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Best climbing for spring with a 9 month old

Steven Bishop · · Denver, CO · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 125
BigJuggsjohnson wrote:In APRIL he will be 9 MONTHS. !
maybe so, but your still a TOOL
Steven Bishop · · Denver, CO · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 125
BigJuggsjohnson wrote: U r a tool sends! Im just a playa :)
WOW!

"I Know You Are But What Am I?!?" Really!?

See, the problem with you, Elena-Noone-Cares-Who-You-Are-Stone, isnt so much that you are a Troll;

In fact, I happen to like a certian amount of creative trolling.
There are actually quite a few humorously whitty "playas" here on MP....which is one of the reasons I return.

I enjoy a good laugh.

But YOU.....well, unfortunately for us all, YOU are just plain ANNOYING! Half the time you don't make any damn "sence" ,and when you Do (which is rare) it's about something that you obviously have no clue about.

The truly sad thing is that you actually THINK you're funny. heh

....I guess thats kinda funny.
MTN MIA · · Vail · Joined May 2006 · Points: 405
SendaGorilla wrote: maybe so, but your still a TOOL
TROLL!!! not TOOL!!!!
Steven Bishop · · Denver, CO · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 125
Princess Mia wrote: TROLL!!! not TOOL!!!!
NO...TooL!

In this case, TROLL would be a compliment.
Bootz Ylectric · · Las Vegas, NV · Joined Apr 2012 · Points: 165

Devils Lake might not be bad. Next to no rockfall to worry about as others have mentioned and there are plenty of areas with easier approaches. One Of them is as simple as walking a 1/4 mile down some train tracks. There are even some areas that are a little more secluded from heavy traffic so you don't have to worry about disturbing others or vice versa. Baraboo is a cool town and you can find cheap hotels nearby since I assume you won't be camping with a toddler.

It's not a world class climbing destination like Smith Rocks, Joshua Tree, or Bishop but it's our little slice of heaven in the midwest and there is plenty of awesome climbing to be had. The scenery is awesome too. Not 1000 ft. picturesque but rad nonetheless

Tradiban · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2004 · Points: 11,610

No one has mentioned the Gunks! Not in the west though. I was going to say JTree but you have already been there. I have a 1 year old so ya, I know. I can't think of anything else in the west that would be acceptable, the approach to the creek aint bad. Let me know if you go back to JTree, I will be all over that mother fucker in April.

Eric Coffman · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2009 · Points: 735

my wife and I were climbing "captain hook" while a couple were climbing "the hernia" or vice versa with a 1 year old in a playpen. the playpen was right next to the base of our climb. The parents of the baby were 30 yards away and everything was fine until the dad was halfway on the route and the baby started to cry. My wife and I tried to talk softly to the baby and calm him/her down. Being strangers we didnt want to just pick the baby up. Instead we tried to get the attention of the parents who seemed indifferent. The baby never began to scream, afterwards we hung out with the couple and who were early 20's. My own parents were early 20's when I was that age and we often went camping as a family. I'm sure my dad pissed off plenty of people by bringing me to places where I was the only child but I'm thankful now. That said try to be next to your baby to calm them if they need it.

LeeAB Brinckerhoff · · Austin, TX · Joined Aug 2008 · Points: 10,288
BC Sortor wrote:Maple Canyon & Triassic.
I know nothing about Triassic, but DO NOT take as child to Maple in the spring. Rock Fall and likely cold.

You could check out Las Conchas if there has not been too much snow. There are a couple of walls that perfectly fit your requirementsCattle Call
and Gatway Rock
There is also bouldering at Ponderosa
for trad climbing the Playground
is not too far away. Nice places to stay in Jemez Springs or Los Alamos/White Rock has standard hotels. There are also campgrounds around though I don't know if they will be open in April.

A couple of thoughts.
  • It is always better and easier with a third adult, we took a friend with us to Spain for 4 weeks and it was totally worth it. You could also check with climbing team kids, they are generally willing to help look after a little one for the opportunity to get out and climb, sounds like spring break time.
  • Joshua Tree was great with our kid, but a big part of the was that there was another family there and the kids all just played together, though at 9 months there is not much in the way of interaction besides feeding and diaper changes.
  • The Red River Gorge was good for us as well, rent a cabin, plush.
  • What is doable will depend a lot on how mobile your child is at 9 months, could be anywhere from not at all (like ours, didn't crawl till 10 months, which is easier) to walking and falling over everything (this is probably the hardest time to get out with a little one since they want to move around but in most situations it is just not feasible). On that note, I think that Indian Creek is really bad unless they are totally immobile, there is almost nowhere to move around. Most cliffs just have a trail along the base as the only flat area (we took our son when he was 6 months but have not been back since)
rging · · Salt Lake City, Ut · Joined Jul 2011 · Points: 210

Anywhere that is miles away from me is a good start like your basement or garage.

