Walking OT with children 8 and over

[Tassie-Tracker4]

Am just wondering if anyone has walked the OT with children 8 and over (during summer), do you have words of advice?

[Nuts]

Have you done it yourself TT4? Can they carry their own pack with at least a sleeping bag/some clothing/food etc (for up to 6/7hrs)? Youll need tent space for everyone? Can someone carry what they can't? Are they mature enough to care for themselves if separated from your group, perhaps overnight? Sorry, have only questions...

[Drifting]

I'm planning on doing it with my daughter when she is that age. I've found a couple of experienced boys from the school I teach at and told them I'd pay for their passes and arrange transport if they'd help me carry the extra gear. One of these boys is 15 and he's done the OT like 15-16 times.

[Erica]

I think I remember an article in wild about it not so long ago, not sure how old they were though.

Also, I met some people at Pelion one day that had walked the track the summer before with two girls under 6, apparently took it really slowly, but it worked!

[Lizzy]

I would also ask what walking experience they have.... have they done overnight, 2 night, etc hikes. The main thing is you want them & you to be safe & NOT miserable. I recently took my 6 yo on his first overnight hike- & it was enough for him to carry clothes only (& enough for me to carry the rest incl. 2 days of food). He could have carried more but it was important that he enjoyed himself (so he will do it again) & also that I could comfortably carry everything in the event he was injured (or refused ). Obviously an 8 year old is a bit stronger & hopefully you have taken them on lots of hikes & overnighters to be able to judge what they can do... or not do. Also some of the lightwweight gear on the market helps with this- maybe the tarptent hogback for 4 @ less than 2kg!! Hmmmm tempting!
By the way I have read of young children doing it- you would just wwant to be sure your kids (& you) have the right midset, gear, experience & training for it.
Goodluck
Lizzy

[DanH]

I recently chatted to some friends who did a lot of walking with their kids including the Southwest track, Frenchmans, the OT at 5yrs etc... He did mention he carried 35kgs on parts of the Southwest! The are both *&%$#! hard buggers though!

... and with a lot of experience... which leads to the central question here... how much experience do you have throughwalking with your kids?

We are taking our toddler in a Wildchild on 3 day trips (I get to carry around 25kgs of kit which inc 12kg of toddler) to build up to bigger ones.

[Liamy77]

families have been walking and camping together for thousands and thousands of years... just know your and their limits, plan like mad and have appropriate equipment and backup plans for safety. kids can get colder faster than larger adults too especially when tired... be prepared to carry EVERYTHING in a worst case scenario (the kid too)...
dont rush or push them too hard and be prepared to change plans if you need to. maybe hire an epirb (but i am a very protective dad i guess)... There's (among other posts) this topic too: viewtopic.php?f=15&t=5039

most of all - have fun

[DanH]

teehee... ...love the signature Liamy

[juju]

When I was single and not experienced with kids at all and expected a lot from them etc etc I took my sister and her 6, 8 and 10 yr old girls on their first overnight...
Can you imagine?
Patience and a psychology degree would have come in handy as well as Hercules. actually just Hercules would do.
It was down Bob Turner's Track to the Colo River, where we camped two nights.
The gear was heavier back then, but summer meant a lighter load.
The walk in was okay.
The walk out had me carrying almost everything (I already had almost everything) and when the 6yr old chucked a wobbler on the way up the first big climb and chucked her pack, I stupidly said it would be left there....
This 6yr old wasn't too young to know I don't mean it.
It's very funny now. I've got my own kids and I learned all the games to keep up their spirits and keep their minds occupied when the going gets tough.
We had a wonderful time which they all remember well and all of them have a strong love of nature. The ten year old still has the letter she received from Malcolm Frazer in reply to hers imploring him not to dam the Franklyn and I still walk with my 33yr old niece.

[Bill P]

Hi,

I have a copy of a mag called " Great Walks, Australia's Bushwalking Magazine" Aug/Sep 2010. (published by Yaffa NSW) The feature article is " Mum, dad and three kids take on the Overland Track and experience a walk they'll never forget". Worth a look.

The OT can make or break budding bushwalkers, young or old, depending on the actual experience of the trip. (Come on, you've all seen folk on the OT, tortured beyond comprehension, for a raft of reasons.)

I intend to take my kids, or they take me, on the OT, but not for a while yet. They're 7 & 9 now, I will wait til they're 12 or 15, or longer if necessary.

I want it to be a great experience, not a show stopper.


Bill P

[JamesMc]

I think the big issue is their mental toughness and tolerance of extreme weather.

How will they go if it rains all day, every day, and they get soaked to the skin?

How will they go if the wind blows them of their feet? And if they are blown over as soon as they have stood back up again?

Be cautious taking advice from others who have taken children on the OT - they may have had good weather. In good weather it's just moderately wth little need for mental toughness.

JamesMc

[Nuts]

So... tastrakker4, I only had questions though how about a response for these good peoples efforts??

[Bigfoot]

We did the walk over 20 years ago with a range of children 6 - 15yrs. When there wasn't as much good track as today!
No problems in the whole trip - just make sure they all have good equipment.