5.3 at eighteen months = 5.15 in ten years

Cragging with children can be quite a unique adventure.  From our experience it is a lot easier to get out when your child is still bound to the plastic bucket, aka: car seat.  The short time period before mobility is a good time for transition and mental preparation.  Once your little one becomes mobile it is necessary to bring a crag buddy along.


Crag Buddy [krag buhd-ee]     noun
1.  comrade or chum willing to associate with climbers who have children. this person may or may not have kids of their own.  The crag buddy crowd is a unique and choice group of individuals.  If you have one be cautious as to not abuse the relationship or else you may lose your crag buddy. 


We are lucky enough to have a few crag buddies willing to get out with us.  This particular weekend we took our friends to City of Rocks, Idaho for a great weekend of climbing. Our comrades this weekend had never been to The City, which is our favorite place to climb.  So, we had a great time showing them around.  The weekend was filled with casual classics while attempting to avoid the crowds.

  Our little Mr. Smirky Pants is full of personality and makes friends easily.  Which is another great attribute amongst the climbing community.  With a busy-body toddler it helps to seek out other family geared climbing parties and ask if you can join the fun, but always be willing take turns watching the pack.

As any parent knows, treats are essential to keeping your toddler occupied and satisfied.  Sometimes we get so wrapped up in what we are doing that we forget our little guy needs food.  Then when he gets cranky we wonder what is wrong.  We have to consciously pack snacks for the kid and remind ourselves that he needs food.  This has become easier as he gets older and is better able to tell us when he is hungry.

After watching mom, dad, and crag buddies play for two days Ky decided he was ready to tackle the sport.  Eagerly he allowed mom to harness him up while dad scrambled to gear out a toprope.  He started off strong and flew up the first 15' then paused to take in his surroundings.  We will just say that before he tackles 5.15 we will have to do some mental training.  Turns out he shares his father's fear of height, hence the tears.

All in all the weekend was a HUGE success.  We were able to introduce our friends to our favorite crag and the realm of multi-pitch.  

Ky did have one run in with a cactus late one evening but that did not deter him from flashing his first climb the following day.  There may have been a lot of tears over the weekend, but there were even more smiles.  Ky enjoys being outside in nature.  There is plenty to explore and nature provides a lot of new and exciting toys.  Every stick is a new sword and every pebble is an excellent baseball.  Cams and nuts have since lost their charms, but the challenge of the climb is still in his blood.  It pleases us to be able to share our passions with him and hope that he to will discover what it is we find so compelling with being outdoors.

Jentri was even able to achieve her goal to lead climb The Pigmies Got Stoned, 10a 

We are grateful to the Vasquez family for being our "crag buddies" and photographer on this trip, and for participating in such a great weekend.  Thank you.