no. 24: take a hike.
no, really. my ultimate guide to getting started in the outdoors, including my obsessively researched gear recommendations, and tips for getting outdoors with dogs and kids.
If you've been following for a while you’ll know that while hiking and backpacking are a huge part of my life now, it wasn’t always that way. I liked the outdoors, but a deep, pervasive sense of being a beginner held me back from identifying *as a hiker*. From social media and pop culture, I had the sense that hikers were made in childhood, growing up scaling peaks in the mountain west and pacific northwest, clad in techy, waterproof gear.
While I grew up running and walking on trails around my house, there aren’t major mountains in Georgia, and I didn’t do much camping beyond the kind in platform tents for the Girl Scouts. Despite being a seasoned distance runner, my discomfort and apprehension when my now husband Mark would propose a five, six, ten mile hike, or a weekend camping in Big Sur stemmed from a lack of experience, and fear of asking stupid questions. I would drag my heels, grumbling (and occasionally stumbling and sliding in shoes meant for road running), but over time the exhilaration of new views, peaks and experiences chipped away until there was nothing but unbridled enthusiasm.
I have spent the last ten years braving *all the questions* learning how to hike and camp, going from essentially a beginner to summiting Mount Kilimanjaro on a multi-day backpacking trip. I’ve collected all my questions, and all your questions, into one big Hiking and Camping 101 post, with all the information, tips and tricks I’ve gathered over the past few years. I’m an enthusiast but I’m not an expert, so I’ve also included “resource roundups” throughout the article pointing you to additional resources, especially when it comes to safety and technical skill.
This post is a long one, and I think it might be the first issue of earlybird that I’m going to tell you not to treat like a newsletter. I HIGHLY recommend you check out this issue in a browser: I’ve organized by category (and done my best to utilize jumplinks here so you’re able to directly jump to the sections you want to start with) Otherwise: scroll around and reference as you need!
getting started: finding trails and campsites, my hiking gear and camping gear, hiking etiquette and best practices, and leave no trace
food & snacks: because if you’re going to sleep outside there had better be snacks.
leveling up: knowing when you’re “ready” for something harder, training for elevation, and training for a “big trek”
can I bring a +1? The NUMBER ONE most requested topic: DOGS AND BABIES. Includes how we got started, training, logistics and other considerations, practical things (food, managing waste), and of course: ALL THE GEAR.
*the* earlybird gear list - this post, in spreadsheet form.
If you take nothing else away from this absolute NOVEL of a post, I want to be sure to say that hiking doesn’t need to be hard or intimidating: it doesn’t need to grand vistas on the top of snow capped mountains or over sparkling blue waters. The hiking that I did for the first 20 something years of my life was just around the corner from my house. The hike I did most frequently in Los Angeles was a fire road about 15 minutes our apartment, mostly full of scrubby brushes and not much else, but I loved it. I had been hiking plenty before, but one day after a really bad day at work I just got in the car, drove to the trail head and walked into nature and it was like something clicked. Being in nature and moving my body for no other reason than to see and feel and experience has been life changing.
Happy trails,
GETTING STARTED:
I have been in and around hiking trails since I was little (I grew up next to a National Battlefield park outside of Atlanta, and used to run on the trails for cross country, or hike up the trails with my family on a semi-regular basis) but didn’t start hiking with any consistency or intensity until I moved to California.
If you have never been hiking before, or haven’t been hiking “seriously” (I’m rolling my eyes but you know what I mean) it can all seem a little overwhelming. Where do you go? What do you bring? What if you get lost? I’m think I pull together everything I know in this and the next set of blog posts, and I really hope it will help get up on the trail!
To make sure we’re all on the same page, This post primarily covers day hiking, which just means a hike that doesn’t require anything overnight. Usually you’ll wake up, drive to your trailhead (where the trail begins!), hike, and drive home the same day with - no tents required.
In addition to day hikes, there are a few other kinds of hiking and camping that I might mention, but not completely go into detail on:
Car Camping: isn’t the most celebrated kind of camping on the ‘gram, but it’s most of the camping that I do: at a campsite you can drive to. It’s an affordable, accessible way to get into camping, and frequently works as a logistical solution to hikes that are an unreasonable distance for a day hike, but works well for a longer weekend.
Backpacking: Hiking of any distance or duration + camping out “in the wild”. This is typically a more complicated kind of hiking to get into, just because there is some gear involved if you’re just starting out, and logistics can have a learning curve.
I don’t go as in depth into the “how” of camping or backpacking here: I tried, but this post got unreasonably long and I had to call it! I’m working on a stand alone post for camping logistics and beginner backpacking, but if you can’t wait until then, my planning posts for Mt. Kilimanjaro and the Patagonia W Trek actually include SO much of that information:
FIRST THINGS FIRST: FIND A HIKING BUDDY:
It is safer and more fun to go with other people! It is always a good idea to bring a hiking buddy, and to make sure that at least one person not out with you knows where you are. Better safe than sorry!
One caveat to the “hiking is more fun with friends” thing: I have been on several hikes where trails were overrun by huge groups, congesting the trail, and making it hard for smaller groups to pass or move through. If you are hiking with a group larger than a handful of people, encourage the rest of your group to split into small groups to prevent traffic jams.
CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE:
Especially somewhere like Washington where there are literally thousands of state and national park trails, finding a trail might seem a little overwhelming. There are lots of great online resources for finding trails that are nearby and within your desired difficulty level. Most allow you to search by location (distance away or a specific area), distance, elevation, and by difficulty level from Easy to Expert.
Some of my resources to find and learn about trails::
You can find other resources for trails specific to your areas with a simple online search. Most of these resources allow you to also filter by other things like dog and kid friendly, the accessibility of the trailhead, whether or not the trail has ADA accessible elements or features, and some even enable filtering by features like views or waterfalls.
We usually pair a camping weekend with day hikes in a similar area, and love car camping at state and national parks. Shoutout to public lands for making outdoor access accessible and easy - these campsites have low-cost online reservations, drive up camping spots that include a place to park, a place for your tent, a fire pit, and (usually) a picnic table. Most campsites have bathrooms (either flush or pit toilets, but also sometimes showers!) and running water.
The two best resources I recommend for finding campsites:
Recreation.Gov: the number one place to find campsites and make reservations (this is also where you can get permits for backpacking and other limited entry public lands).
Your state parks department: Washington State Parks Reservation Site is all time and has so many great resources!
THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING YOUR HIKES:
Your current level of fitness and comfort with distance and elevation.
Location, time of year and time of day: Hiking on a desert trail at 10 am in July is a much different experience than hiking on that same trail at dusk in December, with different weather, safety concerns, and gear needs. Do your research on the current trail conditions, the weather the day you plan to hike, and the amount of daylight you’ll have.
Whether you plan to do a day hike, car camp, or backpack.
Any permits, seasonal restrictions or passes necessary.
DO I NEED A BUNCH OF STUFF?
I will be the first to tell you that you don’t need fancy gear to start hiking. Especially if you have some experience running or other higher intensity outdoor workouts, a lot of technical apparel can serve multiple purposes. After all, a good amount of hiking is just… walking up and down hills. But, there are some needs that might be specific to hiking and camping: that you should consider if you want to get more into it.
MY HIKING GEAR:
Shoes / Boots: I bought my first pair of hiking boots in 2019 and firmly believe that footwear is 1000000% personal preference. You need to walk around in your shoes and make sure that you like them before you try to climb a mountain in them. Please please please don’t buy shoes because someone you saw on instagram was wearing them (even me). When looking for hiking shoes, you’ll want to consider the terrain you’ll be on (sand, gravel/rocks, wood chips, packed dirt / roots), the season and the weather that is associated with that (is it muddy? Snowy? Icy? Slippery? Are there any temperature concerns?). I have bought the same pair of boots multiple times, so I will share which one because I genuinely love them and would point you to them as a solid starting point!
La Sportiva Nucleo High GTX Hiking Boots. My Ride or dies, currently wear them for everything, but they work well especially for longer hikes or more difficult/ varied terrain like larger rocks, snow, slush or mud, small creek crossings. After all of my years hiking in Washington, plus two international backpacking trips, I’ll likely wear them forever.
New Balance Summit Unknown Trail Shoes. My back-ups for more casual outings - good for summer hikes where waterproof-ness is less of a concern. I like them for trails that are mainly dirt / roots and smaller rocks. Good for scrambles, and were great when we lived in LA and it was very hot and dry.
RESOURCE ROUND UP: Learn more from the folks at REI and Backcountry.
clothes:
Similar to running, there are two most important things about what you wear when hiking: #1 it’s comfortable, and #2 it can be layered! My typical hiking outfit is almost the same thing every time. something like:
Socks + shoes: I’m a big fan of mid-calf length smartwool socks with my boots - I have lightweight ones for summer, and thicker ones I’ll wear on longer hikes and during the fall and winter.
Base layer / next to skin layer:
Sports bra
Close fitting tank in a dri-fit / technical material
Leggings (my go to - I prefer the Wundertrain Highrise with Pockets) or shorts (I like the Patagonia 4” baggies or the Outdoor Voices RecTrek shorts)
Longsleeve shirt in a technical fabric. (warm for winter, something lightweight with a hood for summer!)
Hiking pants: I usually just opt for leggings, but have a few pairs I like / have a waterproof pair that I actually love).
Insulation: Season and weather dependent. There is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothes!
Fall & Spring: In WA we have a lot of seasonal weather changes, and fall and spring tend to get the most of it. Be prepared for cooler temps and intermittent showers.
I like a down insulated running vest over my longsleeve OR a mid-weight fleece pullover
Summer: I usually start dressed exactly the same in summer as Fall in WA, and just end up shedding layers as the hike goes on.
Winter: We don’t get a ton of winter snow in Seattle but you sure do in the mountains, where it can be anywhere from 10 to 30 degrees colder than at sea level.
Fully insulated down jacket - I have the Cerium Hoody from Arc’Teryx (purchased in 2021 for our Kilimanjaro summit, and insulated accordingly)
ALWAYS bring winter accessories like hats, gloves/mittens or a scarf/face cover for wind.
Rain gear: Always bring a waterproof rain jacket! I truly detest being wet, but more importantly there is a safety risk to getting cold and being unable to warm up.
