Consider bringing along specific gear for desert hikes with children

Mojave Desert, Calfornia

As a dry, severe environment, deserts offer both incredible scenic wonders and grave dangers. Because of the former, they make for great hiking terrain…because of the latter, specific hiking gear and equipment is essential for a day hike there.

Whenever on a desert hike, be sure to have the following equipment or items:
g Boots – You’ll want footgear with ankle support, that breathes, and that has a soft, flexible sole to ensure traction. To that end, wear lightweight, breathable hiking boots. Sandals will expose your skin to sunburn, thorns and sharp rocks while running shoes lack the ankle support needed for crossing rocky terrain.
g Sun hat – A brim provides the extra protection needed to shade your face, not just to avoid sunburn but to prevent being blinded by the sun. Consider getting a sun hat that includes a flap to keep the sunlight off your neck.
g Lighter colored clothing – White and other light colors will better reflect the sunlight than black and dark clothing, which absorb it, resulting in more heat upon the body.
g Sunscreen – An SPF 50 is essential as the sand reflects sunlight back onto the body, resulting in a burn. Sweat will wash away sunscreen, so you likely will need to reapply it during rest breaks.
g Lip balm – The lips also can be burned or chapped by sunlight as well a wind. An SPF 30 balm will protect them. Reapply the balm after drinking water.
g Extra water – Any arid environment requires that you take in more water than usual. Consider carrying it in collapsible canteens to lessen the weight or in a hydration pack, which kids are more likely to regularly use as they can more easily sip water as walking.
g Insect repellent – Usually dry areas are low on bug count, but don’t be surprised to run into sand flies and midges or when near a wet area into mosquitoes.

Read more about day hiking with children in my Hikes with Tykes guidebooks.

How to avoid bugs when day hiking with children

To avoid bugs such as pesky mosquitoes, change the time and location
of your hike.

Mosquitoes, gnats, black flies…such little creatures can prove to be a great annoyance when day hiking, especially with children. Sometimes even insect repellent doesn’t help, mainly because after a mile or two of sweating, it runs off.

Hiking at the right time and the right places, however, almost always can ensure that bugs won’t bother you.

Opt to hike during these times:
g Early spring August through October – Bug populations peak in May and June.
g After lunch – This can help you avoid a couple of the more annoying insects as black flies like to be out during the morning while mosquitoes prefer dusk.
g Breezy days – Most bugs have difficulty flying when winds exceed 5 mph, so they won’t be out to bother you.
g Cooler days – Insects will be less active when the temperature is below 60 F, though you may need a sweatshirt.

Opt to hike in these locations:
g Dry areas – Bugs often lay their eggs in wet areas, so they’ll be more abundant near waterways, pools and wetlands.
g Sunny areas – Insects generally like shade, so a trail open to the sun means fewer of them. Don’t forget your sunscreen, though.

One last tip to avoid bugs: Don’t wear fragrances. The sweet, flowery scents attract bugs. Instead, use unscented deodorant or hair products before heading out onto a trail.

Read more about day hiking with children in my Hikes with Tykes guidebooks.

Packing checklist for day hiking with kids

Illustration courtesy of By GitHub (github.com/
github/octicons) via Wikimedia Commons

As the following items are placed in your fanny pack or backpack, cross them off (some items may be connected to your belt or backpack, carried around your neck on a lanyard, or worn). You may wish to add items to the list:
g Camera w/ extra batteries
g Candle
g Canteens filled w/ water
g Carabiners
g Compass
g Diapers (if applicable)
g First-aid kit
g Flashlight w/ extra batteries
g GPS (if applicable)
g Insect repellent
g Lip balm
g Maps
g Matches
g Mobile phone
g Multi-purpose tool
g Picnic lunch ingredients (if picnic is planned)
g Prescription medications (if applicable)
g Rain gear (poncho or jacket w/ trousers)
g Re-sealable plastic bags
g Rope
g Safety whistle
g Snacks
g Space blanket
g Sunscreen
g Tarpaulin (if backpack is used)
g Toilet paper
g Toilet trowel
g Wet wipes
g Wristwatch

If an unweaned infant or toddler is with you:
g Bottle w/ nipple
g Milk or formula
g Pacifier

If children are carrying daypacks, place in them:
g Jacket (for rain or wind)
g Maps (duplicates of yours)
g Safety whistle
g Snack

Read more about day hiking with children in my Hikes with Tykes guidebooks.

How to avoid and treat insect bites/stings on hiking kids

Treat insect bites with an anti-itch cream and don't scratch.

Rub repellent
rather than spray
it on children

The dangers of bug bites and stings range from just a minor annoyance to life-threatening diseases. In addition, once bitten, children tend to scratch the spot, resulting in a higher rate of infection than in adults.

