Outdoor travel tips - Pitstops for Kids

Preparing kids for mountain biking adventures

March 29, 2016 By Amy Hagstrom

When it comes to mountain biking, kids and younger riders are often left behind. For many, the sport is viewed as dangerous and not fit for kids. However, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Mountain biking is a great sport for kids of all ages. While they may be limited to safer trails in the beginning, kids can enjoy the perks of off-road biking all the same.

Mountain biking offers a number of benefits that kids can take advantage of. Not only is it enjoyable, but it’s a great opportunity for kids to explore the world around them while getting some exercise. Families that ride together also have the chance to bond as they make their way through a trail.

Before you venture off, you should prepare your child for what’s to come. Mountain biking is very different from a casual ride through the park. Whether the child is apprehensive about their first foray off-road or excited to explore some trails, you should prepare them to make the trip safe and fun.

Get in Physical and Mental Shape for Mountain Biking Adventures

Depending on your child, you may have to do a bit of ongoing physical and mental preparation prior to your first ride. As with adults, being in great shape is a necessity. Even on smoother trails designed for beginners, obstacles will demand a lot from riders. It’s a good idea to do a bit of physical conditioning.

This can include fun and enjoyable workouts that appeal to kids. Instead of a staunch exercise regime, you can play physically demanding games that push the child’s body. The better shape the kid is in, the better they will be at biking safely.

In addition to physical preparation, you should speak to them about what they can expect. They should understand the types of obstacles they’ll face and how to get over them. If the child is a bit nervous, mental preparation will ensure that they face their fears safely. The same goes for a kid that’s overconfident in their skills.

Gather the Right Equipment

It’s crucial to choose the right bike for going through a trail. Kid bikes can be a bit tougher to fit than adult bikes. It’s a good idea to let the child be a part of the decision process. Not only will they enjoy choosing something they like, but you’ll be able to teach them how to properly fit the bike and what types of things they should look for.

A solid frame and large wheels are always a good thing to look for. This will make the bike easier and more comfortable to ride. Obviously, higher end components like brakes and shifters are a good idea. However, if you’re on a budget, a solid frame with basic components is a good place to start. You can always upgrade components as the child grows and improves.

The bike should fit the child perfectly. A bike that’s too small or too large can lead to falls and injuries. Make sure that the child sits on the bike and takes a ride on flat ground prior to making a purchase.

In addition to the bike, safety equipment is a must. The kid will need a high-quality helmet to protect them from bumps and falls. Protective clothing and guards will also help keep them safe throughout the ride.

Pre-ride Training

The feeling of riding off-road is something that requires a bit of getting used to. It’s never a good idea to just hit the trail and hope for the best. Children need to know what to expect in terms of terrain. Starting off on some grass will give them an idea of what to expect.

A park with numerous hills will expose them to the feeling of riding down a slope. Even something as simple as riding off of a small curb is beneficial. This will allow them to learn how to maneuver different obstacles and terrain as well as how to ride in different positions. For even more training, parents can set up a small course in the backyard that teaches them how to get through basic hazards.

Start Off Easy

Make the first trail ride the child takes an easy one. Simple trails with minimal obstacles will allow the kid to ease into the sport. Dirt roads or jeep trails are perfect for kids just starting out. These trails provide the feeling of off-road biking while allowing the kid to build their strength and comfort level.

Parents and experienced riders should hang back. Never stray too far from the child, just in case they need your help. By letting them take the lead, you can follow along at a comfortable pace and make judgment calls on when to rest. The child should be able to ride as please without feeling pressured to attempt something harder. Without being pushed, kids will naturally improve and move on to more difficult trails at their own pace.

Learning Techniques Safely

As the child improves, it’s important that you teach them how to ride technically. You can do this by introducing simple moves and techniques throughout the ride. Of course, you should never pressure them to try something they’re not comfortable with. While it may seem easy to you, a young child may find it terrifying.

Constant affirmation and praise will help them learn with time. Technical riding is crucial, and it’s good to start teaching children as soon as possible so that they adopt good riding habits in the future. Things like steering, riding positions, and obstacle maneuvers are all good things to learn.

As the child learns, it’s important to monitor them at all times. Kids are notorious for being overconfident. In the sport of mountain biking, overconfidence can be dangerous. They should learn new techniques while also being aware that of what can go wrong.

All in all, taking your kid out to the trail with you doesn’t have to be difficult. It can be incredibly fun and rewarding to ride a mountain trail with a kid. All it takes is proper preparation and patience to teach kids how to ride safely. Before long, the child will be your go-to riding buddy for all of your mountain biking adventures.

PCT section hiking with teens

August 12, 2015 By Amy Hagstrom

We’ve been wanting to backpack on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) long before it was cool. This summer, my 16-year-old and I finally set out, tackling almost 70 miles of the PCT in Central Oregon. We built up to this trip with years of family backpacking, including several 3-4 night trips, starting when my son was just a toddler. How did we fare? We had one of our best backpacking trips ever!

Our PCT section hike spanned over 65 miles from Central Oregon’s Mckenzie Pass by Sisters to Olallie Lake, outside Detroit, Oregon. It took us through the Jefferson National Forest and Jefferson Park, past the three Sisters peaks, Broken Top, Three Fingered Jack, Mount Washington, and Mount Jefferson. Every day brought new scenery, from forests depleted by fire to mountain meadows still filled with wildflowers, to rushing creek crossings, to mountain ridge lines, saddles, and peaks.

My son and I felt a keen sense of accomplishment as we navigated landmarks along the trail with our PCT data book and topographical maps, found our own water resupplies, made and broke down camp every night and morning, carried everything we needed on our backs, and relied entirely upon each other for basic survival. This trip was a chance for my son to shine as a young man, for me to let go a bit as a mom, and for both of us to bond. We met amazing people on the PCT, both fellow section hikers like us and thru-hikers going to Canada. The community spirit was uplifting, the scenery breathtaking, and the uninterrupted time in the wilderness invigorating.

