Clips

Looking to get your young children involved in the winter activities you love? Here we offer simple tips to foster a love of cross-country and alpine skiing, snowshoeing and snowboarding in youngsters.

By Melynda Harrison

Kicking and gliding past snow-laden trees and across frozen ponds; schussing through fresh powder on a blue bird sky day; breathing hard as you tromp upslope after a fresh snowfall—it’s hard to imagine winter without nivean outings. Newer parents may be worried they’ll have to give up some of these delights, but by introducing children to winter activities the whole family can enjoy a day in the snow.

For All Sports
• Make it fun and keep your expectations low. All children develop at a different rate. Like crawling and talking, your child will be ready to ski or board at a different age then your friends’ kids.
• Try on equipment at home. Not only do you want to be sure everything fits properly, but it adds a little familiarity to a new experience on the snow. Practice getting in and out of skis or a snowboard.
• The most important thing you can do is get your brood out into the snow for short (maybe twenty to forty minute) excursions where they can learn to be comfortable, have fun and gain experience in the snow.

Nordic Skiing
Rather than focusing on technique with new Nordic skiers, focus on fun. Shannon Nickerson taught her three year old, Rose, how to cross country ski in Stowe, Vermont. “I really didn’t tell her much; I just kind of threw her on the skis and let her have at it.” By the time Rose was five she was ready for a little instruction. “That’s when we started having her focus on transferring her weight from one ski to the other, and extending the glide.” This winter Nickerson plans to introduce Rose to her poles.

• Set children loose in a flat, open area to practice walking with skis on. Groomed Nordic Centers provide a level surface to get started.
• Playground games—played in the snow, with skis on—like “Red Light, Green Light”, “Follow the Leader” or “Simon Says” teach kids to turn, shuffle, slow and stop—without the boring drills.
• From walking they can transition to shuffling and then gliding, but don’t worry, most kids figure this out on their own.
• Let your child’s arms swing naturally.
• Leave the poles at home (they often hinder, more than help, children). Once your kid is competent on skis you can add poles.
• Children love the adventure of setting off across untrammeled snow. Having a destination (a cabin, lake, snowman building area) is a great way to motivate young ones to ski. As children get older, they will benefit from lessons or joining a youth ski league.
• As long as they are having fun with skis on, your lesson is a success.

Babies can be pulled in pulks, and as soon as they are decent walkers, toddlers can use waxless skis with universal bindings that fit onto their snow boots. Progress to a boot-binding system around age five with waxless skis until kids are at least eight or nine. At that point, they can stick with a waxless set-up, or if they are planning on racing or joining a league, they can transition to waxable boards.

Alpine Skiing
Jill Imsand, Big Sky Resort Ski Instructor and Children’s Chair for the Northern Rocky Mountain Division of Professional Ski Instructors of America, says kids can start skiing as early as two, “but it’s more about them being comfortable when it’s cold and sliding around than actually skiing.” By the age of four, many children will be ready to hit the bunny slopes.

Andrea Gambaro-Gunn, of Livingston, Montana, taught her sons Liam and Quinn to ski when they were three and two and a half. “We would carry them up a little hill and then run down to catch them. It was a serious workout for us.” After the boys had mastered the neighborhood hill, they moved onto the bunny slope at a nearby ski area.

• To get children used to riding the chairlift, ask the liftie to slow it down for loading and unloading. (Plan on lifting your child onto the seat—the chairlift is too high for them to sit on alone.)
• Start without poles, they just get in the way.
• Gambaro-Gunn used a harness specifically made for skiing with her little ones. Her boys skied in front of her and “they got used to traversing across the hill while I turned their bodies.”
• Next, Gambaro-Gunn slapped on an Edgie Wedgie, which holds the skis together in a snowplow position. “From there, I just held their hand until they could ski on their own.”
• Other techniques parents use include skiing backwards while holding their child’s hands and letting the child ski between their legs.

The hardest part about teaching kids to ski is getting past that fearlessness they seem to possess. “Quinn just wanted to go as fast as possible,” laughs Gambaro-Gunn. So let the kids have a blast for a couple years, then introduce poles and work on form.

As for gear, Imsand suggests buying used gear (Komperdell and Apple Rise Sports make skis for toddlers which can be used for cross-country and alpine skiing) or renting. Many shops rent kid-sized apparatuses for a season, which saves on expensive gear that won’t fit for long. Some places even rent helmets. Be sure to get equipment that fits, says Imsand, “buying too big, hinders kids’ ability,” and a too-large helmet won’t protect your child’s noggin.

Snowboarding
Snowboarding takes more strength and coordination than skiing, so children tend to start boarding at an older age than skiing. Irish National Snowboard Team member Jen Grace says her nephew started boarding at four. “There’s a skier’s bias that kids have to start on skis,” she laughs, “I would have said six is a good age to start snowboarding, but my nephew proves that wrong.”

