Young and Unshod: Hiking Mount Washington Barefoot (And Why the Kids Won) A family ascent of New England's highest peak via Lion's Head and Boott Spur — featuring three barefoot children, two adults who should have known better, and a mountain with a reputation for killing people's dignity The mountain ahead. The shoes, dangling from backpacks. The adults, quietly questioning their parenting decisions. 9.6 mi Total Distance 6,288 ft Summit Elevation 4,790 ft Elevation Gain 8–9 hrs Typical Time 0 Kids' Blisters ∞ Adults' Regrets Let me establish something important before we begin: I am not a reckless parent. I am a creative parent, which is an entirely different thing, and I'd thank you to remember that distinction when I tell you that my three sons climbed Mount Washington — the highest peak in the northeastern United States and self-declared home of the world's ...