A day in the life of a PCT section hiking with teens:

Each section hike will look different, depending on where you start and end, of course, but a typical day on the PCT for us looked something like this:

7 am: Wake up. Stumble out of sleeping bags on stiff legs, retrieve the food bag (hung in the night to discourage critters from nibbling), and start boiling water for coffee and oatmeal (assuming we had enough water to spare for a hot meal).

8 am: Change into hiking clothes (our only hiking clothes), doctor any blisters on our feet, and tear down camp. This involves washing any dishes (we quickly learned to have as few as possible), putting away our stove and cooking pot, stuffing our sleeping bags and pads, taking down our little tent, and filling our water bottles for the day.

8:30 am: Hit the trail. Depending on the day, we hiked between 10-15 miles. Some days, we took a break mid-morning at a water source to cook a meal if we hadn’t had enough water to do so earlier, other days we hiked straight until lunch. When is lunch? When we were hungry. Regular rules about meals and routine don’t matter on the PCT: our bodies very quickly adjusted to a natural rhythm of eating when we were hungry and sleeping when we were tired.

Mid-day stop at a vista, lake, stream, or otherwise interesting landmark: Some days, we’d go for a swim in a lake if one crossed our path, other days we washed our clothes in a creek or sat on the saddle of a ridge, taking in the view.

Late-day stop: We’d always stop at least once or twice per day to filter more drinking water as the opportunity arose. We had to keep a steady eye on our drinking supply and the water sources listed in our data book. Every day, we ran into others on the trail, and we always stopped to talk a bit. We met wonderful people, all on the PCT for essentially the same reasons as us: to commune with nature, to challenge themselves, and to live deliberately and peacefully.

5-6 pm: Arrive at the night’s camp. Where was camp? Wherever we could find one. We always had an ‘ending mile’ planned (aka, mile 14 of the day, for instance) that was near some landmark desirable for camping, such as a lake or stream. However, campsites didn’t always appear on cue. We sometimes stopped shy of our goal, but more often hiked further, in order to come to a good campsite.

7 pm: Set up camp, make dinner (usually mashed potatoes or noodles, as we always craved carbs), and filter water, unless at a dry camp. If we had wet clothes we’d washed in a lake or stream, we hung them to dry.

8 pm: Do any dishes (remembering to follow Leave No Trace practices), string up the food bag, make sure all our supplies are tucked away in our bags, get in our sleeping bags. Once in our sleeping bags, we’d study our topographical map to get a preview of the next day’s hike, then read our books until we fell asleep (usually as the sun went down around 9 pm).

How to plan:

Readers of Pit Stops for Kids may remember we started planning our PCT section hike months ago, using information gleaned from PCTA.org. Click on our post, ‘How to plan a multi-night PCT hike with kids’ for details on how we chose when and where to hike.

Since that post, our section hike plan changed a few times. We lost some participants, making the trip a mother-son endeavor, and gained support via car in the form of a trailhead drop-off on Day 1, a check-in and resupply late Day 2, and a pick-up on Day 6.

Once we knew where we wanted our hike to start and end, and how many days we had to accomplish our goal, it was a simple task to break down the trip in miles per day. We then cross-referenced this information with the possible ‘drops’ along the trail (places we could be met by others who could give us aid), and determined to have just one drop during our 6 days out. To do all this, we used the Pacific Crest Trail Data Book and the topographical map dedicated to Central Oregon’s section of the PCT (available at outdoor stores or online).

The data book will tell you where along the trail water will be available (in the form of a creek, stream, pond, or lake), but does not tell you where to find campsites (though some GPS programs do). In many sections of the PCT, hikers are permitted to camp anywhere they find an established campsite. You can tell an established site because the ground will be packed down and there may be a small spur trail leading to it from the PCT. Often, other hikers will mark good campsites with cairns (piles or rock), handmade signs using sticks for arrows on the dirt, or trail marking tape.

How to pack:

When we backpack for a weekend or up to three days, we like a few luxuries in our packs, such as hammocks, camp chairs, and java presses. I know, I know. But when we section hiked the PCT, we went bare bones, in order to be as lightweight as possible. Here was what was in our packs (and nothing else), for a total of about 25 pounds per pack:

Clothing:

1 set of hiking clothing (quick dry pants, t-shirt)
3 pairs wool hiking socks
2 pairs underwear
1 set of base layers (long underwear, preferably wool)
1 down or down-alternative jacket (lightweight, easily stuff-able)
1 rain jacket
1 pair of lightweight sandals
1 pair hiking boots
sunglasses
sun hat
thin gloves

Equipment (divided between two people):

backpacking pack that fits your body: I use Osprey Aura. Teen uses Granite Gear Leopard.
1 2-person lightweight tent: we use the Kelty Trail Ridge 2
sleeping pad: we like the tiny size and comfort of Sea to Summit Comfort Plus
sleeping bag: Kelty Trail Logic (packs down so small!) and Eureka Dual Temp
1 cooking pot: GSI Dualist (we took out some bowls to minimize)
1 small bowl (see above, though I did also bring my Sea to Summit collapsible bowl)
1 spork
1 mug (optional)
water filter/pump: I love the ease of a gravity-based system. We use Platypus GravityWorks.
rag for dishwashing
water bottle or hydration pack: I like my Osprey hydration bladder.
1 extra small water container (I use a collapsible Platypus bladder)
1 headlamp (plus extra batteries): Snow Peak is my absolute favorite.
3 fuel canisters
1 backpacking stove: Snow Peak Gigapower
pair of trekking poles: Kelty Upslope…we rented these from GetOutfitted, then bought them.
map and data book (only pages needed)
1 paperback to read at night
first aid kit (small): Adventure Medical Kits has a nice small one.
toothpaste and toothbrush
bandana
bear spray canister (optional)
lightweight backpacking shovel and TP
lightweight rope (to hang food at night, except in areas bear canisters are required)

Food (again, divided between us):

We have a tendency to over-pack food, and we managed to do this again, even though we meticulously planned our meals. We have much smaller appetites than we anticipated, given how much we worked on the trail. We could barely manage to eat about 300 calories each during the evening meal, and we calculated double this amount. Whoops.

