Comments on: 5 Tips for Backpacking with Kids

By: I made this for you! « these are the thoughts that fall out of my head

I made this for you! « these are the thoughts that fall out of my head — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 13:27:47 +0000

[...] Tips for backpacking with kids – not that I need this right now, but it’ll be helpful when I need to convince my friends to go backcountry camping more often. [...]

By: Liz Stanley

Liz Stanley — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 07:14:33 +0000

map here: http:/www.fs.fed.us/maps/products/guide-national-forests09.pdf

By: Liz Stanley

Liz Stanley — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 07:10:43 +0000

@michelle(this is jared) –

yeah the Valley is so awesome and beautiful, but once you’ve seen it a few times the crowds can taint the experience.

pretty much any national forest land(w some exceptions) is fair game for dispersed camping(no formal camp site).

the best way to find spots is to:
1. get a map like this one: map
2. poke around on the map until you find a spot you want to explore. look around on google maps for place names, photos, etc to get an idea what the place is all about.
3. visit the place. this is trial and error. sometimes you find a rad spot, sometimes you find a lame spot. that’s part of the fun! ADVENTURE!

(Fire restrictions can be in place etc as well so it doesn’t hurt to check w/ the district who manages the area (find the name of the forest on the map, type in [forest name] national forest management in google and call that number.)

*NOTE:
Car Camping is not lame IMO. Car camping = air mattresses, propane grills, a bail-out spot in case it rains, etc. MOST of which are essential in keeping little kids managed/happy.

Backpacking is different, not as easy to bail etc – H was NOT stoked on his food options for dinner, and only after he realized there weren’t a lot of options did he eat anything.
Solitude in a spectacular place is the reward.

Also I know who you are so let’s all plan a trip!

By: Michelle A

Michelle A — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 21:37:10 +0000

You are spot-on about camping in the middle of nowhere. After our last Yosemite trip for my birthday, which was still really fun, but the noise level of all the campers and the road construction was spoiling it.

How do you find where you are allowed to camp on an off-site?

By: Kate Jones

Kate Jones — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 20:42:39 +0000

Wow! This is great!! I kinda always thought it was impossible to do this… but you’ve changed my mind!! Thank you!!

By: Martha

Martha — Sun, 05 Aug 2012 04:07:39 +0000

you are so funny! i appreciate this honest outline. this makes me think that maybe, just maybe, we could camp with our kids someday. thanks for your inspiration! and beautiful photos. i’ve been following you on instagram for awhile and i ALWAYS love your photos.

By: Crazybananas » Blog Archive » Happy Weekend!

Crazybananas » Blog Archive » Happy Weekend! — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 15:46:55 +0000

[...] I’ve always wanted to take the kids camping, but haven’t bitten the bullet yet. This post on backpacking with kids gets me excited though. We might need to bust out that old [...]

By: Liz Stanley

Liz Stanley — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 04:59:49 +0000

Naaaay. There aren’t any grizzlies in Yosemite, plus we checked with the back country permit office to see if there were any bear sitings in that area. They’re weren’t

By: Liz Stanley

Liz Stanley — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 04:58:37 +0000

Brilliant! Yeah, sometimes it gets rough if you’re already out and need to get back. We had my sister Katrina with us and our intention was using her as a piggy back ride if need be since she wasn’t carrying much on her back

By: This girl loves to talk

This girl loves to talk — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 02:14:11 +0000

we recently went on a hike with kids who were fine on the way there but terrible on the way back (had a 5 and 3 year old who demanded to be carried I was able to pull off my large scarf and ‘pull them along’ back to the car and we made it fly in the wind like a kite… nothing like a scarf to save the day!