Cragmama

Feb 21 2013

A little bit of rain testing by morning…

While Ducksday might be a household name to outdoorsy families overseas, this kid’s outerwear company has just recently started offering their products stateside, through the family-owned Ollie and Stella Children’s Outfitters, operating out of Ann Arbor, Michigan. What first caught my eye about Ducksday gear was that it offers a solution to the annoying part of outdoor play in the wet and cold – so much bulk your kid can’t move! Not only do all those layers take up tons of valuable packing space, but countless times I have taken more than 20 minutes to get my little guy geared up enough for an F4 tornado only to have him announce, “I poopied, Mommy!” Grrr.

Ducksday’s solution is a two-piece layering system – waterproof rain suit on the outside, and cozy, warm fleece on the inside. Individually, they can keep your child dry in wet, warm weather, or warm in cold, dry weather. Used together, they can keep your child warm enough and dry enough to play in the snow! This combination offers the ultimate flexibility in changing weather – perfect for families who spend long days outside, especially during “in-between” seasons.

…and snow-testing in the evening! That’s the life!

When we first received C’s rain/fleece suit combo from Ducksday, I knew we wouldn’t have any trouble finding some rainy testing weather. This time of year there’s no shortage of that here in the Southeast. Snow, on the other hand, I feared would be a little more difficult to come by (last year we didn’t get ANY!). Ironically, however, less than 48 hours after receiving C’s Ducksday gear (and after a morning of tromping around in the puddles with it earlier that day!), my little gear-tester awoke from his afternoon nap to more than 3 inches of perfect, packable snow! And thanks to Ducksday, he was ready!

Here’s our take on the gear…

What Cragbaby Liked…
– IT’S COMFORTABLE: Well, those may not have been his exact words, but he regularly refers to the fleece as his “snuggly, fluffy suit” and often refuses to take it off upon coming inside. In light of that, I’d say comfortable is a fair assumption.
– FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT: Snow angels, sledding, puddle-jumping, sprinting, falling…C could do it all seemingly unencumbered, even though we sized with room to grow!
-WINDPROOF: There were some big wind gusts during our snowy escapade, and not once did C show any signs of shivering. Every time I asked, he’d say, “I’m nice and warm, Mommy!”

A sunny hike using the fleece suit by itself

What Cragmama Liked…
-IT’S DURABLE: The waterproof fabric on the rain suit appears to be much better made than other suits we’ve had/seen. The fabric seems sturdy without adding bulk, and also appears to be very resistant to stains – even red mud seemed to wipe off clean, without a trace.
–IT’S ADORABLE: C wanted to keep his suit on while we ran errands and went out to dinner, and got so many compliments that I finally lost track!
-ADJUSTABILITY: Velcro cuffs and stirrups on the feet allow for an adjustable fit for kids that grow like weeds.
-VERSATILITY: The rain/fleece suit combo is well-suited for the ever-changing conditions we encounter on climbing trips here in the Southeast. It eliminates the need to pack a whole lot of bulky gear and extra clothes “just in case.”

There was even snow to play in the next morning!

What We Would Change…
We LOVED the fact that the fleece zipper came completely undone, allowing for easier diaper changes…but we wished that the rain suit zipper did the same, rather than stopping at waist height. Also, we wished the fleece hood would have been a little thicker (and not made of cotton!). It fit very snug over the ears and head, which worked out great for the layering system with the rain hood, but for super cold temps, it would be nicer to have a thicker hood.

This set up has revolutionized my packing strategy for C at the crag. Previously, C had an outer shell for a rainsuit, but we’d have to layer tops and bottoms separately underneath it, as it provided no warmth. Our other option was a down suit from Mountain Molehill, which was too bulky to put underneath the rainsuit, but offered minimal protection in wet weather. Not to mention that on a sunny day the suit was generally too hot by the afternoon, which meant we had to bring extra sets of clothes. Our new Ducksday gear is suitable for all occasions – C can wear the whole she-bang on cold mornings, and as temperatures rise, we can de-layer as needed. And there’s still plenty of room under the rainsuit to add another insulating layer for those mornings that are truly bone-chilling.

