Getting a Head Start
Rebecca Godwin and her husband are preparing for their third move — from Virginia to California. “We participate in the local chapter in Virginia and I am already an online member for our new chapter in California,” she says. “Knowing that Hike it Baby is a national organization gave me a head start on meeting like-minded, active families in our new area to help us transition more smoothly. I love seeing the pictures of the new hiking trails we will be challenging ourselves with. It really gives you a sense of family when you are away from your family. I am glad I can raise my daughter to appreciate and love the outdoors like we do.”
Find Your People
Originally from the East coast, Anna Boechler and her Army husband moved to Olympia, Wash., for him to start his pediatric residency. She was 24 weeks pregnant at the time with their first baby. Despite its distance from everything familiar, Boechler eagerly anticipated embracing the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest.
“Then I delivered my son, and I felt a little lost,” she recalls. “I knew how to get outside and enjoy the beauty of the local trails pre-baby (and even while super pregnant), but taking my little guy out and about was overwhelming. What should he wear? How can I lug all of his stuff out on a remote trail? What if he is hungry? What if I need to change his diaper? What if he won’t stop crying?
“My friend (and fellow HiB Ambassador now), Jessica Foster, who is also an Army wife, introduced me to Hike it Baby when my son was almost six months old,” Boechler says. “I was immediately put at ease. Crying baby? We’ll wait while you feed him. Carrier uncomfortable? We’ll help you adjust. Out of shape from having a baby? We can take a break. These were my people: moms and dads who simply want to get outside with their kids and are so welcoming and willing to help show newbies the way.”
Now, after 10 months with HiB, Boechler feels fully ingrained and is a Branch Ambassador for Hike it Baby Olympia. Moving is inevitable, but Boechler isn’t worried. “It is a comfort to me because I know that in 17 months we will leave my now beloved PNW,” she says. “We will move someplace that is probably just a foreign as the PNW was when we first arrived. However, I know where to find my people! I will join the local Hike it Baby branch, likely before I unpack a single box! And if a branch doesn’t exist, I will create one because it is so easy to feel at home out in nature, even if I’m nearly 3,000 miles from where I grew up.”
Gear to think about
The large amount of stuff a child needs seems disproportionate to their small size. You can keep everything in a house, and you can load up your mom (or dad!)-mobile when you need to travel, but being out on the trail with only your feet as a means to get from Point A to Point B can be intimidating. The following list is a good start to making your trail experience the best it can be.
- Hiking poles: Poles help redistribute weight, taking some of the strain off of your lower body and redistributing it to your upper body.
- Good shoes: This is not an area to skimp on. Some people prefer lightweight trail runner shoes and some prefer a higher top boot that provides more ankle support.
- Daypack: Carry snacks, baby gear, emergency supplies and more in a lightweight pack. Bonus points if it includes a pocket for a water bladder.
- Water: Speaking of water … always carry ample water with you, whether it is with a water bladder in your pack, or carrying a water bottle.
- Baby carrier: Generally speaking, front carriers are frameless sacks that accommodate infants up to 30 pounds. For a larger child, look into a carrier with a built-in frame that holds your child behind you. Your child must be able to sit upright without assistance before using this. But do your research before hitting the trail with a carrier.
- First-aid kit: You can buy a pre-packaged first aid kit or consider making one yourself. Here are some ideas of what to include: tweezers, safety pins, antibiotic ointment, antiseptic wipes, band aids, ibuprofen, antihistamine, moleskin for blisters, emergency electrolytes, signaling device such as a whistle, matches and a Mylar blanket.
