RRC Archives

without the dogs think of all the shit that would be accumilitating at the popular poop spots

mcrib wrote:without the dogs think of all the shit that would be accumilitating at the popular poop spots

This is true. My dog cleans up 5 to 10 piles of crap that climbers leave at the cliff every weekend. How many people can say that about your kids?

i dont have any kids...

...but my belayer is a certified shit-eater.

Shamis wrote:Small children should wear helmet + body armor if they're gonna be at that crag.
All climbers should carry tazers to handle any unruly dogs in the area.

I guess I will weigh in as Di and I practically raised our first child at the cliff for her first 3-4 years. No so much now with our second, but that is mostly because of other life constraints.
Kids and climbing go great together. As Di has often said, when do families get to spend a whole day together of un interrupted time playing? Amelia is the person she is today in large part b/c of the influences of the adults she interacted with at the cliff. For her first 2-3 years her speech tutors were other adults who encouraged her thinking and articualtion. Folks like Lander, Morgain, Terry, Chris Martin, etc.. the list goes on. We are forever thankful to these folks and grateful for their impact on Amelia.
This echos what Lander posted earlier- We always went climbing with a third adult who would be available to help belay while there was always a parent available for baby duty.
That said, we would pick and choose our cliffs carefully. Much like conscientious dog owners (Ray and Michelle) who are careful with their dogs. Very few cliffs passed muster. They had to have a level base, few people and few dogs. We also always had a pack and play to sequester baby in. At one cliff he had stashed a pack and play much like the crag stick clip, so that it was always available. I remember well the times that I would walk into a cliff with 80 lb drilling pack on the front, Amelia on my back and heavy ass pack in play in my arms. Thank God that Chris got phone recpetion and could walk out to meet me.

So, I would recommend families climb together. If you have the disposable time it is an great outdoor way to spend time together and teach your child a respect for the natural world and nurture a love of nature. Take the necessary steps to comfortize the experience.

don't forget the harness for swinging as the child progresses to that point, I know a few moments of this can pay big dividends

Amelia was doing fifty foot king swings in her petzl kiddie harness at 2 years old off the anchors of steep routes. How many kids can say that.

Hunter and Will can both say that !

Wow, lurkist. I'm flat out in shock. I can't believe you would put your kids through that at such a young age. I mean, using Morgain as a speech tutor....are you crazy??? Surely you don't want to perpetuate those odd expressions/sayings of hers???

"Them biscuits were so good, I wanted to slap my mama." ~Spragwa