by Holly Jones, Director of Community Outreach & Strategy

We’ve all heard a picture is worth a thousand words, so I am not sure what the video equation is. It must be worth way more, right? It has to be, because I cannot stop talking about this short video of Max’s first backpacking adventure in the Smokies.

It came to me via Facebook private message while I was sitting in my car at the Knoxville airport. Immediately, I messaged back and asked if we could feature it here on the blog. Without further explanation I invite you to be inspired like I was. After you watch the video, please read my short Q & A with Max’s mom, Haven, to learn how they prepared for a successful night in the backcountry of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Thank you! We spend a lot of time outdoors so Max has been in the woods quite a bit. Since he was a baby he’s either been strapped to my back or bike for outdoor adventures. He hiked House Mountain by himself for the first time when he was four.

A month or so before this backpacking trip, we hiked House Mountain again to test out his new backpack (with nothing but toy trucks inside) and he did great. The highlight was playing with the trucks at the top! We also explore Cades Cove on a regular basis.

What was your total round-trip hiking distance for this adventure?

Total roundtrip distance was 1.4 miles. We wanted to keep the hike short just in case it was a total bust!

How long was this trip in the works? When did you start planning it?

We started planning this trip about a month out. It all began with buying the backpack and the excitement built from there.

For parents who are inspired to give this a try, what were Max’s most essential pieces of gear?

The backpack and sleeping bag are really all you need. Although, the toy cars and “Banana” (the lion) were almost as essential as the gear. They were key to keeping the trip fun.

Obviously, one option could have been having you & Rick carry Max’s stuff. Did you feel it was important to let him do it himself & if so, why?

It was so important to let Max carry his own stuff and equally as important to let him pack. It gave him ownership, inspired him, and you could see the sense of pride that came from doing it on his own.

It all looks awesome! Were there any “rough spots” that you did not film?

Only one! He got leg cramps/growing pains in the middle of the night. These are something we deal with on a regular basis but I forgot to bring children’s Tylenol (mom fail!). Lesson learned. I’ll never leave home without the Tylenol again.

What’s next for Max? Are you planning another adventure?

We already tackled Double Springs shelter, which was quite a bit further at about 5.4 miles round trip. We had better weather so we built miniature houses out of bark and leaves and got to explore more. That distance will probably be his max for now but we’re definitely looking forward to more trips in the near future. As long as Max keeps enjoying it, we’ll keep planning the adventures!

Do you have any advice for parents who want to backpack with their kids?

Do it! Kids have such huge imaginations and backpacking feeds their creativity. It’s the best quality time because it forces you to disconnect from the world. No distractions. As far as advice goes, I would say take your time, go at their pace, and pay attention to the small stuff.

Look for animal tracks, search for four leaf clovers, and discover new things. We see more when we backpack with Max because it forces us to slow down. Also, let them be a part of the planning and packing process. Because Max packed himself, he couldn’t wait to pull out his toys and gear and put it all to use.

Is there anything you’d like to add, Haven, or is there anything that Max would like to tell our readers? Or both!

I asked Max and he said “You need to like bears!” Too funny. We haven’t seen any bears in the backcountry but we talk about them a lot when we are preparing food, hanging food, and searching for tracks. His imagination runs wild with that one!