Our Weekend Misadventure
A Rough Start
This weekend we made a particularly miserable attempt to backpack with West, who is now three. We walked two tough miles to a campsite, set up a tent, West’s nose started to run, and we packed back up and turned around before staying the night.
What Went Wrong
We were afraid that West might get more sick over the course of the night, but we were also so beat by the time we got to a campsite that we weren’t particularly invested in staying. These outdoor failures hit us hard.
Setting Realistic Expectations
Knowing Your Priorities
I want to preface this by saying backpacking isn’t our greatest passion. Our non-negotiables when it came to having a kid included car camping, hiking, roadtripping, hanging by the river, and being outside during the winter, which usually takes the form of skiing.
Accepting Limitations
Backpacking has always been lower down the list and if this weekend served as an important reminder, it was that we have preserved with a toddler and still really enjoy the things that matter most to us. We don’t have to push through everything.
Lessons Learned from the Trail
The Challenges of Backpacking with a Toddler
Backpacking with a toddler is hard. It just is. It is especially hard with a three-year-old. They are getting heavy but still can’t hike all that far so you can’t go deep. Their opinions are louder, as is their whining. You need more gear for a third person and they aren’t going to carry it. We found two years old to be slightly easier, but only because he was lighter.
The Weight Factor
The Trail Magik has pros and cons. I am really glad that someone invented the Trail Magik, which is a sling to carry your child in front while you have a load in back, but I will admit I find it pretty uncomfortable. It ultimately puts more weight on your shoulders and no matter how inventive the product, there is no getting around the fact that carrying a toddler in front and a pack on back is just heavy. I can’t go more than a mile or so carrying West this way without needing a break.
The Opinionated Toddler
Plan short trips. We did enjoy our first backpacking excursion when West was two because we only hiked a mile in. One measly mile, but we got to enjoy the wilderness and test run our system, which made it feel comfortable. On our most recent excursion, we only went two miles in, but it might as well have been ten. I was beat from carrying West and from trying to move him along when he was hiking on his own. It was not relaxing.
Evaluating Gear
Good gear is key. We do really like our backpacking setup, which we have shared about here.
Practical Tips for Occasional Backpackers
Keep it Short
We did enjoy our first backpacking excursion when West was two because we only hiked a mile in. One measly mile, but we got to enjoy the wilderness and test run our system, which made it feel comfortable. On our most recent excursion, we only went two miles in, but it might as well have been ten. I was beat from carrying West and from trying to move him along when he was hiking on his own. It was not relaxing.
Focus on What You Love
I suppose this could be viewed as a post about failure and defeat, but our most recent failures were more liberating for me than anything. It made me realize we have devoted our time and energy to the things we love outdoors the most and that we should just focus on them. Having kids brings clarity to where you most want to spend your time.
Embracing Outdoor Failures
Learning from Setbacks
Our most recent failures were more liberating for me than anything. It made me realize we have devoted our time and energy to the things we love outdoors the most and that we should just focus on them.
Staying True to Your Passions
Having kids brings clarity to where you most want to spend your time.
