Wish me luck!

“Next month I will be taking my 12 year old daughter on her first backpack trip. She has camped with us since she was a wee tot, but this will be her first trip toating her own load for a day or two.

She has also insisted that we bring the dog.....he's a handful by himself.

Man I hope I survive to pack again...”

“Good luck dude!”

“Have a great time!

Stay flexible and don't push for too many miles.”

“Good luck!”

“You'll have a blast. Here is a pic of my two oldest daughters (ages 9 & 12) and I on their first backpack in 1992. They hiked to the camp faster than our Boy Scout Troop ever did. We had a good time, but I think they missed having a real bathroom.

Although they did not beg to go backpacking again right away, they do go camping a couple of times a year and talk about backpacking again.

The first hike should be as fun for her as possible. Make it an easy hike. You do most of the work and make sure the food is yummy with lots of scrupmtious snacks available.”

“No comments necessary on the purple pants and knobby knees. That has already been taken care of by pros.”

“Kinda like graduation for her...I'm sure you'll both have a blast.”

“Twelve is the perfect age for a backpacking trip.

You can get a year or two of good trips with them, but not much more.

From 15-18 you can forget backpacking trips or anything else that is your idea.

During their 20's you might get one or two primo trips with the kids. Realistically that is all one should expect out of fellow a human being.”

“Also took my daughter on her first BP trip at age 12. We went with one of her friends and another adult (her friend's Mom), as well as the two dreaded, scumbag brothers (j/k - this is the girls talking!!). Anyway, the girls had a pretty good time. Part of the success was that they could gossip, giggle & stay up 1/2 the nite together, which made for a positive experience for them. Other part was we took them to a pretty cool spot, huge waterfall, cliffs / canyons, etc., and only about 8 miles one-way so it wasn't too strenuous.

The upside is that now the girls are 14, and just this month became our first female members of our Venturing Crew! We've managed to recruit a couple more females based upon their jumping in with both feet first, and we have our first trip with the Crew in 3 weeks.

It will all pay off, you will live, and the girls will have a blast! Just keep repeating that to yourself, over and over and over...”

“I'm sure she will love it. Just keep the milage sane.”

“Thanks everyone. I've got a good destination picked, the Granddaddy lakes are in the High Uintas of Utah. Trailhead to camp is about four miles, great fishing, wonderful mountain views..should be good.

Great pic Phil.....the have made great strides in knee surgury ya know...”

“BWD, it is a personality thing. She will love it or hate it, regardless of her age, depending on her personality. So good luck and I hope that she has a terrific time. I keep hoping that my kids will discover a love for backpacking. My older daughter is a little interested and my younger daughter loudly protests that she wants nothing to do with it. I can only hope that they both develop a love for the outdoors over time. Bringing a friend is a good strategy too, as Wanderer pointed out.”

“Dave, Isn't there gonna be a ton of snow up there during May? Usually mid June is the earliest you can get to the upper elevations.”

“If she has shown enthusiasm for the idea already, you should at least get out of the parking lot. If you are trying to persuade her that she will enjoy this, I wouldn't want to be in your shoes.
Good luck.”

“Bacpac, how old is your daughter now? I haven't had the chance to talk to her on ICQ or IM lately. LOL! (she seemed nice enough... and -- NORMAL!!)”

“have fun dave, it'll be great!”

“We don't have a firm date set yet, we will go as soon as the conditions allow. With the snowpack this year I would not be suprized if we can get in as early as late May.”

“Here's a link for the Snow Water levels in Utah.


ftp://ftp.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/data/snow/update/ut.txt”

“From 15-18 you can forget backpacking trips or anything else that is your idea.
~bacpac
07:09:35 PM
04/24/03

I dunno...
When I did the Teets, I encountered a teenage girl that was walking "point" for her group, which included mom, dad, and brother. None in the family had bp'ed before.

The girl said she was brought dragging and kicking, but admitted that the week or so that they'd been in was the greatest experience of her life. She was having a blast.

Be the adult. MAKE the kids go - they'll never regret it...”