The outdoors child, now a teen, hops on logs at Central Park in Schenectady in 2023.
The outdoors child during their first outing in 2016, a walk to Lock 7 in Niskayuna.
It has been almost eight years since the outdoors child joined our family. Those eight years have seen a lot of changes. Nikk, as they now prefer to be called, went from a kindergartener in a pink parka and pigtails to a 14-year-old in big black boots.
Nikk’s first outing with us was a walk on the Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail to Lock 7, where we looked for eagles with binoculars. This past summer, we all spent a week biking about 120 miles from Innsbruck to Salzburg in Austria. I decided to check in with our teen and ask about their views on our outdoor adventures.
Q: All right, we’ll start out easy. What’s your favorite outdoors memory?
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A: Probably that one hike where there was a musical bridge (Wolf Creek Falls Preserve in Altamont). I just sat on it for a while playing on the bridge, making random music. That was pretty cool.
Q: How about your least favorite outdoors memory?
A: Probably when we were in Austria, and we had to go up that really big hill.
Q: Really? That was worse than the hike we did in the High Peaks during the thunderstorm?
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A: Yes! Because it was so long and tiring. And it hurt my legs so badly.
(It was actually a relief to hear this because the trip Nikk and I took over the Great Range in a thunderstorm was held against me for literally years.)
Q: That was a really steep hill. What kind of outdoor adventure do you think you like the best? Because you’ve tried hiking, biking, mountain biking, camping and canoe camping, and cross country skiing.
A: I really like mountain biking. I don’t really like challenging. I kind of like an in between where there’s some turns and stuff like hills, but not too difficult.
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Q: Do you have any advice for kids whose parents want them to get outdoors?
A: I’d say really just stick with it. Because usually it’s kind of worth it at the end. Because the view is pretty beautiful and if it’s really that bad, you can just take a nap at the summit. But it’s usually worth it. Something usually happens that tends to make it a little exciting or fun. And I’d just say altogether, the feeling of accomplishment of like, “Oh, yeah, I did this,” and being able to say, “Oh, I did a hike and this happened or that happened” is just kind of a pleasing thought to me.
Q: What kind of things do you remember about hikes that you really thought were cool?
A: Well, a lot of times, the trees, depending on what the weather is like. If it’s fall, I really like how all the leaves are down, and all the different colors. If it’s winter, I like the way the trees look when all the snow and icicles are on them, when it shines in the light. And just generally, it’s kind of like walking into this magical place for me, depending on how it looks. My kind of dream place is more like in the woods. But not as much of a hike, but just like peacefully in the woods. And so it’s like a hike to me is kind of like the walkway into that kind of place. And the summit is kind of like that peaceful place for me.
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(We digress to a discussion about animals we’ve seen and where.)
A: Oh, a fun moment was when we were on that walk—and I know we all remember this—and you thought you saw a bear coming up. But it was a beaver!
Q: That’s right.
A: It was really far away. We were so surprised. That was funny.
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Q: I had never seen a beaver on the trail before.
A: That was funny.
Q: So you’re not a big fan of camping, right? What don’t you like about it?
A: I guess waking up in the morning is a difficult thing for me because it’s so cold. And it’s weird to me because it’s not like home. But I also just find it uncomfortable.
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Q: It’s not the most comfortable. You have to pee or poop outside or in an outhouse.
A: OK, that was random.
Q: If you’re lucky you get a flush toilet.
A: It’s not really one of my reasons? Porta potties are a no, though.
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Q: Where do you think is the most beautiful place you’ve ever been? Is there a place that just blew you away?
A: Not really. They’re all kind of beautiful to me in a way. But I haven’t really been wowed. I guess that means I have to go hiking more.
Q: That’s why I’m here.
A: Side eye.
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