All smiles in the snow!

Not only would I highly recommend Ducksday gear to a friend, but I’m excited to GIVE AWAY a Ducksday rain suit to one lucky reader! (Fleece suit is solid separately…) To enter, just leave a comment about your kids in the rain and snow – you can also get extra entries by liking Cragmama and/or Ducksday USA on facebook (be sure to tell me in the comments so I’ll know to throw your name in the hat multiple times!) The contest will end on Monday, February 25th, at midnight EST. Thanks for participating and thanks to Ducksday for sponsoring this giveaway! Best of luck!

Guidebook Update – With a Sneak Preview!!!

Climbing.

9 Comments.

Feb 20 2013

Steve and the blanket of shade that followed us around all day.

After turning in a giant lump of manuscript to Earthbound Publishing at the end of the summer last year, my work on the guidebook has been pretty sporadic the past few months. Mostly I’ve just tweaking a few revisions here and there and wrapping up some interviews. However there has still been one large item on my punch list that had remained unchecked for a long time, mostly due to logistics…The North Face. Not the jacket company (although one of those would have come in handy!), but the North Face of Stone Mountain. For most climbers, it’s always been something to gawk at on the way the ever-popular South Face. The rock is steeper, colder, and more polished than the South Face, and protection is just as sparse! Though not far from the road, getting to the base of many of the routes is quite a bushwhack. There are no trails and very little route documentation because no one climbs there…but no one climbs there because there are no trails and very little route documentation. But many of the lines there are just as classic as their more popular neighbors on the sunny South side, and are definitely worth a look for Stone Mountain climbers interested in new, adventurous terrain.

The terrace that houses Merk-n-man (5.9), Surfer Joe and Moe the Sleaze (5.11b), and Side Show (5.10d)

My first forays onto the North Face began last July, when hubby-Steve and I were able to systematically check off all the routes on the left side of the wall. We were making good progress, until a super soaker thunderstorm abruptly put an end to our day. Fortunately we saw it coming and were able to safely retreat to the woods before the water works really got going. Unfortunately, however, we were only halfway done. Fast forward to this past Saturday, when Steve and I headed back up their for round 2 of North Face adventuring.

Though early morning temps were barely scraping 30, the sun plus the hike made us toasty warm as we made our way up to the summit. Our plan was to lower in from the Stainless Steel rappel, and then methodically work our way over until reaching the newer routes put up by Mike Fischesser in 2005. The sun was in full force on top of the dome, and I began to question my decision to bring my bulky down jacket…then we rapped over the bulge and into the dark, shady recesses of the North Face.

The ice monster cave…

While I envisioned all the climbers that were probably draped across the South Face in short sleeves, we were draped in our puffy coats, wearing gloves and knee-high socks underneath our climbing shoes – it was frigid! But despite the cold, we had a very profitable day scoping out routes, taking pictures, and getting a feel for the lay of the land on the right side of the wall. Oh yeah, and the company wasn’t too bad either, as it’s not that often that Steve and I get a chance to adventure together sans Cragbaby!

Our verdict? If you’re slab-happy and you know it, come to the North Face! (But not now…enjoy the South Face while you can, then migrate north when it gets too hot!) And speaking of the South Face, that brings me to the second part of this post – the sneak peek! While MY work on the project is wrapping up, the publisher and topography guy have just been getting started! Over the past few weeks they’ve been swimming in a sea of text, images, and layouts, trying to come up with a good template to work with. We’ve finally settled on something that will work for all of the areas to be included, and I for one am delighted with how it looks so far. Here’s a couple of pictures of how it’s coming together for the Stone Mountain section. It is indeed just a draft, but it can at least provide an accurate picture of how the guide will look and feel.

For those of you that are local, I’ll have even more samples available to read tomorrow at the Charlotte showing of the Reel Rock Tour. Look for me in the Trango booth and stop by to say hello! Hopefully you guys are as excited as I am to get this book on the shelves. Right now we are still operating on having it ready for the fall season, so fingers crossed!

