Cragmama "Not all who wander are lost…" JRR Tolkien

Gear Review: OakiWear Adventure Suit

Gear Reviews.
7 Comments.

 

Cragbaby ready for some adventure!

A few weekends ago our family headed to the New River Gorge for some climbing and camping fun.  With a driving rain Friday night and a passing thunder shower Saturday afternoon, our weekend was definitely wet – but we had a blast nonetheless!  (You can read a trip report from our adventure here).  My husband Steve and I have always maintained that although truly good rain gear is expensive, it only takes one or two uses per season to make it worth its weight in gold.  Nothing can squash your weekend fun quite like spending the night in a puddle-filled tent with soggy underwear and pruned skin from head to toe.

First test run with the Adventure Suit - it sure didn't slow C down any!

 

Last year we didn’t have any rain gear for Cragbaby – he was only a few months old so when it came to outdoor adventures, he was always in someone’s arms or stretched out on a blanket.  We certainly encountered our fair share of rain, but it was easy enough to just zip him up, front carrier and all, right into my rain jacket along with me!  Now that spring rains are here again however, and our little guy is 12 months old and on the MOVE, I don’t think either of us could be confined together in a shared jacket even if we wanted to be!  We figured it was time for Cragbaby to get his own rain gear just like Mommy and Daddy, so when I saw these Adventure Suits by Oaki on sale a couple of months ago, I jumped on it!

It's also great for protecting little knees and elbows from getting scraped up during baby bouldering sessions!

We hadn’t gotten a chance to use the suit until this past weekend, to be honest I was a little skeptical considering that I only paid $14 for it, but  all I can say is WOW!  I am SO thankful that we had it on hand.  It turned what easily could have been a miserable mud-bath of a weekend into a wet and wild good time!

Here’s the specs on the suit, as taken from the Oaki website:

  • Fully taped seams
  • Separating zipper at ankle for easy on/off
  • Light weight and packable
  • Polyester with waterproof coating
  • Built to give kids plenty of space to move around easily
  • Easy to wear hood that doesn’t fall down in their eyes

Not the most icognito color choice for a game of campsite peek-a-boo, however...

We saw two main uses for the suit, both of which we utilized this weekend.
1.  Keeping Cragbaby Dry – Hopefully this was an obvious one…but we were really pleased with how it worked.  The suit was easy to get on and off over C’s clothes (even with shoes on), so he was dry and protected within seconds of the first drops of rain!  We hiked out from the cliff base on Saturday in  a torrential downpour, but when we put C in the car, he was soft, warm and dry as a bone!

There's a whole world out there waiting to be explored!

2.  Keeping Cragbaby (relatively…) Clean – Mornings around camp and at the cliff base were quite muddy and wet.  Even though it wasn’t raining, it would have taken C less than 5 minutes to morph into a mud monster had he been in just his his regular clothes.  The suit allowed C to discover and explore to his little heart’s content without us worrying about running out of clean, dry clothes before lunchtime.

I would strongly recommend this product to any parent with a little tyke that doesn’t want the weather forecast dictate what kind of fun he or she has.  And judging from the expressions on Cragbaby’s face, I think its safe to assume that he gives it two thumbs up as well.  🙂

Wet and Wild Adventures for the whole family!

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Sentimental Snapshots: Roll Your Own (Boulders)

Sentimental Snapshots.
6 Comments.

It’s been a while since I’ve done a Sentimental Snapshots post, and when I came across this picture, it made me laugh and brought back so many happy memories that I had to use it. It was taken in August of 2008 when Steve and I flew north for the summer to Squamish, British Columbia in an attempt to escape the sweltering heat and humidity of the Southeast. Squamish is a special place for us because its where we first learned to climb outdoors, on a “rest day” from a Whistler ski trip in March of 2006. We spent that first day with a guide frolicking around on 40 foot 5.6 topropes in the shadow of the gigantic monolith called the Chief.  So two years later we came back to Squamish, this time as experienced climbers ready to tackle the Chief in all of its granite glory.  You can read about those adventures here.  I took this photo towards the end of our trip – we’d spent the morning getting our climb on at Murrin Park, and were taking the afternoon off to do some hiking sans heavy packs.  About halfway up the trail, we spotted this boulder, where the photo-opp was too tempting to pass up…

Name that caption...

