Where to take 9 yr old first

[thecuffman]

Hey all! I am hoping my son to catch the backpacking bug and I need to know a good overnight hike with maybe a leanto that is easy to moderate plus interesting. I am looking somewhere in the western central region of the ADK. Please offer any and all suggestions with any related personal experience. Thanks!

[Kevin]

Along the trail to Siamese Ponds there's a lean-to. it's used pretty frequently (so bring a tent just in case), but the walk in is nice and the spot along the river can't be beat. Then, from there you can easily hike to the ponds for fishing, etc.

If the lean-to is full and you have the energy just hike the rest of the way to the ponds. Plenty of camping spots along it. There's active loons there and plenty of fishing. Beware that sometime May through early July it's the dreaded black fly season. Those pests drive me from the woods. I made the mistake of camping at Cedar Lakes (another good destination for your 9 year old) during late May last year and it was HELL. After a single night I was heading for the car first thing in the AM. It's like an army of mutant wing'd piranha relentlessly trying to kill you. The only time they stop is after dark. Not my idea of fun in the woods.

I wouldn't consider 9 too young for anything. It will be a matter of finding what, if anything, gets his attention. He may like to climb mountains, or maybe stay home and play video games instead.

[oldsmores]

...I wouldn't consider 9 too young for anything...

I'd second this. My son spent his 8th birthday climbing Gothics and his birthday cake was a cupcake with a candle stuck in it at a lean-to near JBL. He's now 22 and has climbed a bunch of 14'ers. Get 'em out early and often!

[Skyclimber]

My daughters started the Forty Six when they were 8 & 10 years old and finished them when they were 10 & 12 years old. Only a few trips were campers. Little legs go faster than we think. Now they are all grown up.

[JClimbs]

You can cheat the backpacking a bit, and park your car at the Gore Mtn. Ski lodge, hike east and up to catch the Schaeffer trail and camp in one of the most beautiful - and least-used- leantos in the Adks. If you start from there, you will take off about 400' of elevation gain and I would guess a mile or more from your total one-way hiking distance.
When the gondola is open for bikers, you can REALLY cheat the pack and take it, then hike down to the leanto, and after your stay hike down to the parking lot.
The leanto is about as fancy as they get, generally unused, and offers an easy shot at the peak of the highest mtn. in Warren County.
And it's kind of neat, walking on ski trails in summer...

[forevrwyld]

We took Keith to the Ha-De-Ron-Dah Wilderness (sp?) when he was still breast feeding. My wife carried him and his food, I carried everything else! This is off Route 28 just south of Old Forge. Both Middle Branch Lake and Middle Settlement Lake have nice lean-to's. You could do a loop and see both. There is also a small (very small) hill near one of the lean-to's (I can't remember which one right now) that you can climb and get a view of some of the surrounding area...if the trees haven't obscured the view since the last time I was there.

We also like High Falls on the Oswegatchie where there are 2 lean-to's. You can also hit Cat Mountain on this trip. Hike in from Wanakena.

Neither are all that difficult.

'Ev

[Mavs00]

I wouldn't consider 9 too young for anything.

Ditto.............

My daughter finished her 46 at 11 and her friend Beth finished at 10. Physically, kids can hike a great deal more than we give them credit for. I would say that good hikes for kids that have not hiked much in that region would be Snowy and Wakely. Black Bear, Bald (Rondaxe), Owl's Head (Long Lake), Goodnow and Blue are all very short, pretty easy, provide views and should have some stimulating aspect that will be attractive to younger kids.

[Neil]

Just the other day we were talking about some very young 46ers and winter 46ers. The parents would take their very young kids on these ambitious hikes but if they felt that it wasn't best to push too hard on a particular day they would quickly bag the hike and spend the day just putzing around in the woods. That sounds very smart.

I exposed my three boys to hiking in the ADK's and took two of them to the CDN Rockies for more hiking. One (now 14) really dislikes hiking but we still make him do one or two a year and he does very well and actually keeps track of where he is on the 46 and HH (single digits all the way!). Another (19) thinks it's OK but has many other interests - he's out in the CDN Rockies skiing (mostly downhill but some cross country) this winter. The middle one (now 17) is one serious hiking and climbing machine and plans on becoming an alpine guide.
The moral of that little story: you never know what sort of soil you're planting that seed on. Whatever grows is what you get and you just have to accept the final result. In my case I see it as 1½ out of three. Not bad odds and I like to see them assert their individuality anyway.

[Mavs00]

The parents would take their very young kids on these ambitious hikes but if they felt that it wasn't best to push too hard on a particular day they would quickly bag the hike and spend the day just putzing around in the woods.

No, we just made them hike. Who cares if they had fun or not .

One (now 14) really dislikes hiking but we still make him do one or two a year and he does very well and actually keeps track of where he is on the 46 and HH (single digits all the way!).

I don't know, when I hiked with Daniel, he seemed to have a great time and loved hiking. Maybe it's just you he doesn't like hiking with you

jk, of corse.

[Wldrns]

I brought my son up through scouting and on our own backcountry fishing trips until he became very comfortable on the outdoors. He hiked up several peaks in CO when he went to school out there, even took his to-be wife hiking all the way up Pike's Peak on a frozen camping trip (he must have done something right). Now he's a pilot, climbing (literally) straight up at near mach 1.

My daughter did not grow up so woodsy or outgoing, but surprised me one day when she came up to me to say she thought she would like to learn how to be a wilderness guide. I took her through guide school and she worked as a camp high adventure backpack and canoe trek leader, then returned as a kick-butt waterfront director (for more money than as a guide). Now she wants to train to enter the Adirondack Classic 90 mile canoe race with me. Pretty neat.

[Old Rivers]

I would suggest Cranberry Lake area, Specifically High Falls Loop trail starting from Wankena & Dead Creek Flow trail. Easy hiking, lean-to on Dead Creek Flow; trails to High Falls passing small ponds, & tiny Cat Mtn.

[what'sinaname]

I would suggest Cranberry Lake area, Specifically High Falls Loop trail starting from Wankena & Dead Creek Flow trail. Easy hiking, lean-to on Dead Creek Flow; trails to High Falls passing small ponds, & tiny Cat Mtn.

Ditto. There's lots of different things to see and it's quite picturesque. The scenery changes very fast, so you really feel like you're moving and my little ones don't get bored (4 and 6 yrs).

I'd recommend checking in on the status of the Dead Creek Trail though. It was pretty flooded closer to Janacks lean-too last fall (end of October) and couple of the bridges had "floated" away. In January though, they were easy enough to find.

Old Rivers---Can you tell me exactly where the second (I guess it's really the first) parking is. My book says behing the tenis courts, but I haven't ventured up that side yet. Thx
Chris

[Old Rivers]

Chris; I've always paddled to Janack's Landing lean-to and left car off side of road in Wanakena. The brochure simply states, "The trail system begins at the parking lot on the South Shore Rd. in the hamlet of Wanakena."

[forevrwyld]

High Falls Trailhead #1

My recollection is that the first trailhead is just over the bridge on your right, in the vicinity of the tennis courts. I don't think it is as well marked as the 2nd one. I also recall that the first stretch of the trail is Wanakana Water Authority right of way. That might help spot it.

'Ev

[what'sinaname]

Thanks Old Rivers and forevrwyld,
I'll have to keep my eyes open next time we go. Chris