Skiing Solo with Three Kids

Well, let me rephrase that—going to the ski hill solo with three kids is more accurate. Right now, little Buddy is still too little to ski, I know the die hard families probably would have him skiing before he could walk but we definitely aren’t the next great ski adventure Youtube family. But if anyone has boot and ski recommendations for a 20-month-old, pass them my way because I’m pretty sure even the tiniest rental boots are still clown shoes on him.)

But yes, I’ve taken all three kids to the snow by myself—multiple times. Sometimes we meet up with friends, neighbors, or grandparents, but I’ve also done it completely solo. When the girls graduated to the chairlifts, I started waiting for weekends or days when an extra set of hands was available because, let’s be real, I am not trying to corral a toddler AND play ski instructor to two kids on the lifts at the same time. I’m not sure that’s even possible, right? Regardless, just getting from the parking lot to the kids ski area was going to be a trek, about a half mile trek to be exact. So that’s where my game-changer of a setup comes in.

The Gear That Saved Me (And My Sanity)

I scoured the internet for ideas on how to go to the snow and “ski” solo with three kids, and I found nothing. Surely, I thought, I am not the only slightly crazy parent attempting this? Turns out, I might be. But if you’re out there, fellow adventure parents, I’ll show you mine if you show be yours 😉 for those that are google searching like I was and coming up empty, let me share the secret weapon: the Thule ski attachment for the bike trailer. 

Game. Changer.

At the ski hill, I saw so many parents struggling to push wagons or strollers through the snow. Wheels don’t work well on snow (shocking, I know). There was one other person with a wagon that had ski attachments lopped onto the wheels, and the rest were huffing and puffing, looking at me like I had just discovered fire.

Here’s how I made it work:

1. The Setup – I’d put one kid in the stroller with their skis in the stroller along with mine,  a kiddo on my back in a carrier, and tow the third with a ski harness. Easy enough, right? When Bear got more confident, I towed her too and put Buddy in stroller. Boom. Everyone transported, no tears (at least not from me), and minimal frustration.
2. The Big Thule Hack – If you’re wondering whether the ski attachments work without the cross-country harness, the short answer is yes. The long answer is… well, not exactly. They don’t actually keep the stroller upright on their own. My solution? Leave the two front wheels on. They don’t interfere with the skis, and in packed snow, you can push the stroller with all wheels touching the ground. In deeper snow, just tip the stroller back onto the skis with the wheels up and glide over the powder like a pro.
3. What I’d Do Differently – Honestly, nothing. This setup was chef’s kiss. The Thule ski attachment made getting all three kids (and all their gear) from the parking lot to the ski area effortless. No trips back to the car, no losing gloves in the snow, no desperate prayers to the ski gods.
4. Double stroller – I didn’t try out the skis on the double stroller as the single worked just fine for what I needed at the hill. Perhaps if I was going longer distances or cross country skiing I’d utilize that as the set up. But for now, buddy can still be strapped to my back with ease so I didn’t need the extra space for him to sit and I can tow both girls. 

Other Must-Have Gear

• Ski Harnesses – We borrowed two from our neighbors, and they were absolute lifesavers for the first few trips. Helped with getting on and off the chairlift and gave the girls extra confidence when learning to turn and stop. Now they’re little shredders and don’t need them anymore, but in those early days? Essential.
• Clothing – We buy everything with the plan of passing it down from kid to kid, which means quality over quantity. The girls have been rocking the same outer layers this season and will easily use them again for the next year or possibly two. 
• Skis & Boots – Instead of doing seasonal rentals, we found used skis and boots online for cheaper than renting. Pretty sure my husband has a superpower for finding ridiculous gear deals.
• Snacks – Listen, this is not optional. We pack snacks like we’re going on a week-long expedition. Nothing ruins a ski day faster than a hangry toddler.

As we wrap up the 2024-2025 ski season, I’m already looking forward to next winter. Hopefully, Buddy will be ready for some baby-sized skis… or at least enjoy being toted around like royalty while the rest of us do the work.