Alicia Sokolowski · · Brooklyn, NY · Joined Aug 2010 · Points: 1,781
S.P.L.T. Image wrote:No one has mentioned the Gunks! Not in the west though. I was going to say JTree but you have already been there. I have a 1 year old so ya, I know. I can't think of anything else in the west that would be acceptable, the approach to the creek aint bad. Let me know if you go back to JTree, I will be all over that mother fucker in April.
I second the Gunks. We make it out regularly and so do many of our friends that have little ones under 1. If you're on your own, Peter's Kill may be better as there is little to no traffic and it's possible to walk up and set a TR anchor on virtually every route.

I highly suggest getting the little one a helmet, though. Better safe than sorry.
Fat Dad · · Los Angeles, CA · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 60
Eric Coffman wrote:My own parents were early 20's when I was that age and we often went camping as a family. I'm sure my dad pissed off plenty of people by bringing me to places where I was the only child but I'm thankful now. That said try to be next to your baby to calm them if they need it.
I think getting your kid outdoors is a great thing. I take my kids camping, hiking, exploring all the time. Having said that, sticking them in a play pen while you tool around on the rocks is a pretty different experience. One is letting them interact with nature; the other is just putting them in a cage so you can do your thing.

To the OP, don't let your urge to get outside interfere with your judgment as a parent. A while back someone posted some photos on Supertopo of their climb of the Tree Route on Dome Rock, a 3 pitch 5.6. They climbed with their kid in a baby backpack which, as many pointed out on the thread, presented a serious risk of the kid flying out of the thing if the parent fell. A really, really poorly thought out venture. They removed the photos shortly thereafter. I'm not saying you're planning on doing anything like that, but let your first priority be what works for your kid.
Glenn Schuler · · Monument, Co. · Joined Jun 2006 · Points: 1,330
Fat Dad wrote: I'm not saying you're planning on doing anything like that, but...
you just couldn't resist the urge to lecture him anyway. He's obviously taking the kid with, why not help him out?

Burke, A Shelf Road/11 Mile Canyon combo could be a possibility. They are fairly close to each other and both are kid freindly. Shelf is prime in April and has enough moderate sport routes to keep you busy for awhile. 11 Mile has the trad & bouldering you seek (as well as sport), but could be chilly in April - it's hit or miss that time of year.
Fat Dad · · Los Angeles, CA · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 60
Glenn Schuler wrote: He's obviously taking the kid with, why not help him out?
I did. See the first page. I gave him the down low on Joshua Tree. However, as the thread has progressed, I'm getting the feeling that the OP is not considering that carefully some of the advice he's gotten.
Glenn Schuler · · Monument, Co. · Joined Jun 2006 · Points: 1,330
Fat Dad wrote: I did. See the first page. I gave him the down low on Joshua Tree.
Ah, super helpful considering he specifically asked for places OTHER than Jtree.
Fat Dad · · Los Angeles, CA · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 60

Tell ya what. Next time I'm considering responding to a thread, I'll forward you my proposed response in advance so you don't get all butt hurt by its content.

Kenny Thompson · · Cottage grove oregon · Joined Feb 2010 · Points: 560

I think Burt was just kidding. But if you don't like my kids goin nuts you'd hate it when my dogs attack you. lol

Rogerlarock Mix · · Nedsterdam, Colorado · Joined Sep 2008 · Points: 5

the answer is no-where. there is no where at any crag that's 'best' for a 9 month old. leave the kids at home, enjoy the break.

jeffozozo · · santa clara, utah · Joined Oct 2009 · Points: 536
chrisIerickson wrote: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 kidproject.org If you're able to find another family to go with, you'll be much happier....just 2c.
+1 Veyo Canyon. We go there with little kids all the time. Nice flat belay areas, beautiful weather, great routes. Get the Todd Goss guide book.
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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