As you know I usually try to have some sort of thought-provoking life application type question at the end of these snapshot posts to promote discussion, but I couldn’t really come up with anything.  Then I realized that sometimes photos/memories/experiences are just there to make us smile, and they don’t have to go any deeper than that.  So instead of a question, how about a game of “Name that Caption?”  Add your best caption idea in the comments section, and we’ll all get a good laugh.  Whoever has the best caption will get props in the next Sentimental Snapshots.
“

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All Sorts of “Newness” at the New River Gorge

New River Gorge.
11 Comments.

"Oh boy, a new place to explore!!!"

I’ve been to the New a countless number of times over the past few years, and the best part about it is that it never gets old!  No matter how many times we head up there, no two trips are ever the same, and this weekend was certainly no exception.  In fact, our weekend was chock full of “newness” – a new climbing season, a new drive, a new friend, lots of new routes, new gear, and of course a new hit list to work with. 

Steve putting up Bongo (5.7) while Cragbaby and Mommy look on

Our trip started on Friday afternoon, when Cragbaby and I picked Steve up at work, since his office was on the way out of town.  We were pleased to discover that the New is a little over an hour closer to our new house than our old one in Raleigh!  Even though we drove through a torrential downpour on the way up (b/c remember it’s not a trip to the New unless it rains…), it had thankfully stopped by the time we got out to set up camp.  I was a little worried about how Cragbaby would do sleep-wise – not only was it out first time camping since the fall, but we’ve been having some rough nights recently due to some molars that are making their presence known in a rather painful, inflammatory way. 

Steve following Gimme a Clown (5.9)

  But, much to our delight, C felt right at home in the tent and slept great both nights (which meant everyone else in the campground slept great too – or if they didn’t it wasn’t our fault at least!)

Thankful for a juggy ledge to shake out, high on Masuko (5.11a)!

Our co-  conspirators were Norbert and Manuela (aka Manbert) and their friend, Donna, who doesn’t climb, but came along for the camping/hiking scene.   (You might notice that our pictures are better this time…they always are when Manuela’s around!)  We started our morning out at Whippoorwhill on the recommendation of a friend, which was a completely new area for us.  The good news was that the scenery was just as spectacular as Summersville Lake, but with a quarter of the approach time.  The bad news was that everything was sopping wet.  I have to admit I was pretty disappointed when I rounded the corner and saw all the seepage, but upon closer inspection we found plenty to keep us occupied until mid-afternoon when the skies opened up.  Here’s what we played on out at Whippoorwhill…

Masuko (5.11a)

Bongo (5.7) – A casual romp up mega-jugs made slightly more exciting by some wet sections.  Thankfully the holds were big enough that it didn’t matter.
Cowboy in the Dirt (5.8) – A slightly harder version of its next door neighbor.
Gimme a Clown (5.9) – A bouldery start led to a wet (but safely protected) crux sequence involving a crack.  Felt a little tricky for the grade, but I’m sure the water didn’t help. 
Masuko (5.11a) – A tall, proud, and relentless line – long, technical reaches to good holds.  Pumpy, sustained climbing for 70 feet made it feel pretty stout for the grade.  I felt strong through all the moves but ran out of steam and had to hang at several of the upper bolts.  It also didn’t help that a few key holds were a little damper than I would have liked up near the top.  I’d originally planned on pulling the rope and leading it again, but by the time Steve had finished up his top-rope lap, it had started to rain, so I figured the safer option would be to clean it on top-rope.  This time I was able to climb it clean, so hopefully a redpoint isn’t too far away – however it’ll have to wait til the fall, since by the time we get back to the gorge again in a few weeks, the base of the route will be underwater.  Oh well – a redpoint run on a classic route such as this is worth the wait!

Cragbaby showing off for his two lovely spotters!

You wouldn’t have thought that a dry (but muddy from rain) lake bed strewn with rocks would make for the best Cragbaby environment, but it seemed like he may have had the most fun of all!  He was smack dab in the middle of a bunch of rocks perfect for a little Cragbaby to practice his own sends!  This day was also our first time testing out his new rain gear – the “Adventure Suit” from Oaki.  This piece of gear was INVALUABLE this weekend – I would whole-heartedly recommend it to any parent with young tykes (for those interested, I’ll be posting a gear review on it as soon as I get a chance!)

Too much bouldering makes for a sleepy Cragbaby...

After a rainy family photo-shoot and a wet and wild hike out, we made it to Pies n Pints for an early dinner.  The last band of rain moved through just as we were finishing up our pizza, so we wrapped up our evening around the campfire, where Cragbaby got his first taste of s’mores before konking out in the tent.  There was a steady breeze throughout the night, so when the next morning dawned bright, we were optimistic that we’d be able to find dry rock. 

