Kid Tracks Column: Paws to consider when packing for hike

Hiking with children takes some extra planning to anticipate what you'll need on the trail. Add a large dog (or two) into the mix and you'll discover, as we did, that the combination becomes a test of organizational skills in packing and a go-with-the-flow type of attitude for the adventure.

We are not dog owners, but the girls were dog-sitting for friends and decided to take their two furry charges on a hike with us to Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park in Freeport (Maine state parks, with only a few exceptions, are pet-friendly).

At 11 and 13 years old, the girls are well versed in organizing their backpacks for a hike, but they figured out quickly that a few hours with a couple of large dogs was really going to weigh them down. In addition to their usual binoculars, water bottle and snacks, they had to pack a large water dish (with a towel to keep their packs dry after the dish was used), a couple of extra water bottles, doggie treats and poop pickup bags. But my 13-year-old, the driving force behind taking the dogs hiking, took the heavier load of water without complaint.

Once we arrived at the park, everyone had to use the bathroom (an amenity we appreciate about state parks) before we started on the trail. The girls led the dogs to a spot to take care of business as well. They were grateful that the dogs only peed, but it wasn't two minutes on the trail before the messier business came along.

That's when a debate ensued about who was going to pick up the poop, because neither was keen on the idea. There were a couple of whines – "Oh mom, this is sooooo gross!" This from kids who regularly clean up after cats, as well as cows, pigs and chickens. Apparently the gross factor is all about what you're not used to.

Daddy came to the rescue by agreeing to do the job. By default (i.e., he was already holding the bag), he became the designated dog-poop carrier until a trash can could be found to dispose of it (which turned out to be near the end of the hike). A couple of times I heard my 13-year-old tell the dogs, "please, no more poop" (between the two dogs they'd managed to do their business at least a four times within the first 15 minutes of the hike). She started to worry that the number of dog poop bags she'd packed (which included a couple from the ranger at the entrance gate) wasn't going to last long enough for our hike. But her estimate turned out, thankfully, to be just right.

An unexpected challenge my 11-year-old faced hiking with dogs was our stop to view the osprey on Googins Island. She wanted to take a closer look at the nest, but the dog she was holding had different ideas and was tugging on the leash so she couldn't keep her binoculars steady. The leash was turned over to me so my daughter could take some time to look at the nesting birds. She commented several times it was hard to do her usual birding on this hike because the dogs "move around too much" (although it should be noted that these dogs were trained and very well-behaved and the issue was with my daughter, not the dogs) and she couldn't focus on listening and looking out for the birds as she usually does.

After a detour down some stairs leading to the water's edge, the girls found another challenge of hiking with dogs. Their furry friends had a hard time walking on the uneven rocky surface, yet were tugging on their leashes to get closer to the water. The girls were feeling as unsteady as their charges and opted to encourage the dogs to sit down. And as dogs will prefer, they flopped themselves into a puddle of water and the girls decided that wet, messy dogs were not going to be so great on the car ride home. They made haste back to the main trail.

The whole family agreed the highlight of this hike was meeting other dog owners. Every single person with a dog stopped to say hello and chitchat with us. After years of greeting other hikers with children, we all concurred that we'd never stopped to talk so much while hiking. But then again, a greeting that usually includes a question about the breed of your dog doesn't exactly translate well to parents of human children.

This hike was also a particularly good workout even though we were on mostly level ground because the dogs took us on a much faster pace than we're used to (but the stopping to chitchat helped us catch our breath). This was a plus for my older daughter, who has a lot more stamina for fast-walking and was just plain happy to be out with the dogs. But my younger child felt it was too fast and lamented that she couldn't "look around at everything as much."

Fino and I listened to the girls' various comments during the hike and had a chuckle about something we already knew. Our 13-year-old is a true dog-oriented person and happy to follow a furry friend's lead. And even though our 11-year-old likes dogs, she's not likely to share her life with one when she's older because she's just not wired for accommodating a pet's needs over her own.

Overall we had a very enjoyable day on this trail system and my 13-year-old was eager to bring the well-behaved dogs on another hike with the caveat that her dad also come along to scoop the poop again (though she conceded she could take care of that business on her own next time). My 11-year-old was less eager to take the dogs because they interfered with her hiking pace and her usual birding activities, but she enjoyed chitchatting with other hikers so she's still on the fence about it.

Fino and I enjoyed the dogs, and although it took a bit more work to plan a day on the trail with two kids and two dogs, we agreed we'd definitely bring our friend's dogs along again. We could continue to enjoy the dog culture without having to actually own one. That's a compromise with our 13-year-old we all liked.

Originally published in Raising Maine Magazine, August 2009

Kid Tracks Column: Outdoor summer fun ideas

The Almeida family has a few suggestions for you of activities and places to explore this summer with your family.

Mining for gems
You don't have to know anything about rocks and geology to take your kids on a mining adventure. Just gather a couple of simple supplies and hike to a public quarry. Oh, and be prepared to bring home a large bag of treasures, because the kids are going to want to keep everything they find.

Get a full listing of public quarries at the state's website (www.maine.gov/doc/nrimc/mgs/explore/mining). Below are a couple of places my family has visited and really enjoyed.

