Happy Holidays from Cragmama!
Wishing everyone a holiday season filled with peace, love, and joy! See you all in January!
Guidebook Update: Pilot Progress
Although my attempts to work on route descriptions at Stone Mountain were waylaid by the storm front that moved in on Thursday night, my day spent at Pilot Mountain on Thursday was well worth the drive on a variety of levels! Originally Bill Webster (aka guidebook publisher) asked me to join in on a meeting he had lined up with the park staff to talk about access. He figured some of the information discussed would be prudent to the guide, and also said we could work together on double-checking my descriptions and taking pictures when the meeting was finished.
Surveying the cliff top with the park staff
I’ve never been much for politics, whether it be on a global or local scale, but I do know that since the dawn of our sport, climbers and park officials have not always been the best of friends. Sometimes it stems from disagreements about choosing conservation over recreation, other times its a case of a small group ruining everything for the majority. And sometimes I think nasty opinions are based on rumors and hearsay.
I’ve never really been involved in discussions over access issues with anyone “official,” so this was a definitely a learning experience for me. To all those who assume that no one in the parks system gives a crap about climbers, I can say from firsthand experience that those statements are far from the truth, at least when it comes to Pilot Mountain anyway. The three individuals that we met with were not only interested in enhancing climbing access throughout the park, but were willing to take the time to listen to us climbers voice our opinions on the best ways to go about it. After discussing everything from replacing old bolts/anchors to minimizing impact at the cliff, we left the office together and hiked the entire cliff, top and bottom, so that both sides could point out specific concerns and brainstorm about solutions.
Throughout the day it became very clear to me that though we were approaching the situation from different angles, we were all on the same team, with a common goal of making the park an enjoyable experience for everyone. It was fun talking to the rangers, and I was impressed both by their knowledge as well as their passion for the flora and fauna within the park. We climbers learned the difference between a Pitch Pine and a Table Mountain Pine, and the rangers got an earful of stories from the vertical realm of the state parks system.
 From pre-Cragbaby (sort of...) |
 ...to first day of craggin' as a family of 3... |
 ...Pilot has been a great source of family memories over the years, despite the sometimes bad rap it gets. |
I came in to the meeting initially not knowing what to expect, but left the meeting with a renewed outlook on the ability of climbers and park staff to not only get along, but to be able to work alongside one another towards a common goal. That would have been a worthwhile day in itself, but what made the day most profitable was taking a second lap around the cliff with Bill to confirm all of my route descriptions, bolt counts, and area directions. For those that follow the Carolina Rocks facebook group, be on the lookout for a few specific questions regarding some of the more obscure Pilot routes.
It feels good to be making progress even though I know I’ve got a long way to go. Although at times it almost seemed sinful to be out at the crag on such an unseasonably warm and beautiful day without putting a harness on, it worked out well that this work day coincided with my self-imposed rest period. Speaking of climbing breaks, we are counting down the days until the climbing drought is over…the only thing keeping us sane has been trip planning for the spring!
Oh yeah, and one last thing – I’ll also be taking a blogging break the week after Christmas so that I can have more time to spend with family, but I’ll be kicking off the first week of the New Year with “Highlight Week,” so stay tuned for the best of the best of 2011!
A Nativity Story
I have a very fond childhood memory of a Nativity set that belonged to my dad’s Aunt. Every year we would spend Christmas Eve at her house, and every year I would engross myself in the little white figurines on the hearth, while I waited (sometimes not so patiently) for it to be time to open presents. The Nativity characters were white and made out of porcelain, and had a magnificent blue velvet lining upon which they were placed. And although they were extremely breakable and possessed a lot of sentimental value, I don’t recall ever even coming close to dropping any of them – it probably didn’t hurt that my mom was always nearby, ready to invoke her go-go-gadget arm skills at the slightest hint of imbalance on my part.
Anyway, reenacting the Christmas Story with those Nativity figurines was one of my favorite parts of the holidays. Fast forward to April of 2007 when my family was blessed with the opportunity to go on a once in a lifetime trip to the Holy Land. I could go on and on about how amazing it was to watch thousands of years of history literally come to life as we explored ancient ruins and walked the same paths that Biblical characters journeyed on. But in addition to returning with a host of unforgettable memories and photographs, I also managed to come home with what I’d hoped would turn into a family tradition – a hand-carved Nativity set made entirely out of olive wood that I found in Bethlehem!
Every year since then I’ve put that wooden Nativity set out on display, even sometimes when it was our only Christmas decoration. And every time, I would think of that white porcelain set that I loved, and would wonder if maybe one day my little boy or little girl would love this wooden set just as much. Last year was Cragbaby’s first Christmas, but he had just turned 9 months old, and was definitely more into all of the twinkling lights and wrapping paper than anything else. This year however, is a different story. As a curious and big-hearted toddler, C is soaking up every minute of the holiday season this year – and with the one-finger rule in effect on the Christmas tree, the unbreakable Nativity set has seen quite a lot of action! Several times a day C makes his way over to it, and we spread all the characters out (wise men over here, shepherds over there…) and act out the story together. C’s favorite character is the angel, and he has a lot of fun doing fly-bys over the sheep (who knew that angels could make helicopter sounds?!?). He also really likes presenting the wise men with their gifts to Baby Jesus (aka “Jee-Jee”), and lovingly holds them up to the manger while making the same noise he does when he gives a hug (“mmmmmmmm”).
