Hiking With Autism

by Mary Kae Marinac

When Jacob Allen, the autistic teen, went lost in the West Virginia woods in late 2007, the miracle of his discovery four days later spotlighted a little-known truth.  Hiking is the perfect sport for kids on the autism spectrum.

Yes, the unexpected can happen, such as Jacob’s wandering off, or stumbles and scrapes.  But for every Jacob in the headlines, there are hundreds of autistic individuals who use hiking as a doorway into a calmer and more capable beyond. 

Unlike sports that require coordination and enough language skills for team play, hiking demands just putting one foot in front of the other.  It’s free and doesn’t require costly equipment. It makes kids sleep well at night, and greatly diminishes self-stimulatory behaviors.  Toe-walking is near-impossible to do while walking uphill, and hand flapping virtually stops when the trail demands that you grab hold of rocks and trees. 

A Bathroom behind Every Tree

Other autism bugaboos such as toileting problems melt away as we enter the forgiving curtain of the woods.  When nature calls, there’s a bathroom behind every tree - and if accidents happen – what’s the big deal, among the smells of the forest and the general sweat and grime you accumulate on the trail? The chipmunks don’t care if your kids make silly nonfunctional verbalizations.  Fellow hikers also wipe their hands and noses on their shirt. 

Over the past 10 years “walking in the woods” has transformed my 15-year old twin boys Will and Jeff, both with profound autism, from chubby stumblerers to rugged young men whose endurance exceeds many typical peers.  It’s our family metaphor for living creatively with autism. We have to approach the trail differently than typical families.  We motivate in small units, use picture cards and music, find novel ways to break through problems, and laugh at troubles that would make other families fume.  Some days storms roll in, or endurance fails and we have to turn around.

But the breathtaking views at the top are fuel for the daily slog through autism.  They are peaks we’d never reach without saying “Yes, We Can” – and believing that while it’s good to have an end to journey toward, the journey is all that matters in the end. 

Climbing To New Heights

One hike, after a sweltering two hours through thick forest, I watched our son Will dance his flap-happy jig as he emerged to survey the vast expanse of New Hampshire’s White Mountains before him.  It’s a memory I carry with me always.  Naysayers would simply label Will as “just acting autistic.”  But I know his dance spoke the joy of discovery. 

No matter where you live, you’re likely a few hours away from hundreds of trails and the adventures they hold.  Here’s a 10-step guide to a fun, safe hike—and a link to 25 trails in New England to consider by length, elevation, kid appeal and facilities.

10 Steps to an Autism-Friendly Hike

1. Start small.  Everyone needs to build endurance, physically and behaviorally.  Consider it a success if you spend even 15 minutes on a walk.  The steepness (elevation gain) is the real determinant of a hike’s difficulty.  Start with lesser elevation gains and work up. Wear comfortable walking shoes – sneakers are fine until you really attempt significant elevation gains, although expect shoes to get wet or muddy - so don’t bring your best.

2. Hydrate in smart ways.  We like sport water bottles that squirt - they double as a fidget toy.  Official guidelines say to plan 1 quart for every mile spent hiking; we find that’s overkill but we do bring at least 16 oz. per mile, and more if it’s really hot.  We tend to avoid sports drinks as they’re not as thirst-quenching; plus water doubles as a cleanser and brow-cooler.

3. Use snacks and toys are motivators.  We plan a snack break after an hour, and use favorite foods and toys as rewards.  While you’ll need to manage distractions from the trail, small portable items like iPods and (replaceable) hand-held toys help bide the time. Most parks are carry-in/carry out so pack light and bring an extra plastic bag for trash.
4. Watch the weather.  It’s no fun to hike in 95-degree heat, and on higher elevations it’s outright unsafe in high winds.  I check http://www.weather.com before leaving to verify conditions in the area of the trail. I prefer wicking shirts made of polypropylene (brands like Under Armor® and Duofold®), and synthetic fabric pants.  In warm weather cotton won’t hurt you, but it’s not the smartest choice as it holds sweat close to the body.  Layered dressing is also key.  Remember that summits are at least 10 to 20 degree cooler – not counting the wind.  Insects are sometimes an issue thru July, and lightweight long sleeves sometimes can help avoid bug bites.  The months of August and September tend to be less buggy.  May is still muddy in many locales, but September and even early October are great times to hike.

5. Expect to motivate.  Your child will protest at some point. Don’t get mad – expect it.  Reward lavishly.  Make sure they’re hydrated and not hungry, and think through possible reasons you can blunt with the right incentive.  Many hikes below include waterfalls or fire towers with special appeal to kids.  Read up on the hikes before you go, and tell the kids about what’s to come.  A mini-schedule strip of Meyer-Johnson symbols helped us in the early years to show the passage of time, and when the next reward could be expected.

