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

Safety with Snakes and Curious Toddlers

Toddlers at the Crag.
11 Comments.

A lesson in camouflage – “Snake is hiding, Mommy!”

“I see a snake Mommy.”

This was the rather nonchalant announcement from Cragbaby the other morning while we were working in the garden.  I looked up to see a brown, slithery friend sunning himself on a rock.  He was maybe a foot long, with a diameter similar to my index finger at his thickest point.  He was motionless, and his body had obviously not warmed up enough to make a fast getaway.  Either that, or he had never encountered a curious toddler.  My guess is that the next time he sees C coming he’ll summon up enough energy to make himself out of reach…

I should probably back up at this point to give a little background about our family when it comes to snakes.  We are a reptile-loving family.  Back when we lived in Raleigh, we faithfully attended almost all of the exotic reptile shows that came to the state fairgrounds, and recorded practically every Animal Planet ever made on snakes.  In fact, one of our favorite vacations (Everglades National Park) was prompted by a documentary on Burmese Pythons that are released into the glades and causing a ruckus for native species.  Save our hermit crab purchase at the beach this past summer, the only pets Steve and I have ever owned as a married couple have been snakes – a Ball Python named Sarpa, and a Green Tree Python named Hazmat.  During my pre-Cragbaby teacher days, Sarpa would make appearances multiple times per year during each classroom’s reptile unit.  (Hazmat, on the other hand, was a little too feisty and unpredictable for the classroom…) We sold both snakes shortly after we moved to Charlotte, but suffice it to say, our household is pretty comfortable around snakes…rodents, on the other hand, have always given me the heebie jeebies.  (No doubt the result of some negative experiences with a hamster as a child.) 

So when C made his serpentine proclamation that morning in the garden, I was excited about the opportunity for a teachable moment with him about reptile safety.  It was a charming conversation, one that I wished I had been able to get on video.  As I held the snake up for him to get a closer look, he proceeded to give me a slew of scientific observations.

“Snake has a tail, Mommy.”
“Snake sticking his tongue out, Mommy.”  
“Snakes are wiggly, Mommy.”  

We then had a long conversation about different types of snakes.  I explained to C that some snakes are dangerous, and how it is very important that he never, ever touch any snake unless Mommy or Daddy says it is okay.   

I hope it’s obvious that I never in a million years would have attempted to touch any animal, snake or otherwise, if I wasn’t 110% sure it was not venomous..  (let alone allow my son to touch it!)  The snake in question was a brown snake, and I held it from a distance for a long time before determining it was laidback enough for C.  The brown snake is a very common inhabitant of flowerbeds and gardens.  Slugs and snails make up a large part of their diet, so they are actually pretty helpful to have around.  

After about 15 minutes or so I figured the poor little snake had probably had enough of our impromptu science lesson, so we watched him slither away to a hideaway under a pile of firewood.  But the lessons learned have thankfully not been a short-lived.  When Daddy came home that afternoon, C was filled to the brim with excitement to share his latest herpetology factoids…

“Some snakes dangerous, Daddy.”
“Don’t touch dangerous snakes, Daddy.” 

I know that snakes aren’t that popular with a lot of folks, but I think a lot of times they get an undeserved bad rap.  Far from evil, these guys do a heck of a lot more help than harm for the ecosystem.  As an outdoor kid, this will probably be the first of many close encounters Cragbaby will have with the serpentine kind, and I want him to learn how to appreciate as well as respect these fascinating creatures.  And I think education is probably the biggest key to ensure that everyone lives happily ever after – from the friendly little garden snake that can be enjoyed up close to the rightfully-imposing copperhead that should be given a wide berth.  

What’s your family’s stance on reptiles in the wild?  Is it sometimes okay to touch?  Always look, never touch?  Or run in the other direction?  This can sometimes be a controversial topic, so I’d love to know other’s opinions!  

 

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5 Ways Pumpkin Season Can Last Past Halloween

Miscellaneous.
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Halloween might be over, but these guys aren’t done just yet!

Just because there are no more skeletons donning your front door, or giant faux cobwebs draped across your bushes, doesn’t mean all the pumpkin fun has to end just yet.  There are all sorts of ways you can prolong your enjoyment of the bright, orange friend that has been faithfully guarding your doorstep for the past few weeks.  Here’s just a few…

1.  ROASTED PUMPKIN SEEDS – This is by far the yummiest way to enjoy your jack-o-lantern once the trick or treat festivities are over.  But if you’re household is anything like mine, the seeds will get scarfed up pretty quick, so enjoy them while you can!  This year C was anxious to help in the kitchen, and we decided to make two different kinds.  One is a healthy version using nothing but olive oil, a little sugar, and some pumpkin pie spice…and the other is an indulgent, sticky icky variation involving lots more sugar and a fair amount of honey as well.  Both turned out very tasty, and we even managed to save enough to give as treats for C’s preschool teachers.  