I know it sounds sappy, (its the holidays, so I’m allowed), but sitting there with my baby boy in my lap, watching him savor the real message of Christmas, sends a flood of warmth to my heart that there are no words for. And I guess that’s the embodiment of what family traditions are meant to be – intimate moments shared with the people you love the most. It’s one of the many things that makes me realize just how blessed my family is this holiday season. But I’m sure our family isn’t the only one out there with a ton of traditions and blessings to be thankful for – now its your turn. What memories does your family most look forward to making over the holidays?
Choosing an Off-season – aka The Importance of Rest
What’s the best part about being a climber in the Southeast? Climbing is a year round sport! What’s the worst part about being a climber in the Southeast? There’s no off-season…
I grew up in a family that followed multiple sports – baseball, basketball, volleyball…pretty much everything but football. (And thankfully my hubby never got into football either – which works out well since football season also brings some of the best weather weekends of the year!) I remember that my “favorite” sport would always be whatever sport was currently in season at the time. I remember anxiously awaiting the climax of that particular sport (World Series, NCAA tournament, etc), as well as the inevitable boredom that ensued in the days thereafter as I realized that there would be no more “_______” until next year. But the Atlanta Braves were long-forgotten by the time ACC basketball season was in full swing, and both winter and summer Olympics were celebrated with great fanfare in our household after a 4 year drought from patriotic athletic endeavors.
A Cragbaby at Rest Never Remains at Rest for Long…
While the mind of a child doesn’t have the foresight and wisdom to grasp the concept of an off-season time of recovery (ever seen a toddler fight a nap?), this tricky concept is one that most of us have to learn the hard way even as adults. Our family learned the rest and recovery lesson back in December of 2008, when I tore my rotator cuff and was sidelined for a while. The hubby was fighting a losing battle with a pulley injury in one of his fingers anyway, so it made sense to just chill for a while. And by chill I of course don’t mean that we sat inside on the couch – instead we filled our weekends with hiking, mountain biking…oh yeah, and that time period was also when we decided we were ready to expand our family. We came back from our climbing siesta feeling rejuvenated, refreshed, and surprisingly hadn’t lost a noticeable amount of strength, even on our first outing back.
Ever since then we’ve been fans of incorporating a “climbing fast” into our lives each year. You may have noticed that you haven’t seen a trip report in a while… That’s because from Thanksgiving until Christmas (give or take a few days), no one in our house engages in climbing-related activities (with the exception of guidebook work, climbing videos, and spring trip planning!). This time frame was chosen mainly because the holidays are so insanely hectic anyway. From a physical standpoint, taking time off allows our bodies to completely recover from any nagging injuries/overtraining that might have been lurking around waiting to flare up. Mentally, it makes for a great time of refreshment, so that we can reflect on the past year, set new goals, and come back renewed and psyched for the next season. And from an emotional and spiritual standpoint, the break allows us to fully engage in the holidays with the least amount of distractions possible.
So while I will definitely still be posting over the next few weeks, the trip reports will take a short hiatus until the new year (save maybe a guidebook day here and there). Thankfully we’re over halfway, since we’re both itching to get back on the rock again! But be sure to stay tuned, because with a new year comes a new Hit List!
Icebreaker Gear Review (and GIVEAWAY!!!)
Some of you may recall the name Icebreaker from my Holiday Gift Guide post last week, where I recommended them as our family’s favorite go-to brand when it came to baselayers. However, that hasn’t always been the case…read on to find out why I recently turned from my Polypro ways and became a Wool-Wearing-Fanatic almost overnight! (And don’t forget to enter my giveaway for a chance to score some new Icebreaker threads for the little crag-baby on your Christmas list!)
Its no secret that merino wool reigns supreme when it comes to baselayers. It has the unique ability to wick moisture away from the skin and remain snuggly soft, all while offering a breathable experience tailored to what the wearer needs – warmth in the cold, and keeping cool in the heat! If I didn’t already know that it came from one of the oldest, most toughest breeds of sheep, I may very well have assumed that Merino was the love child of cotton and polypropylene – offering the best of both worlds without any of the downsides. Well, except for one…it’s so darn expensive! Sure, our family had a couple of merino beanies here and there, and Cragbaby actually had a pair of wool long john’s he’d scored for free at some point, but by and large our technical apparel consisted of mostly quick-drying synthetics that we would layer over ourselves until we looked like the marshmallow man on Ghostbusters!
Woo-hoo for Oasis Crewe!