Just waterproof - usually layer it over other colder weather gear, or on it’s own when it’s warm) : Patagonia Torrentshell is extremely packable and has held up well over 5+ years.
Waterproof and warm - I like the Lululemon Cross Chill Jacket with a thicker baselayer for wet hikes down to about 40 degrees.
Hiking Pack: I pretty much always bring a lightweight backpack style bag with some basics in it:
My current bags : REI Flash Pack 22L or the Gregory Jade 28L backpack (best for longer hikes, or hikes where you need to carry more gear and water)
Hat / sunglasses / gloves
Rain layer / extra layer (a good habit to get in, even if you just carry it around. I swap my layers out seasonally so there is a “just in case” option always in the bag)
Sunscreen (SPF 35 + always -- have you ever gotten sunburned on the backs of your knees? it ‘s terrible).
Reusable Waterbottle(s) - you are so much better off bringing too much water and not finishing it than not bringing enough.
SNACKS (more on that later).
Phone and or Camera (in a waterproof bag, seasonally).
RESOURCE ROUND UP: REI has a great article expanding on all of this and a bunch of other things about hiking gear for beginners, linked here. There are some good resources on gear to get started backpacking, linked here, here , and here.
I’m also a big fan of second hand gear: I have tons from REI Re/Supply and Wonderland Gear Exchange in Seattle
So, how do you “know” how to hike?!
So you have your hike, and your buddy and your stuff. You make it to your trailhead (the start of the trail ;)) and you’re ready to hit the road … Now what? Some of it might feel like common sense, but there are some general guidelines for behavior on the trails that you should be aware of.
SAFETY
A huge part of enjoying the outdoors is doing so safely. I am not an outdoor safety expert, but a few things that are always top of my mind;
Water: Hydration is so important! A good rule of thumb is about one half-liter of water per hour of moderate activity in moderate temperatures.
For most day hikes, you should be able to carry the water that you need in a large water bottle or water reservoir. (we always leave extra water in the car for the end as well!)
For car camping, many campsites have potable (drinkable) water. Always double check before you go.
For backpacking, it is unlikely that you’ll be able to carry all the water you need AND all of your gear. The best practice is to treat water from any source via filtration, a purification drop or tablet, or boiling. More here from REI.
Personal health and safety: Be vigilant about the weather and ensure you have enough food and appropriate clothing. As above: layers are key! Ensure you have at least a basic first aid kit and general knowledge of how to use it. Ensure that someone knows where you are going, and when you are supposed to return. Many trails have spotty or unreliable service: plan ahead to download maps, text or call folks you need to communicate with.
Wildlife safety: Double and triple check if you’ll be going into bear country, and bring bear spray when appropriate. When camping, ensure you bring a bear canister or place all food and scented items into provided bear boxes.
Terrain and Weather considerations: Winter hiking is gorgeous, but can be far more dangerous than summer, with risk of avalanche and cold exposure. WTA has excellent Winter Safety Tips and links I always come back to when planning, as does the National Parks
RESOURCE ROUNDUP:
Wildlife safety tips - How much do you know about bears?, How to keep your dog (and yourself) safe in bear country.
TRAIL ETIQUETTE
Most Trail Etiquette can be summed up in Leave No Trace principles (below) but a few specific things that are important to note:
Follow basic right of way rules: People with more maneuverability should yield the right of way. (What does this mean? if you have more agility to move than say, a parent with a child in a carry pack and a child running down the hill, you should move to allow all of them to pass.) Hikers going uphill have the right of way (and those going downhill should yield, meaning that they should pull off to the side in order to allow the hikers going up hill to continue through safely. Stay on the trail when passing to avoid trail erosion.
Do what you can to protect the environment:
Pack out your trash -- all of it: Even things that are “technically” biodegradable like apple cores or banana peels can be damaging to wildlife and the ecosystem, not to mention the impact of single use plastics and other trash.
The environment includes the atmosphere on the trail. Do your best to be friendly and polite - greet other hikers. avoid excessive noise, loud music, yelling or swearing or graffiti of any kind (paint, carvings, etc).
Don’t feed the animals: sure, that little chipmunk looks like he escaped from a disney movie, and it might be a cool photo to hold out some bread to the birdies, but you can do serious damage to animals ( as well as other people) by feeding them.
Remember that you are responsible for your dog as well: ensuring they Leave No Trace and that you are following best practices, permitting and permissions for having your dog with you. (more on that below!)
LEAVE NO TRACE:
In addition to basic trail etiquette, a lot of the online conversation about the outdoors talks about “Leave No Trace” an organization, a movement and a set of guidelines for minimizing the impact while we enjoy our natural world. From reducing trash and pollution in natural areas and water, preventing misinformation in the outdoors, and devastating issues like wildlife safety, fires, and trail erosion. LNT aims to connect people (especially young people) to nature, while reducing the harm done to our natural areas. The Principles of LNT are:
Plan ahead and prepare
Travel and camp on durable surfaces
Dispose of waste properly
Leave what you find
Minimize the impact of campfires
Respect wildlife
Be considerate of other visitors
THREE PROPOSED ADDITIONS TO LNT:
Don’t do it for the ‘gram: recommendation for safety and media guidelines like not specifically geotagging a trail or lookout, OR not compromising your or other’s safety to “get the shot”.
