Discussions about lightweight backpacking

James R Bennett | 1 Sep 2003 07:11

Re: Re:first posting/first trip

Alan,
    I'm from MA (somerville), hiked the AT & own a couple of G4s, now work for
the boy scouts.

    Your 60 lb 8 year old is certainly in the average/above average ability
group.  For 1st class BSA advancement (11 year olds) they have to go on a 5
mile hike.  This usually takes my 1st year scouts an average of 2 hours to
complete.
    It's all in the attention span, how hydrated they are, weather &
motivation.  If it's a 5 mile hike to a lake on a hot day and they carry
nothign but camelbaks, then they can do it in just over an hour on easy
terrain.  If it's a 5 mile hike around the camp & they have to wash dishes
when they return, it'll take 3 hours...
    Definitely have your boy carry something so he can feel useful & like dad
but also to train him for when you'll do extended trips or when he needs to
carry you:)
   The AT in MA (berkshires) is nice, never far from towns & Greylockn about
tree line.  I wouldn't take a child to S. ME, but the the Northern section can
be a great trip if you want a bit of a challenge and have the time for a longer
trip.
    take plenty of pictures, han
 can
be a great finish point, but it can also be quite swampy & buggy, try to stay
above 1000 feet.   CT is quite flat, easy terrain -great for kids probably.
VT is a bit more rugged, but very pretty.  NH would be a bit much when about > >
Alan- >
> It sounds like you made some good moves.  My first BP wth my kids was back in

> to old heavy weight Scout-influenced days.  I'm sure glad those days are
> behind me.

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rosaleen43 | 1 Sep 2003 02:08

Re:first posting/first trip

Alan-

It sounds like you made some good moves.  My first BP wth my kids was back in 
to old heavy weight Scout-influenced days.  I'm sure glad those days are 
behind me.

I'm in the suburban Boston area, and spent a good bit of time on the Midstate 
Trail this week.  As far as that trail goes, so far I'm thinking the places 
best for kids are where the trail passes through the state prks and forests.  I 
lost the trail several times and was slowed down by dense ovegrowth, except 
in state maintained areas.

Check out the Midstate Trail for a central MA path, or the 
Metacomet-Monadnock for the Pioneer Valley.  I found a trail guide that lists most of the trails 
in MA and RI at EMS.  E-mail me directly, if you like, and I will look up 
trails near you.

Cheers!

Rosaleen
We may want to hook up in the future for a hike, or at least to plant 
vehicles, maybe trading keys when our paths cross.  

> 
>   From: Alan Hershon <abhershon@...>
> Subject: first posting/first trip
> 
> I have been reading the advice and experience of this group and 
> backpackinglight for the past couple of  months or so and thank all of you for helping me 
> to make product decisions and plan a trip. I recently spent three days with

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