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Last year, my niece went on her first backpacking trip with me. We went down the Grandview Trail to Horseshoe Mesa and spent one night. We had a blast! [On a funny side note, my sister and I kept noticing how large my niece's pack looked, but we tested it and it was plenty light. We didn't think any more of it until we reached camp and she pulled out her full-sized pillow, which pretty much filled up the entire pack. ]
This year, she has asked to go to Zion, so that's the plan.

Before last year's trip, I bought her a headlamp as a little present and she simply loved it. She likes to use it at home, too.
I am trying to think of something similar to do this year, but am having some trouble thinking what it should be.
She's probably still a little young for a knife...
Something also useful for dayhiking or just plain camping would probably be best, since that's mostly what she does.

Any ideas or thoughts?

hiking poles for hiking the narrows?

What about something to get attached to like a full brimmed hat? I feel naked without mine no matter what the weather. My full brimmed Marmot hat is perfect for sun and rain. Or you could get her a nice compass and a the quad map of the area and teach her how to triangulate her location along the way. That might be a really fun and valuable lesson!

A compass is a great idea, maybe even a topo map of the Narrows to go with it. You don't say how old she is? I received my first pocket knife at about age 10. My kids got their first pocket knives right around that age, too, maybe even younger. It's not a bad age to learn knife safety.

Or, if not wanting to get a her a knife knife, get her a Leatherman, which has other useful tools as well. ;)

You might look for a bandana or buff with cool patterns/her favorite color. The compass and map idea is pretty awesome, though. Plant or insect or bird id books? I got one of those really tiny/simple Swiss army multitools when I was around 12. If she likes to have a pillow, there are several different ones made of down or synthetic that are compressible for camping/backpacking.

NObody mentioned a hammock?!
Jesus, these are the End Times..

te-wa wrote:NObody mentioned a hammock?!

I was actually wondering how long before you chimed in with your hammocks

The compass and map idea is a good one. That way it could not be just a gift, but a learning experience (how cheesy does that sound?)
She does already have a good sun hat she loves, having recently moved to Oregon from New Mexico.
Bandana - how did I not think of that one? I am always going on and on about the million-and-one uses of a bandana.
The knife I was thinking of avoiding more because of the argument likely to ensue with my sister, more than my neice's maturity level.

My niece is now 12. As of right now, I am planning West Rim trail (down only) as a 1-night backpack. I just don't know about asking a kid to climb back up that trail. Then again, she did fine on the Grandview Trail last year (especially going up), so I may re-think that.
Most of that trail is at higher elevation and you end the 2nd day at the Virgin River, so I recall it as being a good summer choice.

Hiking all the way through the Narrows just seemed a bit too daunting for a kid, since even if you camp, you have to make ~8 miles per day over bowling ball rocks - it seems they only allow 1-night stays in the canyon.
Figured we could hike up some of the way one day as a day hike.

Think I'm leaning toward the compass/map. Maybe a simple book about compass use/orienteering.
Does anyone know any good ones?