RRC Archives

hey Bazo, forget what I said about Cavers. I had a senior moment and was thinking of Foxfire, which has a traverse that might scare them into never climbing again. Cavers is FUN, but I'm not sure how you'd bring up 2 munchkins and your gear without another adult, and too many people gets tricky. On the plus side, there's not much gear to clean!

Also, what 512OW said is so true--routes for kids are everywhere. Sometimes you just gotta bump them up through the hard stuff, but anything you can put up is worth letting them get on.

Check out the climbs I've lead. Most two year-olds should be able to TR those!

I second everything Pru said.

Think about if there are small blank sections on a route that wouldn't be an issue for an adult but might be for a 4ft munchkin. I usually just haul my 6yr old over blank spots but it's something worth considering.

She loves the Practice Wall at Muir. She has a lot of fun on CH4 and A-Beano over at Buise Bros. Check out Escalada at the Great Wall -- I hear JJ bolted it for his daughter to play on -- mine sure has fun on it.

One last bit of advice -- don't plan on doing any climbing for yourself. Keep it specific to what interests the kiddos. I usually get lots of 5.4-5.7 laps when climbing with Maddie...

nodecaf wrote:One last bit of advice -- don't plan on doing any climbing for yourself. Keep it specific to what interests the kiddos. I usually get lots of 5.4-5.7 laps when climbing with Maddie...

I strongly disagree. I always try stuff above my limit when my daughter is around. She loves to yell encouragement... and I love her encouragement the most.

"C'mon daddy!" has gotten me through several cruxes...


Frankly, it takes about 10 minutes to try a route.... then put up a rope on something they can do too. I've had no problem finding areas that have an easy to mid 12 for me, hard 11 for my partner, and easy routes for my daughter. There are dozens....

512OW wrote:

nodecaf wrote:One last bit of advice -- don't plan on doing any climbing for yourself. Keep it specific to what interests the kiddos. I usually get lots of 5.4-5.7 laps when climbing with Maddie...

I strongly disagree. I always try stuff above my limit when my daughter is around. She loves to yell encouragement... and I love her encouragement the most.

"C'mon daddy!" has gotten me through several cruxes...


Frankly, it takes about 10 minutes to try a route.... then put up a rope on something they can do too. I've had no problem finding areas that have an easy to mid 12 for me, hard 11 for my partner, and easy routes for my daughter. There are dozens....

I loved the first time my daughter was laughing at me and asked my freind Bcombs why I was whining.
I guess thats kinda like C'mon daddy. Just a little more honest.

My daughter talks trash... and can earn trash talking points by sending things. Shes even got her own point system in a notebook she brings with her. Haha.

If she ever caught me whining on a route, I'd rather her just slap me.

512OW wrote:


Frankly, it takes about 10 minutes to try a route.... then put up a rope on something they can do too. I've had no problem finding areas that have an easy to mid 12 for me, hard 11 for my partner, and easy routes for my daughter. I also need 13's for Andrew, becuase he is so much better than me. There are dozens....

Nice failed attempt at subtle spray, I am so disappointed in you.

512OW wrote:I strongly disagree. I always try stuff above my limit when my daughter is around.

Well mine is still at the age where Daddy is superman, can do anything, and is the strongest/best in the world. I don't want to go and shatter that misconception just yet!

Whatever you are doing, 512, it is rubbing off. Your daughter is climbing well.
She was hiking the boulder problems at the base of the 5.11 wall at Torrent the other day. I had her spot, but she was fearless.

Forget chalk, I'm putting up tick marks with powdered sugar.