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 Thank you very much for reply. We have 9 year old and 2 5.5 year olds and are looking for places to hike. Can you recommend some trails? Also, what would be a good women backpack for 1-2 day hike with kids? Not expensive. Thank you.
Answer OK, I still need a few more details:
1. Will it be just you and the kids, or will there be two adults? If there are two adults, does the other adult have backpack big enough for overnight use?
2. How challenging a hike do you want it to be? I've known a number of families with young kids who have taken on some relatively tough hikes and done well with them. Give me a sense of distance or time on the trail to work with.
3. Do you have a tent? There are shelters available, but only on a first-come, first-served basis, so you really should have a backup plan for shelter.
I can answer your backpack question and give a basic gear list. Campmor (http://campmor.com) has a couple of deeply discounted women's backpacks on sale for about $80 -- the Kelty Trekker, an external frame pack, and the Kelty Coyote, an internal frame pack. That's about as good a price as you're likely to see. Both weigh about the same. The external frame pack is slightly smaller, but it's designed store stuff on the outside.
Basic gear:
Sleeping bags for everyone.
Mattress pads for everyone.
Water purification system.
Water bottles -- enough to carry at least 1.5 liters/person.
Backpacker's stove -- lightweight, but big enough to cook for your entire group.
Cook kit with eating utensils.
Ground cloth big enough to fit the floor of your tent, and big enough for everyone to sleep on (shelter floors are dirty).
Clothing made of synthetic or animal fibers (plant fibers are bad news in the wilderness).
Small trowel for toilet purposes (toilets or privies are rare in the wilderness -- bury your waste at least 6" down).
Good quality shoes -- the trails are pretty rugged around here.
Wool (NOT COTTON!!) socks.
I think that's enough to get you started. Tell me the answer to the questions that I started with, and I'll be able to address your other questions.