Breakfasts:

instant oatmeal packets (mix the hot water right into the paper sleeves if they’re the lined kind)
instant coffee (for us, only Starbucks VIA will do)
handful of dried fruit

Lunches:

protein bar of your choice
dried fruit
veggie chips or pita chips
tube of peanut butter to spread on chips
envelope of tuna
beef jerky
snickers bar or M&Ms to snack on

Dinners (one of the following):

instant mashed potatoes (we like Idahoan)
Top Ramen
dehydrated backpacking meal
mac and cheese
instant soup
envelope of smoked salmon or jerky to add to the carb-heavy meals

We essentially rotated these basic foods over and over. And yes, we got tired of them.

Tips we learned on the trail:

Look for trail signs: while many places along the PCT are not officially marked with mileage and other helpful tidbits, other hikers have often left signs to follow. Look for cairns that will direct you to the correct trail, or hand-scratched ‘pct’ letters in logs or even rocks. During one lucky moment, someone just ahead of us on the trail had made an arrow of sticks to indicate a hidden spur trail to an excellent camping site. When we met her later, we thanked her! Another time, we were almost out of water when we ran across a stick with these words in Magic Marker: “Washington Pond: 1/4 mile, muddy but if desperate?!” We were!

Stop to talk with other hikers. They’re awesome, down to a person.

Let your kids have responsibilities. During our hike, my son was pretty much an equal with me, making important decisions and partnering in all the tasks and work. We both loved this. He’s preparing for bigger and longer hikes in his future, and I will know he’s prepared.

Stop to rest when it feels right. A few times on the trail, we pushed ourselves for no reason other than to ‘make good time’. When the only task of the day is to hike to the day’s destination, don’t be afraid to spend the whole day doing it.

Eat when you’re hungry. Once, we stopped at a creek mid-hike and decided to get out the stove and make a big bowl of chowder at 3 pm. It was supposed to be our dinner, but we wanted it then. We didn’t regret it.

Don’t duplicate equipment. It seems silly now, but we brought two stoves (very small and lightweight) and two pots (not so lightweight). We thought we might want to convenience of boiling two pots of water simultaneously (to have coffee and oatmeal at the same time, for example). We ended up preferring to have patience rather than carry the extra weight.

Issues to be prepared for:

When hiking most of the day, every day (regardless of mileage), certain physical issues may occur. It’s not fun to talk about, but…

Chaffing: Skin rubbing against skin for hours at a time can cause major discomfort in sensitive areas. The solution: antibiotic ointment or Vasoline applied before hiking. It can also help to change underwear.

Diarrhea: Lots of water, plus lots of physical exertion, plus exposure to the elements and different food than usual can wreak havoc on the digestive system. Give it a day or two before worrying, making sure you continue to hydrate. Of course, make sure to filter or boil all water.

Bad moments: There will be low moments. Maybe the incline in the trail will seem endless, or a wind and hailstorm will beat down. Maybe you’ll be thirsty or hungry or your feet will be in agony. It’s good for kids (and adults) to remember that pain, discouragement, and suffering can be temporary, and that they can get through these times. Truly.

Blisters: AKA, the bane of my existence on the trail. I always get blisters, no matter what preventative measures I take. Bring lots of moleskin and athletic tape, use skin-tac to make your skin around the blister tacky before applying moleskin or bandages, and make sure your shoes fit properly. If you have tips for avoiding or fixing blisters on the trail, please let me know.

Dehydration: Ask your hiking partner when he or she peed last. Trust me, it’s an acceptable question on the trail.

Was it all worth it? Absolutely. Would we do it again? We definitely will, in-between more 2-3 day backpacking trips with all the kids.

GetOutfitted camping gear review

July 31, 2015 By Amy Hagstrom

Remember our #1 ski tip from last winter? We described how to use GetOutfitted to outfit yourself, or supplement your outfit, for winter sports. We used GetOutfitted to ‘rent’ a pair of ski pants for my husband, who didn’t want to invest in a new pair mid-way through the ski season. Now, GetOutfitted is also renting camping gear.

I am in love with this idea. Even though we personally own all our own camping gear, we know many families who do not, and I have seen how it limits their ability to explore the outdoors. After all, who wants to buy the entire collection of gear needed to go camping when they’re still trying it out? With GetOutfitted, families can rent a ready-made camping package that includes a tent, sleeping bags, and sleeping pads, or rent things a la carte, like lights, stoves, backpacks, and trekking poles. Backpacking packages are also available (they include the same basic items as in the camping package, plus a backpack).

Kelty quality:

One potential problem of a system like GetOutfitted is that families new to camping may not know if the gear they’re renting is quality stuff. Thanks to my job as an outdoor gear reviewer and decades of outdoor experience, I can tell you GetOutfitted is using good gear. Their tents and bags are new Kelty models; in fact, the Trail Ridge tents and PDa pads are the exact items we have at home. They trade out their gear regularly, upgrading just as they do their ski gear.

Cost:

Packages vary, obviously, but a basic camping package for a family of four comes to $159 for a three-day rental. Should a family buy each item, the cost would be well over $1000. If you decide to camp regularly, I’d recommend buying your own equipment, of course, but if you just camp once a year, GetOutfitted is the way to go. Plus, if you rent, you don’t have to store all this stuff in your garage or basement all year!