So when I was approached by Icebreaker a few weeks ago about whether or not Cragbaby and I would be interested in testing some of their threads for review, it was kind of a no-brainer for me. They didn’t need to sing the praises of Merino Wool for me since I already knew the product was top of the line. I went into the process knowing that odds were more than good we’d both be satisfied with the products. But I also went in thinking that C and I were pretty lucky to score our gear for free, since I figured there would be no way I’d ever be able to justify spending that kind of money for either of us, particularly for the one that’s growing like a weed! But little did I know that I would be blown away by Icebreaker products! And while I still think merino is expensive, the quality is so much better that I can now see the advantage of switching over, even if it means waiting til Christmas or birthdays, and even if it means only having one or two items (which is easier to get by with than you’d think, since merino doesn’t hold onto stinkiness the way synthetics do!)
We received three items – a Kid’s Oasis Crewe and a Flexi-Chute for Cragbaby, and the Women’s Quantum Hood for me. My first reaction was how soft everything was! In the past I’ve found that I can’t wear wool up against my skin for long periods of time without getting a horrible case of the itchies – but not so with Icebreaker merino! We both felt cozy and snuggly all day long! My second reaction was how lightweight everything was! C’s Oasis Crewe slid over his head and seemed to just hover over his body, and my hoodie consisted of only one thin, stretchy layer.
We officially put our new threads to the test on a trip to our local bouldering area just before Thanksgiving. Temps were in the low 30’s when we arrived early morning, and although it eventually warmed up a bit, the sun remained hidden in the clouds the majority of the day – meaning it was a great day to whip out the wool!
The Quantum Hoodie in action
Cragbaby may not be able to find the words to tell me exactly how he feels about his Oasis Crewe just yet, but I think its safe to say from the smiles and giggles throughout the day that he was anything but uncomfortable! It also made me feel good to touch warm, soft, dry skin every time I had to strip him down to change his diaper (although I’m not sure he would say the same about my icy fingers!) Since that day at Dixon, C has worn his Oasis Crewe numerous times, under his down suit on cold mornings at the playground, or just by itself as a long-sleeved t-shirt on bright, sunny afternoons.
The Flexi-Chute is a nifty little contraption – its basically a tube of fabric that can be used any number of ways to bring warmth to the head and neck. To me its reminiscent of the neck gaiters I used to wear growing up whenever I would play in the snow. However, the ones I had were made of bulky fleece and would get sopping wet after being over my mouth for any length of time. Cragbaby’s however, is of course made of merino, so its only a thin layer of fabric over his neck/mouth. This means that the sweat/saliva evaporates pretty much as soon as it is absorbed into the fabric, which seems to avoid that nasty, wet feeling. We also found that the Flexi-Chute also doubled well as a headband/hat apparatus, similar to the multi-functional headwear made by Buff.
But what surpassed all expectations however was my unassuming, lightweight hoodie…I took my down jacket off when I first started climbing, and by the end of the day I realized that I had been perfectly comfortable all day long in just the hoodie, rather than scurrying down the back of the boulder and immediately throwing on the puffy jacket in between climbs, as per the usual. I was shocked that something so lightweight was actually able to keep me warm! The Quantum hoodie seems almost like it was made with climbing in mind – it fits like a glove, and is thin enough to wear comfortably underneath a harness. The thumb hole sleeves provide added warmth while still allowing the finger dexterity to belay, rummage around in my pack, or even take photos while my partners are climbing. The Quantum hoodie now has a permanent place on a hook right beside the door to our garage, so that I its easy access whenever Cragbaby and I feel the urge to play outside. However, there is one complaint that keeps the Quantum from being labeled as perfect – no good pockets. I say no “good” pockets, because technically there is a small pocket on the upper left side of the chest, which would work out perfect for an iPod during a trail run, but not so much for carrying my keys, stashing the rest of Cragbaby’s snack, or simply just sliding my hands in to keep warm. While annoying, this lack of a good pocket is by no means a dealbreaker, since the other pluses far outweigh the one negative. And even though I received all products for free to facilitate this post, everything I have said about this company and their products is my uninfluenced and un-biased opinion.
 Kids Baselayer Giveaway |
 Winner chooses size and color! |
So now that everybody’s psyched on Icebreaker merino, here’s a chance for one lucky reader to score a sweet kid’s baselayer set for their little woolly worm! There are three ways to enter (and you can do all three to gain three entries and increase your odds of winning!)
1. Leave a comment on this post – Does your family wear wool? Any other Icebreaker fans out there?
2. Facebook Love for Icebreaker – give them a “like” on Facebook , then tell me that you liked them. As a bonus, if you sign up for there email offers through facebook, you’ll receive 20% off your first order!
3. Facebook Love for Yours Truly – share the love with Cragmama too! Give my page a like and you’ll get another entry as well!
A winner will be randomly selected on Tuesday night (December 13th) at 10:00 EST, and will be contacted via email, and announced on the following day’s post. Best of luck!
“Not all who wander are lost.” —JRR TOLKIEN