Cross-Country Skiing With A Baby 101
I see you, sad Seattleite. If you’re reading this, you want to get outside with your wee one, but it’s January and it has been raining for however many days (you’ve stopped counting because what’s the point?), and you have officially given up all hope of seeing the sun again. You are no longer even slightly amused by your son’s puddle antics. You have checked flights to Arizona and Southern California (just to see) and scroll through your camera roll in the hopes of catching a glimpse of yourself in a T-shirt. Maybe you even have a tan.
These are sad times in the PNW. The rain here takes a toll on even the most dedicated outdoor enthusiasts, and when you have a baby who needs so much stuff that can potentially get wet, the temptation to stay home and have a Caspar Babypants dance party (totally fun and appropriate in moderation) trumps your conscience, which tells you to go out and play in the rain and be fun.
But don’t despair, soggy reader! It is time for you to hit the ski trail! Yes, I said ski trail! And yes! With your baby! I’m not crazy – there are no “slopes” involved here. I’m talking about classic cross-country skiing. Travis and I were skiers before we had Levi, so it was natural for us to want to continue the pastime with wee Levi in tow. Read on to find out our strategies for a successful ski trip with an infant or a toddler.
ski trail Location
For your first trek, be kind to yourself. Choose the flattest trail available. For us Seattleites, a go-to is the Palouse to Cascades Trail (also known as the “Iron Horse”) at Snoqualmie Pass. On our most recent trip, a 12.5-mile out-and-back, we gained a mere 80 feet of elevation. (That’s what I’m talking about!) When you get the hang of the trailer (we’ll get to that next), you can graduate to trails with a higher gradient. Or not! Perhaps the most important thing to keep in mind is your proximity to nachos and beer afterward. Because if that’s not part of the plan, who are you?
Baby Transport
Enter the most expensive piece of athletic equipment you will ever purchase after having a child: the Thule Chariot Cheetah XT. We can thank our best buds, the Hovee Family, for introducing us to the Chariot. They have a double (the Cheetah XT2), so Levi got to bum a ride with Jack. It was, hands down, the most fun we’d had as a family. (I’m talking fun fun, not “joy” or whatever.)
Jack & Levi share a ride on the Iron Horse Trail
But stay with me on this one: Brand new, this beast, which triples as a stroller, bike, and ski trailer, costs almost $1,000. ($600 for the basic bike/stroller kit plus $325 for the ski kit attachment. I don’t care who you are – this is a lot of money. But you are skiing. You are in the woods. 12.5 miles, people! Can’t put a price on that! (Actually, you can, which is why we bought ours – a roomy double – on Craigslist for about half the price.)
We’re doing it! Crystal Springs Sno-Park, another easy beginners’ trail, is about an hour East of Seattle.
Most babies I know are relatively happy riding in the Chariot. The rhythmic sound of the skis tends to put them to sleep more easily than a stroller or even a car can. (Thousand-dollar price tag’s not looking too bad now, eh?) But the first few times we went out, we brought our Ergo Baby carrier as a backup, and did end up using it once. And we see plenty of parents with babies in front and back carriers. Unless you are a very confident skier, I wouldn’t recommend that method, as falling would be hazardous.
(Full disclosure here: I have never actually personally pulled the Chariot myself. Travis has never asked, and I have never offered. I love this tacit agreement. Franky, one of my favorite things about cross-country skiing with Levi is that, well. . . I’m not really cross-country skiing with Levi. I tell Travis, “You guys get to bond!” (They’re physically separated by 6 feet of aluminum.) Once we get going, I’m in my zone and the boys are in theirs. You can’t put a price on that.)
Travis and Levi “bonding” at Crystal Springs.
Mama’s View at Virginia Meissner Sno-Park outside of Bend, Oregon - worth every penny.
Baby Ski Clothes
Down Bunting. We use the Columbia Snuggly Bunny Bunting. It has flaps for the hands and the feet, so Levi can be completely buttoned up in the trailer, but it is easy to put boots on when we’re ready to play in the snow or free his hands for a snack. And, as its name implies, it is totally adorable.
Wee Levi during his first season in the Columbia Snuggly Bunting and The North Face Baby Bear Beanie
Fleece Jacket. My go-to piece of clothing for Levi in any weather is the Patagonia Baby Micro D Snap T Jacket. A friend of mine recently said she can’t picture Levi without it on. (It is actually kind of ridiculous how much Patagonia our family wears. On our most recent ski trip, Travis noted that every single thing he had on – from his hat to his underwear – was from Patagonia. Embarrassing.)
Extra Layers. While Mom and Dad are working up a sweat, wee Levi’s staying cold in the trailer. So I put lots of layers on him. This past weekend he wore a short-sleeve onesie (to protect from draft), a flannel button up (babies in flannel are very, very cute), the Patagonia fleece, thick baggy sweatpants, and the bunting. At this point I must acknowledge my absolute obsession with Levi’s temperature. It is an extension of my own perpetual coldness that has been passed down to me through my female ancestors since the beginning of time.
Gloves & Hat. Even though the bunting has hand flaps, I usually use gloves as well (see personal anti-chill obsession above). My favorites are Patagonia’s Baby Pita Pocket Mittens. You do need a hat in addition to the bunting, because it has a loose-fitting hood. (You don’t need a hat if you use the fleece, as it has a tight-fitting hood that will keep your babe warm under the bunting.) My favorite baby hats are from The North Face. They fit well and they’re cute. My favorite was the cuddly Baby Bear Beanie, a present from Uncle Josh.
Boots. Given all of the thought that went into every other article of clothing, you’d think I’d have an opinion about boots. I bought Levi’s boots at Target during the off-season, and they ended up working out great! There is definitely more technical footwear out there for your babe, but we use the Cat & Jack Thermolite Winter Boots, and Levi seems comfortable and warm!
Wee Levi is warm in his Columbia bunting and his Patagonia fleece.
Miscellaneous. There isn’t much storage space in the Chariot, so I always bring a backpack to carry our extra stuff. Here are some examples of non-negotiable stuff: diaper kit (Yep, we have changed Levi’s diaper on the snow a couple of times - no fun for anyone involved, let me tell ya!), a small blanket, water, extra layers for Mom and Dad, a pack cover that can double as a waterproof shield in case you need to sit in the snow to nurse (although the Chariot makes a mighty nice chair as well), snacks, and sunglasses for everyone. Although it might seem preposterous to prepare for the sun in the PNW wintertime, even the smallest rays reflecting off the snow can be bad for your little one’s eyes. We bought Babiators, and Levi didn’t mind them last Winter. This year he minds them tremendously. Oh, well.
And that, my friends, is how we cross-country ski with our baby. It is the After-Baby thing we do that most closely resembles the Before-Baby thing we did. And it’s not just us: A typical Saturday on the Iron Horse Trail features dozens of Chariots carrying dozens of sleeping babies, genuinely happy parents getting an actual workout, apres-ski plans being hatched. . . Can you ask for a better escape from the Winter doldrums? Have fun out there!
Happy Seattleites head for the hills in January!
Checklist: Cross-Country Skiing
Trailer with ski attachment
A person other than you to pull the trailer
Adult ski gear (Yes, we once completely forgot our own skis!)
Baby bunting
Baby fleece or sweater
Baby boots
Extra socks
Baby mittens
Baby hat
Sunglasses
Blanket
Diaper changing kit
Snacks & Water
Pack Cover