Minimize personal pollution - including but not limited to noise, drones, loud music, trash, etc.
Give back: it’s not just enough to like hiking. Outdoor enthusiasts should donate, volunteer or lobby for continued production of public lands with representatives.
WHAT DO WE EAT WHEN HIKING AND CAMPING?
We are super lucky in Seattle to have a ton of hikes within reasonable driving distance (~ under 2 hours) which makes day hikes super easy for us. My meal plan for day hikes is pretty much always the same:
Breakfast: either a perfect bar/gomacro/rx bar or ½ peanut butter and raspberry jelly sandwich and an iced coffee in the car on the way to the hike.
Snacks: always during the hike, usually at the “look at this pretty view” section + water during.
Post- hike “Lunch”: (not sure that this counts if it’s at 4 pm but): If we didn’t bring a lunch for the hike, Mark and I used to always go to In n Out in CA and now in WA we often go to TacoBell before we head home. It might not be the pinnacle of health or fine dining but I promise you there is nothing like slamming a black bean crunchwrap after 12 miles and an alpine lake. Pure Bliss!
FAVORITE HIKING SNACKS:
Whether we are on a short hike or a week long backpacking trip, our snack approaches are pretty much the same.
Me (Vegetarian):
Cold brew / instant coffee
Dried Mango
Wild Friends or RX Single Serve Nut Butter Packets (Peanut Cashew Super Butter or Vanilla Almond are my faves) + Apples.
Louisville Vegan Jerky Company (Carolina Smoked BBQ Flavor is so good)
Seasoned roasted chickpeas (you can buy ahead or make your own!).
Fresh fruit / veggies (baby carrots travel surprisingly well y’all) + nuts
Bars (Mostly go macro or perfect bar)
Depending on the hike and the day, I’ve also done things like bringing an entire “not sad desk lunch” style salad in a tupperware in my backpack. It was aggressive and I don’t regret it.
Mark (Omnivore)
Trader Joe’s Inca Corn
Beef Jerky (All kinds).
At least half of my mango.
Trail Mix (extra M&Ms, always)
Baby (Omnivore):
Water
Apple Slices, Nut Butter Packets
Cheese sticks
PB or cheese sandwich
Cerebelly bars or pouches
Minnie (Dog):
So. Much. Water.
Kibble
Scooby Snacks (we use these ones for training)
Minnie really likes fruits and veggies, especially apples, snap peas, carrots and blueberries - we always give her some of ours.
FOR CAMPING MEALS:
Mark and I tend towards things that are pre-cooked and either frozen or canned and just need to be heated up on a camp stove rather than actually cooked all the way. We have a 35L Yeti cooler, and have found we can fit enough food for a whole weekend in the car (and shockingly, the cooler keeps it cold the whole time).
Lunch: I’m a big fan of wraps and sandwiches plus fruit / dried fruit and nuts for lunch. If you’re out more than one day, recommend the fresher sandwiches early (i like a halloumi or feta + sliced veggie and hummus sandwich) and the more stable ones (peanut butter + jam) for days 2-3. If you’re in a time crunch, the pre-made sandwich section from Trader Joe’s has some really excellent options that travel well- just be sure to pack out your trash with you.
Dinner: Our standard level of effort: we love tacos (seasoned black beans or chickpeas + already cooked peppers and onions + tortillas) and tend to bring that for most trips. When it’s colder, or we’re feeling more lazy, we’ll bring canned soup / stews + a fresh loaf of bread and some cheese.
Depending on how long the trip is, we’ll usually bring along extras like chips or cut up veggies and a tupperware of guacamole or hummus, beer or canned cocktail plus something sweet for dessert. When we go with friends, we’re more likely to go all out because we can potluck it a bit.
Breakfast: I almost always bring instant coffee or a camping pourover. Neither Mark or I are big breakfast people, but I usually bring along a protein bar or oatmeal and some fruit.
I will say: In our youth we optimized our weekend camping trips for efficiency and adventure: we were sleeping in the woods in the service of our BIG HIKES for BIG VIEWS and we were not at all there to hang out. We’d frequently get in late on a Friday night and set up in the dark, only to get up early the next morning for a big hike, only to return close to dusk, eat a quick dinner and sleep. We have slowed down quite a bit recently, and have been lucky enough to camp with friends who make it luxurious and y’all I might just be a convert. Cast iron apple crumble over the fire? Reading 8 chapters of a book by the fire while baby naps? Count me in!
A NOTE ON SAFETY: Eating good in the woods is important, but so is safety when it comes to food handling and wildlife. When car camping, don’t leave food unattended (on picnic tables, in tents), and always store perishable items in a closed cooler. At night, food and coolers should be stored in a mental bear boxes if they are available. When backpacking, we choose to use bear canisters for all food and other aromatics (toiletries, chapstick, etc). They’re a heavy duty plastic canister with the world’s hardest childproof lid, and we always place them 100+ yards from our tents at night. This resource from REI and this one from the National Park Service are both great places to start.
NEXT STEPS: LEVELING UP!
HOW AND WHEN DID I KNOW I WAS READY FOR HARD OR EXPERIENCE DEPENDENT TRAILS?
