AboutWounded Knee Expertise I can advise on anything having to do with hiking and backpacking skills and equipment, including map and compass and orienteering skills. I cannot advise on the use of GPS devices. I cannot advise on car camping or group camping (10 or more people). My primary geographic expertise is in the US Northeast, but I know how to find information on hiking and backpacking just about anywhere.
Experience I've been hiking and backpacking for about 40 years, including ongoing section hiking of the Appalachian Trail (almost 1300 miles so far). I have hiked extensively in the New York Metropolitan Area, as well as various other areas from Virginia north, including upstate New York, New England, and Eastern Canada.
Publications New York Walk Book, 7th Ed. New Jersey Walk Book, 2nd Ed.
Education/Credentials Not applicable to this area of expertise.
Question We have 4 children, ages 11, 7, 5, and 15 months, and we live near Boston, MA. I would love to do a hike for Mother's Day, but I'm not sure what would be a good choice. We are ok with driving for an hour or two to get to the hike. Is Mt Monadnock too much for a not-very-cooperative 5 yr old? (We have a good baby backpack, so it's not an issue for the littlest one unless the hike is really long.) What would you recommend?
Answer Your talking about Mt. Monadnock in southern NH, correct? I have never hiked there, but I found some info about it on the Web.
If you start from the parking lot near the visitor center, it's a 1700 foot climb to the top, about 1 1/2 - 2 miles each way. If your 5 year old is somewhat uncooperative, I don't recommend hiking with him or her, unless you want to make the hike an opportunity to teach the child something about pursuing a goal without giving up. You may want to consider an easier hike -- at Mt Monadnock State Park, for example, you could hike to Bald Rock (1000 ft climb) or to the Halfway House Site (600 ft climb. But even the shorter climbs may be quite challenging -- read this web page for information on the challenges of hiking in that area:
I suggest consulting with your local outfitter -- EMS or a similar place -- for ideas on good hiking areas that would be appropriate for you and your kids.
