My sons 4 and pretty much since he could talk we’ve been talking hiking the Appalachian trail together someday.

He doesn’t know what that really means, i probably said i always wanted to at some point and he internalized it deeply.

So this year we’ve been testing the waters with camping.

The first time we went was perfect, we did a 12 mile hike one day, where i only carried him for 4 miles which was incredible. The second time we tried camping there was a very unfortunate incident with a little girl in a lake and it left him (and me) a little traumatized so we went home on the first day.

Now a couple months later, thinking his love for camping had been destroyed before he really found it, he’s off of school this week and begged me to go camping. So naturally i took of work and said hell yeah, booked up a couple nights at the first campground we went to which is much more secluded and my speed anyway, I’m not a fan of the campground with pretty much waterparks (no judgement if you are).

I’m hoping everything goes smoothly and we can plan some winter camping after this!

  • Treczoks@lemmy.worldEnglish
    10·
    1 day ago

    That’s a long walk for a 4 years old…

    Will you go south to north or the other direction for the AT?

    Have you decided on trail names yet?

  • Pronell@lemmy.worldEnglish
    5·
    1 day ago

    Camping for me as a kid was up in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. Paddle a few hours and you are away from most signs of civilization. No planes overhead, no cell towers, no electric motors.

    I would love to do that now again at my age, but that kind of camping takes skills I never developed.

    Keep at it and hopefully you’ll have a lifetime of adventure with your kids!

    • dumples@piefed.socialEnglish
      5·
      23 hours ago

      I will say you can still do some easy BWCA trips with an outfitter guide or there’s places in Ely that let you just day trip. Don’t let your BWCA dreams die

  • moonshadow@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    2·
    21 hours ago

    I can’t quite remember my first camping trip, but still have the lil swiss army knife I was given when I was 6 and “camp” pretty much full-time nowadays. Good for you op, have fun :)

  • Remy Rose@piefed.socialEnglish
    2·
    1 day ago

    Always wanted to do the AT. I hope your kid recovers from the trauma, camping was one of my favorite things about childhood!