Must do trips and treks

[Justin]

Ok so now the backcountry bug has bit me bad, I am interested in some "must do" trips & treks. You see I have 3 small children (8, 5, and 2 yrs old) so I'm am thinking about "trip's" as something I can do with kids and leave the "treks" for me to plan with other fly fishers. I was picking a few guy's brains on the GTW trip, but I thought I would open it up to all of you, as I have seen so many good trips posted here over the last few years.

I'm hoping some of you seasoned packers will chime in, I really have enjoyed you adventures. Now I'm not hardcore (although I would like be) I have only done 3 trips so far, The Forks of the Kern, Siberia Creek, and now the GTW. I realistically only want to do about 5 miles a day and I usually like to do 4 days (at this point) for the treks.

As far as the trips are concerned I'm hoping to hear from some of the family guy's and hear what has worked and been fun for you and the family. I've yet to get my squad out for any camping for more than a quick trip. I live in So California and would like to stay fairly local with the family but that's not to say I wouldn't be willing to hit Yosemite or something like that. I would like to do a few fun trips to try to get the kids into it and hopefully give them something to look forward to when we get time off as a family.

Anyway thanks again to all of you who have inspired me in getting me into this side of our sport and thanks in advance to any replies to try to help me get my squad into the outdoors!!

Thanks,

Justin

[beachbum]

When my kids were little we used to spend a lot of time in Red's Meadows, behind Mammoth Mountain. There is fun fishing around the campsites, and tons of great short backcountry hikes. It allowed me to sneak away a bit, and still take the kids fishing around where we camped. There are so many good places like that in the Sierras, but that was one of our favorites.

[Sheriff Joe]

There's a nice lollipop loop on the west side in Sequioa called the Twin Lakes Loop. You start at Lodgepole, go in maybe 5-6 miles to the lake, then up over a relatively minimal pass (not a big climb from the lake-maybe 500 feet if I remember), then back to another lake, then back down. I took my then-girlfriend and sister a few summers ago, and I think it was around 20-25 miles in 4 days. Great fishing too-check out Dorst Creek, which crosses the park road near Lodgepole. Buggy, but we set up a nice comfortable base camp by the lakes and the girls loved it...it was a good introduciton to the Sierras for my lady, and not too intense of a hike. From the top of the pass you have a great view of the whole Sierra Crest. Have fun!

Joe

[WanderingBlues]

For camping, I like Brown's Owens River Campground. Granted, it' in the middle of nothing, but it's on the river, has excellent hot showers, the ice cream in the general store will make any kid grin, and------

it's awesome if you want the kids to catch some DFG stockers. Particularly under the Benton Crossing bridge, where there is a catwalk the that the little ones can drop a line and and do well. For you, it's an easy trek into the special regs section above the bridge. You can even get the kids working the fly, given there's not a whole lot to get hung on. It's where my son caught his 1st trout, and we still enjoy going there as a family.

[fshflys]

We used to camp at Twin Lakes in Mammoth. Easier access to town than Reds Meadow. I would wake up @ 5:30 & float tube the lakes before activities with the family. Lots of bike riding too. With kids, when going on hikes, always do a hike with uphills on the way in, they burn out if it's the other way around.

[Papasequoia]

Justin, when you say you want to do 5 mile max treks, do you mean backpacking with your family or base camping somewhere and doing 5 mile max dayhikes? It is possible to do backpacking with kids. There are a couple of books available if you are interested. I donated my two copies to the Rendezvous raffle thingy a couple of years ago or I would pass them on to you. You and your wife will have to load up heavy and let them carry smaller loads depending on age (from lunch, windbreaker and water to a small packs, they do make kids sizes). On the other hand, if you are looking to car camp and do dayhikes, you have a ton more options. Either one can be fun.

[Sasha]

Justin, I am in the same boat with the kid thing (except mine are 6, 4 and 2). My son who is 4 has recently expressed an interest in going fishing with me. I recently took him to a local bluegill pond for his first trip. I think I might take him out to some small creeks in the near future. My main concern when choosing spots to take him is his safety.

I would start the younger ones off on "easy" trips at first to "test" the waters. Based on the experience that should give you a good idea of their capabilities. As a matter of fact I am supposed to take my boy fishing tomorrow. At first I wanted to take him to “BJAC Creek”; however I am not 100% this is the best idea. The reason why is that I normally fish that creek when it is in the 20-30 something CFS range. My last trip there it was at 215 CFS and currently is sitting just over 100 CFS. My boy can’t swim, so one misstep could be a bad thing with the current flows. So now I have a dilemma; He really wants to go fish and I really don’t want to go to the pond again. Plus I have no idea if he will have fun on a creek like that or not.

[Rockstar Fisherman]

Something that is easy especially for the family with small kids and has stunning scenery are the 20 lakes basin (Saddlebag Lake) and Little Lakes Valley (Rock Creek Lake). They're also very popular so you will see a lot of people on the weekends but there is still plenty of room for some solitude and the scenery is amazing. Fishing is also very good for the most part. Just hope that the kids don't get altitude sickness, cuz it sucks!!! Had it happen to me once as a kid at Sabrina Lake and it ruined the fishing there for that day.

Mike

[meb]

Justin,

I'll second Saddlebag Lake and the small lakes near it. You could car camp at Saddlebag and take their water taxi across to the twenty lakes and day hike, or you could backpack and camp around the different lakes. There's some fun fishing and it's flat out beautiful.

