Backpacker – September 2019

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019
08 BACKPACKER.COM

Y

OU’VE PROBABLY HEARD of

“nature deficit disorder”—the idea

that kids these days are deprived

of time outdoors. It ’s ea sy to read t he head-

lines and think teenagers do nothing but sit

inside wit h t heir screens. It ’s a rea l concer n, of

course, and we’ve reported on it. But that’s not

the whole story. There’s plenty of evidence that

the Instagram generation wants to explore the

outdoors—if they get the opportunity.

For starters, some of the local experts in

this issue’s “Follow the Leader” (page 60) are

ba rely out of their teens. Also in this issue,

Nicholas Kristof writes about the seven-

year adventure he and his daughter Caroline

undertook section-hiking the Pacific Crest

Trail (“Growing Up on the PCT,” page 92).

When they started the odyssey, Caroline

was 14 years old and Kristof was worried

that she’d soon g ive up hiking in favor of

the normal teenage distractions. But even

through mosquitoes and rain and bad camp

food, she never lost enthusiasm for spending

weeks on the trail each summer.

A nother teen I’ve been thinking of is

closer to home. My son Zig accompanied me

on a trek in Nepal last spring (page 85), and I

knew he was looking forward to hiking more

this summer. But he just turned 16, so I was a

little surprised when he a nnounced, in June,

that it was time for his first solo backpack-

ing trip. I was glad to hear it, and also a little

bit concerned. As a lifelong backpacker and

the editor of this magazine, I’m gratified

that he enjoys the outdoors and feels confi-

dent enough to go out on his own. But I know

better tha n most that things ca n go wrong in

the wilderness. After all, we publish survival

stories every issue and just launched a pod-

cast called “Out Alive.”

Zig has been backpacking since he could

walk, but I still wondered if he had enough

experience for a solo trip in the mountains

with no cell service. Was I being a responsible

pa rent by letting him go? Even ma ny adults

think backpacking alone is too risky. But I

started going on solo trips when I was just a

little older tha n he is now; I couldn’t dissuade

him from doing the very thing I’ve been extol-

ling for yea rs. So with my suppor t (a nd a ride

from his older brother), he went to the Indian

Peaks, near Boulder, and had a great time.

Sure, my wife and I worried a bit, but I also got

more proof that nature deficit disorder may

not be as widespread as feared.

Of course, kids don’t have to hike the

whole PCT or go on a solo backpacking trip

to benefit from the outdoors. But they need

to start somewhere. So take a kid hiking this

fall—who knows where it might lead? PH

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EDITOR’S NOTE

by Dennis Lewon

Zig Lewon, at 15, on his

first Himalayan trek

BACKPACKER TREKS

Since 1973, we’ve given advice on trails

across the country and the world. After

all, our mission is to help you get out

more. Now, we’ve created a program to

actually bring you those life-list trips.

1. GO FOR GOOD
   We’ve created a unique opportunity for
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Youth Movement

Never underestimate what kids can—and want—to do outdoors.