Single mum tackles 85km Old Ghost Road hike with a toddler and child. Photo / Shoshannah Shand
This Mother’s Day, we celebrate super-mum Shoshannah Shand - a single mum, photographer and avid hiker who tackles 85km overnight NZ tramps with her 7- and 2-year-olds. Here’s how she does it.
Before becoming a mum, what did adventure look like for you?
I have always loved adventures. I was raised on a remote, isolated farm in the Marlborough Sounds. We were always out hunting, fishing and working on the farm. I have been tramping since I was strapped into a baby carrier.
What moment made you decide to take your own child on a hike?
Hiking is a big part of who I am. When I had my first baby, I was recovering from a broken back so I was hesitant to get into hiking, but I always craved adventure. My oldest child was around 18 months when I took him on a road trip which turned into our first overnight tramping trip alone. It was scary but exciting and it opened up all the possibilities for what we could achieve.
What is the longest hike you have undertaken with your kids?
The Old Ghost Road on the West Coast, which is 85km. I walked with my second when she was a 1-year-old. I’ve also done the Saint James Walkway in Canterbury with both kids. I had an 8-month-old and a 5-year-old for 66km. Both were amazing walks. We loved them so much.
What are the most common challenges you face when hiking in the wilderness with kids?
Food is a big thing. Kids can be fussy and don’t want what you have, which is very tricky when there are no other options. You have to think ahead and have safe foods. We have instant noodles often. They are lightweight and good for emergencies.
Other challenges include walking – and what if they stop walking? This is something a lot of people are scared of. It can be hard when the child doesn’t want to walk but that’s why you choose a hike that’s achievable. For example, 5km to a woolshed creek hut. The trick is to turn it into a fun game such as “spot the next orange marker” and by singing songs. Going with friends is great too. My kids love having company but if they don’t have friends, lollies are great motivators.
Hiking with toddlers is the hardest because they’re heavy and you have to carry them a lot. Between the age of 1 and 4, I avoid hiking over 10km a day, around 5km is great.
How do you handle situations when your kids aren’t enjoying it?
Like in any situation, kids have meltdowns and that’s okay. We stop, take a breath, have some food, recharge and carry on. Sometimes we are cold, tired and hungry, but I encourage them with hot chocolate at the hut and that always gets them excited – or we stop to check the topo maps so they can see how far we’ve gone and how close we are to our goal.
You’ve explored some incredible places across New Zealand. Which tramps hold the most meaning for you?
Recently, I did Lake Angelus Hut in Nelson Lakes National Park and that was a big deal as I was very sick 10 months ago with sepsis. My body has since recovered. I have had really bad anxiety and I struggled to trust my body again. I was scared of getting sick again or getting hurt. Lake Angelus is not easy, we did it over four days. For the first time in months, I had almost no anxiety. I felt really good and I felt like myself. After months of battling sickness, anxiety attacks, feeling over-stressed and depressed, I got out into the mountains with my kids. The weather was amazing. Everything fell into place.
How do you navigate overnight stays in remote New Zealand huts with kids in tow?
I’ve done it so much now, it just feels normal. Bedtimes are tricky when we’re not in our usual house, especially with other people in the hut keeping kids awake. Most of the time, other hut users are lovely and they’ll talk to the kids and play games with them. People are amazed to see such little people in backcountry huts and their encouragement really helps boost the kids’ morale. The kids are stoked to get praise for their efforts. Dealing with meltdowns is tricky because we need to be respectful of other hut users – if you think your kid might be noisy, you can take a tent. If my kids get rowdy, I’ll take them outside for a walk or to cool down. I bedshare a lot; I have one on each side of me and I’m right there if they need me at night.
Years from now, what do you hope your kids will remember about these early adventures together?
I hope they remember the good and the hard times. Those harder times on the trail help them remember they can do it. There are rewards for it; hot cocoa in the hut or the view at the top. It instils a sense of accomplishment. I hope it gives them confidence to do anything they put their mind to. I hope they remember the laughs and funny little jokes.
I remember some of the adventures I went on as a child. It shaped who I am today. It made a big impact and gave me the tramping bug. It’s been a positive and healthy way to deal with mental health struggles. I think everyone needs a healthy outlet to decompress and escape from everyday life. I’m very fortunate to have turned it into a job as I create content now for a living, but I would find a way to get out of tramping regardless. Moving your body and breathing fresh air does absolute wonders for mental and physical health.
Follow Shoshannah’s hikes and content on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube: @Shoshannah.nz