2.  MUSIC MAKERS – Pumpkin seeds are fantastic to use in homemade shakers, maracas, and tamborines…at least I would assume so anyway.  As a disclaimer we have actually never tried this because we like to eat the seeds too much.  But this would work out great if you’re one of those weirdos that doesn’t like pumpkin seeds.  Or you could always make a pumpkin with an easy on/off lid – that way you could grab a handful to munch on mid-jam session.

Keepin’ it healthy on the left, sticky icky goodness on the right.

3.  SNACK – O- LANTERN – This idea is so cute, and I wish I could take credit for it, but I first saw it done on Debi Huang’s Go Explore Nature blog.  It definitely was the easiest nature craft ever.  We simply moved our family of pumpkins from the front stoop to the backyard beneath the bird feeders.  We had actually saved the gook and guts from when we carved our pumpkins, and once we moved them to the backyard, redeposited them back inside.  We also added some bird seed for an added incentive.  The snack-o-lantern was a hit with birds, squirrels, and probably several other furry friends once it got dark.  I’m also pretty sure that our neighborhood deer would have loved to have a slice of that sweet pumpkin pie…which is why we decided to locate our snack-o-lantern safely behind the fence (I’m still mad at the deer for chewing up my hostas this past summer.)

4.  CIRCLE OF LIFE – If you leave your snack-o-lantern in the garden, eventually it will return to the earth.  And if there were a few stray seeds left in and amongst that slimy orange goo, odds are good you’ll have your own mini-patch o’ pumpkins next Halloween!  But a word of warning, you never know what you’re gonna get – my mom and I planted some of our leftover seeds one year when I was little, and we were both shocked and amazed that it was ZUCCHINIS of all things that popped up the next year!  (As it turns out pumpkins and zucchini often cross-pollinate, which is the most likely explanation for our gourd-y mishap…)

5.  COMPOST – A step up from number 4…if you are into composting, your pumpkin is probably already smashed and part of the heap by now.  If you’re not, now is a great time to start!  It doesn’t need to be complicated – all you need is an inconspicuous corner of yard, and some organic materials to throw inside.  Intrigued?  Here’s a link to get you started…

How does everyone else say “goodbye” to their Halloween pumpkins?   

 

 

 

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Twelve 5.12’s in 2012 – and Fashion Makes it a Dozen!

Climbing.
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Post-sending smiles after ticking #12 on Saturday

Some of you may be familiar with my quest for “Twelve 5.12’s in 2012” this year.  For those of you that aren’t, here’s the skinny…At the tail end of last year I managed to eek my way through my very first 5.12a (TKO at Crowder’s Mountain) for the “send.”  (Non-climber translation: leading a route from the ground-up with no hangs or falls on the rope)  With one under my belt, the next logical step was to establish myself a little more firmly within the 5.12 grade.  I figured averaging one per month would be a reasonable expectation.  Plus, twelve 5.12’s in 2012 kinda had a nice ring to it!  I knew that some routes that catered to my strengths might go in just a few attempts, whereas others that exploited my weaknesses might shut me down despite an untold number of tries.  What I didn’t know was that I was going to end up out of commission for all of February and March due to a broken ankle.  There was more than a time or two where I thought perhaps my goal was too lofty and I’d bitten off more than I could chew.  But despite all the unforeseen hiccups here and there, I was able to wrap up my goal this past weekend on my local turf at Crowders Mountain!

Here’s a list of the dirty dozen, in chronological order…

Celebrating Mother’s Day on Pockets of Resistance

1.  Welcome to Crowders 5.12a – (January, Crowders Mountain, NC).  Ironically this route is right beside my 1st. 12, and went in the same number of tries (4), but it couldn’t be any more different.  This one probably doesn’t have a single 5.12 move on it, but every single move feels like upper 5.11.

2.  Low Brow 5.12a – (April, Meadow River, WV).  Top-roped this one on my first day back out of my ankle boot, and came back the next weekend and sent it on lead.  This one might be one of the most unique lines on my list.

3.  Slabster’s Lament 5.12a – (April, Hidden Wall, NC).  This one gets the prize for most memorable, hands down, as I had been one move away from a send on it 10 weeks prior when a funky fall caused my ankle to go snap, crackle, pop.  It felt good to come back and get this one packaged up and sent.

4.  Pockets of Resistance 5.12a – (May, New River Gorge, WV).  This one was “supposed to be” my first 5.12 last year, but it kept spitting me off at the last move, so redemption on this route was the perfect Mother’s Day present!