How it works:

Even though we have gear, we wanted to try GetOutfitted’s summer stuff before recommending it. Last week, my oldest son and I hiked 65 miles along the Pacific Crest Trail, and we decided to supplement our gear with an item I’ve been wanting for a while, but haven’t bought: trekking poles. We rented trekking poles from GetOutfitted, which are only $9 for a three-day rental. After ordering online, I got a tracking code immediately, and they arrived in just a few days. There’s free shipping both ways, and when we returned, we simply put the poles back in the supplied packaging and sent them back.

It was a great way to try out trekking poles and decide if they’d be worth the investment. Our verdict: my son and I both loved them and will plan on buying pair of our own. The best part: at the end of each season, renters have the option of buying the gear they used. We bought our trekking poles at a discount off the retail price.

Want more camping info? Get Pit Stops for Kids’ camping gear list!

Disclosure: We were invited to try GetOutfitted’s summer camping line free of charge, for the purpose of review. All opinions remain our own.

Weekend Guide to the CA Redwoods

June 15, 2015 By Amy Hagstrom

We’re a family who loves spending our vacation days in the wilderness, and few places are as wild and beautiful as the Northern California and Southern Oregon Redwoods. However, we prefer hiking into isolated backcountry sites to campgrounds, and while the Redwoods feature some of the most stunning scenery I’ve seen, the trails are short in length, without ample backpacking options.

Because of this technicality, we passed over this region far too long. At the end of May, we decided to rethink the Redwoods, creating an itinerary for ourselves that included multiple short day hikes sandwiched by a fun cabin stay at the Crescent City/Redwoods KOA.The Redwood groves in this area pocket coastal forests between Eureka, California and Brookings, Oregon. If they had a ‘Redwood capital’, it would be Crescent City, California, which can be accessed either from the coast along Highway 101 (from north or south) or via the scenic Redwoods Highway (Hwy 199) from I-5 in Southern Oregon.

Either route will drop your family into increasingly beautiful scenery. Along less than 20 miles of coastline, the Rogue, Smith, and Chetco rivers all flow into the ocean, all of which feed Redwood groves with nutrient rich flood waters. The forests here are damp, with a ground cover of ferns and moss and nurse logs that invite kids to explore and parents to breathe deep and feel rejuvenated.

We started feeling the effects of the magical Redwoods as we drove down Highway 101 past Gold Beach and Brookings, watching the Pacific crash from the car windows. For our introductory hike in the Redwoods, we detoured to drive six miles inland up the Chetco river to Alfred Loeb State Park to try the Redwood Nature Trail. We hiked several looped miles, gaping at the tall trees, pointing out banana slugs and salamanders, and climbing over root systems, then piled back in the car to check out our digs for the next two days: a deluxe cabin at the Crescent City/Redwoods KOA.

As a family who prefers isolation to crowds, we’ve been unsure about KOAs in the past…until we started trying them in earnest a year ago. What we discovered: KOAs have changed since I was a kid. Each location is different, but most now offer a combination of resort amenities paired with natural offerings like pretty campsites and rustic lodging that can be perfect as a ‘base camp’ for an outdoor-focused trip.

The Crescent City/Redwoods KOA is situated on a grassy field and Redwood grove (yes, really!) just a few miles from the hikes we’d planned. The RV spots and check-in area are in the open field, but drive down the narrow dirt roads that weave among the Redwood grove, and you’ll find lovely tent camping sites and rustic cabins that are on par for beauty with the best state park campgrounds in the area.

We stayed in a deluxe cabin, which upgraded us from the standard amenities of the rustic cabins (electricity and heaters) to include a full bathroom with shower and a kitchenette (with microwave, sink, mini fridge and coffee maker). The main room included a queen bed, and a cozy annex housed a built-in bunk bed. We also had a TV (not necessary) and WIFI (very convenient for writing down thoughts for this review!). Our little patio included an outdoor fire pit and picnic table, plus covered porch.

Unlike the standard cabins, deluxe cabins are located in the RV loop, which made me long to be tucked away in the woods. However, the kids liked being steps away from the bike rentals and game room (with ping pong and fusbol), and we had a nice field to look out over. We spent our first night settling into our cabin and grilling dinner, then the subsequent day hiking additional Redwood trails, playing in the ocean, and walking along the Smith River. Every trailhead and beach was within 25 minutes of the KOA. Every time we returned to the campground, the kids scattered to play ping pong, explore the wooded loop, where they climbed on nurse logs and Redwood stumps, and visit the goats and chickens in the KOA petting zoo.

Redwoods Hikes:

Redwood Nature Trail: This trail is actually a trail network of multiple loops that wind upslope of the Chetco River. You see multiple redwoods and other pines, as well as a clear, cold creek. Be sure to pay attention to which turns you take in order to find your way back to the start, as it’s not as well marked as we would like. Directions: from Highway 101, turn east at Constitution Way to North Bank Chetco Road. Go 7.5 miles to Alfred Loeb State Park. The trailhead is half a mile past the entrance.
Simpson Reed Grove Trail: One of the most stunning trails through old growth redwoods, this trail is less than one mile and is easy to follow and well-marked. There’s an extra loop, the Peterson Memorial Grove, that extends the hike if desired. Also nearby is Stout Grove, an even shorter trail with breathtaking views. Directions: from Highway 199 (Redwood Highway), find the trailhead just before Jedediah Smith State Park, right off 199.

Boy Scout Tree Trail: One of the longer hikes in the area, the Boy Scout trail is 2.8 miles. It passes through the Valley of the Giants to conclude at the Boy Scout Tree and Fern Falls. If you have a full day to explore one trail, this is the one. Directions: From Highway 101 South, take Elk Valley Road to Howland Road to the trailhead. The drive is 25 minutes from the Crescent City/Redwoods KOA.

