7-year-olds in the backcountry

Charles,<br><br>I certainly like the Nason Creek trip posting you made this week. It seems like a good approach. We have been doing lift service, and I do think that there can be drawbacks to that. But I did try to get him out a bunch of times on his x-c gear as well. At least he has no fear of going down the short runs on the X-C gear and has a great snowplow. We started the camping thing last year and will keep it up. I hope to get him on snow this year. <br><br>Thanks !

I took my 7-year-old son, Tom, to the ski fest at Crystal today. We have skied Queens Run from the lifts several times this winter, so I knew he could handle the downhill. I also knew that the uphill was too much for him to enjoy it. So I towed him. He has a climbing harness, so I clipped a short rope to it and tied the other end to the ice axe loops on my pack.<br><br>He did great going up and gave me a running commentary on how I was doing as a draft horse. It was certainly harder pulling him than going up on my own, but not too bad. We enjoyed the picnic on top, played snow baseball, and skied down before he got too tired of the whole thing. He snoozed all the way home to Seattle, a sign of a good trip.<br><br>I think Tom had a fun time. I don't know if you'd call this a backcountry trip (I earned his turns), but it was certainly different from a lift skiing day. I think he enjoyed skiing down when there were no other people zooming by.<br><br>Anyway, this is another option for getting out with your 7-year-old.

BigSnow,<br><br>My dad had me cross country skiing at 5 or 6 and downhill skiing at 3 years old. We were headed to Tuckerman's Ravine when I was ten or so. I remember snow camping was a blast - but I'm sure my dad remembers a lot more of the whining. What I do remember was that big groups were fun, lots of food rewards were key, and a high view to work ratio was key. Come to think of it - those are still applicable today. The Artists Point area might be a good one.<br><br>Have fun.<br><br>Bill G

I started my son (4 then, now 16) out in the back country. At that time it was what we could afford. He learned to tele when he was 7. We kept it easy & fun. This was on some of the easy small bowls up at Hurricane ridge. He liked it alot.

I appreciate the advice on locations. Unfortunately, most of the trips that I have done tend to be high on the effort scale (ie. bushwacking or the like) in the beginning before any payoff. I will heed the advice on short trips or assisted locomotion.<br><br>My wife and I did a short trip in the Paradise area when my son was 2.5 years old. He was in a pulk at the time. I do remember after a short pull, that there were ample slopes nearby that could serve as an introduction. Does my memory serve me well? Would those slopes still hold snow at this time this year?<br><br>Thanks,<br>Alan