We started off our adventure with a scenic 5-mile hike in the Sawtooth Mountains right out of our beautiful campsite. We admired the wildflowers and the outstanding views of the valley as we hiked to the top of the mountain. At the top, we crossed a saddle onto another mountain where even more yellow and blue wildflowers greeted us. We were impressed with how Nihaal scampered up the mountain despite the 1000-ft elevation gain, and even joined us in running the trail back down. Hike mountains = check!
Very quickly, we realized hiking with kids is all about the journey, not the destination. Seeing the world through their eyes made the hike a completely different experience - every flower, insect, and bird was worth noting and discussing.
A great way to make a hike exciting, especially with younger kids, is to make it into a scavenger hunt. Sometimes it's simply hunting for litter we find along the way and packing it out. Not only is it fun, but also teaches kids about the importance of preserving and protecting our natural places.
After packing up all of our camping gear, we set off on our bikes and rode 7 miles. We were so impressed with Nihaal’s stamina, especially considering he was used to biking in Georgia - not the Rockies!
We set up camp and spent the night amid giant peaks in the Sawtooth National Forest. It was our nephew’s first night ever in a tent, and he loved helping us pitch the tent, start the fire and cook our dinner. We prepared some leftover Indian food – which turned out to be a delicious camping meal! Nihaal slept the night away peacefully, while we tossed and turned, painfully aware of our deflating camping pads.
The next day we finished off the rest of the loop - another 7 miles of singletrack riding through even more picturesque meadows ringed with snow-capped peaks. The views were astounding! Mountain bike packing = check!
Getting kids comfortable with the uncomfortable (like backpacking without all of home's comforts or hiking a tough trail) at a young age is beneficial for both them and you. Pushing their boundaries and stepping outside their comfort zone (while keeping in mind their limitations) not only prepares them for challenges in life, but also makes incredible memories.
After our bike packing trip, we visited the awesome crew at White Cloud Rafting. We did a half-day class II and III rapid trip that Nihaal will remember forever. Before we launched, our guide Geoff made sure we all knew what to do if anyone fell out of the boat, which ended up being useful!
We encountered gorgeous scenery and several sets of spirited rapids. Not long into the trip Geoff asked if we'd prefer hitting a particular rapid straight on with the possibility of a “swimmer” (someone falling out) or taking the mellower side. The answer was a no brainer and off we went down the little wall directly into the churning torrents. Geoff was right about the swimmer – Nihaal popped out of the raft at the tail end of the rapids, making his day. Nihaal beamed as Geoff announced that he is now a proud member of the Salmon River Swimming Club! Whitewater Rafting = check!
Did you know rafting helps boost kids’ brainpower, improves self-esteem, reduces stress and releases endorphins? It also gives you a great chance to bond together.
Kids of all ages can enjoy rafting - and your outfitter can help you choose the perfect trip for them based on their age. Good guides will help encourage hesitant kids to overcome their fears and provide plenty of entertainment to keep even the most inattentive kids occupied and happy.
For Nihaal’s intro to paddle boarding, we headed up to Wallace Lake - a calm, high alpine lake in the Salmon-Challis National Forest west of Salmon, Idaho. We had the lake to ourselves with the exception of a few fishermen on its shores. The serene lake was perfect for Nihaal’s first-time paddle boarding, and after a few seconds of showing him how to get on the board, we set him loose. He got the hang of the paddle board quickly, and we spent the afternoon paddling around the petite lake’s scenic shores. Stand-up paddle boarding = check!
Stand-up paddle boarding is a great activity for kids. It is a low impact sport, with a lesser risk of injury, but enhances their balance, improves cardiovascular health and is an amazing full-body workout.
Smaller lakes, calm water and non-windy days make paddle boarding much easier. Your child should know how to swim and wear a PFD at all times on the board.
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