I’m not sure if there ever was a time that I was like “I’m ready to do a really hard hike now!”. I think as we started to really think about hiking as something we enjoyed, we started to seek out hikes that seemed more exciting or offered a big “reward” in terms of a view - most of which were somewhat harder in terms of distance and elevation gain. The biggest jump from “hiking is cool” to “you just did a serious hike” for me was probably our trip to Zion (two fairly difficult hikes back to back) and our Yosemite trip where we did Cloud’s Rest.
HOW DO I TRAIN FOR ELEVATION GAIN?
I’m pretty spoiled because there is a huge array of options in Seattle, and my usual hikes range can be anywhere from +1000s to +4000s in gain - there are nothing but options to practice climbing. But beyond just getting out and doing the hikes, I think one of the best ways I got ready for elevation gain was actually through strength training during my regular weekly workouts.
The Trail Sisters Blog has a great blog post on training for elevation, especially if you live somewhere flat and low.
HOW DID WE PLAN FOR AND AND PREPARE FOR A LARGE HIKING TREK?
We’ve done a few bigger multiday distance treks - Patagonia came out to something like 50 miles in 5 days, and Mt. Kilimanjaro was 42 miles and +16,000 elevation gain. Once we knew the approximate distance and elevation gains for the hike segments we would be doing on each, we made a plan to build up mileage and elevation in order to be able to comfortably meet and exceed those distance / elevation amounts for each segment. I thought about it a lot like race training — you need to build up the strength and speed for the planned distance, and you’d want to incorporate similar terrain to the race course.
I also did quite a bit of strength training via HIIT classes with functional strength and more explosive cardio components, as well as barre classes to strengthen stabilizing muscles in ankles, feet, legs and core.
RESOURCE ROUNDUP: How to get in Shape for Hiking, How to Train for a Backpacking Trip andPreparing for a Long Distance Backpacking trip. These are about long distance hiking and backpacking, but can definitely be relevant to building up to longer day hikes or weekend camping / hiking as well.
CAN I BRING A +1?
HIKING WITH YOUR DOG
Truly next to questions about boots and snacks, the most questions I ever get about hiking and camping are about dogs and babies. I’m going to go in order of experience here (since I’ve been a dog mom for six years, and a human one for only one and a half):
One of the biggest things we wanted in getting a dog was one that would be a good fit for our lifestyle-- from watching football to hiking and everything in between. And making sure that she was ready to hike with us and well trained enough to hike with us was what we spent most of her first year doing -- it wasn’t glamorous or particularly interesting from a hiking standpoint but I’m so glad that we did.
WHAT SHOULD I KNOW ABOUT BRINGING A DOG HIKING?
Taking your dogs to trails and parks is a privilege, and a huge responsibility. It’s a hard truth, but it’s an important one.
Always make sure that dogs are allowed where you plan to be. For example: in National Parks, dogs are allowed in developed areas like car campgrounds and near visitors centers, but not on many trails. Is it a bummer? Absolutely. But it’s also a rule designed to protect the park and it’s wildlife, as well as its visitors and pets.
Packing out your trash means your dog’s trash too! Carry those poop bags with pride, and dispose of them properly once you’re off the trail.
Don’t assume that everyone on the trail will like your dog - not other people, and definitely not other dogs. Do not allow your dog to jump or lunge at people: train them with basic manners before hitting the trail and always be mindful of who else is on the trail with you.
Most importantly: Keep. Your. Dog. On. The. Leash. Minnie has been attacked and almost pushed off a trail by unleashed dogs whose owners didn’t have a reliable recall. Each time is one of the scariest and most infuriating experiences we have while hiking, and it is incredibly dangerous. Please please please-- work with your dog to be safe and ready for trails, leash them, and if you still aren’t able to go on hikes without unprovoked lunging, barking, or other unsafe behaviors it might be time to seriously consider other options.
HOW DID WE GET MINNIE READY FOR HIKING AND CAMPING?
It’s important to make sure you do your research before taking your dog hiking. In addition to limiting intense physical activity for young puppies to protect developing bones, joints and muscles, it’s also critical to have a strong foundation on overall training with things like recall, leash walking, and reactivity. In addition to being physically ready, it’s also important to give your dog the time to be mentally ready for long hikes. Puppies typically function in short bursts of energy, and dogs need to mature in order to be able to walk and hike safely for long periods of time.
Minnie did her first “hike” with us at about six months old -- roughly 2 miles. To build stamina for longer hikes, we worked her way up with distance and elevation: we kept her hikes under 5 miles until she turned a year old, and under 10 until after she was 18 months to protect developing joints, bones and muscles.
In addition to training dogs for hike distances and elevation, it’s important to work with your dog to ensure that they are behaviorally ready to be where you are planning on taking them. Start with basic obedience training and leash walking, getting used to wearing a harness and gentle leader, as well as things like “Leave it”, “No”, “Come”, and reliable emergency recall.
HOW LONG / FAR CAN MINNIE HIKE?
The longest she has ever done was 15 miles, as part of a longer backpacking weekend in 2021. She loved it!
WHAT DO WE BRING MINNIE FOR HIKING AND CAMPING?
