Thanks, Sarah, and you are correct on both points. But you and your son don’t have to backpack far to have a great time and both finish it wanting to do another. Keep your goals very modest and focused on you both enjoying it. I think the one-on-one time together is what’s most special about it, for both parent and child, and maybe the biggest motivator for both to want to do it more.

Good luck! Keep in touch.

Hi Pat,

Thanks for the compliment. Your guess at Mount Rainier was close. The lead photo at the top of this story was taken on the Spider Gap-Buck Creek Pass Loop in the Glacier Peak Wilderness in the North Cascades.

I think, of course, that I’m the lucky one because of my kids. Thanks for the comment.

Hi Bill,

Thanks for the compliment, glad you find this story helpful, and for a good question. When our kids were little, my wife carried some extra gear and food weight and I carried a substantially larger share of it. Even with lightweight to ultralight gear, I carried a pack of 65-75 liters and it would usually weigh around 50 pounds or more.

I suggest you get a big pack made for heavy loads. I used the Gregory Baltoro on many family trips, as well as the Osprey Atmos AG 65, and my wife’s a big fan of her Aura AG 65.

Good luck! You’re starting a tradition of adventure that will help shape your daughters and your relationships with them. Our kids are now 22 and 20 and still love our family adventures together. Good on you for doing that.

Great article thanks for putting this together it was very helpful! My wife and I are planning our first trip this year with our 2 girls, we already do a bunch of car camping but this will be the first out of a backpack. The biggest question I have as I am changing my routine is looking into a larger pack for myself as I know I’ll be lugging the most weight. Do you have any insight on this what size pack were you carrying when your kids were younger? I want to be sure I have plenty of room but also don’t want a pack so heavy I can’t carry ya know.

Thanks in advance!

Cheers,

Bill

Agreed, Melissa. That point can’t be overemphasized. Thanks.

Thanks, Eva, glad to hear that and good on you for getting those young kids out backpacking!