Snowshoe Adventure | A Guide on How to Outfit Your Kids and Teach Them How to Snowshoe
We took the boys on a short snowshoe adventure over the long weekend! I admit, the idea was initially met with resistance. A pair of certain boys did not want to get dressed and would have rather watched tv all afternoon. Bron and I insisted they come anyway and the afternoon wound up ending in exclamations of, "That was fun!" and "Let's do that again!"
I am always blown away by how much snow there is in the South Hills even though there is none down in the valley where we live. Driving up there, it's like entering into a whole new magical world!
It's just another gentle reminder to myself that getting outside to burn energy and enjoy some beauty (I mean, look at all that POWDER!) is always worth the effort.
I've gotten quite a few questions about how difficult it is to snowshoe and how I outfit my kids for these adventures. I'm answering as many of those questions as I can below. So read on!
Buying gear for one person can be expensive, but multiply that by 3 or 4 and it's easy to imagine going broke! No worries. With a little time and creative know how, those outdoor family adventures can happen comfortably.
TIPS FOR BUYING KIDS' WINTER GEAR
1. Buy for quality not quantity. With that said, know that you probably don't need the higher end labels. Unless you are hard core avid mountaineers, middle of the road quality will do! Honestly, one of my favorite places to find gloves and snow pants is Costco! They're heavy duty and water proof enough for the time and temperatures that our kids are exposed to the elements.
2. Never buy anything full price if you can help it.
Bron teases that "Clearance" (pronounced Clarence) is my boyfriend. I love finding brand new items for half price or less. It's kind of a thrill. We found the boys' red snowshoes at Target towards the end of winter one year just sitting on a shelf!
:: Look for end of season sales or last year's models. The items are going to become hand me downs anyway, so it doesn't matter. We found Jed's sorrel snowboots on sale before Christmas from Backcountry one year. They cost just as much as the cheap ones at Walmart that would ultimately leak or make his feet cold. Yes. Score!
:: Shop at second hand stores. Kids tend to grow out of items before they wear them out. We've found some of our best deals in thrift stores located in tourist towns like Sun Valley, ID and Moab, UT where much of their economy is based around outdoor recreation. But don't underestimate your local thrift store either. If you're lucky, you can score some cool items!
:: Be friendly and social when you're out and about. We met a family in City of Rocks once who noticed our children and offered to sell us their children's used climbing gear. We exchanged numbers and made a deal. Soon we had kids' climbing shoes and a harness delivered to our doorstep!
:: Ask friends if you can take their older children's gear off their hands and out of their garage! Many times they've forgotten about it and it's just taking up room in their garage. They're often more than happy to sell it or even give it away.
^^Helping Levi put on his snowshoes... again! Lol.^^
HOW TO TEACH YOUR KIDS TO SNOWSHOE
Snowshoeing is almost as easy as walking. I'm not exaggerating! It is one of the easiest outdoor activities that your entire family can enjoy during the winter months. I'll tell you how.
1. Dress in warm layers. It's easier to cool off than warm up while in the snow, so make sure your kids are dressed in appropriate water proof gear that they can unzip, stuff into pockets, etc.
2. Bring some water and snacks. There's no need to overthink or overplan this one. Many times I simply grab apples, cheese sticks, and granola bars from the kitchen and stuff them into an insulated bag on my way out the door! Other easy ideas might include ham and cheese sandwiches, popcorn, oranges, and pretzels. However, my kids always look forward to drinking some hot chocolate back at the truck after our afternoon in the snow. It's kind of a tradition!
3. Be prepared to attach and reattach your child's snowshoes multiple times. Teach your child to walk forward with their feet hip width apart. With some practice, they'll get the hang of it.
4. Choose a trail that is trafficked. The snow will already be packed down -- even if it's under 8 inches of powder -- making it easier to walk on.
If you do choose to break trail all on your own, be prepared to exert a lot more energy and for your trip to take a lot more time! It can be a fun challenge, but I would suggest saving those kinds of challenges for when your kids are older and more experienced as breaking trail could feel frustrating and energy draining for your child the first few times.
5. Remember, there is no need for a destination. Just being outside and exploring a trail is adventure enough for your children! Lead the way, but don't get too far up ahead. Let the kids set the pace. Many times Bron and I simply trek uphill til the kids are tired and then play all the way back down the hill. It's as easy and simple as that!
^^Levi trying to cross a log over a frozen creek. He is all boy!^^
^^Me 25 weeks pregnant. I borrowed Bron's snowpants, Bron's shirt, and Bron's coat. But I stayed warm!^^
^^Conrad figuring out how to make snow angels in the snow!^^
^^Look at all that snow stacked up there! WOW!!!^^
^^Hiding beneath some pine trees.^^
^^Cute little imp. Conrad got to ride in the backpack (for probably the very last time ever -- he's just getting too big) all the way up the hill and then hiked and played all the way back down.^^
^^Hey! Wait for me, guys! It's hard to be the littlest.^^
No comments
Post a Comment
I love hearing from you! Thanks for taking the time to leave me a message.