Rite of Passage thing

[fuddam]

Thought some of you might want to try this.

I took my 12yr old into the French Maritime Alps last week, for a 5 day hike, bivvying (rather than using a tent), avoiding refuges (too comfortable) and generally having an adventure. It was to mark his 13th birthday, a kind of bar mitzvah thing, to signify the transition to teenager-hood. With the greater freedoms he is going to experience, he also has to appreciate greater responsibility, more confidence in his own decision making, pushing through the crap that life will throw at him etc.

It was a fantastic success. Hiked above the snow line, summitted a few peaks, slept through rain and wind on a slippery mountain side, met some amazing characters, suffered a bit and also had a whale of time. Ended with a via ferrata session high above the town of La Colmiane, which showed how Go Ape really is a walk in the park.

Note: my brother and I (2 adults were better than 1) did not beast him, or stress him, or put him to the test. It was about pushing together through the challenge, helping him to make decisions for himself, and generally supporting him. The 4th day was all his - he did the orienteering, made the choices about when to rest/eat, chose the route etc.

Prep for the event involved my son receiving a survival book on his 12th birthday, which he was recommended to study, and training sessions in the last month or two before we started. All good bonding time.

On the final day, he received a present in recognition of his efforts, and as a memento of the event itself. Hint: it cuts pretty well

Will be doing a similar event with my other 2 sons, when they reach that age.

Pics here: https://plus.google.com/photos/10450...CPDcv-en1LD6WA

Oh, and the cost was virtually nothing, aside from the Easyjet flights, the bus from Nice to the mountains (£1.30 each way!) and the via ferrata kit hire (12 euros).

[Moby-Dick]

Note: my brother and I (2 adults were better than 1) did not beast him, or stress him, or put him to the test.

Well you did make him fly easyjet After that , its all downhill

[Phage]

Looks brilliant - what a lucky son.
Cuts well...mmmm....laser cad cam ?

[MarkyH]

Those pics look great. He's a lucky kid, I like the idea of doing that kind of thing.

[suedenim]

What a fantastic thing. If you have the time and inclination I would be interested in a more indepth write up on the entire adventure - I have another 6 years to go with my first before I get to that point but no harm in starting the training early

[Zak33]

that is sheer genius Fuddam

My little oe s now 6, and this summer will be started in the garden with a Basha and a weekend camp cooking on a fire (roll the turf back, put it back later so the wife doesn't grumble)

His Camo sleeping bag is here...

we shall consider your rite of passage idea.. and maybe do just that ourselves one day... most likely in Wales I'd think

[Zak33]

now THIS is why camera's exist

[Zak33]

we didn't beast him.... we cut off his finger instead

[fuddam]

What a fantastic thing. If you have the time and inclination I would be interested in a more indepth write up on the entire adventure - I have another 6 years to go with my first before I get to that point but no harm in starting the training early

Am putting an account together. Will let you know when it's finished - hopefully next week

My sons have gone to cubs/scouts, as I did as a kid, but it seems to depends (in the UK at least) to some extent on who is running the troop. Have found some of them quite anaemic, turning into little more than arts & craft meetings - garbage! Should be getting the kids out and exploring, doing crazy stuff in the mud and mountains, IMHO

I do adventure racing, mostly multi day, so my boys are growing up with their old man running around in the woods/mountains/jungles with a compass, doing lots of endurance things (kayaking, mtb, climbing, white water rafting, trekking, etc), so they see that as normal. Also got them interested in Bear Grylls & Ray Mears from an early age, which has been excellent. Whether you like BG or not, the best point about him is inspiring young kids to challenge themselves in nature, to go exploring, to ADVENTURE.

HTH

[fuddam]

now THIS is why camera's exist

It was the silliest of the bunch. It's a bit of a gentle mock of the Asian side of my family, who always do the V sign in their pics

[fuddam]

we shall consider your rite of passage idea.. and maybe do just that ourselves one day... most likely in Wales I'd think

We considered Wales, but thought it a little too populated. Considered Scotland, esp northern bits since can be really remote, but in the end went for France for other logistical reasons.

Didn't see a single other hiker in the 5 days - only one group on MTBs. I hear the more northern alps get really busy, which is why these southern mountains appealed more. Far less touristed.

[suedenim]

I tried my son on Beavers but the group was too big, + 20 boys, hardly anything got done. As a result he got bored and dropped out so not sure on getting him back into cubs or scouts.

Looking forward to the account though. I've been mountain hiking before but never multi day so an insight into the gear you took etc. would be grand.

[Million]

This sounds fantastic, something I'd really like to do down the line. My first (ten weeks old, asleep on my lap) is a girl, but I don't see that as a reason for her not to enjoy the outdoors, adventure, and extreme sports.

What knife did you get him? I got an engraved Leatherman for my 21st from my now wife, best man present ever. Went canoeing, camping and fishing on my stag, and loved using it to open fresh oysters

[fuddam]

Got him a Gerber locking blade with Bear Grylls scrawled all over it, lol. It's nice enough for him, quite solid, yet convenient in that it folds.

link here

Cost about £18 on amazon, rather than the £44 on BG store.

[deejayburnout]

This was a brilliant idea. Wish my dad done that for me.

We are getting our kids into the outdoors. camping and walking at the moment, They are both under 3. Hopefully one day soon i can do something similar with my kids....

As long as the wife lets me.

Your son is very lucky.

[fuddam]

We are getting our kids into the outdoors. camping and walking at the moment, They are both under 3. Hopefully one day soon i can do something similar with my kids....

No hoping. Just do it

As long as the wife lets me.

The way I look at it, it's a RESPONSIBILITY I have as a father, to prep my children as best possible for adulthood. Taking them away like this is as important as going to school (if not more important). It's not negotiable. Giving them a sense of adventure, of overcoming challenges, of being responsible and working together for a common goal, quite aside from the father-child bond. All good!