Fall is finally here and the leaves have turned to their beautiful fall tones. This is the perfect time to take advantage of the North Carolina mountains and take the family for a hike. There are some great hikes within 2-3 hours of Charlotte that are family-friendly and easy to access. Whether you are a seasoned family of hikers or you want to start hiking with your family there are several things to consider before you head out, what gear do you need, what snacks to pack and choosing the right hike for the ages of your children. We have rounded up some expert tips to help get your hiking plans in gear this fall.
Gary Schneider, a PT with OrthoCarolina and Kevin Casey, a PA with OrthoCarolina gave us their expert feedback on everything from preparing kids for hikes to fun games to play on the trail with your kids.
Photo by Josh Willink from Pexels~Total Shape
Both Gary and Kevin agree that the earlier you start hiking with your kids the better. Kevin suggests starting when kids are old enough to ride in a Kelty backpack. Gary agrees that the earlier you start the better and suggests “it is important to find hikes that are the right length and level for the whole family”. When families start hiking early it helps to acclimate children to the sights, sounds and smells of the outdoors as well as instilling an early love of the outdoors. When you can get your kids excited about hiking it is easier to get them to buy in especially when they get older and want to spend more time with their friends than with parents. Gary recommends keeping your child’s interest in mind, “If the kids are excited to be around their friends, see if friends will join. If they’re excited about sports, have them bring a tennis ball or football and play a little catch on the way (assuming the hike allows). If the kids are most excited about reading, tell them to bring a book and read during/at the end of the hike. If the kids are most excited about food, bring a bunch of snacks and distribute them as you hit milestones along the hike. The list goes on!” Kevin believes that it is important to take your child’s temperament into consideration when planning hikes, adventurous kids will enjoy a different type of hike than a more laid back or timid child. In addition, they both agree that the best way to ensure a successful hiking experience for the whole family is to gather information ahead of time to make sure you are aware of the trail terrain, distance, estimated time to complete and weather.
As parents, we know that the minute our kids think they have no access to food they become hungry beyond belief. Kevin and Gary suggest snacks that are nutritious and easy to pack. Here are a few of their top picks for trail snacks in addition to water:
* Fruits – apples, bananas, oranges, etc
* Nuts – trail mix, almonds, cashews, etc
* Turkey/beef jerky
* Bars – granola bars, protein bars, breakfast bars, fruit/nut bars
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Hiking does not have to be an expensive family activity, in most cases, a simple backpack and a good pair of shoes are all that you need to get started. If you decide to start doing longer hikes you may need additional gear but for the most part in the Charlotte area, you can do most of the hikes in tennis shoes. Gear that you may want to consider for longer hikes includes:
* Lightweight backpack (20-35 Liters) for carrying the goods. Having a camelback option is an added bonus
* Camelback or other hydration pack OR a larger water bottle
* Hiking boots – depending on how strenuousness the hike is
* Lighter or dry-fit shirt – and plenty of layers depending on the weather
* Hats
Hiking as a family has so many benefits beyond the physical, allowing kids to take time to explore while hiking and move at their own pace helps them to disconnect from electronics, rejuvenate and have time away from their daily stress. Kevin shared that some of his most deep and sincere conservations with his teens happen on a walk in the woods. It is important to remember that hikes are about the time together not finishing a trail. Both Gary and Kevin emphasized that enjoying the experience is more important than the finish line. One way to help younger kids have fun and keep them engaged is to play some games along the way. Gary’s family plays hide and seek, throw a tennis ball, guess the song, I Spy and “What’s One Time When”. Kevin’s family has some great suggestions for older kids that include “20 questions and “Goin’ on a picnic”. It’s a memory game in which each person takes a turn coming up with an item to take on a picnic but must first remember all the things mentioned prior but in alphabetical order. So person one may want to take an apple. Person 2 says “I’m going on a picnic and I’m taking an apple and (they come up with B) and beef jerky. Person three needs to recall Apple, Beef Jerky and then come up with a ‘c”. It goes on until someone hits. Z. Then everyone needs to recall all 26 items. We often come up with the most un-picnic items to taker just to make the game harder. A recent hike had us taking Hieroglyphics, an Impedimenta Curse, Jock itch (my teenage son’s contribution), and a Klondike Bar among others.”
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Once you are prepared to go now you have to decide where to go! We asked Kevin and Gary to give us their top picks for hikes in the Charlotte area:
- Ribbon Trail in Uptown
- Carolina Thread Trail
- Backyard Trails behind Marion Dehl
- Crowders Mountain State Park
For additional area hikes check out the following sites:
South Charlotte Macaroni Kid Guide to Local Hikes
To learn more about OrthoCarolina or to make an appointment with Gary Schneider or Kevin Casey visit www.orthocarolina.com
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