Best climbing for spring with a 9 month old

Hi friends,

My wife and I take an annual climbing trip (April), but this year we are accompanied by our firstborn. Does anyone know of a place that is "child friendly", meaning a place where the approaches are easy and the distances are fairly short. We have been to Smith Rocks, Joshua Tree and Bishop and are wanting to try some place new. We want to stick on the western half of the US. We also want a good mix of easy to moderate climbing (lots of routes in the 5.7 to 5.10 range) with bouldering and trad/sport. Any thoughts? Thank you!

How hard does your child climb?

I heard Tahquitz is great for newborns, but not n00bs.

Maple Canyon & Triassic.

Take a look at Hartman Rocks near Gunnison. High clearance vehicle is preferred.

mountainproject.com/v/hartm…

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1/2 dome, snake dike is where i'd go if i had a kid.

BurtMachlan wrote:Leave your baby at home. No wants to listen to your baby crying when they are trying to hear their boom box.

Insert image of smoking baby with barking dog and boom box here.

I kid i kid sorry..

Bouldering I could possibly understand, but how could you possibly do any sort of trad climbing with a 9mo old baby around? I'm assuming it's just the two of you, so if there's one person climbing and one person belaying, who's watching the baby? I see plenty of people hike many-mile hikes with babies, so I can't imagine the approach being the issue as much as the climbing itself.

Leaving the kid at home with family or friends seems like the best option to me.

Just pour a little whiskey or something in your kids bottle when you're ready to send, that'll quieten him/her down. Then turn your boom box down to between three and five for the vol and tie your dog to the nearest tree, you're all set.

Josh would be super convenient but be mindful that there have been a couple of instances of young children/newborns being hit and seriously injured by rockfall. One incident happened at Church Bowl in the Valley, which isn't a hotspot for rockfall. It was bad though. Although I've been jonesing to get out, since hearing of that I've been leery of bringing little ones to the crags. Also, with Josh, watch out for the cholla cactus. One brush with that your kid will be messed up.

Having said that, I've seen a couple hiking into the Gorge with a pack and play (play pen). Kid puts around in the playpen while mom and dad belay, but maybe keep it well away from the crag. Think half pitch with a short, flat approach, or just go hiking with your kid.

Maple, although, on the kid-friendly side will likely be too cold and/or snowy in April.
Southern Utah has a number of crags and likely some will fit the requirements you seek, for example Black and Tan, Kelly's rock.

My son is 22 months old now and we just barely started climbing routes again (when it's just us three). For the last couple years it has been much easier and enjoyable to climb boulders, for all the obvious reasons.

Dude, I told ya how to do it already. Slip a little Kaklua in with the milk, White Russian, while your setting up. When your kid is nice and buzzed, bundle his little ass up and secure with a sling, clip the sling on the dog collar and tie the dog to a tree. Works like a charm, at least for a buddy of mine, kid never cries and the dog is nice and chill

Thanks for the replies. I think I will check out Maple some more. What about Red Rocks? I know flights into Vegas are pretty cheap.

A few places we've liked (with our kids):

City of Rocks, ID - probably too cold for April
Veyo Canyon - private sport near St. George, UT

www.kidproject.org

If you're able to find another family to go with, you'll be much happier....just 2c.

BigJuggsjohnson wrote:OK picture now TWO infants at the crag! People do u really think you will enrich a human being's life and personality if u expose them to prolonged sitting in a carrier or flying objects? Is your child gonna be able to say: oh boy when I was 9 months old my parents took me to this epic trip that I will never forget! Lets be real!

No, but they'll be able to say, "My parents still lived life after having me and took me along with them."

IMO lifestyle choices begin when your kids are young, not springing it on them when they're teenagers.

chrisIerickson wrote: No, but they'll be able to say, "My parents still lived life after having me and took me along with them." IMO lifestyle choices begin when your kids are young, not springing it on them when they're teenagers.

Figured I could help picture it....

Climbing with toddlers

Climbing with toddlers

Climbing with toddlers

Whatever you do, if there is ANY chance of rockfall, make sure your kids have helmets on if they are at the base of the crag. Can you imagine the grief you will have if they are killed by a small rock (or gear, even)?

BigJuggsjohnson wrote:Kids? Me? R u out of yo mind? Im not responsible enough to be a parent.

So you freely admit to not knowing shit about raising kids or being any good at it even if you did have a clue yet you find it necessary to offer unsolicited parenting advice to total strangers over the internet.

You really do have a problem. You should seek professional help. Seriously.

BigJuggsjohnson wrote:His son is just born! Just born! Isn't it selfish to try to fit him into your climbing schedule? U should build your life around your child not visa versa!

Hey EllenOT?...you're a TooL.--
and I'm not talking about the cool band with the kickass Drummer, I mean the kind you throw in a drawer when your not using it to pound a nail.

The kids not a "newborn". He's been around for "9 MONTHS".

You're OBVIOUSLy not a parent- AND GOD HELP US ALL if you Ever procreate!

..sorry...i HAD to feed it.. too priceless to resist.