For day hikes and car camping, we bring her leash and harness, water bottle (plus refills) her regular meals, treats for day hike bags, and poop bags! We have a leash that can clip on to something, which works well to give her controlled freedom to hangout at the campsite.
Minnie has her own doggie backpack she wears for backpacking tricks - she carries her own food and bowl (and then has the privilege of carrying out her own poop *and* some of the baby's diapers. Time to earn your keep, my girl!)
WHERE DOES SHE SLEEP?
Much to her delight, Minnie sleeps in the tent with us, down and the foot of our sleeping bags. I wish I had great advice for you about how to get your dog to sleep well in your tent: I simply do not because my dog will never ever be as happy as when she is as close to you as possible.
WHAT ABOUT SAFETY? WHAT ABOUT BEARS?
Remember above when I said that ensuring that your dog has good recall is a really important part of bringing them into the outdoors with you? And that it’s important to keep them on the leash? That’s big here!
Other things to keep in mind: dogs can pick up illnesses from water and instect bites while in the outdoors. Double check your dog’s vaccinations and flea and tick prevention are up to date.
Ensure you give your dog plenty of rest, shade and water. NEVER leave your dog unsupervised in a tent or car. If you do a campfire, keep your dog a safe distance away.
RESOURCE ROUND UP: Tips for hiking with dogs and tips for hiking and camping with dogs. Keeping your dogs safe and happy in the great outdoors, How to prepare for camping with your dog.
BRINGING UP BEBE: TAKING YOUR KIDS CAMPING & HIKING:
One of the most important things for me when Mark and I were planning for our family was to be proactive about making sure we continued to get outdoors as a family, even if it looked a little different from the 12+ mile hikes of our recent past. I’m no expert by any means, but I am extremely proud of how active we have been able to be with him: our little guy has been hiking (20+ times), camping (10+ times) and backpacking (2+ times) in his first 18 months of life.
(I am more impressed with us than anything when I look at those numbers. It takes so much energy to get up and go with a little one, and I give so much credit to my husband for being the engine to get us out the door to make it happen! I was just along for the first for the first few months).
I’ll start this section with the acknowledgement that as of the time of writing this, I have an 18 month old - the majority of our experiences to date were during the summer of 2023 when he was quite small and portable at the fresh ages of 5 - 10 months old. I’m positive that we’ll be adapting and changing our approaches constantly, especially considering we have a full blown walker on our hands who has nearly doubled in size and weight since this time last year. I’ll keep you updated!
HIKING WITH YOUR BABY:
My number one piece of advice here is to just start slow: if you have recently given birth (and by recently I literally mean anytime in the last 2 years) more than half the battle is understanding how you feel physically and adjusting to changes in your core strength while your body recovers. A few things that we did that helped a lot as we got started:
Start close to home: driving off to a hike that’s 3 hours away gets a lot trickier once you have naps and feeding times to account for. We started with “hikes” within 30-45 minutes of our home in Seattle so we were able to get out and get practice without an overly long drive. (We probably hiked around Discovery Park 10 times last spring, highly recommend!).
Coordinate drive time with sleep time: if our little guy is going to do anything, it's falling asleep in the car. We took advantage of that by aligning our drives to times that he would be sleepy as best as we could. Up until about 5 months we would do his early morning feed then immediately head out. After 6 months: would get all ready and then him into his carseat and start driving. We’d aim to get to the trailhead around his normal wakeup and feeding time so that I could nurse him in the car right when we got there. : 9/10 times he’d fall asleep and wake up right when we arrived. I always brought a small bottle of pumped milk just in case he woke up hungry.
Start slow: I found that just like training Minnie to go on longer hikes, it took some training to get us all up and running to hiking with babies. We followed approximately the following ramp up:
Short neighborhood walks (20-40 minutes)
Short Hikes (2-3 miles) a short drive (20-40 minutes):
Longer Hikes (5+ miles) a short drive away (30-60 minutes)
Longer Hikes (7+ miles) longer drives or overnights
As I healed and figured out my own body and fitness post-baby, we would frequently switch off who was carrying baby halfway through the hike to ensure we both got a break and that I didn’t injure my still recovering core.
Find the carrier that works for you, at each stage of development. Babies grow and change so quickly, and the most important things when choosing a carrier is that YOU feel secure and aren’t injuring your core, and that baby is safe and supported whether you’re doing casual walks around your local parks, longer hikes or backpacking in the backcountry. This guide from Backcountry was extremely helpful for us as we did research! We’ve used the following carriers:
Newborn - 4 months: Baby Bjorn Baby Carrier Mini. Was a simple, straightforward carrier we loved for our early neighborhood walks and initial forays into hiking. Recommend the mesh material if you live in a warmer climate or will be using with an infant in the warmer months to prevent overheating.
5 to 12 months: We had two here, depending on which parent was wearing, and for what.
Longer hikes & Backpacking, Mark’s preference: ErgoBaby Omni 360 (Cool Air Mesh) - works in literally any configuration (front / back carry, in / out facing) and comes in a cool mesh fabric, including an UPF 50+ hood. We found the straps and lumbar support on this one were MUCH more comfortable than on the Baby Bjorn. This one is a “hip healthy” product, and is recommended for toddlers up to 45 pounds.
