Hiking Considerations
Hiking Pace
Infants can’t walk, and letting them crawl to your destination is neither timely nor hygenic. So that means that Mom’s going to carry the baby in a backpack and Dad’s going to shoulder the rest of the gear. Dad may be shocked at the realization that he’s not going to get to carry the same sub-twenty pound pack that he gets to carry on a summer trip with his buddies, but rules are rules! The bottom line: you’re both going to be shouldering some weight, so slow down, take it easy, and lower your mileage expectations.
Toddlers, on the other hand, can walk. There are two major problems when hiking with toddlers. First, they hike more slowly than adults, and can tire quickly. Second, they have ideas of their own about the route you carefully planned at the kitchen table–distractions like bugs, moss, and maybe even decaying animal carcasses can all cause deviations from your path.
Our experience is that as a result of these issues, you can only count on hiking about two to four miles per day, a little more for older school-age children or if you are carrying your infant on your back, and perhaps, a little less for preschoolers.
More important than the number of miles you hike is the amount of time you spend on the trail.
If your family can walk five or eight miles a day, great! Realistically, however, you probably should try to limit your time on the trail. You don’t want to rush to flee camp in the mornings, and you don’t want to be setting up camp and cooking dinner in the dark. Give your kids the time to enjoy camping and playing in the wilderness, not just hiking in it. A good rule of thumb for summer: spend about four to five hours on the trail, with plenty of trail time built in for breaks and play.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Introducing your Child to Wonder of Nature
Introducing your Child to Wonder of Nature
Introducing your child to the wonders of nature is one thing–helping them enjoy themselves while preserving your own sanity on a backpacking trip is quite another.
Most parents view backpacking with a child as an arduous, masochistic experience by which Mom carries her screaming infant or drags her whining toddler (or both of them!) up a dusty trail, while Dad shoulders a hundred-pound pack containing gear for the entire family. While this style of family hiking may not lead directly to divorce, it’s certainly going to be unpleasant.
So, let’s do it a different way: we’d like to offer some ideas and insights for parents that have not yet made the plunge into backpacking / camping with their kids and are still blessed with naiveté. At the same time, maybe we can help those that have already experienced the pain and rage of doing it the hard way. And hopefully, even you moms and dads capable of planning and executing flawless adventures with your kids can extract some tidbits to help you on your next hike. (Note: if you fall into this last category, don’t tell anybody – they won’t believe you).
Introducing your child to the wonders of nature is one thing–helping them enjoy themselves while preserving your own sanity on a backpacking trip is quite another.
Most parents view backpacking with a child as an arduous, masochistic experience by which Mom carries her screaming infant or drags her whining toddler (or both of them!) up a dusty trail, while Dad shoulders a hundred-pound pack containing gear for the entire family. While this style of family hiking may not lead directly to divorce, it’s certainly going to be unpleasant.
So, let’s do it a different way: we’d like to offer some ideas and insights for parents that have not yet made the plunge into backpacking / camping with their kids and are still blessed with naiveté. At the same time, maybe we can help those that have already experienced the pain and rage of doing it the hard way. And hopefully, even you moms and dads capable of planning and executing flawless adventures with your kids can extract some tidbits to help you on your next hike. (Note: if you fall into this last category, don’t tell anybody – they won’t believe you).
Camp Lonavala for Moms and Kids
Date: April 25 and 26 - 2009Location: Base Camp Lonavala (Nagargaon, Divya Hill Top Cottages)
Camp Fee: Moms - Rs.2200/-Children - Rs.1850/- (Children’s age limit 6 years to 14 years)
(Note: any kid of age 8 years old or less should be accompanied by a guardian)
(Rs.100/- discount for membersRs.250/- discount for kids below 8 years of age)Includes -
Accommodation (Cottages / Tents (optional)
Food -
Saturday (Breakfast; Lunch; Evening Tea / Snacks; Dinner)Sunday (Breakfast; Brunch; Lunch; Evening Tea and Snacks)Bottled waterPrivate non-AC mini busCertificate of
participationActivities:
http://www.natureknights.com/
You may also call/ sms us at the mobile numbers given below and we would revert back.
9821081566/9619182010/9820169693/9820834622or email us at
info@natureknights.com
Camp Fee: Moms - Rs.2200/-Children - Rs.1850/- (Children’s age limit 6 years to 14 years)
(Note: any kid of age 8 years old or less should be accompanied by a guardian)
(Rs.100/- discount for membersRs.250/- discount for kids below 8 years of age)Includes -
Accommodation (Cottages / Tents (optional)
Food -
Saturday (Breakfast; Lunch; Evening Tea / Snacks; Dinner)Sunday (Breakfast; Brunch; Lunch; Evening Tea and Snacks)Bottled waterPrivate non-AC mini busCertificate of
participationActivities:
- Setting up base camp and tent pitching
- Tribal Craft and treasure hunt
- Boat ride in Pauna lake
- Hill Climbing
- Fort Exploration
- View Sunset from Hill top
- Short Night trek
- Camp Fire
- Brunch with Birds and Butterflies
- Valley Crossing
- Nature Walk
- A visit to village Farm
- Games and Songs
- Windup with Sweet Pills
- One surprise item
- Participation Certificate
http://www.natureknights.com/
You may also call/ sms us at the mobile numbers given below and we would revert back.
9821081566/9619182010/9820169693/9820834622or email us at
info@natureknights.com
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