Nearby beaches:

Head just a few miles north from the KOA on Highway 101, and you’ll be in Oregon. Our favorite beaches include:

Harris Beach State Park: this beach is characterized by plenty of beach access and sandy space with large rock formations. There are picnic areas as well. Find it right off Highway 101 north of Brookings, Oregon.
Whaleshead Beach: Whaleshead is just a bit further north of Harris Beach, with parking on the east side of the highway and a pedestrian tunnel to the beach. Kids love the creek that runs into the ocean and lots of rock formations.

River Access worth exploring:

Head up Highway 199 just past Jedediah Smith State Park, and swim (in summer) in the Smith River. Families will find swimming holes directly off the road at pull-outs. The Chetco River also offers great wading and swimming at Alfred Loeb State Park east of Brookings. Look for the day use area at the campground.

No matter what you do in the Northern California and Southern Oregon Redwoods, plan to stay at least 2-3 days to get a feel for this region.

Win a KOA stay!

There are KOA campgrounds all over the US, and they all differ in personality, setting, and amenities, which makes each stay actually more interesting and adventurous. Read more stories of KOA stays. Want to have your own KOA adventure? Enter to win a stay at Trekaroo!

Disclosure: This post was written in partnership with KOA. All activities were planned by us, and all opinions are our own.

How to plan a multi-night PCT hike with kids

April 20, 2015 By Amy Hagstrom

If you backpack with kids, your family will eventually become interested in tackling an iconic backpacking route such as the Pacific Crest Trail. Unless you have a lot of time and stamina, you probably aren’t ready to through-hike the PCT, but a shorter PCT hike with kids is absolutely possible.

Planning a PCT backpacking trip is complicated, so we turned to the experts before planning ours. The folks at pcta.org put us in touch with trail expert Dana Hendricks, who has led volunteer crews for AmeriCorps, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, and the American Hiking Society. She has through-hiked much of the PCT herself. We asked Dana the following questions as we set to work planning our hike.

Who should go?

Dana recommended anyone planning to hike a section of the PCT ‘warm up’ with day hikes or shorter overnight backpacking trips. Our family backpacks regularly, but never more than four days at a time. Because this trip would be at least one week on the trail, we decided two adults and the teens would backpack the entire trip, and another adult and the youngest (10 years old) would meet us for three days of the trip.

Where should we go?

The PCT is three states long, and not all sections are created equal. Our first question for Dana focused on where we should spend the seven days we decided to devote to the PCT. The good news: many people opt for day or section hikes on the PCT, so there’s a lot of research out there. Dana suggested we pick up PCT books at pcta.org to find the best section for our needs. The Day and Section Hikes series are excellent: we found detailed information on starting and ending points, and trail conditions and elevations.

Dana told us the PCT was designed as a stock trail, so the grade is 10% or less. This means most sections are suitable for kids who are used to hiking. There were no sections she felt were ‘off limits’ due to terrain. There are, however, dry sections which require carrying more water, and sections where snow may be a factor. For the sake of simplicity, we decided to eliminate these areas (the CA desert, Crater Lake, and the high Sierras). We also eliminated any areas without many landmarks to make the hike interesting, or areas that may be crowded with day hikers.

After studying day and section hike books, and looking at our own needs for bodies of water (lakes or streams) and forest, we decided on a section in Central Oregon. Our route, which we’ll tackle in July, spans approximately 90 miles from Elk Lake Resort, through Sisters, to Olallie Lake. Here’s a screen shot of our route:

How long to stay out?

How long our 90 mile route would take us depended entirely on our hiking speed, of course. While many PCT hikers crush the trail, hiking up to 20 miles a day or more, we wanted a more leisurely pace. We used PCT Planner (above) to gauge our distance and time on the trail. It was easy: we just input our starting and ending points, then added our planned hiking time per day. At the pace we felt comfortable with, we’d spend seven days on the trail. This would be longer than our longest backpacking trip so far, which led us to our next question…

How to plan food drops?

Dana explained that most PCT hikers arrange to have food drops well before their trip. Hikers can mail food to themselves to post offices along the trail, but the idea of leaving the trail and restarting during such a short trip didn’t appeal to us. Instead, we’ve decided to have friends and family meet us on the trail with a resupply of food. We have this luxury because the PCT section we’ve decided to hike is within a few hours’ drive of our home. We know we can comfortably carry four days’ worth of food from previous trips. We will be met on the trail by family members at the end of Day 3, which will coincide with our path through Sisters. We couldn’t arbitrarily decide when they’d meet us, however: there are set places where it’s easy to access the PCT, and we needed to plan our reunion accordingly. Another way to tackle food drops is to have a non-hiking friend or family member meet you with food at a designated trailhead en route. All re-entry points along the trail are listed on PCT Planner.

How light should we pack?

While we backpack regularly, we’re not what you’d call ultra-light backpackers. We like our luxuries, like hammocks and coffee presses. While Dana agreed with me that some of these items will need to be left at home to leave room for more food, she did remind me not to compromise on any items that keep us warm and dry. A full list of tips for backpacking with kids can be found here. In short, we needed layers, waterproof clothing, shelter in the form of a lightweight tent, food and cooking supplies. We will bring books and a deck of cards, but no other major luxuries. By keeping our packs light, we’ll adjust more quickly to seven days of hiking. Tip: For basics in backpacking gear for kids, check our Backpacking Gear page and How to Plan a Multi-Day Backpacking Trip.

How best to follow Leave No Trace principles on the trail?

We always practice Leave No Trace while in the wilderness, and we wondered whether it would be harder than usual to find established camp sites en route on the PCT. Dana says no: we’ll be able to find established sites virtually everywhere on the trail. She reminded me to camp 100 feet from water sources, and to leave recovering sites alone if possible.