• Find your child’s stance by having them put their feet together and lean forward as far as possible. Whichever foot they put forward to catch themselves should be at the front of the board.
• Tow your child around the yard or somewhere snowy to get the feel of sliding.
• Use the “parent lift” and cart the new snowboarder up a small hill. Run down a few feet and catch them. Extend the distance until they are comfortable enough to head to a ski resort.
• As with skiing, ask the liftie to slow the chairlift while you carry your child on and off. Only the front foot should be strapped in while riding the lift.
• After strapping in their other foot, have your child start with their snowboard perpendicular to a small slope. Help them stand up so they are looking down the slope.
• If you are fairly proficient on skis or a snowboard yourself, hold your child’s hand and instruct them to put their weight on their heels and point their toes just a little bit to start sliding down the hill. (You may need to do this in your boots!) They can pull back up on their toes to stop. Repeat this until they get the hang of coming to a stop.
• Next try a “falling leaf pattern”, again holding their hand. To begin sliding, tell your child to press down with the toes of their front foot. To stop sliding, pull back up with the same foot. After reaching the edge of the run, stop and press down with the toes of the other foot to start sliding in the other direction. Again, pull up to stop. Repeat this back and forth "falling leaf" pattern all the way to the bottom of the run.

To start the little one on a board plan to use ski boots and bindings (on a snowboard) until they are around seven-ish and their lower leg muscles develop. By eight years old your child will likely be ready for soft boots and regular strap bindings. Wrist guards and a helmet (in addition to the gear listed below) are essential. Snowboard equipment can often be rented for the season.

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What to wear and bring on winter adventures.
• Layers, layers, layers—as kids heat up and cool down, it’s essential to add and remove layers of clothing. Start with long johns (wool, silk or synthetic material), then add a mid-weight layer.
• Waterproof outer layer (pants and jacket)
• Hat
• Mittens that stay on and an extra pair for when the first set gets wet
• Gaitors—either built into snowpants or separate
• Sunscreen, sunglasses or goggles
• Helmets for downhill fun
• Snacks—trail mix, cheese and crackers, PB & J sandwich, energy bars, hot chocolate, anything that will provide quick carbohydrate calories along with some longer lasting fat and protein calories. Plus, it needs to be something your kids love and can eat with mittens on.
• Sled or pulk to tow little ones when they poop out.
• Change of clothes for the ride home
What not to wear
• Cotton next to the body—it just gets cold when wet from snow or sweat.

Women's Adventure, January 2008

My husband and I secure our children in the sled and strap on our snowshoes. Another sled, still empty, trails behind the boys. Henry slips the sled rope around his waist and plays sled dog, pulling the boys over the snow-covered road.

A trip into snowy woods to cut down a Christmas tree has become a tradition in our family. Choosing a place, digging the sleds out of the shed, packing the hot cocoa and peanut butter and banana sandwiches, donning scarves and hats—it’s all part of the ritual that reminds us that the holiday season is here.

While you can buy a tree at a lot, venturing into the woods for a fir or a spruce can be a rewarding way to spend a December day together. And the best part? You always come home with a prize.

If you choose to embark on a cut-your-own-tree adventure, here’s what you need to know.

• Get a permit from the Forest Service or Owenhouse Ace Hardware in Bozeman, Lee & Dad’s Grocery in Belgrade, and Gateway Exxon Market in Gallatin Gateway. They’re $5 and available in Nov. and Dec. You are limited to two trees per household. Find a District Office near you at www.fs.fed.us/r1/gallatin/?page=contactus/offices
• Trees can be cut from anywhere on the National Forest except at campgrounds, trailheads or in plantations.
• Know how tall you want your tree to be before you go. In the forest, there isn’t a good reference point for height, so even a ten-foot tall tree looks short. We know that we want a tree about as tall as my husband.
• Choose a location that is open. Trees growing in groves often shed their lower branches; trees growing in the open have a more traditional Christmas tree shape. Ask Forest Service staff to suggest a meadow or clearing the distance from a trailhead that you want to hike or ski.
• Cut the tree 12 inches or less above the ground level. Remove snow around tree base if needed. Cut off live limbs remaining on the stump. You can always cut more off the bottom if needed; it’s poor tree-cutting etiquette to leave a tall stump.
• Use a tarp or sled to pull the tree back to your vehicle.
• When you get your tree home, make a fresh cut on the butt to open up the pores that have been clogged by sap. Cut off at least one-half inch. The fresh-cut surface should be creamy-white, not yellow or brown. If you do not make a fresh cut, the tree will not be able to drink water. Put the tree in water as soon as possible.
• Decorate and water daily to keep your tree fresh.

Montana Parent
December 2009

By the time December rolls around I’m ready to don my cross-country skis and head out into the snowy woods. There may or may not be enough snow around Bozeman for Nordic skiing, but luckily you can always count on plenty of powder in West Yellowstone.

There are lots of ski trails around West Yellowstone but one of my family’s favorites is the Riverside Trail. Actually two loop trails, the Riverside Trails are easy enough for a beginner skier, but scenic enough for anyone. Another bonus is they are often partially groomed and you an easily pull a ski trailer with your little one. (There are a couple short, steep hills, but they are walkable.)

The trails start on the east side of Boundary Street between Yellowstone and Madison Avenues. Look for the trail sign through a gap in the snowbank.
From the trailhead ski east along the power line. At 1 mile you’ll reach a junction.