Shorter hikes & neighborhood walks, my preference: WildBird Aerial Carrier: - works as an inward facing carrier for front or back carrying. Only comes in a cotton fabric (which is okay for most WA seasons). A “hip healthy” product, recommended for up to toddlers up to 45 pounds. I found this easiest to put on and off by myself (don't need anyone to clip anything for me, etc) and my snuggly guy doesn’t mind being inward facing on shorter walks.
12 months, most hikes: Deuter Kid Comfort Child Carrier: It’s a backpacking backpack, only for a kid. We love this, and little man rides in it multiple times a day with Mark while they take Minnie on her daily walks in the neighborhood. It has a ton of mesh paneling to ensure better ventilation, and the frame style backpack helps distribute weight to your hips (rather than your back or shoulders) for better ergonomics. Comfortably carries kids up to 48.5 pounds, and comes with a sun and rain roof.
In addition to the carriers, whoever is carrying baby frequently utilizes at least one hiking pole, especially when going downhill - it’s always good to ensure you have a little extra support and balance!
As we get started on our backpacking plans for the summer, I’m also looking into a carrier that attaches to a backpacking pack to make things a bit more efficient. Have seen a few from Trail Magik that seem to be good for toddlers - will report back!
Take breaks: as you and baby are getting used to the experience, and especially getting used to carriers, it’s helpful to plan a break mid-way through to get everyone out of the carrier (perhaps change a diaper), have a snack, roll around etc. We often did longer breaks to get out of the sun and give little guy a chance to cool down, roll / crawl around on a play mat, etc.
Be flexible and forgiving: Getting out at all is a success, and just because you had a plan doesn’t mean you have to finish the plan. More than once we bailed partially down the trail because we could tell that we were hitting our limit or that we were going to before we finished.
WHAT DO THEY WEAR?
Similar to determining what you should wear, its important to consider temperature, weather / trail conditions, and the fact that since a baby isn’t the one hiking, they won’t get as warm! I’ll point to the experts on this one: Loved this gear and layering article from Hailey Outdoors, and a guide on Layering a baby for hikes year round from WTA.
A few things we love:
Sunday Afternoons SunSprount Infant Sun Hat: Top Tier fishing dad style for your tiny hiker. Extremely lightweight and provides great sun coverage.
For hot hikes (honestly rare in Washington!) we make sure to layer baby in lightweight, cotton or drifit fabrics. We’ve preferred to do longsleeves to keep him from getting a sunburn, and this summer will likely get him a UPF sunshirt.
For cooler temps, layering is key!
Fleece / Sherpa layers or jumpsuits these are great for babies under 12 months especially, and it seems like just about everyone has one (old navy has a few under $30!). Big fan of the options from LL Bean or Columbia because they last forever and are pretty reasonably priced.
Patagonia Hi-Loft Down Bunting - Our go-to insulated suit, usually on top of a base layer (and a fleece layer for extra cold days). There is also a great lightweight one from Primary that we use for playground trips and dog walks
Rainier Rainsuit - welcome to Seattle, hope you like rain! We got this one for everything from playgrounds to campsites and it’s been great to keep baby warm and dry.
BABY’S GOTTA EAT!
We’ve already talked about people snacks, but figuring out how (and when) to feed kiddos in the great outdoors was something that felt like multivariable calculus at first. This will *also* look different as baby grows, and depending on what you are choosing to do. A few notes on what *’we* did:
Newborn - 6 months: I was breastfeeding on demand pretty much every 2-3 hours he was awake. That pretty much meant that I’d feed or pump immediately before we left, usually again once we arrived at a trail, and then (occasionally) on the side of the trail, and again before we left. Deeply inconvenient, but I got very comfortable! I found bringing a lightweight cover was helpful to prevent distractions (and weirdos from being weird). Important to note: Breastmilk (or formula) is not only a baby’s primary source of nutrition it’s also a CRITICAL source of hydration, and especially when it’s warm out its likely the baby will want to feed more often. Make sure you’re hydrating enough for the both of you!
6 to 12 months: We were doing a combination of breastfeeding and solids here, usually breastfeeding first thing in the morning, at noon, at 4 and at 8 pm. We’d supplement nursing with whatever baby-led weaning foods of choice were easily packable: would usually bring a puree pouch, and small containers with whatever food we were introing at the time (fruit, oatmeal, peanut butter toast, etc).
12 months +: Our toddler weaned completely around 14.5 months (simply too excited about food to be bothered with nursing!) and he was already full speed ahead on solids around 12 months. We’ve long taken a “baby eats what we eats” approach, but for hiking and camping I always pack him his own little set of snacks he’s familiar and comfortable with, plenty of water, and a few surprise “treats” I know he loves if we need to buy some goodwill and patience.
WHAT ABOUT DIAPERS?!
Yup. it will be what it will be. We always change our baby in the car right before we begin a hike, and bring a small pack of wipes, 1-2 diapers, a change of clothes for the baby, and a sealable bag in event of any unfortunate accidents. Our diaper bag came with a fold up changing pad, and we usually bring that along.
I will say, in all the hikes and backpacking trips we did in the first year, there were only two times that come to mind where we needed to stop and change baby on the side of the trail due to a truly impressive blowout. You gotta laugh, or you’ll cry.
