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If you’ve read many posts here, you know I talk a lot about hiking and you might be wondering: why so much hiking?
Well, in a word: convenience.
Hiking doesn’t take expensive gear, lots of experience, or lots of time to get started. You can go on a short hike around your local park or even your neighborhood.
Decent shoes are a must, but you don’t have to plunk down $200 for hiking boots right off the bat. Sturdy shoes that are comfortable are enough to get started. Trekking poles (walking sticks) are useful, especially if you have balance issues, but sturdy sticks can be just as functional, and are free.
Grab a bottle of water, tuck a snack in your pocket, and head out the door.
If you’re just starting out, hiking with children can be a good thing. They tend to go slow, which will be helpful as you build your own stamina. If you don’t have kids, just get out and enjoy the outdoors; don’t push for a certain time or distance.
You don’t need to go on an expedition to the Arctic or hike straight up a mountain: you can start walking the trails at your local park. Hiking can even be as simple as walking out your door and going for a walk around your neighborhood.
Hiking around your neighborhood sounds so much more athletic, though, don’t you think?
In fact, when you’re just starting, hiking is like taking a walk, but with better scenery, if you’re in a park.
I think hiking is one of the easiest, gentlest activities to tackle individually or as a family. Running, cycling, skiing, snowshoeing, and so many other activities are fun, but can use a lot of energy that you may not have or require a certain level of expertise or athleticism. Or they require expensive equipment or they’re not inclusive to all ages.
We started going on weekly hikes when River was about two and a half and Ocean was about six months old. I’ve since seen many moms who carry their toddler on their back and their infant on their front as they hike, but that never crossed my mind. Instead, I strapped Ocean on (first to my front, than on my back once he was older) and pushed River in our BOB jogger (ours is about 10 years old, this is a newer version of what we have). It’s a beast and handled the trails beautifully. Though it was a workout pushing River in the 50 pound jogger up tree root-filled hills with Ocean on my back.
I wasn’t sad when River decided he was big enough to walk.
Ocean is now two and still rides on my back for most of the hike, but he walks a little more each week (always at the end, so I don’t have to fight to get him back on my back- did that once, and never again). While it’s sometimes annoying when he stops to check out every leaf, stick, and rock that he sees, he’s learning so much. And being able to go on a hike as a family and discover new things together is such a great opportunity for all of us.
Participating in the 52 Hike Challenge has helped us stay motivated to go on our weekly hikes, and to be more consistent in our hiking habit. Want to join the 52 Hike Challenge too? It’s not too late. The 52 Hike Challenge does not operate on a calendar year, so you can sign up at any time throughout the year, and you have 12 months to complete 52 hikes. Sign up using my link and I’ll earn a small commission at no additional charge to you. My link can be found within this post or the 52 Hike Challenge image on the right (you may need to scroll up a bit).
Any activity that all of us can enjoy together is one worth pursuing, in my book. Now that hiking is an established part of our lives, we’re thinking about what activity we want to add next. Jeremy and I think we’ll add kayaking this spring. It will require equipment (kayaks, paddles, life jackets) and more effort (loading everything on the trailer, unloading, keeping track of toddlers) to do, but I think we’re ready for that.
What activities do you enjoy as a family?
