Well look out-LEAVE YOUR CHILD AT HOME!

[fiddlehead]

Here's the view from the end of that hike.
The beginning was in the background.
[URL="http://[URL=http://s249.photobucket.com/albums/gg201/fiddleheadpa/?action=view&current=IMG_1750.jpg][/URL]"]

[miloandotis]

I think the bottom line is how prepared the parent is, knowing the kids abilities and training them. My kids have been doing day hikes since they could walk...now ages 16, 12 and 9. That means the 12 and 9 year olds started hiking earlier than the 16 yo. Before they could walk, they were in the child carrier. (Ah-ha moment: Since my hubby or I carried a child and the other a backpack with supplies for all, that may explain my lack of care/interest in the UL way---was so used to carrying so much weight from the beginning!!) My 12 and 9 year olds are going to start over nights this year. The only reason we didn't start over nights with them sooner was time and money. If we had those resources earlier, they would already be section hikers by now.

[fins1838]

u a hockey ref? me too

[coach lou]

u a hockey ref? me too

31 seasons, USA HOCKEY & NIHOA. From Tom Leonard Shelter to Pawling there are about a half dozen Prep schools. When I work The Berkshire school early in the day , I hike up to Mt. Everitt and stay in one of the shelters. I got out six times this season, walked all of the trail except Falls Village to St. johns Ledges........and got payed! Of course this non-winter helped.

[Blissful]

I saw a nine yr old girl hike the Presidentials with ease.

Kids these days are not used to ruggedness but easy, couch potato living. I applaud parents willing to expose them to the tough stuff of nature. Bet they can get around rocks easier then us oldie moldies.

[jeffmeh]

Kids are more capable than most think, particularly in this age of "helicopter" parents. Mine started their hiking in a pack on my back before they could walk. My son learned at age 5 the importance of keeping well fed and hydrated, and of regulating body temperature through proper layering. This "teachable moment" presented itself when his refusal to take that advice resulted in a tantrum on Lion's Head, with said tantrum consuming enough time that I had to inform him that we did not have enough daylight left to safely summit Washington. He summitted it a few years later, had all 48 in NH by age 17, and just passed 1,000 miles today at Harpers Ferry on his way to Katahdin.

That said, I was not a novice and clearly understood his limits, which happened to be all mental. Over the years, I have learned many of my limits are the same, lol.

[rocketsocks]

I'm visualizing that old Indian with tear running down his face after seeing a bunch of garbage.

Thread Drift;So I'm watching this show last night(Documentary)on Forest(Asa)Carter,the author of "The outlaw Josey Wales"and in that show they come to a part where they identify the indian in the commercial as no other than"Iron Eye Cody"and he is Italian,not native american,too funny...for me,thanks for your endulgence.just a piece of useless knowledge.

[jersey joe]

IT IS no section hike for kids because of the PA rocks.... IT's just plain wrong...

DO tell.........What is your take on this?

I think you might be being a bit rough on these Dads. My guess is that they are trying to get their kids out and don't totally know exactly what they are getting themselves into. You really don't know what your kids limits are until you try and I give these Dads credit for trying, even if they do push their kids a bit.

My kids are younger, but I take them on hikes a lot. Some days they are full of energy and have no problems, other days they drag and get cranky. Kids are fickle.

I'm actually looking forward to taking my son out on harder and harder hikes and will do my best to gauge his limits, but even I have come down mountains dragging at times...it happens.

[GP1971]

It's easy to judge parents at a distance or when you don't know what else is or has gone on that day. We have 3 under 7. Yes there has been some whining but generally we just encourage and try to get them to understand what they are capable of. I carry our gear for now for day hikes where we have done up to 6 miles over a day while also giving them time to play.

[fredmugs]

I showed my girls pics from McAfee Knob and bet them $10 each they couldn't make it to the top. Needless to say I was out $30.

[coach lou]

Excellent....I never payed off my son for scoring goals, but I pay my step kids for good grades..... I want them out and in college when it's time and in there own place after!!!!!!!

[Nutbrown]

I wish someone would pay me to hike!

[Samson]

I wish someone would pay me to hike!

then join the military lol

[coach lou]

then join the military lol

That is another of todays topics!!

[Nutbrown]

then join the military lol

bwahahahahahah!

[Wise Old Owl]

lens10769341_1272633241military-backpack.jpg I was never a "helicoptor" parent - and yes I can be tough on dads.... I was tough on my kid. He's an Eagle Scout too.

[BJStuart]

Good story - I hope you have many more "Marches" in the future.... I am thinking a few circle trails when young under a mile or two in the woods or beach, but nothing serious until ten to twelve years of age.

My 9 year old was fine on a recent ~5 mile section in MD, with her pack at about 10lbs. Any more I think is too much for her to carry. The next day was shorter and we had a great time!

[buzzamania]

"Wise" old owl. . . I think you should live and let live. As a father to 6 I have spent all of my free time with my family in the woods, hunting (gasp with real guns!) fishing, hiking and especially backpacking, section hiking on the AT etc. Don't lecture. Focus on cutting pack weight, finding or creating a better stove or something that will enrich your experience and let everyone else do the same. How many kids did you say you had again?

[Wise Old Owl]

Buzzamania. Clearly we do not know each other - I have a very different purpose to posting this thread here. As a father to 1and from a family of 4 hikers. I have spent all of my free time with my family in the woods, fishing, hiking and especially backpacking, section hiking on the AT etc.This was simply to focus people that are not WB members to think. Lecture? I do focus on cutting pack weight, finding or creating a better stove or something that will enrich everyone's experience. If you notice the first thread It is tagged for google search engines for noobs to find.

I wrote that after doing the pinnacle and pulpit and watched a bunch of dads carting children down the rocks. Boy Scouts escorted old ladies back to their cars after one mile... you took this personally - I preempted folks that knew what they were doing - like yourself. It's IMO and I approve this message. Don't come to the Hamburg area unless you are prepared and have experience. Feel free to visit - we will have a beer summit at the pinnacle and the pulpit and you can judge first hand the couch potato dads for yourself. Its not personal.

FYI it was to change my dad's 75 year old opinion as well, he had a wonderful time.