You Know You Are a HiB Hiker When…

Celebrating National Take a Hike Day “Hipsters tend to stick to hiking backcountry rivers. They’re less mainstream.” We at Hike It Baby, love hiking...obviously and having fun, so I thought I’d kick off the holiday with a good (or bad depending on how you feel) pun! Ok, all joking aside, November 17th is National Take A Hike Day, as in “Let’s go for a hike!”, not; we just had an argument “Go take a hike!” Actually, that would be a weird holiday to celebrate! Anyway, National Take A Hike Day is a great opportunity to either add another hike to your tick list or to hit the trails for the first time...with your feet not a stick ala Amelia Bedelia! If you’re getting on the trails for the first time Hike it Baby is a great way to get involved. With 1600 hikes a month, 350 different branches and 275,000 families there is a hike for everyone.  Tips for Your Hike it Baby Hike If those numbers feel too “in tents” and this is your first hike with Hike It Baby here are some helpful tips: Once I’ve found the perfect hike on the calendar I like to use Google Maps to see exactly how long it will take me to get there and then I add roughly half an hour because it’s winter (where I live) and I have an octopus, I mean 2 year old to get dressed and ready. The hike details are usually pretty thorough, but I also check the Family Trail Guide for more specific details about the trail - it’s perfect because the info is geared toward families with little trekkers.   I double check the diaper bag to make sure I have an extra set of clothes, plenty of snacks and water.  Me!! Sometimes, I forget to pack food, warm clothes and water for myself! Most of us are so focused on getting the wiggly ones out the door that once we get them in the car we just go, go, go! Lastly, if I have questions about the hike, conditions, parking or if I’m just feeling nervous, I’ll put the hike host’s number in my phone and text or call.  Choose Your Own Adventure My son and I have been hiking with Hike It Baby for awhile so when we go now, I like to challenge myself to see how far we can make it. This can mean different things on different days. Some days it’s how far can we get before the next meltdown, other days it’s how many miles can we do? I also find that I am more motivated to get out on a hike if it’s somewhere that I’ve never been before. Adding new trails to my tick list also helps me to explore the city a bit more and since we are still relatively new to the area, this is one of my favorite ways to explore.  Pass it On! Since I’m comfortable with hiking and the Hike It Baby model now I often invite friends and family who are new to the group or the area. I’ve found that regardless of hiking experience, meeting like-minded parents on the trail and exploring our city have been invaluable aspects of joining Hike It Baby and I want to pass that on!  So, this November 17th “Hit the road/trail Jack (or Jill)!” and come hike with us!  About Hike it Baby Hike it Baby is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to getting families outdoors and on trails across the U.S. and internationally, supporting, educating and inspiring families through their more than 300 communities across North America. Since its grassroots inception in 2013 in Portland, Oregon, Hike it Baby is now a growing community of 270,000 families and 500 volunteer branch ambassadors hosting more than 1,600 hikes per month. More information, as well as daily hike schedules, can be found at HikeitBaby.com, Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest, and Instagram. Photos courtesy of Stephanie Jacobson

We all know that getting out with babies and toddlers is hard, but it is especially challenging for parents with many young children. Hike it Baby St. Louis member, Lauren, shares the benefits her family has experienced by taking their 3 kids under 3 years old out hiking. My name is Lauren and my husband’s name is Sean we have three wonderful boys – Liam is 2.5, Finn is 1, and Kian 11 weeks old. I am part of Hike It Baby St. Louis. I started hiking back in my high school years with my husband. We would get out of school and go to Castlewood State Park and hike. We just thought it was so relaxing after a stressful day to just sit on a rock bluff and look out into the river bend. No hustle and bustle of cars, just the calming sounds of Mother Nature. We have always found that hiking helped relieve the stresses of day-to-day life. Things can get crazy when you have little ones running around, and having three kids under two-and-a-half years old can be challenging and overwhelming at times. For a while we slowed way down with hiking, but we found that taking them out on the trails helps them relax just as much as it helps us relax. And now we go hiking or at least spend extra time outside every weekend. Recently we purchased an all-Terrain stroller and an extra baby carrier. We usually baby-wear our sons Kian and Liam. Even though Liam is our oldest he really enjoys being back carried. We also bring a bunch of snacks and water. We do diapers changes and I even nurse while on the trails. [gallery columns="4" size="medium" link="file" ids="431646,431647,431645,431649"] We have learned if you can make it out the door, it is always easier. The hard part is talking yourself into getting everyone fed, changed, dressed, and in the car, but once we are out it’s always worth it. We are planning family vacations for the future to go camping and hiking so our boys can learn to love the earth and be one with nature. This will be my first Hike it Baby 30 Challenge. My Goal for this month is not to just hike the 30 miles but to discover new trails. I feel limited at times with three kids under 2.5 and really needing a stroller. I'm hoping the weather cools down so I can wear two of them. I can't wait to get out and explore some new trails! “It is in the still silence of nature one will find true bliss.” - J. J. C.