Additional PCT hikes suggested by Dana and PCTA:

There are many other route options for families looking to hike a section of the PCT, of course. Dana also suggests Mt Hood National Forest from Lost Lake to Wahtum Lake to Eagle Creek (a PCT alternate) into the Columbia Gorge or Rock and Snag Creeks, near Bridge of the Gods in Washington. Dana describes the latter as kid-friendly, as either a short out and back day trip or a 22 mile section hike. Find additional staff recommendations here.

Leave No Trace principles every family needs to know

April 6, 2015 By Amy Hagstrom

With Earth Day coming up later this month, April is the perfect time to talk about caring for our public lands. My kids have heard the Leave No Trace mantra since early childhood, but it’s always good to brush up on best practices for preserving the wilderness we love.

This season, Leave No Trace launches a multi-year, Leave No Trace in Every Park campaign. Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers will be visiting ‘hot spots’ across the country (severely impacted areas), giving them attention and helping educate the public. I was lucky enough to sit down with one of them to ask top questions most families have about leaving a lesser impact on the wilderness.

Q: I am aware of the seven principles of Leave No Trace. Is there a ‘crowning’ principle in particular families would bear in mind while in the outdoors?

We encourage people to think of the cumulative impact as a crowning idea for the principles. Over one billion people visit federal and state lands each year. If one person leaves an impact such as litter, feeds wildlife, takes an item out the environment, or walks on a non-durable surface it will not impact the outdoor area significantly, but the cumulative effect of these impacts happening repeatedly over time would have a dramatic impact.

Q: How does trail cutting or ‘bush-whacking’ hurt the wilderness environment?

We encourage people to walk in the middle of the trails even when they are muddy. If you walk around the mud you will erode the sides of the trail making it wider and you could crush vegetation on the edge of trails.

As trails widen vegetation diminishes and eventually land management agencies will have to fix the trail. Along the same lines, we encourage people to not cut switchbacks since it can result in the hillsides between the trail to erode.

If a group of people wants to hike off trail we encourage them to disperse, rather than hike in a single file. By dispersing people won’t step on the same spot, which can cause a new undesignated trail to form.

Q: Could you describe best practices for finding a suitable campsite in backcountry situations when established sites are rare?

If established sites are rare and the land management agency does not have designated spots that are provided for campers to use we recommend the following considerations. Camp 200 feet (the equivalent to 70 adult paces and 100 kid paces) away from water, trails, and other campsites. Find the most durable surface available such as rock, sand, snow, or dry grass to camp on. If you find a site that is showing some signs of impact, such as significant soil compaction, stay there, but if it is only showing small signs of impact leave it alone for the area to recover. Move on to another more durable site that is showing no signs of impact. Bonus: dish washing tips and car camping tips!

Q: What’s the best way to completely put a fire to ash and ensure it’s safely out before leaving?

Fires are a great part of camping; they give us light, warmth, and s’mores! Making sure that we are responsible with our fires ensures safety for you, other visitors, and wildlife.

Before having a fire, ensure that they are allowed in the area you are camping in.

Ensuring that your campfire is out completely before you leave or go to bed is a very important part of camping. First, choose firewood that is no larger than your wrist as it will burn to ash more easily than larger wood. Check local firewood regulations as some areas do not allow wood not from the area to be brought in as it may harbor invasive insects.

Be sure to burn all wood to ash. Then, you want to guarantee your campfire is out cold. First, use plenty of water and sprinkle it over the ashes: to help the process use a stick to stir the ashes while pouring the water. If the fire area is too hot to touch, it is too hot to leave or go to bed. Bonus: how to build a mound fire.

Q: Tips for carrying out all trash? For instance, our family always unwraps food items as much as possible before departure, so there’s less trash to carry out later.

We encourage people to take a trash bag along with all of their other essential items for any outing. Repackaging food before heading to the trail helps decrease the amount of trash you will have to pack out. We also encourage people to even pack out all food scraps. Human food is unhealthy for wildlife; they become dependent on humans for food and become attracted and conditioned to human food and trash. Which is unhealthy for both the wildlife and humans. Fruit peels can take up to 2 years to biodegrade and most are not native to the areas they are left.

We like to say, if you weren’t there would it be there?

Q: Young kids naturally enjoy making forts, rock dams, or other ‘structures’ at backcountry campsites…how can they channel this desire to create and explore in line with Leave No Trace practices?

We get this question all the time. It is important to educate children on the importance of Leave No Trace while still inspiring creativity and fostering a sense of adventure to connect kids to the outdoors. We still encourage children to play in nature and still follow Leave No Trace. Kids can still build forts or structures at campsites and then before leaving they can simply dismantle the structures.

If kids want to collect items, first make sure to check the rules and regulations of the area to make sure it is ok to collect something.

We encourage only taking one item instead of several, this generally also makes that one item more important to the child as they often attach a special memory to one item they have really given some thought to during an adventure.

Q: A nitty-gritty bathroom-related question: Leave No Trace has always stated that human waste and soap or shampoo should be 100 feet from water sources. What about rafting companies’ ‘dilution is the solution to pollution’ method?

Usually in the backcountry, we want to be 100 feet away from any water sources, trails, and campsites when doing dishes or bathing.

However, western river corridors sometimes have different recommendations for human waste and gray water. In river corridors, the river is usually the most durable surface. The rivers in deep canyons present difficulties for the normal recommendations because you usually cannot get 100 feet for gray water or 200 feet for human waste disposal away from the water.

Leave No Trace recommends packing out all solid human waste with a reusable, washable toilet system. Always follow local regulations as some areas allow the use of bag-type systems to pack out human waste. Often, urine and strained gray water are required to be deposited directly into the river.

The old saying goes, “dilution is the solution to pollution.”

Thank you, LNT, for helping educate Pit Stops for Kids families!

Couples getaway: Oregon cycle tour with LifeCycle Adventures

October 22, 2014 By Amy Hagstrom

At Pit Stops for Kids, we’re fans of adventurous travel for kids, so it will come as no surprise that when we want to get away for an adults-only vacation, my husband Charlie and I prefer an active, outdoorsy pursuit of our own.