6. Make your kids wear backpacks.  We learned this late.  While parents should expect to carry the bulk of the water and snacks, having the kids carry empty backpacks for your first hike or two will set expectations.  Families also should bring a small lightweight first aid kit, any emergency items (e.g. Epi-Pens) if needed, bug repellent (Ben’s is our favorite), napkins or Kleenex, extra plastic bags for rubbish, a small tube of sunscreen, camera, lightweight change of clothes if toileting is an issue, and as weather dictates, a windbreaker or sweatshirt.  While my husband likes metal walking poles, I personally avoid them as their tips can be unsafe, particularly when juggling them while holding a child’s hand.

7. Set a goal and take a break.  We promise lunch at the top – wherever we define as the top - bringing favorite foods we don’t do at home like Fluffer Nutters and Cheetos and spending at least a half hour resting.  If no one has a peanut allergy, nut-based trail mixes are excellent protein- and carb-based rations.  Motivation on the downhill walk home is never a problem, although downhill grades are harder on knees and often where tumbles occur; don’t rush home. 

8. Let go of fear.  With proper planning and common sense, hiking is as safe as walking. At first I was terrified our guys would fall off the mountain.  Although each child is different and autism always brings the unexpected, I’ve learned that our boys are naturally cautious.  The fear I harbored was largely my own.  On the other hand, trust your instincts.  One of our best hikes was a trail that our son’s OT said was too hard.  Yet sometimes you just have to call it quits. 

9. Laugh a lot.  When our son perseverated on asking for his post-hike reward of tacos, neurotypical among us placed bets on how many times he’d say “I want tacos” in the 45-minute walk back to the car.  (the count was in the 160’s).  The winner got a T-shirt.  Other days we’ve made songs out of “First walk then car,” or crooned versions of “99 Bottles of Juice in the Wall” as tired legs kept on marching.

10. Celebrate.  No matter how long you walked, you’ve bettered everyone’s muscle tone, cardiovascular strength and motor planning.  The green world you entered, if only for a while, will yield stress relief, comic relief – but more importantly, fresh perspectives of how to live with autism as a team.  As we say to our kids, great job!

New England’s Finest Hikes for Autism

Short Local Training Walks
1. Weir Hill, N. Andover MA – network of 10 miles of trails with approx. 300 foot elevation gain.  Initial hill gives a little workout.  Take a break and catch the view from the bench seat at the top, especially at sunset or in autumn.

2. AVIS Trails, Andover MA and other local conservancy lands –1.0 mile or so flat walk off Haggett’s Pond Road in Andover off of Rte. 133 circles the town water supply with wide paths.  Rafton Reservation on High Plain Road in Andover makes a gentle loop.  See http://www.town.andover.ma.us/commun/trails/maps.htm

3. Blue Hills, Milton MA – over 16 miles of trails just outside Boston.  Red Dot loop trail is 2.4 miles, few hundred foot elevation gain.  Nice stone observation tower at the top and expansive playground at the bottom.  Bathrooms in season at bottom.

Easy Hikes

4. Mt. Kearsage, Wilmot, NH – 2.2 miles round trip, 1100 foot elevation gain. Playground, bathrooms and picnic tables at the trail’s start make this our all-time favorite kid hike.  Great fire tower that’s open for tours in season.
5. W. Rattlesnake Mtn. Via Old Bridle Path, Holderness, NH – 1.8 miles round trip, 300 foot elevation gain.  Look down on Little Squam Lake and across to Lake Winnispesaukee.  Bathrooms at the bottom of the access road by the boat ramp in season (no facilities at the trail head).

6. Lost Pond, Pinkham Notch, Gorham NH - 1.0 mile roundtrip, no elevation gain.  Short but pleasant walk across wooden footbridges to a hidden pond.  Great for small kids.  Make sure and visit the AMC Pinkham Notch Visitor’s Center across the road and see the full-scale topographical map of the White Mountains.

7. Triple Falls, Gorham NH – 0.4 miles, 200 foot elevation gain.  Off the beaten path but quiet, very easy and fun for kids for whom water is calming.  A nice antidote to Story Land.  No facilities.

8. Arethusa Falls, Bartlett NH.  2.6 miles round trip, 900 foot elevation gain.  Impressive waterfall.  Popular trail so after rain the path may be slick or muddy.  As of several years ago the enterprising private homeowner at the trailhead ran an ice cream stand selling Ben & Jerry’s pints.  Port-a-potties at trailhead.

9. Mt. Willard, Crawford Notch, NH – 3.2 miles, 925 foot elevation gain.  Excellent view for less exertion than it sounds.  Stunning in autumn.  Bathrooms at the AMC bookstore in the old Crawford Depot train station at the bottom.

10. Pack Monadnock, Miller State Park,  Peterborough NH.  2.8 miles round trip, 900 foot elevation.  Easy, fire tower with great views and picnic shelters at the top.  Port-a-potties at the bottom and top.

11. Gile Mountain, Norwich VT – 1.4 miles round trip, 360 foot elevation gain.  Easy hike to a fire tower and great views.  Bonus: King Arthur Flour’s store/bakery and the Montshire Children’s Science Museum are at the same exit.  No facilities.