You can avoid insects first and foremost by staying out of areas where they breed, such as swamps and bodies of still water. In mountainous areas, insect season usually occurs about two weeks after snow melts, so avoid hiking at that time.

Don't attract bugs
Remember that what attracts bugs are scents, so skip the perfume, aftershave, lotions and hairspray when hiking. Scented disposable diapers also can attract bugs.

Mosquito netting and insect-proof head nettings are effective at warding off bugs, but if you have to hike through areas necessitating that level of protection, it’s probably not a great place to take kids.

Insect repellent also works – and is recommended – though there is much to consider before putting it on.

First, don’t swab one- or two-month-old infants with any kind of insect repellent. For all other children, avoid those repellents containing DEET or picaridin and instead choose a product made with oil of lemon eucalyptus, which works just as well but doesn’t carry any potential side effects.

Cover with adhesive bandage
Test whatever repellents you purchase before heading into the wilds (especially if you do buy a repellent containing low concentrations of DEET and picaridin, which reportedly are safe). You don’t want your child to have an allergic reaction in the woods with a long walk out and then a long drive to an emergency room.

When putting repellent on children, don’t spray directly onto their face as it likely will get into their eyes, mouth and nostrils. Instead, spray on your hands and apply it. Do not place repellent on eyes, eyelids, lips, mouths, hands, cuts or wounds, and use it sparingly around the ears. With young children through early elementary school, you should apply it yourself. If a child develops a rash or has an allergic reaction to the repellent, wash it off immediately and get medical attention.

To treat any bug bite, clean the site with soap and water and apply an anti-itch cream, hydrocortisone, or Neosporin with Lydocain. Encourage kids not to itch the bite. On young children, cover the bite or sting with an adhesive bandage so they don’t scratch it open.

Whether bit or not, when you get home, wash off with soap and water areas of the body where repellent was applied. Also launder any clothes that came into contact with repellent.

Read more about day hiking with children in my Hikes with Tykes guidebooks.

Treating children's cuts, wounds on hike

Image courtesy of africa / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Avoid cuts and wounds by following the same principles of safety to avoid falls. In addition, don’t go off trail through vegetation or climbing on rocks.

To treat a cut or wound, with an antiseptic clean the opening of sand, dirt, gravel and other debris. A cotton swab works well. To irrigate deeper cuts or wounds, a disposable syringe can be used. After drying it, apply an antibiotic ointment and then an adhesive bandage. If a wound, don’t use an adhesive bandage but cover it in gauze dressing and get medical attention immediately.

Never apply insect repellent to cuts or wounds (or to irritated skin, for that matter).

Related articles:
g How to prevent and treat hypothermia in children
g Avoiding and treating child dehydration on the trail
g How to avoid and treat nosebleeds
g How to avoid and treat hiking kids' muscle cramps

Read more about day hiking with children in my guidebook Hikes with Tykes.

Things to do with kids before hittin' the trail

When arriving where you plan to day hike with children, you'll want to take some basic steps to ensure everyone has the best hiking experience possible. Though everyone is eager to hit the trailhead, taking a few minutes for these simple, preparatory steps will prevent lots of headaches on the trail and hours of suffering afterward.

Begin by making sure each child is properly dressed. You did this at home, of course, but during the drive kids have a way of removing shoes and shocks and layers of clothing or of leaving their hats and sunglasses in the vehicle.

Next, apply sunscreen, lip balm and insect repellent to each child. Older elementary school kids probably can do their own (and teenagers certainly can), but you’ll need to at least talk younger kids through the steps and make sure they’ve been thorough. You can put on your sunscreen, lip balm and repellent with the kids. The order that you put on these items doesn’t matter.

Next, distribute the kids their gear, from daypacks to trekking poles. Make sure they put on the gear properly. If you don’t, you’ll either have to stop along the way and do it or you’ll have kids with sore backs, shoulders, necks, wrists or more.

Opt for natural insect repellent with kids

Several good alternatives to DEET exist. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.

Use a natural repellent rather than products containing DEET, which can lead to medical side effects, especially among children.

Instead, use citronella, pure vanilla (as opposed to imitation vanilla) or lemon oil of eucalyptus. In each case, the odor repels the insect but is non-toxic for people.

Related articles:
g Handling bees, hornets, wasps and yellow jackets when hiking with kids
g How to avoid and treat chigger bites when hiking with kids
g How to avoid and deal with various annoying creepy crawlies on a hike
g How to avoid bugs when day hiking with children

Read more about day hiking with children in my guidebook Hikes with Tykes.