JMT with kids/teens

My son and I hiked the JMT SOBO from 6/15/15 to 7/5/15. He was 12 at the time. It was a fantastic trip and a memorable experience. He shares my enthusiasm for hiking and camping. We started combining those two interests a couple of years ago discovering that we enjoyed backpacking and do it well together.

A student recommended we watch Mile, Mile and a Half a while back. It sat in my Netflix queue for probably six months and we finally watched it in early October of 2014. A few weeks later while car camping he started crying one morning as we enjoyed a cup of coffee/hot chocolate at sunrise. He said he had something difficult to tell me and that he was afraid to tell me. My heart stopped. I thought of all the possible things he was going to tell me and I manned up an assured him whatever it was that I would do my best to help him. You cannot believe my relief when he finally said “Dad, I want to hike the JMT with you. Promise me we will do it together.” And stuck out his hand to make me shake his hand and promise. It took all of .00000002 seconds for me to make up my mind on that one.

I think your older boy should be excited about the trip and able to bust out long days. Hiking and backpacking involves suffering. You have to want to do it. It’s a long and difficult trip if you don’t want it. He shouldn’t go if it’s not right for him.

idea: maybe the older boy should join for a few days. Tuolumne to Red’s?

We almost bailed at Taboose Pass. My son said he’d had enough and wanted to get home to his regular life. I had a very tough decision to make: should I listen to his desire to get home or should I encourage him to push through? Luckily, we had two very nice trail friends that we had hiked with on and off since the beginning of the trip and they really helped him tall it out at that trail junction. My wife had sent a message via my InReach saying “there is nothing here at home that will compare to the sense of satisfaction of completing the trail” that was influential to him as well.

You are welcome to show your son photos from my Instagram  which includes a bunch of photos last summer featuring my son.

Each one of us is different. Each of our kids are different. My son has always enjoyed backpacking and he likes to push himself. My daughter never enjoyed it much. They are two years apart. So we did a lot of camping together, which both enjoyed. My son and I backpacked together.

If the three of you do a trip together it is best to do a trip that everyone will thoroughly enjoy.

Listen to your kids.

Hiking the JOHN MUIR TRAIL with our 9 AND 10 year old daughters

and

 Father & Son UL Trip Of The JMT

Thank you all for your experiences and advice. I think I’ll have a pretty good idea of how things are going to go once we get out on the trail a few times this summer. I will definitely have to sit down and watch mile, mile and a half with them. Worst case scenario, if he doesn’t want to do the whole thing, he can come down with my wife and my father and do the last 40-50 miles with us.

Sounds like an Awesome family trip. I offer full support and props.

Advice from a 28 y/male without kids.. haha take it for what it’s (not) worth.

I think you should definitely continue to have a serious talk with both boys separately. Explain the mental side of a 2-3 week excursion and the commitment that’s needed. As a potential parent, I’d frame it as a this is full commitment, no bailing out. Tell them to take some time to decide before hand if they want to go. “If we start it, then we’re finishing it.” If someone breaks a leg, then we’ll come back and finish it but if we’re doing this we’re doing it.

Potential tips to help get them thru it. Although I’m assuming the trail is 100% beautiful. Try to pick out something in particular the boys can “look forward too” every couple days. T

A friend of mine coached several championship little league teams (back in the 80s). A lot of his neighborhood kids went on to play college or professional ball. He said one of the great things about youth is that they don’t have artificial notions built up yet about what they can and can’t do. So He was able get them to run 6-7 miles after practice as if it were normal for their age range. He also gave the kids the decision at the beginning of the season, do want to have a chill/fun season or win the championship? This helped frame their mind that the coach was helping them achieve their goals rather than torturing them.