Downriver Loop: Veer left and head down the hill toward the river. At 1.25 miles from the junction look for a sign that reads “Cutoff”. By turning left here, you’ll have a nice hill to practice Telemark turns or a shortcut to the west section of the trail. If you ski past the cutoff, continue for 1.3 miles until the trail loops back to the top of the hill. Watch for the orange markers on the trees. It is 1 more mile to the Access Trail.

Upriver Loop: Ski to the right on the road briefly, looking for the trail through the trees on the left. Wind through lodgepoles on a bench above the river. At about 0.5 miles drop down a steep 60 yards. In another 0.3 miles you’ll reach the Madison River. Follow the river downstream to the end of the loop and a mellow climb back to the bench.

The two loops can be combined into a 7.3-mile bigger loop (including the Access Trail).

After skiing drop by Wild West Pizzeria to warm up with pizza and beverages.

What you need to know before you go:
Check in at Free Heel and Wheel, 40 Yellowstone Ave., 406.646.7744, www.freeheelandwheel.com for more information or to rent skis.
Wild West Pizzeria, 14 Madison Ave., 406.646.4400, www.wildwestpizza.com

Montana Parent
December 08

Summer makes me want to hit the road, and one of my favorite things to do is explore Montana. Red Lodge is just a few hours from Bozeman, so it makes a perfect overnight getaway.

Day 1: Drive: Take the scenic drive to Red Lodge, arriving midday.

Hike: It can be hard to choose a place to hike since there are so many great trails just outside of town. A few miles from Red Lodge, along the banks of the West Fork of Rock Creek, is the Silver Run Ski Trail system. These trails are pretty flat, scenic and can be linked together to create whatever length outing your family is up for. (From Red Lodge drive south and turn right on West Fork Road. Stay straight at 2.8 miles. Drive another 1.6 miles to Silver Run Road and turn left. Drive across the bridge and park.)

Explore: Stroll down Broadway and—if you have older kids—pop into the Red Lodge Clay Center to check out the newest exhibition. (redlodgeclaycenter.com) Kids of all ages will enjoy Magpie Toymakers where you’ll find toys powered by imagination—not batteries. Don’t forget a stop at Montana Candy Emporium, an old-fashioned candy shop.

Download a self-guided historic walking tour map (redlodge.com > adventure > self guided tours) and discover Red Lodge’s heritage while you walk.

Eat: End the day with dinner at the kid-friendly Red Lodge Pizza Company. (thepizzaco.com)

Day 2:
Mine the past: Follow Hwy 308 east. Just a few miles from town you’ll see the coalmines of Washoe and Bearcreek. Markers offer geologic and historic details, including the story of the Smith Mine Disaster of 1942.

Go Wild: Visit native animals at the Beartooth Nature Center, a refuge for animals that cannot be released into the wild. Meet bobcats, coyotes, bald eagles, mountain lions and other wild critters. (beartoothnaturecenter.org)

Know before you go

Find out about lodging, camping, rafting, horseback riding and a million other things to do in Red Lodge at redlodge.com.

Or contact the chamber at 406.446.1718 or 1.888.281.0625, email: rlacc59068@gmail.com or redlodgechamber.org.

Montana Parent
Summer 2009

With fall in full force and winter peaking its head around the corner, the season for hot springing has officially begun. The many hot springs—both natural and developed—in southwest Montana provide respite, relaxation and recreation for families.

One of our family’s favorite hot spots is Norris Hot Springs. This geothermal delight can be a destination in itself or a relaxing end to a day of fishing, hiking, floating or cross-country skiing. We like to load up the dogs and head for Bear Trap Canyon on the Madison River. After a mellow hike along a mostly flat trail we point the truck west to Norris Hot Springs.

The “Water of the Gods” flows from the ground and into the wooden pool where it is cooled to about 105 degrees, warm enough for a cold day soak, but not too hot for little bodies. As you are bobbing about or dunking your kids, keep an eye on the hillsides and wetlands for deer, pronghorn and moose. Eagles, hawks, Sandhill cranes, waterfowl and other birds are likely to make an appearance as well.

The folks at Norris Hot Springs will rent you a swimsuit and towel if you forget yours or if a soak in the hot springs is a last minute decision. If your kids aren’t ready to take the plunge sans floaties, they can borrow one of the life vests hanging outside the changing room.

When the kids’ tummies rumble, take advantage of the local and sustainabley grown snacks at the No Loose Dogs Saloon. You can check out the distance particular foods traveled to get there by clicking on their website. The greens are even grown on site; you can’t get more local than that.

Older kids might enjoy listening to live music while they swim. Bluegrass, acoustic tunes, alternative music, Celtic melodies or other music fill the air around the pool, and combined with a microbrew or a glass of wine, creates the perfect atmosphere for mom and dad, too.

What you need to know to go:
www.norrishotsprings.com 685.3303
.25 miles east of Norris, Mont. on Hwy 84
October-April: Wednesday-Friday 4pm-10pm, Saturday & Sunday 2pm-10pm.
$5 per person, $7 at 7 pm Thursday - Sunday to support live music.

Montana Parent
Spring 2009