C enjoying the campfire view from a close but safe vantage point!

The hike down to the Head Wall at Bubba City was anything but dry, but thankfully, there were plenty of routes that were!  Here’s what we got on…

Mommy and Daddy scoping out routes on Day 2 at the Head Wall (C scoping out his baby-sized cordelette).

Chuckles (5.8) – The only route of the entire trip that wasn’t new to us, but we hadn’t been on it since our early climbing days when we’d both flailed on it, so it was nice to finally make it back there and earn that redemptive redpoint!
Bubbabooey (5.11c) – There was kind of a run to the 2nd bolt, so I opted for the toprope (the route shared anchors with Chuckles).  It ended up not being that big of a deal, I think another time I’d feel find leading it.  A thin, technical slab at both top and bottom, with a few core-intensive slaps up a blunt arete in the middle (crux).

Steve on Chuckles (5.8)

Hubba Bubba (5.9) – We’d hiked by this route several times, but never stopped to do it.  A really interesting line with a heady traverse along a horizontal hand crack on smeary feet down low, with spectacular exposure on the airy arete at the top! 
Skinhead Grin (5.11b) – Still a work in progress…Technical down low, with a cobbled roof and crack sequence in the middle, to….I dont know what the top was like b/c I got shut down getting established up over the roof again and again and again…and again.  I lost track of how many times I peeled off (clean falls with nothing but air!), but no one can say I didn’t go down fighting, and at least I got to practice my Texas rope trick skills to get my gear back!

Skinhead Grin (5.11b)

 Because our original plans were thwarted by the rain, I didn’t get to tackle as much of my Hit List as I’d originally intended (although Skinhead Grin is definitely a step in the right direction for Goal #6), but I left with that motivated feeling that comes from pure, exhaustive fun!  It was really cool to try so many new routes – it made me realize just how much climbing there is to be had up there, and makes me excited about all the adventures that are to come this summer!  It had been way too long since we’d climbed with Manbert, and it was great hanging out with Donna as well!  It was a great balance between the comfort and familiarity of an area you’ve been to many times coupled with the excitement and discovery of a new place!  Thanks to Manuela and Donna for taking so many great pictures – if ya wanna see more, click here to hit the gallery…

C sporting his "B is for Boot" onesie he won from Mountain Mama!

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A Perspective on Risk Assessment

Climbing. Parenting. Creating a Cragbaby. Reflections.
22 Comments.

“Do you take less risks in climbing now that you’re a mom?” 

If I had a dollar for every time someone has asked me this since Cragbaby entered on the scene…well let’s face it, I wouldn’t be rich, but I would definitely be able to buy more $4 frappucinnos at Starbucks!  The funny thing is, I never really feel like I have a good answer for this question.  I feel like the “correct” answer is, “Yes, the responsibility of raising a little person has made me less risky of a climber.”  But if I’m being honest, I don’t really think much has changed with regards to my risk assessment.  But before you start throwing stones, let me explain.

Having fun on Hit Man (5.11b) in Maple Canyon back in '08....

In a sport where certain mistakes can be fatal, no one can argue that rock climbing is a sport without risk. But with the advances in modern equipment, along with proper knowledge of that equipment’s uses and limitations, a lot of those risks can be mitigated to an acceptable level.  It’s not something I dwell on, but this concept of acceptable risk has been in the back of my mind ever since I started climbing, not just once C came along.  When my husband and I first started climbing in 2006, we had lots of discussions about risk and consequences.  We made a pact that if either of us was ever in a situation where our risk of danger felt higher than what we were comfortable with, we would bail as quickly and as safely as we could, no matter how many thousands of dollars of gear we had to leave behind, or how close we were to the summit.  That hasn’t changed since Cragbaby came along.

....and a couple hours later in the Nephi Hospital (not having as much fun)

But enough about epic scenarios – what about everyday situations?  As far as the spectrum of climbers goes, some would probably say we were more on the conservative side to begin with, so again – not much has changed.  My risk assessments pre-Cragbaby as wife, daughter, and friend are still right in line with where they are now as a climbing Mommy.   I feel like my attitude can be for the most part be boiled down to one statement, and applied in different ways depending on particular situation.

BE OKAY WITH THE CONSEQUENCES OF A FALL.
Take the following scenarios for example. 

1.  Topropes – If I or someone else that I trust has set up the anchor, I will gladly flail away on a toprope of just about any grade.

