Customer Reviews

Monsters In The Woods: Backpacking With Children

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Having already taken my kids backpacking once and camping via canoe a second time, I thought it might be a good idea to get someone else's perspective on "roughing it" with kids in tow.

I learned a few new things to make it more manageable for the kids (and myself). Overall I liked the book quite a bit. If you haven't tried taking your own kids backpacking because you are worried of what it might be like (whining, screaming, crying ... sometimes by the kids) ... fear not. This book will show you that it can be done and the kids will love it (and you will too).

The title should immediately tip you off to the fact that Tim Hauserman uses humor to make reading "Monsters in the Woods," and backpacking with
children, lots of fun. Hauserman combines solid advice and stories of his considerable backpacking experience with his own kids to make outdoor adventures safe and rewarding. He provides such information as how far to hike and how much weight children can carry depending on the child's age.

I'm a backpacker. I'm also a grandmother who wants to be certain that my youngest grandkids (aged 2 and 4) don't suffer from "nature deficit." Right now, I'm sticking with car camping with them, but I'm looking forward to the day when we can venture further afield and get away from crowded and dusty campgrounds.

I will definitely reread "Monsters in the Wilderness" before we go. I'm impressed by the fact that Hauserman doesn't gloss over the challenges, but gives lots of great ideas for keeping everyone upbeat. And I'll keep in mind his advice to let your child take a friend, because there'd be a lot less whining!)

Monsters in the Woods: Backpacking With Children is a wonderful book. Not only does it contain concrete, useful insider information (such as how far children of different ages are generally willing to go, what supplies to bring -- and, more importantly, what things not to bring), it also contains fun insider information (such as eleven things to do with a bandanna, and ten things to do with duct tape). Hauserman's credentials as a hiker (he's a professional wilderness guide) give him expertise in all things hiking, and he includes sections on much of what you'd expect from this experience: bear safety, dehydration, first aid, and even outdoor etiquette. But it is his friendly voice that makes the book a joy to read even if you never intend to leave your front yard. His sense of humor makes him the perfect guide into the challenges of bringing little monsters into the woods. The entire, short book (135 pages) is packed full of useful information, but my favorite part was Chapter 6, where Hauserman simply and beautifully tells about some of his own trips with his two daughters. Monsters in the Woods is filled with great advice, but it's also simply a great read.

Tim Hauserman, who wrote the guidebook for the Tahoe Rim Trail (Wilderness Press, 2002), now tells parents how they can take their little ones along on that and other trails, safely and happily. The beauty of "Monsters in the Woods" isn't necessarily that he tells adults exactly what to do to ensure a good trip; his book is packed with advice, but readers can take only what they need from it. (In fact, there are a few points on which I disagree.) Rather, its great value is in its down-to-earth approach to including kids on outdoor adventures. Tim doesn't discount the effort involved or the discomforts and dangers of outdoor expeditions. But he shows how proper preparation and an adventurous attitude result in wonderful experiences for ordinary families. With "Monsters" as a stepping-off point, adult backpackers with any level of experience can move confidently toward taking their children into the wilderness at the age and level of intensity they're all comfortable with. When my husband and I began backpacking with our infant daughter, there were no books of this sort, so we had to learn everything the hard way. Tim interviewed us for the book (we're on page 6) so I can say with certainty that the author did his homework before publishing this well-written family guide to the outdoors.

Professional wilderness guide and outdoors writer Tim Hauserman presents Monsters in the Woods: Backpacking With Children, a straightforward guide to backpacking and outdoors activities written especially for parents who want to bring their children along - whether the children are infants, toddlers, preteens, or teens. Chapters cover how to prepare for the trip (including what to take and what not to take), safety precautions, how to take care of necessary bodily functions, protecting oneself from bear attacks (since bears are guided by smell, two of the best defenses are to camp a fair distance from where you cook and to use a "bear canister" to guard one's food at night) and much more. Written in plain terms for parents and readers of all backgrounds, Monsters in the Woods is enthusiastically recommended as a "must-have" for outdoor-loving families with children everywhere.