Jeri is a very outdoorsy mom from our Hike it Baby branch in Anchorage Alaska. Not only did she complete the challenge with her daughter ivy but she brought her friend Kristas baby Philip along for the ride as well! Her family completed over 1500 minutes outside by not only hiking, but skating, sledding, running and cross country skiing as well! She won an awesome beanie from our sponsors at Discrete Headwear! You could be next! Sign up for the March Hike it Baby 30 challenge today!!
http://hikeitbaby.com/hib30-march/
Keep reading to find out Jeri's trail tip which is super helpful to all who live in a cold weather climate...
Tell us about your favorite hike in the world
My favorite hike in the world was hiking this summer at the Grand Canyon with my then 8 month old daughter and husband. The views were so spectacular, the weather was perfect, and my daughter was an angel, as she usually is on the trail!
Favorite
My favorite HIB moment has to be one that involves exploring, and that would be a tandem hike that I led on the Kincaid single track trails! It was a fun hike, with great turn out, treacherous conditions, but felt like a real hike through the woods. I'm a born and raised alaskan and have grown up hiking a majority of these trails, so the single track was especially fun cause I'd never been on them and didn't know what to expect!
What is the best advice for a new hiking family?
Best advice for a new hiking family: stick with it! The first 5-10 min can be difficult with rounding up all the gear, dressing a screaming kid, having the energy to just get outside. Just stick with it, 10 min in the kids will settle down, the fresh air will fill your lungs, and nature will take over! If not, it's ok, try again tomorrow.
What are your hiking goals for 2015?
I plan to lead atleast 1 black hike a month, which will be a challenge for me as I have 2 under 2 and hoping to add a 3rd before 3!!
Also I want to go backpacking overnight as a family this year!
Got a favorite trail trick?
Since it's currently winter, my favorite trail trick is wearing a warm jacket that is a size or 2 bigger and cut a hole in the back so I can back carry my daughter, and not worry about all the extra layers. I literally only put a hat on her and then my coat. Furthermore, I have a zippered panel (Warm Baby on Facebook) that I zip into my coat on the front so I can front carry with the same ease.
What is a hiking/outdoors accomplishment with baby that you are most proud of?
I super proud of the fact that I can hike tandem with 2 kiddos! Also that we've gotten out year-round thanks to both the November and January challenges. And lastly, I hiked Williwaw Lakes last year, which is a 13 mile day hike. It was so beautiful and definitely my favorite local hiking spot. The lakes at the end were so prestine and all to ourselves!
What is the most Outrageous thing that has ever happened on a hike!? (Good or bad!:))
I was leading a hike where there was an incident of a baby falling out of a carrier, but everyone was fine, just scary when it happened. I assisted in getting the baby back in the carrier and I was sure to cinch up those straps tight so it wouldn't happen again!
Why is it important to you to have your kiddo out in nature?
It's important to have my daughter out in nature, cause my husband and I love being out year round hiking, camping, skiing, skating and I want my kids to be a part of the fun! I grew up spending hours upon hours playing outside and I want my daughter to do the same!
What kind of gear do you always suggest people get?
Having the right gear for the situation is very important to having a fun and successful trip. If you are doing a 3+ mile hike then you need the essentials (water, snacks, wind/rain protection, extra diaper, small first aid kit) but after those items, trekking poles are very important and make baby on your back feel a lot better, plus added stability. I personally prefer hard structured carriers so you can carry all the extra stuff, easily protect kiddo from the elements, more ventilated, and can remove the child and set down on trail without disturbing them. Hiking in the winter time is another story...
What did you win? How stoked are you about it? how will you use it!?
I'm so excited that I won a Discrete Beanie! I love being outside and there is still plenty of winter left in Alaska. I'll wear the beaning hiking, skiing, ice skating, snowboarding, running. When will I not wear it??!
Want to check out Discrete Headwears awesome beanies? Click
here! Thanks Discrete for sponsoring Hike it Baby 30 challenges!
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