5.  Blind Prophet 5.12b – (May, Pilot Mountain, NC).  This one took a ridiculous 9 attempts to send (and it wasn’t until the 4th that I actually made it all the way to the anchors…)  Apparently .12b is harder than .12a.  Go figure…

6.  Last Glitch Effort 5.12a – (June, Boone, NC).  This route was tailor made for my climbing style, and I was shocked that it went down as quickly as it did.

7.  Freaky Stylee 5.12a – (June, New River Gorge, WV).  This one really pushed my physical and mental limits, and has since become the gold standard by which I measure my lead head against.  It was truly awesome…but I probably won’t ever get on it again.

Entering the business on Blind Prophet

8.  Wu-tang’s Secret Shinto Ride 5.12a – (July, Ten Sleep Canyon, WY).  First .12 onsight!  (Non-climbers: sending a route first try without ever seeing anyone else on it).  V4 business off the deck, then gradually easing terrain to the top.

9.  Homerectus Direct 5.12a – (August, New River Gorge, WV).  It’s near impossible to send hard during Southeastern summer humidity, but this one move wonder crux went down during a freak autumn-like day in the middle of August.

10.  Bullet the New Sky 5.12b – (September, New River Gorge, WV).  This one is my favorite of the ones on the list.  If there weren’t so many other great climbs at the New, it’d be worth getting on every time I went up there.  Spectacular arete climbing – this one took 4 tries over the course of back to back weekends.

11.  Hardcore Jollies 5.12a – (October, Red River Gorge, KY).  Kind of un-Red-like, but fun nonetheless.  Another one with the crux right off the deck.

12.  Fashion Super Direct 5.12b/c – (November, Crowders Mountain, NC).  And that’s 12!  It was neat that #12 went down at my home crag, and it’s only fitting that the last one would be the hardest one!  This line is definitely a test of brains and brawn (and if I were a guy…balls.)  A desperate crux down low on crimpers that bite back to a nice rest, then a loooong, intricate upper crux sequence.  The upper crux started with a delicate traverse and heinous razor blade crimps and culminated in a very committing move with big whipping potential.  My warm-up actually shared anchors with this route, and the pucker factor made it too tempting to resist working the moves out on toprope first.  The upper crux was feeling good after 2 toprope burns, but I still felt desperately lost on the lower section.  So on my first lead attempt I was expecting to thrash around on the bottom for a while, but amazingly enough I made it through that section clean.  I danced around for a little while trying to get my hands right on the traverse, but once through I felt strong and powered straight through to the next clip.  The rest of the climbing is only 5.10, but it’s pretty darn run-out, and I was feeling pretty darn adrenalized so I had to consciously make myself slow down and not do anything dumb.

Woo-hoo!  Twelve .12s are done!  It’s not only been a fun ride, but also quite the learning experience.  The good thing about having a long term goal was that it kept me focused and motivated throughout the whole year.  The bad thing was that a couple of times I put too much pressure on myself to perform, and when that happened I would forget to have fun (which is a shame, since climbing should be fun regardless of whether I send or flail).  So what’s next?  Vegas, baby!  More to come on that next week, but I will say that it involves me getting high (off the ground) with my hubby in the Mojave desert!

 

 

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Two Thumbs Up for Wizbang! (and a GIVEAWAY!)

Gear Reviews.
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Recently I had the opportunity to review a headband from Wizbang.  Besides having a catchy name, Wizbang is a company that fashions hats and headbands for women and children, based out of Bozeman, Montana.  Those of you that know me are probably aware of my love affair with hair paraphernalia of all types.  If a headband, hat, or all of the above is not physically on my head, you can rest assured it’s probably within an arm’s length away, especially if I’m doing something active.  Needless to say, when Wizbang Head Honcho Kim Scurry asked if I’d be willing to take their new micro-fleece earband for a test spin, I was of course thrilled!  

First Impressions:  I thought the “Garden Haven” print was really pretty – a bright, funky pattern in what just so happens to be my favorite colors, green and purple.  The borders and opposite side are both made out of a super soft white micro-fleece, which feels comfy cozy on my ears.  Speaking of ears, this headband is called an “earband” b/c it’s designed to be pulled over the tops of your ears in chilly weather, the same way you would wear a hat.  At first I was a little confused about whether I was supposed to wear the earband over the top of my hair (like a hat), or underneath (like a headband).  I must not be the only one because Wizband cleverly has an FAQ page that addresses that very issue (along with other good-to-know facts such as sizing and wash/care information).  Another thing I noticed was the width of the band – it was perfect!  Thick enough that it stayed in placed to do it’s job, but thin enough that it didn’t feel bulky.  It would definitely work really well underneath a climbing or biking helmet.

The perfect ear-warmer on a chilly morning hike!