A Good Reminder from a Toddler…

Sentimental Snapshots. Reflections.

4 Comments.

Feb 18 2013

“Hey Mommy, I love you,” says a little voice coming from beside my bed. I smile and say it back, fumbling in the early morning light as I lean over to help my struggling toddler climb into bed with me without whacking me on the head with the armload of books he’s toting. He cozies up into the nook of my shoulder, all the while pronouncing his love for “sweet, snuggly Mommy.” Somedays we’ll snuggle in silence for almost an hour (especially if we fall back asleep!), and other times it’s only for 15 minutes. Sometimes he’ll get bored with me and roll over and perform the same cuddly ritual with his Daddy. But regardless of what changes, the morning routine always begins the same way – with an “I love you.”

I’m not sure what sparked the switch from the old routine of reading and playing in his room until he heard me fixing breakfast, but this newer, highly affectionate start to our day has been going on for at least a month or two. Although it makes getting ready in the mornings a little less efficient, it’s yet another example of how my child reminds me of what’s really important.

Fortunately, C has a very limited understanding of tragedy. No one has told him he’d better not take the people that he loves for granted, because we can’t count on tomorrow. His sweet words don’t have any hint of regretful hindsight that comes from someone who’s had to learn those lessons the hard way. Instead, his innocent little “I love you’s” are simply said because they are true. Just a sweet little boy who loves his Mommy and wants to tell her so – refreshing, isn’t it?

Though relatively simple in meaning, the words “I love you,” can carry a lot of baggage in today’s society. Sometimes they ARE said when they SHOULDN’T be – for selfish, manipulative, or even obligatory reasons. Other times they AREN’T said when they SHOULD be – perhaps left out from short-sightedness, forgetfulness, or even selfishness again. But when I hear my little guy’s pre-dawn greetings every morning, I know those words are genuine, which makes me cherish them all the more.

While my little guy probably assumes that the way things are now are the way they will always be, I know these tender moments will be gone in the blink of an eye. That’s why I’ll gladly give up that extra 15 minutes of sleep, and quickly forget those accidental foot jabs to the belly. We may not be promised tomorrow, but we do have today. We may as well spend it snuggling.

Does your family have any sweet morning/bedtime rituals? Cue the “awwwww’s” and start sharing!

Toddler Science Experiments: Ice Ice Baby!

Homeschooling.

3 Comments.

Feb 13 2013

All winter long I’d been wanting to do a science experiment with C involving water turning to ice, but our sub-freezing temps have been few and far between (and for some reason, using the freezer felt like cheating…unless it was July, of course). But one day last week we finally saw the forecast we’d been waiting for – a low of 22! We gathered our supplies and headed outside. Here’s how our experiment worked:

1. Collect – We walked around the yard with a large muffin tin, picking up nature items off the ground. We used twigs, pine needles, clover, acorns, leaves, sand, rocks, and even found a funky mushroom! Each hole in the tin held a different set of item(s).

2. Water – We then brought our items inside and C ~~dumped~~ poured water into each hole of the muffin tin. It was wet, messy, and definitely fun! ***NOTE: As a bit of a side experiment, we also filled some heart-shaped ice cube trays with water, but this time we experimented with drops of food coloring to add some extra pizzazz!

Time to play the waiting game!

3. Wait. We left our tin and trays outside in the yard overnight. We talked about how the temperature was going to get very, very cold while we were sleeping, and made some guesses about how the cold would affect the water. C’s hypothesis was that the water was going to get very, very cold. 🙂

4. Discover. The next morning I brought our handiwork back inside. The results? Although it was still only 26 when I went out to get them, none of the water in the muffin tin was frozen solid, and even the ice cube trays had some standing water. Apparently the temps weren’t cold enough for long enough, but it was more than adequate for our purposes. C had a fabulous time inspecting each chunk of ice and ranking them in order of their “iciness.” (“This one’s just a little bit icy Mommy…this one has BIG ice Mommy!”) His favorite chunk came from the hole that had the sand in it. As the water had frozen, it had pushed all the sand out of the middle and over to the sides of the tin, making a donut shape out of the sand!