As with your dog’s waste, you absolutely need to pack your waste out here. Don’t be that guy!
CAMPING WITH YOUR BABY:
Our literal first rodeo at this was when baby was 5 months old and rolling off a brutal 4 month sleep regression I was *very* stressed about it. It ended up being the best night of sleep he had ever had and was overall such an amazing experience. We started with car camping at a site with a ton of amenities not far from Seattle – so that if it was terrible we could just *leave*.
Where does baby sleep? Does he get his own sleeping bag? Tent?
I was really concerned about safe sleep, and after a lot of research we landed on the following set up that we are still using: Baby sleeps in our tent with us, in his own “infant tent”. This provides a hard, flat, contained space for sleeping, keeps baby off the cold ground, and significantly reduces risks associated with co-sleeping. The collapsible / popup tent we got is great for sleeping inside our tent, and we’ve also used it like a portable pack and play - on longer hikes as a spot for him to take a nap in the shade on hotter days, or play while we setting up camp.
We got his own baby sleeping bag that has arms and zips up around his neck. It worked great for hanging around the campsite on colder nights, and we brought his regular sleep sack for nights we knew would be warmer than 55 degrees.
But like … where does it all go? Right now the baby's popup tent goes at the head of the tent above Mark and I’s heads, and Minnie sleeps at our feet. It’s extremely cozy, but it works. I will say: our configuration is getting quite a bit cramped, and we’re likely going to need to get a larger tent very soon.
What about meals and play time?
To make meals easier, we got a travel high chair that mounts on a table - works perfectly on most campsite picnic tables and is helpful to keep active babies a bit contained if parents need to set up the tent or cook dinner close by.
We also bring a packable waterproof mat to lay out in the shade to create a bit of a “play area”. Now that he’s up and literally running we’ll probably need to adjust this, but it worked well from 0-12 months!
RESOURCE ROUND UP: I like and reference this article about how to camp with a baby a lot, and I know that I’ll be looking to how to make hiking with kids fun / hiking with infants, toddlers and kids a loooooot in the coming years.
This is also an area I have looked and learned so much from other outdoor creators: I’ve especially enjoyed content from Hailey Outside (she has a hiking with babies guide I appreciated), Brooke Froelich and Chelsea Murphy of She Colors Nature.
IF YOU’VE MADE IT THIS FAR, IT’S TIME FOR THE SPREADSHEET - this whole post, summarized and streamlined, including which gear I use for hiking, car camping, or backpacking.
OTHER FAQs:
How do you feel kind of clean /hygienic while backpacking? Don’t you get gross / smell bad?
Pretty much. You’re hiking and sleeping outside for however many days, presumably without showering so that’s just going to happen! Attempting to accept that going into it makes things better, as does taking steps in advance to mitigate issues to tangly hair, hygiene or skin emergencies or skin breakouts after your trip.
Some things that I have found that help:
I keep my hair in a loose bun or ponytail for the first few days, and transition to a french braid as I get dirtier to keep it tangle free and away from my face. On longer trips, i’ll undo the braids when I wake up, brush out, and rebraid to start the day fresh.
In Patagonia the water in streams, rivers, etc was super clean and drinkable: so I would often refill my water bottle and splash water on my face on extra sweaty days, and always rinse off face / arms / legs as available before going to sleep in my designated “sleep clothes”, otherwise I’m a fan of wipes just to take the crusty layer off and avoid too much dust in your sleeping bag. !
I also have a small dopp kit I bring with me for (my personal) hygiene essentials: a travel size moisturizer and face wash (not for use in streams or rivers), sunscreen that I know won’t mess with my skin (supergoop), a tiny travel hair brush and bobby pins, mascara and chapstick, tampons and few of the simple brand compostable wipes which I pack out in a small waste bag. Whether or not you want to carry any of these things (or others) is totally up to you -- whatever makes your hiking experience better!
RESOURCE ROUNDUP: Bearfoot Theory has a great blog post on female hygiene tips while camping or backpacking, as does She Dreams of Alpine. Section Hiker also has some great resources on general cleanliness and LNT.
HOW DO YOU PACK ALL YOUR STUFF FOR BACKPACKING?
I am a chronic overpacker, so I won’t give a full full authoritative answer on this (do as I say not as I do!) I learned how to do my backpack with the following links:
How to pack a backpack by REI Expert Advice
The Definitive Guide to How to Pack a Backpack by Outdoor Blueprint
What should I pack on a 3 day backpacking trip? By Section Hiker
My overall personal packing strategy tends to be: lay out everything that you think you need and then take out ~35% of that, usually works pretty well!
I THINK THAT’S EVERYTHING!!!
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Just like you don’t need to run marathons to be a runner, you don’t need to go backpacking in South America to be a hiker. Whether it’s getting out to your state or local parks for the first time, or finally visiting your first National Park, or making up that one hike you’ve always wanted to do, I hope that this post was helpful! I’d love to hear about your experience hiking , other resources you’ve enjoyed or any feedback that you have
!
Thank you for all this detailed info! Can’t wait for the camping logistics post. Do you mostly stick with reservable camp sites?