A suggested supply list:
Hammer; chisel; sturdy canvas bag to carry treasures home; safety glasses (There can be a lot of flying debris when kids are splitting rocks with hammers, so be sure to protect their eyes. If you don't have safety glasses, sunglasses work OK in a pinch).

MOUNT APATITE, AUBURN
There are two quarries at Mount Apatite open to the public, the Maine Feldspar and Greenlaw quarries. Quartz, feldspar and mica are plentiful here and for families new to mining, these gems are easy to identify and can be quite pretty. My family has also found small pieces of tourmaline and apatite and the kids covet those finds. (Read previous blog entry about this area)

PERHAM'S, WEST PARIS
Perham's is a jewelry store (800-371-GEMS), but it also has a mineral display of uncut gems from the mines of Maine. It's a great stop to learn more about identifying rocks and gems you might find while mining. Perham's also owns several quarries and you can request a free map at the store to visit its public quarries. My family has visited the Waisanen Quarry and the 1/4-mile hike from the trail head is an easy trek with our gear (it's the outbound trip with our bag full of treasures that would make anything longer more difficult for us to manage). When we have visited this quarry there have been both coarse and fine screens next to a nearby pond. This is a great way to gather, rinse and identify various gems – not something found at many other public quarries.

WESTERN MAINE MINERAL ADVENTURES, PARIS
This mining experience is a bit different because it is a screening location. Here you screen a bucket of mine run material containing different gemstones from local mines. Visitors are assigned a worktable to screen and wash the contents of their bucket to find gems. What we like about this experience is that there are knowledgeable people on hand to help identify the gems you find. But be warned that screening can be addicting and it can get a bit pricey if you fill multiple buckets (prices start at $10 per bucket). Check out the website for pricing details - www.diggems.com. (Read previous blog entry about this place)

Hiking
During the summer, a hike that leads to a quiet swimming hole or another special destination motivates everyone in the family to take a trek together.

A suggested supply list: Bathing suit and beach towel (if there's water anywhere along the trail the kids are going to want to go for a dip); binoculars; sunscreen and bug spray; bird and/or tree identification guides; water (frozen overnight so it stays cold in backpack); picnic lunch.

DIANA'S BATH, WHITE MOUNTAINS NATIONAL FOREST, NORTH CONWAY, N.H.
A short hike (less than a mile) on an easy, packed gravel trail brings visitors to waterfalls at Lucy Brook that includes rocky basins to take a dip. There is an outhouse at the trail head but not at the waterfalls so plan accordingly with kids. And bring a change of clothes to do a bit of shopping at the outlet stores a short distance away. Also note there is a $3 parking fee at the trail head. (Read previous blog entries about this place)

MORSE MOUNTAIN, PHIPPSBURG
The two-mile (one way) trail, which is mostly paved, takes hikers to the summit of Morse Mountain and then on to Seawall Beach. The elevation gain on this hike is around 100 feet total, so it's not a difficult climb – and it's stroller-friendly for those with little ones who might not be able to walk the full distance on their own. Be sure to bring both bug spray (for the wooded trail) and sunscreen (for the beach) on this hike as well as beach towels, because no one will be able to resist hanging out at the beach and taking a dip in the ocean. (Read previous blog entry about this place)

GRAFTON NOTCH STATE PARK, NEWRY
The trail to Table Rock is approximately a three-mile hike (a round-trip loop) that's well suited for children with some experience hiking (the elevation gain is about 900 feet, so be sure your child is ready for that) and includes some time on the Appalachian Trail. My kids enjoy chatting with thru-hikers they meet on the AT and it makes for an interesting geography (and history) lesson about the trail. If you are not up for hiking a mountain, there are some shorter (with less elevation gain) hiking trails that will appeal to younger family members at the park. Screw Auger Falls is an interesting place for kids to explore with its exposed rock and pools of water (good for dipping feet). And Moose Cave is also a fun stop to explore and learn a bit about the geology of the area as well. (Read previous blog entries about this place)

PINE TREE STATE ARBORETUM, AUGUSTA
There are several miles of hiking trails on fairly level terrain so families can choose a loop that suits their fitness level. The hosta garden is particularly entertaining and features "Abba Dabba Do" and "Elvis Lives" varieties (yes, those are real hosta plant names). The Almeida kids love reading the plant identification plaques on this trail and the hosta garden is a great incentive to get the kids excited about this trail system.
(Read previous blog entries about this place)

Orienteering
Orienteering is a treasure hunt using a map and compass – only instead of a treasure chest, participants try to find various control stations. Each control station has a unique hole punch, which participants use to mark a course card before moving on to the next station. Control stations are positioned both on and off trail but are always located on a distinct feature like a large boulder, the top of a knoll or near a stream. It's a great way to teach the kids about maps, and even if mom and dad aren't fluent with using a compass, these courses offer maps that are easy for novices (and using a compass is not required).
One suggested supply apart from hiking gear: compass.

PINELAND FARMS IN NEW GLOUCESTER; LIBBY HILL IN GRAY
Both have established orienteering courses with maps available year-round.
(Read previous story about Pineland's Orienteering course)

Originally published in Raising Maine Magazine,  July 2009