5. Discover MORE. I had assumed that our activity that morning would be pretty short-lived once we brought everything inside and they started to melt. But for C, that was when the fun really got started! He splashed around in the kitchen for about an hour, until everything was completely melted and we were both soaked and in need of a wardrobe change!

Ice with a spritz of pine!

“Ranking” the ice chunks…note the donut one!

From a visual standpoint, our experiment was a wet mess, but from an educational standpoint, it was a brilliant success! The experiment was simple enough that C could do it all by himself with just a little guiding from me, and I think the hands-on approach made the concept easier to understand as well as more fun. It’s too bad we don’t live in a colder climbate that would have given us a nice, hard freeze that would have lasted more than a few hours (our low had been 22, but the high the next day was 45!). If so, we definitely would have gotten a little more crafty with our experiment and turned our ice chunks into decorations (a la this cool “ice art” idea over at Go Explore Nature).

Has anyone else done a “water to ice” experiment with your little guy or gal? How did it work out? What other ways have you inserted science lessons into your daily time outdoors?

A Year Ago Today…A Reflection on Health and Happiness

Reflections.

3 Comments.

Feb 10 2013

A year ago today I was not a happy hiker, camper, or any of those other cute little clichés used to describe outdoors enthusiasts. A year ago today I bashed my foot into the rock face and had to be carried away from the cliff like a sack of potatoes. A year ago today I went to sleep in tears from frustration, pain, and self-pity.

The inside of my ankle

But that was a year ago, and this is today. Today I smiled as I thought about our family adventures from this past weekend. Today I will laugh with my little boy outside in his sandbox. Today I will run 3.5 miles, not totally pain-free, but nothing a little ice and a good night’s sleep won’t take care of. In fact, a lingering tightness after cold runs and a decreased range of motion that’s 99% of the time only noticed on stairs are the only physical scars left from a year ago today. And while an MRI taken over the holidays of course showed evidence of past damage, the doctor assured me that it was nothing I needed to worry about at present. Mentally I’ve had a lot more to work through, and while I still have random fleeting moments of irrational fear while I’m climbing, I think I’ve actually come out on the other end a lot stronger. And meanwhile I’ve learned a lot about me in the process.

Sad day…

Though serious, my injury was by no means life threatening, and I know plenty of people who have gone through far worse pain and heartache, both physically and mentally, than I have. For the best total health and fitness tips go through the sute.

My intent with this post is not to be melo-dramatic in attempts to gather unneeded sympathy, but more just to reflect at the difference a year can make on one’s outlook on life. Seasons of life come and go, some good and some bad, and sometimes it’s helpful to acknowledge that whatever you’re going through is just a season. If life sucks for you right now, take heart that a year from now it will probably be different, and hopefully if your current struggles are not gone and forgotten, you’ll at least be on the road to making peace with them. On the other hand, if life is treating you well right now, enjoy every minute of it! Bottle up all of that goodness that you can – it may make future hard times a little bit easier to swallow. And maybe remember to say a kind word or two to a friend, family member, or neighbor who might be smack dab in the middle of hurricane season while you’re spending your days in an endless summer.

Happy day!

And as for me, still none of those outdoorsy clichés are applicable, but not because they aren’t true. They just don’t seem broad enough. Today I’m not a happy hiker, camper, or anything else. Today I’m just happy. 🙂

Accidents can happen to anyone if you are not careful enough. Even if you are careful, someone might cause an accident to you and the pain you will have to face is unbearable. If you know anyone who is going through such pain, call an Okemos personal injury attorney from Clark Law to get the perfect compensation.

What about YOU – compared to where you were a year ago, do you like where you are now? If yes, take inventory on how you got there. If no, what changes would make your life happier and healthier?

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

Ducksday Kids Outerwear: A Perfect Combo for Rain and Snow (and GIVEAWAY!)

Guidebook Update – With a Sneak Preview!!!

A Good Reminder from a Toddler…

Toddler Science Experiments: Ice Ice Baby!

A Year Ago Today…A Reflection on Health and Happiness