2.  Sport Routes –  If the route is bolted well and the fall zones are safe, I’ll go for it.  Yeah, I’ve taken a few nasty falls while lead climbing, including one that landed me in the ER on our first day in Maple Canyon a couple of years ago.  But it was a routine fall that I could take a million more times without incident – nothing “went wrong,” my belayer didn’t make a mistake…my knee was in the wrong place at the wrong time and bashed into a cobblestone that was jutting out from the rock. The consequences weren’t pleasant, but the experiences I had on that trip were well worth the stitches and brief weeks of physical setback. As my friend Brian wrote recently, “Sometimes we fall.”

3.  Trad – I am a self-proclaimed trad pansy. I am willing to lead a full number grade higher (often times even more) on bolted routes than I am on gear routes. In new areas, I tend stick to easier grades where I can place the gear I need in a (relatively) relaxed body position. If I’m gonna push myself, it’s going to be on a route on which I’m familiar and  comfortable with the gear placements, or a crack with obvious placements from the ground.

4.  Bouldering – It all boils down to the landing – if its well-protected with pads or spotters that I trust, I’ll go for it. If not, I don’t – simple as that.

5.  Free-soloing – No matter how comfortable I feel at the grade, or how solid the rock is, there are always factors out of my control – holds can break, swarms of bees can attack (it’s happened to me on a rope, I’m assuming it could happen without one too…).  Since I’m not okay with the fall consequences, its not for me – not pre-Cragbaby, and certainly not now! (Doesn’t mean that I don’t have several friends who choose otherwise, and more power to them – I’ll cheer them on with gusto.  But you won’t catch me doing it.)

Plenty 'o pads and plenty 'o spotters!

What a lot of non-climbers don’t think about when they ask me the “risk question” is that this concept of risk and consequences is not only applicable to climbing.  I’d be willing to bet more than a few of my aforementioned $4 frappucinos that each and every one of us makes decisions based on risk every day, whether it be consciously or subconsciously.   When you’re running late do you give in to the temptation of driving too fast, risking an accident, or do you stay the speed limit and risk being late?  How many of us think about the risks of getting on an airplane, swimming in the ocean, or not wearing sunscreen before we do it?  Most people don’t think about the risks to these everyday activities, but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist!

My most favorite people in the world (Photo: Jan Balster)

So has my attitude about risk changed since Cragbaby entered the scene?  Not really. Yes, he is one of God’s greatest gifts to me, but every member of my family is WAY more important to me than my climbing ever could be, so his arrival has merely solidified the attitude I already had on risk.  There are a lot of things about my life that I cannot control, but what I can do is evaluate my actions and choices, make sure that I can accept all possible outcomes of those choices, (both on and off the rock) – then commit to those choices wholeheartedly, and climb on!  🙂

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Green Hour Connection: On the Go Tips!

Hiking.
14 Comments.

Some days its not always easy to fit in some Green Hour fun. Juggling errands, appointments, naptimes, and mealtimes make for a hectic enough day as it is, without trying to throw in some unscheduled outdoor time, right?  Today’s Green Hour post is about how to green up even your busiest of days!  You might not have hours on end of free time at your disposal, but everyone has a few minutes here and there – and if you plan it right, that’s plenty enough to recreate and restore your spirit before tackling the next big project.  Here’s how to make your Green Hours count…

C checking out the stream on a greenway pit-stop after running errands

1.  On the Way – Figure out where the local green spots in your neighborhood are – its easy to include a 15 minute stop at the park in the morning when its already on the way to the grocery store, and choosing to take a messy snack outside in the backyard rather than in the kitchen will probably actually save you time!

Enjoying some raspberries outside on a gorgeous spring day

2.  Keep it Simple – Don’t make things too complex by trying too hard.  A child has an amazing ability to imagine, and the best way to cultivate that ability is to allow him or her to use it without restriction.  Remember that children (and adults) benefit from Green Hours the most when the time is “unstructured.”

There’s tons of fun to be had for boys (both big and little!) in wide, open spaces!

A pair of sunglasses is much more exciting than the latest toy craze!

3.  On the Cheap – While the old adage of “You get what you pay for,” may be applicable to technical outdoor equipment, when it comes to Green Hours, a better motto is “The best things in life are free.”  While an expensive kite that needs an instruction manual to put together is fun to fly on a windy spring day, its just as much fun (and WAY less complicated) to run around in the open field chasing butterflies!

Cragbaby’s “pouting b/c Mommy won’t let me eat dandelions” face…

What are some of your strategies to get some quick and dirty outdoor fun in your life when your on the go?

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“Not all who wander are lost.” —JRR TOLKIEN