We also love wineries, outside-the-box local lodging, and farm-to-fork dining, indulgences absolutely possible to enjoy with kids, but— if we’re being honest here —even more enjoyable as a couples getaway. How to combine everything we like into one getaway? We found LifeCycle Adventures, an Oregon cycle tour company that offers customized cycling getaways.

Check it out!

LifeCycle Adventures hosts tours in Oregon, California, Hawaii, and the San Juan Islands of Washington. Because their Oregon tour routes are in our backyard, we headed to Portland, where we overnighted downtown at Hotel Monaco PDX (our favorite Kimpton hotel) before meeting LifeCycle Adventures owner Tony Blakey for a three-day ride.

Tony’s Oregon itineraries include a Willamette Valley tour, focusing on area wineries and featuring rolling terrain and quaint college towns, and a Columbia River Gorge tour, which takes cyclists around Mt. Hood before dropping them into the spectacular Columbia River Gorge at Hood River. We sampled a bit of both, so I could tell all you cycling parents out there which to book. As it turns out, we couldn’t decide which we liked better, so the good news is, you can’t go wrong.

Willamette Valley experience:

LifeCycle Adventures’ Willamette routes take cyclists from the outskirts of Portland through Forest Grove to McMinnville or Newberg, both in the heart of wine country. I say ‘routes’ instead of ‘route’ because every tour is customizable. Before embarking, we had communication with Tony via email or phone, during which we outlined our cycling experience (not much) and our objectives for our trip (to work up just enough of a sweat to ‘earn’ nice meals each evening). From our information, Tony compiled three route options per day, all ending at the same lodging location but offering various mileage. We could then choose our route as late as the day-of, after assessing sore muscles.

We started our journey with a quite easy 20 mile ride from beautiful Stewart ‘Stub’ State Park along the Banks-Vernonia State Trail, which is a car-free bike path. At the tiny town of Banks, we transitioned to quiet country highways en route to Forest Grove. We had a great lunch at Maggie’s Buns, then transferred by van (hello, Tony!) to our accommodations in McMinnville. Along the way, we stopped at several Willamette Valley wineries, which we absolutely could have accessed on bike, had we wanted to ride all the way into town.

Along the way, Tony was only a phone call away, should we need him or the services of his passenger van, outfitted with bike racks, extra water bottles, the rest of our luggage, and plenty of Clif Bars.

We spent the night at A’ Tuscan Estate, a quiet and understated B&B located just a few blocks from downtown McMinnville. Quite possibly, A’ Tuscan Estate is the loveliest B&B we’ve ever experienced. Owners Jacques and Liz are perfect hosts, with a fountain of knowledge about food, dining, and the hospitality industry (just read any of the numerous books on these subjects authored by Jacques, all available for perusal in the living spaces).

We strolled the quaint downtown of McMinnville, stopping in at tasting rooms and concluding our night at La Rambla, a polished downtown eatery with Spanish cuisine. At A’ Tuscan Estate, we enjoyed an entire suite in the inn’s Craftsman bungalow, where we had a full kitchen, patio, garden, and living room should we need it. For breakfast, chef Jacques put together an amazing three-course feast, which included three kinds of juice, local fruit, a light-as-air quiche, and homemade pastry. Try getting on your bike and riding after that!

Columbia River Gorge experience:

Cyclists opting to tour the Columbia River Gorge start in or around Government Camp, Oregon, at the edge of Mt. Hood. Those wanting to go further can start lower, and begin with a climb…no thanks! We coasted from Cooper Spur, picking up speeds up to 30 miles per hour on the steep decline from the mountain. Once deposited into the fruitful valley, we stopped for a picnic lunch at a fruit stand (there are plenty en route) and then geared up (pun intended) for a steeply rolling route into Hood River. We tackled closer to 30 miles on this day, and found that with just a few stops (once to try a flight of ciders at Red Tail Fox Farm, once to take in a view of the river and Gorge), the mileage was very do-able. We rolled into Hood River around 5 pm, and checked into Villa Columbia.

This beautiful B&B is situated right off the Columbia, with views from just about every corner. The comfortable living room and dining room are available for guest use, as are the porches and an upstairs sitting room. We were in easy walking distance of Hood River dining, and decided that after our longer ride, we deserved a beer. Full Sail Brewing overlooks the river, where we could watch kite surfers while enjoying a flight and burgers.

From Hood River, cyclists can continue to follow the Columbia on day 3: we opted for the Historic Columbia River Highway, closed to cars, which parallels the river toward the Dalles. More ambitious cyclists could continue on the historic byway, but 20 miles was enough for us on Day 3!

What LifeCycle Adventures provides, and who it’s for:

We are on bikes about once a month at home, and do not consider ourselves to be serious cyclists. Because LifeCycle Adventures customizes all their itineraries, it’s a perfect getaway for anyone who is active and comfortable on a bike. For those who are ready to go out and kill it, Tony has routes for you, too.

During our trip, we came to think of LifeCycle— and Tony —as our personal concierge. He picked us up daily, transported all our luggage to our B&Bs, checked us in (so we could just jump into a shower the minute we arrived), provided us with lunch and dinner recommendations, and, best of all, provided us with detailed route instructions, tailored specifically to us.

Here’s an example of our itinerary. In addition to this, Tony offers many more maps and support documents. We felt safe and in control at all times.

This customization was perfect for us: we are familiar with the area and comfortable on bikes, but not familiar with biking the area. Every morning, we had a briefing with Tony, during which he showed us our route on a map, then —and this is the kicker —provided us with detailed step-by-step directions and maps, which we could keep at the ready on our bikes. We were equipped with bike pumps, directions, snacks, and phone numbers, so we never felt overwhelmed by routes or road challenges.