12. North Pack Monadnock, Greenfield, NH - 3.2 miles round trip, 1000 foot elevation gain.  Less crowded, better views while hiking upwards although less of a view at summit.  The hike is sweeter if you start/end it at Parker’s Maple Barn in Mason NH.  No facilities.

13. Belknap Mountain, Belknap NH – 2.2 miles, 860 feet elevation gain.  Another great and easy fire tower mountain with a guided tour in season.  No facilities.

14. Mount Major, W. Alton NH – 1.7 miles round trip, 1200 foot elevation gain.  Easy wide trails lead to a final steep scamper.  No facilities.

15. Lonesome Lake, Franconia Notch National Park, NH – 3.4 miles round trip, 1000 foot elevation gain.  A New England classic.  AMC hut at the top boasts state-of-the-art composting toilets (an oxymoron) but spectacular views of Mts. Lafayette/Lincoln across the Notch.  Bathrooms at campground where you start, in season. Lake is reportedly swimmable.  If you’re game:  stay overnight in 4-person private bunkrooms (reservations required, see AMC link at end of article.)

Easy Intermediate

16. Mts. Morgan and Perceival, Holderness NH – 5.1 miles round trip, 1500 foot elevation gain.  Jeff’s favorite hike.  Caves at the top usually still hold ice and snow well into May.  Kids who like crawling and rock-hopping will love it.  Bathrooms at the bottom of the access road by the boat ramp in season (no facilities at the trail head).

17. Zealand Falls Hut, Twin Mountain, NH – 5.2 miles, 700 foot elevation gain.  Super waterfall and hut after a long but flat walk across wooden footbridges, past lakes and moose to a final steep but well-graded stairway.  Buy a hut T-shirt – wearable trophies sold only at each of the 8 AMC huts.  Composting toilets at hut.

18. Lowe’s Bald Spot, Pinkham Notch, Gorham NH – 4.2 miles round trip, 850 foot elevation gain.  Easy walk and scramble to an unusual easterly view of Mt. Washington. Composting toilets at the AMC Pinkham Notch Visitor’s Center.

Intermediate

19. Mt. Osceola, Waterville Valley, NH – 6.4 miles round trip, 2050 foot elevation gain.  Surprisingly easy.  Great view.  No facilities.

20. Cadillac Mountain, Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor ME – 4.0 miles round trip, 1450 foot elevation gain.  A gem.  Steep sections but lovely ocean views with National Park facilities at the top.

21. The Beehive, Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, ME – 1.2 miles round trip, 500 foot elevation gain.  Sweeping ocean views.  Metal stairs in the steep parts make this not as hard as the trail guides suggest, but it’s not for those with agoraphobia. 

22. Mt. Monadnock, Jaffrey NH – 4.4 miles round trip, 1800 foot elevation gain. The 2nd most heavily traveled mountain in the world behind Japan’s Mt. Fujiyama.  Officially rated as a moderate hike but I find it more challenging.  On a clear day you can see the Prudential Tower in Boston.  Bathrooms at the bottom.

23. Welch & Dickey Mtns., Waterville Valley NH – 4.5 miles, 1850 foot elevation gain. Steep mid section but spectacular views with wild blueberries in late July/early August.  Makes a horseshoe so you look back upon where you came.  A dry weather hike only as the granite slabs are too slippery when wet.  No facilities.

Advanced but Doable:

24. Mt. Eisenhower, via Crawford Path, White Mountains National Forest, NH – 6.6 miles, 2800 foot elevation gain.  A boring two-mile wooded trail bursts into a spectacular open view of the Presidentials that will make you, too, dance a jig. 

25. Mt. Washington via Tuckerman’s Ravine, Pinkham Notch, White Mountains National Forest, NH – 8.4 miles round trip, 4300 foot elevation gain.  When the forecast is fine and the family is ready, it’s the granddaddy of them all.  Option: tackle just Tuckerman’s Ravine alone, itself a manageable 4.8 mile round trip (1800 foot elevation gain) walk to a rare glacial cirque (headwall) and its waterfall - bag a hut T-shirt as your reward. 

Resources:

Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC)—http://www.outdoors.org/recreation/hiking/index.cfm - publishes outstanding guidebooks and maps to NE trails.  Check out Nature Hikes in the White Mountains by Robert N. Buschbaum, which details kid-friendly features of each trail.

NH Four-Thousand Footers list and NE hiking info, fabulous Web site if you’re into this stuff, http://home.earthlink.net/~ellozy/

Outdoor Explorations, http://www.outdoorexplorations.org, sponsors a few family hikes and backpacking training programs for disabled individuals ages 8 and older, with younger kids eligible for family camp programs. 

Mountain Wanderer Bookstore, Rt. 112 (Kancamangus Highway) in Lincoln NH and at http://www.mountainwanderer.com/ Wide selection of outdoor adventure books and maps.  Author/columnist/store owner will suggest local hikes to suit your skill/interests.