BTW. You and I fished with Fred Rowe at Bolsa a few years ago. Hope this finds you well.

MB

[Rockstar Fisherman]

Justin,

I'll second Saddlebag Lake and the small lakes near it. You could car camp at Saddlebag and take their water taxi across to the twenty lakes and day hike.

MB

Do the water taxi, it's very cool and the kids will love it, you can even take it then camp back there instead of at Saddlebag, if you really desire to do the whole backpacking thing with the family. Saves you a good mile of hiking.

[Justin]

Justin, when you say you want to do 5 mile max treks, do you mean backpacking with your family or base camping somewhere and doing 5 mile max dayhikes? It is possible to do backpacking with kids. There are a couple of books available if you are interested. I donated my two copies to the Rendezvous raffle thingy a couple of years ago or I would pass them on to you. You and your wife will have to load up heavy and let them carry smaller loads depending on age (from lunch, windbreaker and water to a small packs, they do make kids sizes). On the other hand, if you are looking to car camp and do dayhikes, you have a ton more options. Either one can be fun.

I was thinkin 5 miles a day for me to be trekin, I'm not sure the kids are quite ready unless I can leave the youngest behind. Do you remember the names of the books?

Justin,

I'll second Saddlebag Lake and the small lakes near it. You could car camp at Saddlebag and take their water taxi across to the twenty lakes and day hike, or you could backpack and camp around the different lakes. There's some fun fishing and it's flat out beautiful.

BTW. You and I fished with Fred Rowe at Bolsa a few years ago. Hope this finds you well.

MB

Mark right? You got the only Perch of the day I believe, good to virtually meet you again
Yea Saddlebag is definitely high on the list, and I'm really thinking the water taxi might be the way to go with kids.

Justin, I am in the same boat with the kid thing (except mine are 6, 4 and 2). My son who is 4 has recently expressed an interest in going fishing with me. I recently took him to a local bluegill pond for his first trip. I think I might take him out to some small creeks in the near future. My main concern when choosing spots to take him is his safety.

I would start the younger ones off on "easy" trips at first to "test" the waters. Based on the experience that should give you a good idea of their capabilities. As a matter of fact I am supposed to take my boy fishing tomorrow. At first I wanted to take him to “BJAC Creek”; however I am not 100% this is the best idea. The reason why is that I normally fish that creek when it is in the 20-30 something CFS range. My last trip there it was at 215 CFS and currently is sitting just over 100 CFS. My boy can’t swim, so one misstep could be a bad thing with the current flows. So now I have a dilemma; He really wants to go fish and I really don’t want to go to the pond again. Plus I have no idea if he will have fun on a creek like that or not.

Yea I hear ya one of the first time's I took Bruce he grabbed the blackberry vine right away and got stuck, then he fell into the water, and it was by one of the gates that pull water to over where the generate water, scared the bejeezus out of me but he hoped out right away. I wasn't sure he would ever want to go again, but he does now.

There's a nice lollipop loop on the west side in Sequioa called the Twin Lakes Loop. You start at Lodgepole, go in maybe 5-6 miles to the lake, then up over a relatively minimal pass (not a big climb from the lake-maybe 500 feet if I remember), then back to another lake, then back down. I took my then-girlfriend and sister a few summers ago, and I think it was around 20-25 miles in 4 days. Great fishing too-check out Dorst Creek, which crosses the park road near Lodgepole. Buggy, but we set up a nice comfortable base camp by the lakes and the girls loved it...it was a good introduciton to the Sierras for my lady, and not too intense of a hike. From the top of the pass you have a great view of the whole Sierra Crest. Have fun!

Joe

Thanks Joe, I'll look into the Loop, it sounds killer!!

Thanks to all input here, I know there is a myriad of trips, so I just wanted to get some of your favorites and try to narrow it down a bit!!

Thanks

Justin

[Papasequoia]

http://www.amazon.com/Camping-Backpacking-Children-Steve-Boga/dp/0811725227/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1279262851&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Monsters-Woods-Backpacking-Tim-Hauserman/dp/0874177111/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1279262851&sr=8-2

[url]http://www.amazon.com/Backpacking-Small-Children-James-Harvey/dp/0308101820/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1279262851&sr=8-6
[/url]
http://www.amazon.com/Backpacking-Babies-Small-Children-overnighters/dp/1440180679/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1279262851&sr=8-8

http://www.amazon.com/Take-Em-Along-Wilderness-Children/dp/0917895126/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1279262851&sr=8-11

http://www.amazon.com/Hiking-Kids-2nd-Taking-Hikers/dp/0762740841/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1279262851&sr=8-14

I can't remember which two I had, not that it matters, I never really used them, just leafed through them. They were about backpacking with kids. We had already been camping and hiking with the kids for years before I picked up the books and I was looking for some tips for backpacking. However, by the time I got around to it they were old enough to carry their own stuff. They were babies unable to even walk when we started camping with them, but we didn't get around to backpacking until they were 8 and 9 or so, but I wish we had done it sooner. But, I'm sure you can find some good tips in any of them.

Also, backpacker.com has a forum that has a section specifically dedicated to family camping/camping with kids. You could find everything there from food and gear tips to hooking up with another family for a group trip.