking he would walk a bit and then want to be carried. Boy were we shocked when he hiked almost four miles! 

What is also impressive it that we weren't hiking slow. It was a little slower than John and I would hike if it were just us. However, we were not just on a little stroll. Nope, Aaron was almost jogging for most of the hike! We were pretty proud of our little guy. A delicious brownie back at the car was the perfect ending to the day!

Hopefully Aaron's love for hiking and the mountains will continue to grow. He has been on many hikes, starting when he was just a few months old. Of course he was carried on those trips! Once he was walking well, we started having him hike a bit on his own. We try to make it fun for him, and we never have too many expectations. The goal is always to get outside and have fun. If we don't make it very far, it's no big deal. If he wants to stop and play in the dirt or throw rocks in the water, great! 

Since Aaron is not even three yet, we obviously haven't been doing this for very long!  So far we have had many successful trips with Aaron. It certainly helps that Aaron seems to naturally enjoy hiking. John and I both grew up hiking. Thanks to our parents, we developed our love for the outdoors as children and we are hoping it will be the same for Aaron. If those of you with children would like to get out for some hikes, here are our ideas, tips and supplies that we find give young kids the best chance for success.

What to bring when hiking with kiddos:

Plenty of warm clothes are a must! Lots of layers are important, a sweatshirt and water resistant jacket work well. We always pack a warm hat, mittens and snow pants, just in case. Good shoes and warm socks. Sun protection is important, we always bring a hat and sunscreen. Sunglasses are good to bring, although Aaron doesn't keep them on very well. Water. We bring a water bottle for each of us. Snacks! Aaron loves to stop for snacks. Salami, cheese and granola bars are some favorites.

Tips for hiking with kids: 

Like I mentioned before, we don't go out for a hike with many expectations. Taking it easy and stopping for plenty of breaks has worked well. Encourage, encourage, encourage. We are very positive with Aaron while hiking. Giving him sticks and rocks to play with and carry seems to help (as does being dragged by the dog when she's on the leash). Pointing out wildlife and wildflowers helps to keep him interested. Playing little games along the way. Sometimes we pretend to be race cars or jeeps while we hike. Don't forget to climb on some rocks!

Things we love for hiking with our little guy:

The Deuter Kid Carrier!  Aaron usually hikes in Keens or the knock off keens from Kolhs. Warm socks that dry quickly such as Smartwool socks. We have always used California Baby sunscreen on Aaron. A water bottle that won't easily spill like the Camelbak Eddy.