Hiking with kids: wish I'd thought of this!

I was grinning like crazy earlier today, reading Fire Fighter Ron's account of taking his boys (ages 7 and 10) hiking around the lakes at the base of Mt. Whitney. The elevation is about 10,000 feet there, and it's a rocky trail most of the way. That's a bold agenda!

So how do you keep the kids in an adventurous mood -- especially when they discover that that pretty little lake is full of incredibly COLD water! I've ruefully watched my boys' moods head south in a hurry when they discover nature has its more challenging side. But Ron had just the right approach.

He brought along swimsuits for both boys and offered his older son $1 for each time he could jump into the lake and get out. At age 10, a dollar sounds like a lot of money. But even more important, it turns the cold lake into a Test of Valor, with a quick reward. Boys at that age love quests. Look at the movies they watch, the books they read, the games they play. It's all about taking on challenges and proving your worth.

So, sure enough Ron and his son went scouting around the lake, looking for the best place to jump in; the fastest place to exit, etc. Instead of being locked in a sour test of wills ("When can we go home, Dad?") his son jumped in once, got out, and promptly jumped in a second time. The quest was announced; the young contestant dared take it on; he labored hard and was found worthy.

And once you start those games, there's no telling what comes next. Once the water stopped being terrifying, Ron's son couldn't stay out. As Dad drolly writes, "While eating a snack, he fell in by accident. So that one was free."