Before our trip, Tony meticulously created a customized tour book with our exact routes and mileage, plus town guides for each of our destinations. I’ve never seen such detail put into a customized itinerary. If you want to try an cycling adventure but don’t want to be responsible for planning out a complicated route based on abilities, traffic, and road conditions, absolutely leave it to Tony.

Included in a LifeCycle tour is use of bikes and helmets, full route planning, overnight accommodations, which are also customizable (you pick your price range), and full ground support. Our accommodations provided breakfasts, and we bought lunches and dinners on our own.

Can kids go?

Tony welcomes families with kids, and reports that older kids and teens do best. When deciding whether to bring the kids, keep in mind that while the riding can be modified to fit almost anyone, the general pace of a cycling trip is more leisurely than most kids enjoy. We lingered over meals, slept in (wow!) and spent most of each day on a bike or at a winery or fruit stand. Kids who are very into cycling will love it. Others may be looking for a more varied trip by Day 2. You decide!

How to book:

There’s a wealth of information on the LIfeCycle Adventures website, and I recommend doing a thorough reading, then calling the company to talk to someone in person. Tony and his team will be able to plan something perfect for your abilities, budget, and time frame.

As I disclose whenever applicable, we experienced our cycling itinerary as compliments of LifeCycle Adventures, for the purpose of review. All opinions…and sore muscles… are my own.

How to make a 5 item outdoor survival kit for $5

April 15, 2014 By Amy Hagstrom

survival-kit-for-kids We love getting kids into the outdoors! At Pit Stops for Kids, we’re fans of backpacking, camping, climbing, mountain biking, geo-caching…you get the idea. But as a one-time Search and Rescue volunteer who has spent countless hours teaching school kids how to stay safe in the woods, I want families to be prepared. Kids can occasionally get lost in the wilderness, but by heeding the following advice and being prepared, almost all are found almost immediately by their parents.

The best advice to give your kids: if you get lost, stay in one place.

The second best thing to do: make your kids this 5 item outdoor survival kit for $5. These items fit easily into a waist pack or into any day pack.

5 item outdoor survival kit for kids:

1. Whistle

Go to your local sports equipment store or dollar store, and buy a cheap whistle. Let your kids know this is an emergency whistle: not to be used for play. The sound of a whistle in the wilderness carries 10x further than a shout or scream, and doesn’t wear down with use. Instruct kids to blow their whistle in blasts of three if lost.

2. Plastic poncho

Is an expensive jacket better protection than a dollar store poncho? Sure, but chances are, your kid won’t want to bring it along on a hot summer day. A plastic poncho fits down to the size of a fist (or smaller) and weighs almost nothing. When needed, it retains body heat well.

3. Glow stick

Grab a cheap glow stick and put it in your kid’s kit. Glow sticks don’t require any batteries, and will give off light in 360 degree direction. A glow stick will last 12 hours, getting a kid through a night if necessary.

4. Bandana

Search and Rescue volunteers are trained to look for anything out of the element when searching in the wilderness. Therefore, a bright color, such as neon green or yellow, will stand out and alert searchers to the presence of a person. Instruct kids to hang their bandana on a tree limb, wearing it on their head, or spread it out in the open. Alternative item: a used or blank music CD or DVD can be used as a cheap reflecting device, often seen by spotters in helicopters.

5. Non-perishable snack

Why not water? Because for almost any hike or outdoor excursion, parents have already thought to pack a water bottle for their child. In addition to water, a non-perishable snack is cheap and light to pack. We keep a Nature’s Valley granola bar in each of our kids’ packs. Power Bars or other energy bars last a long time, too. Alternative: a bouillon cube.

99% of the time, kids are completely safe in the wilderness. But for piece of mind, the above items in your kid’s pack will go a long way. For more information on kids’ wilderness safety, check out the Lost But Found Search and Rescue program I’ve been a part of.

Travel gear we use: sun protection clothing for kids and adults

April 11, 2014 By Amy Hagstrom

Today in Travel Gear We Use, we’re talking about best sun protection clothing for kids and adults. If your family plans to visit a warm-weather spring break destination, it’s time to make sure you have the right gear to protect everyone from the sun. Our sun protective clothing picks will last you through the whole summer, unless your kids outgrew them first!

Sun Day Afternoons clothing and hats:

Sunday Afternoons has sun protective clothing and hats for the whole family. We love their packable hats, like the Sun Tripper Cap with a foldable brim, and my husband prefers their Charter Hat. Young kids can be outfitted in wide-brimmed hats with SmartStrap–which uses an adjustable toggle and breakaway clip– like the Play Hat, and clothing ranges from long or short-sleeved shirts for the whole family to pool onesies.

Columbia sun protective shirts:

For on the trail or while traveling, I love the lightweight feel of Columbia Tamiami II Long Sleeve Shirt. Columbia wear is affordable, always returnable, and easy to order online…win, win, win! I can’t get my kids to wear collared, button-down shirts while on vacation, no matter how comfortable, so instead, I trick them into sun protection with Columbia’s Adventureland Long Sleeve Tee. While we’re on the subject, my older kids refuse sun protective wide-brimmed hats (they looked so adorable in them as little ones!) so they opt for bandanas or cowboy hats while under the sun. As long as something is on their heads, I don’t really care!

Exofficio cover-ups:

My favorite sun protection for a day near the pool is my Exofficio Women’s Sol Cool Hoody. Incredibly thin, very flattering, and always appropriate, the Sol Cool is the perfect go-to cover up for swimming that transitions well to the pool-side restaurant or even onto a hiking trail.

Madrone headwear for men:

My husband has absolutely fallen in love with his Madrone Navigator hat. This is a miracle, as he usually isn’t willing to wear anything on his head except a baseball cap. The Navigator offers full sun protection, a chin strap, and great ventilation. He’s worn it everywhere from on the river while fishing to hiking in California deserts. It can be found currently at CampMor for $49.

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