Meet the First Baby to Hike the Appalachian Trail - Outside Magazine

[One Half]

I have tented with a little one. Humidity at night? Baby doesn't sleep. Bugs at night? Baby doesn't sleep. Baby gets bug bit all day? Baby doesn't sleep at night. Teething? Baby doesn't sleep? When does baby sleep? When mommy/daddy are carrying the little one in the pack. It's how I used to get my exercise and have my son take a nap when he was that age. I've tented with a little one, 4 years old, after he spent all day wandering the woods. He slept. Mostly. I hope it goes better for them. And I'm glad they won't be near me when I am on the trail.

[Halfwayhiker]

I don't know too many hikers that haven't fallen occasionally. My first worry was what will happen when you take a tumble carrying a baby. Next I can see a thread about whether babies should sleep in shelters!!
I think they have missed the golden window of opportunity. The best way to do this would be for mom to get pregnant a few weeks before hiking, hike the trail (yeah wouldn't that be fun?) and she would still have 3 months left at the end of pregnancy to rest up. The child would be born and could already boast having hiked the trail. Much more efficient that way.

[4eyedbuzzard]

They really need to get a NEW UL child. They could trade their USED, last year's model, 18 lb Ellie in for a brand new <5 lb preemie and lighten up by 11 lbs. Throw in the smaller lighter carrier needed, and reduced weight of smaller sized clothing, and they'd be absolutely crazy not to trade that sucker in before stepping a foot off Spring---er, Greenville---er, wherever the AT comes within 10 minutes of Greenville, SC.

[rocketsocks]

They really need to get a NEW UL child. They could trade their USED, last year's model, 18 lb Ellie in for a brand new <5 lb preemie and lighten up by 11 lbs. Throw in the smaller lighter carrier needed, and reduced weight of smaller sized clothing, and they'd be absolutely crazy not to trade that sucker in before stepping a foot off Spring---er, Greenville---er, wherever the AT comes within 10 minutes of Greenville, SC.

Chuckle chuckle chuckle

[rocketsocks]

Sadly, the dingos really did eat her baby...and she went to prison for years for it...damn dingos...

Yeah...a one-year old on the trail....something that baby will remember forever. What parent wouldn't want their one year old to have these memories?

It's not like the parents are completely self-centered and prone to projecting their desires unto their blissfully ignorant offspring...or that they don't blink when placing a 1 year old in harm's way... they've done their research, lot's of Sherpa's take their baby's trekking, right?

the one that always gets me is the eggits that were wading around in a pond in Florida and a gator grabed their toddeler...damn shame.

[-Rush-]

Three pages deep.. I'm guessing most people think this is a bit much. I agree. Buddy Backpacker is one thing, but this is a whole new level of stupid.

[rocketsocks]

Three pages deep.. I'm guessing most people think this is a bit much. I agree. Buddy Backpacker is one thing, but this is a whole new level of stupid.

honestly, do I really care about this...not really, hope they have a fine hike.

[rocketsocks]

PS
...but it sure as hell isnt something I'd ever wanna do!

[Sarcasm the elf]

They really need to get a NEW UL child. They could trade their USED, last year's model, 18 lb Ellie in for a brand new <5 lb preemie and lighten up by 11 lbs. Throw in the smaller lighter carrier needed, and reduced weight of smaller sized clothing, and they'd be absolutely crazy not to trade that sucker in before stepping a foot off Spring---er, Greenville---er, wherever the AT comes within 10 minutes of Greenville, SC.

You win.


...

[MuddyWaters]

Wow, what an accomplishment! An article in Outside without actually having done anything??!! Way cool.

I'm pitching a story now to Outside... "I'm-a gonna..." the origin of all great journalism.

Id wager outside mag didnt go looking for them
They likely went looking for publicity
When people doos that, theres an angle
Attention, money, both

Do I haz to ask ifn theres a gofundme involved?

[soilman]

The article says the trail is just ten minutes from their home in Greenville, SC. Did I read that right?

You read it right but if you read their blog they have moved from Greenville to Roanoke. Apparently Outside missed that fact.

[soilman]

Id wager outside mag didnt go looking for them
They likely went looking for publicity
When people doos that, theres an angle
Attention, money, both

Do I haz to ask ifn theres a gofundme involved?

They say that 1/4 of their food has been accounted for from sponsors. They are requesting sponsorship/donations and hopeful that clothing/gear sponsors are on the way.

[4eyedbuzzard]

From their page,

"1- Selling our possessions. A thru hike is expensive and one of the top reasons hikers have to stop is because they run out of money. We don’t want that to happen! So on top of saving extra cash here and there, we’ve also sold a lot of our things. Including our house. This also minimizes our responsibilities while we’re on the trail.

2- Requesting sponsorships/donations. This has been very time consuming, but well worth the time. We are incredibly thankful for our food sponsors and hopefully gear/clothing sponsors on the way. As of now, we have about 1/4 of our trail food accounted for by sponsors. Thank you all so much."

Yeah, make a baby, quit your job, sell your house, move back in with Mom and Dad, and solicit for funding to hike the AT. Sounds just like the kind of behavior from new parents that should be encouraged. [Note to my children: DO NOT attempt this. You will be locked out.]

[devoidapop]

I am so glad my kids didn't know 25 year old me. I was arrogant, overconfident, and usually completely wrong.

[Kookork]

Meet the First Baby to Hike the Appalachian Trail :

Meet the first baby to be carried on AT sounds more accurate. There is possibly one or two miles the kid would hike from beginning to end.

[Sarcasm the elf]

This reminds me of that kid that was going to "not just break, but shatter" the A.T. Self supported record a few years back. Ego, Sponsors, Media Attention, and then just faded into the sunset.

Don't get me wrong, I wish them the best just like I do for all hikers, but I'm not expecting much from this one.

[Old Hiker]

I just recall a couple of "Father of the Year" nominees. One at Stairway to Heaven (PA? NY?), another at a similar place. Incredibly steep, rocky, bad up and/or down. BOTH FotY nominees were carrying an infant in their arms, no poles, no carrier, nothing. I was having problems just with a pack. One small stumble, one large tragedy.

All the best - for the kid.

[Grampie]

As a past thru-hiker and. Father of three I just can't emagine anyone attempting a thru with a baby. There are just so many dangers that they will be exposing this baby too. I would give them about a 2% chance for lasting more than a week.

[Deb]

I would hate to find a baby inside a hiker box

Funny!....

[rickb]

The odds of a fall on a 5 or 10 mile hike are relatively small.

Multiply those odds by a 100 or more and it is a virtual given.

On the chance the Quirins are reading this and cannot be dissuaded from this hike, I would encourage them to look into a helmet for their child. And perhaps eye protection.

Those companies, writers an individual who are encouraging this trip are doing the child a disservice, I think.