The Test:  I threw my new earband into my bag a couple of weekends ago when our family headed north to Triangle Rock Club in Durham, NC for a rather atypical weekend.  I was scheduled to do a “Family Craggin'” program and a Tenaya shoe demo at Triangle Rock Club (more on both of those events here), so we took the opportunity to head up a day early so that we could catch up with friends as well as get in a plastic-pulling session at our old stomping grounds.  Right now we’re in that weird in-between season where it’s impossible to know how to dress because I need a jacket in the morning, but wish I was in shorts by the afternoon – so it was the perfect chance to see how the earband would perform during varying conditions!   

The Verdict:  Although I brought along a few other pieces of hair paraphernalia for back-up, I ended up wearing my Wizbang all weekend long!  Most impressive about the Wizbang was it’s versatility.  It was the perfect accessory as I flitted back and forth between all of my scheduled “events” during the weekend.  Functionally, it kept my hair out of my face in the climbing gym, and kept my ears warm on a chilly morning run.  And fashionably, it was a cute accessory that (hopefully) hid the fact that I didn’t wash my hair after said run.  My Wizbang went with me from coffeeshop to shopping mall, and from live music on the lawn back to the climbing gym again – all in one day!  And if that’s not multi-purpose, I don’t know what is!  Initially I thought the micro-fleece might cause some flyaway static hair, but by the end of the day, there wasn’t so much as one stray hair out of place!  Another cool feature of the earband is that it is reversible – on a cold, snowy day, I can flip it around for some winter-white warmth to frame my face.  I’m pretty sure it’ll look equally cute at the crag as well as while sipping some post-climbing hot chocolate!  

The opposite of an action shot, but it was too sweet not to include 🙂

In the interest of full disclosure, I did receive my Wizbang earband for free, but everything expressed in this review is my unbiased opinion – to be honest I’ve had it on for probably 90% of the time since I first received it…Whether you are looking for a functional piece of headwear at the crag, or a fashionable accent to wear around town, I would wholeheartedly recommend this product to a friend.  (And I’ll probably be putting some Wizbang hair paraphernalia on my Christmas list – for both me AND Cragbaby!) 

But the best part (for you all anyway!) is that the friendly folks at Wizbang have generously agreed to provided one lucky reader with their very own Wizbang micro-fleece earband!  There are a couple of ways you can enter (and and entering more than once IS allowed!).  First of all, you can comment on this post – do you consider yourself a “headwear aficionado?”  What are your favorite brands/styles?  Secondly, you can gain another entry by signing up to receive updates and online specials from Wizbang.  (Click here to do so).  If you sign up for the Wizbang email, be sure to come back and let me know in the comment field so that I can give you another entry!  Best of luck everyone – contest will run through Sunday night!  (Oh, and congrats to Jordan D. for winning the Clif Kid Halloween Prize Pack last week!)

 

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Cragbaby’s Photo Shoot: Anatomy of a Good Jump

Sentimental Snapshots.
3 Comments.

As many of you know, I posted up some of the leftover photos from some of the recent Trango shoots last week…but what you probably didn’t know is that during one of those Trango shoots, Cragbaby was involved in a photo session of his own!  My favorite climbing photographer (who also happens to be one of my favorite people period!) knows firsthand just how much my little guy enjoys hamming it up for the camera.  So when she started snapping photos of C jumping off a boulder, his efforts went from casual to full throttle in about 1.4 seconds!  

Everyone, especially Cragbaby, was delighted with how the session went.  From what I could tell, he and Manuela had their partnership down to a science.  And the results were not only breathtakingly clear, but really captured the playful essence of my sweet little guy at the crag.  What can I say?  The camera loves him…and so do I!  🙂

 

That being said, a photo essay seemed an appropriate way to document the event.  In looking at the series of pictures, it appeared there were a few very distinct stages for the makings of a good jump.  Here’s the step by step (from my eyes of an untrained observer, of course!).

1.  PREP:   Frantic knee bends (while giggling hysterically) is a great warm-up while your photographer is getting ready.  
2.   JUMP:  Full tilt, balls to the wall, no holds barred….just JUMP for all your worth!
3.  INSPECTION:  Everyone knows that a photographer doesn’t always get their shot on the first attempt.  Make sure they are doing their job by inspecting EVERY shot after EVERY jump!
4.  APPRECIATION:  Photographers work hard – be sure to give them a hug and a smile when you are done.  🙂 

 

Since Cragbaby’s jumping photo shoot, C has since tried to get ME to take more jumping sequence pictures.  But unfortunately, my camera is no where near professional quality, so the pictures end up blurry, and C and I both end up frustrated.  Oh well – my guess is that his heartbreaker smile is sure to earn him another photo shoot with Manuela sometime in the near future!

 

 What playful moments has your family captured on camera?

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