Backpacking with Kids: A Guide to the Early Years

[Aaron Zagrodnick]

The challenges that we present to ourselves in the wilderness could include such examples as the planning and initial packweight of a 10 day stretch without resupply, the physicality of hiking those 20+ mile days, or perhaps the gear and logistical considerations of winter backpacking in deep snow and subzero conditions. When family backpacking and with younger children however, some of the challenges that we face in the wilderness will remain, while others will change. In reality, just as on other wilderness excursions we can adapt to the challenges we’ll face while backpacking as a family, and there’s no reason to put those backpacking trips and plans on hold or wait until your kids are older while you only take solo trips in the meantime. The trips truly never need to stop, but if you have a new addition to the family or are thinking about taking the plunge into family backpacking for the first time with younger children, a few adjustments to your strategy, perspective, and routine will of course be needed...

In this Issue 51 Premium Bonus Feature we share a guide on backpacking with kids during those early years - including the first steps, getting older, trip planning & strategy, the unit system, gear, and more. You can read this article in the Issue 51 PDF (included with a Premium TrailGroove Subscription):

Issue 51 PDF

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