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a question for recreational climbers.

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€ $t0& 960 €® · · Colorado · Joined Mar 2012 · Points: 55

How often do you guys get out to climb while having a family and a full time job?

€ $t0& 960 €® · · Colorado · Joined Mar 2012 · Points: 55

I'm struggling with putting priorities onto things. My wife is very supportive of my hobbies though. Just want to hear your all's opinions on the subject.

Gee Monet · · Las Vegas, NV · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 732

When I had full time job and girlfriend (no family), I'd get out at least once a week. Now I have neither and climb as much as I want!!!

If you get out once a week I'd probably say you're doing alright.

Travis Dustin · · Mexico Maine · Joined Jan 2012 · Points: 1,665

I have one child (19 months) married and work 2nd shift 6 days a week for about on average of 50 hours. I get out to climb atleast once a week. I wish I could get out more but its not possible for me at the time. Get out and enjoy every second you can.

rogerbenton · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2011 · Points: 210

married, kid in grade school, own and operate two businesses (50 hrs/week minimum), and spend 1-2 weekends a month traveling for another job.

i have a small bouldering spot very close by, i try to hit that up at least once a week.

for trad climbing, which is my preference, i am shooting for once per month this season but will more likely end up getting it done twice per 3 months.

for that chance at once per month I am giving up ref'ing my kid's soccer league, which feels shitty,
but not too shitty considering how ridiculously and completely we spoil her.

there is a really good rock gym local to me too and i hit that up once in a while, maybe 6-9 times per year.

Starting this year I am trying to incorporate one climbing trip per year.
looking at RRG this fall.
planning/saving for it now.

I wish I could hit the trad crag once per week (like most of my climbing buddies/partners) but that just is not going to be a reality for me so i have to be happy with what I've got.

it's weird not being able to spontaneously get motivated and hit the rock; I go when I have a time allotment whether I'm psyched that day (or window of a couple hours) or not. the supportive wife really helps.

Larry S · · Easton, PA · Joined May 2010 · Points: 872

Weather and climbing partners permitting, I get out one day a week. The hard part for me is the nearest climbing is a 45 minute drive and 20 minute approach, (and the good climbing is twice that) so that generally rules out climbing after work except on the long days in the mid summer. If you live somewhere where the access is close/easy and you've got a partner who has your same schedule, you can get alot more days in, even if it's just a route or two after/before work.

Ken Noyce · · Layton, UT · Joined Aug 2010 · Points: 2,648
Mitch Zimmerman wrote:How often do you guys get out to climb while having a family and a full time job?
I'm married with 2 kids (almost 3 and almost 1), and have a full time job. I get out climbing generally once a week, sometimes twice. I do have the benefit of having a wife who climbs so that definitely helps. The biggest issue I have is that my wife doesn't climb nearly as hard as I do which makes it hard for me to progress, but at least I'm out climbing.
portercassidy · · UT/CO · Joined Nov 2006 · Points: 66

I have a kid in elementary school, and a full time job. Getting out once a week is good, if I get out twice I am probably neglecting some other interest in my life.

It helps if you live close, if your family likes to climb and if climbing is your current sole focus.

Dirt Biking, Mountain biking, River Running, Exploring etc... so much cool stuff to do.

Ken Noyce · · Layton, UT · Joined Aug 2010 · Points: 2,648
johnL wrote: That took me a second. I thought you wrote that you couldn't decide whether to have another or get rid of one.
Sorry, I can see how that could be taken that way. I do sometimes wonder about getting rid of one though;)
NC Rock Climber · · The Oven, AKA Phoenix · Joined Dec 2009 · Points: 60

I am married, my wife is pregnant, I own my own business and make it a point to spend significant amounts of time with my elderly parents. I get out 2x a week, three out of every four weeks. Doing this requires planning and discipline, but it is working well so far. When my son arrives in July, that might change.

For me, the two keys to climbing regularly is finding the right partners and my wife's support. I went through a LONG period where I did not climb outside at all due to moving to a new state and not having any partners. My wife supports me doing this 100%; she knows that I am miserable when I am not getting outside regularly.

Lanky · · Tired · Joined Jun 2008 · Points: 255

I've got a 1 year old and a full-time desk job. I'm in the gym once or twice a week, and out for a day on the weekend once a month or so. My wife doesn't climb.

If you are more disciplined with your time than me, you could definitely do more. If you're more adventurous with bringing your kid along, you could do more as well, but you need a group of partners who are comfortable helping with the little one.

Jeff Fox · · Delaware, OH · Joined Mar 2007 · Points: 1,320

I can count on one hand how many times I've gotten out to climb this year, and I still have my thumb left to count.

ThreeDee · · Manhattan, KS · Joined Sep 2010 · Points: 5

I try to get out on the weekends. Usually after work I'll workout with my hang board. My wife climbs but at a lower level so I end up doing a lot of routes that are well below my ability. To tell the truth I don't mind doing easier routes.

Chris Duca · · Dixfield, ME · Joined Dec 2006 · Points: 2,330

21-mos old son, I am a full-time elementary school special educator, and my wife is a full-time nurse. She climbs, as well. We get out, as a family once a week, but separately, we do at least 5 or 6 day-trips to the adirondacks a month, as well as rope-soloing at a local cliff a couple times a week for about 2 or 3 hours at a time. I find what works the best is to get out with other climbing families, have low expectations, and learn to climb first thing in the morning (5 a.m. starts for a couple hours before work).

Rob Eison · · Denver, CO · Joined Sep 2003 · Points: 230

Two kids, 2 and 4, I'm a doc in private practice working almost every other weekend and I take Monday's off to climb outside and sometimes one late afternoon during the week as the days get long. I'm more accurately an obsessed climber, not a recreational climber, but my extraordinary wife understands. I don't sleep much, but I guess that's what residency prepared me for. It helps to live in Denver where the climbing is so close.

Daryl Allan · · Sierra Vista, AZ · Joined Sep 2006 · Points: 1,040

Explain to your significant other than if you don't get out regularly, you get irritable and then start being a royal pain around the house. The trick is to be really upbeat and chipper when you get back from climbing then start tapering off into being an ass again toward the end of the week. A few weeks of that routine and she'll be packing your lunch before your outings.

€ $t0& 960 €® · · Colorado · Joined Mar 2012 · Points: 55
Daryl Allan wrote:Explain to your significant other than if you don't get out regularly, you get irritable and then start being a royal pain around the house. The trick is to be really upbeat and chipper when you get back from climbing then start tapering off into being an ass again toward the end of the week. A few weeks of that routine and she'll be packing your lunch before your outings.
I don't think its gonna work :)
H BL · · Colorado · Joined Feb 2006 · Points: 95

Damn nice to see so many married, with job and kids getting out to climb at least once per week. I'm lucky to get out 2 times a month and then the occasional 4 day trip. Otherwise I spend my time in the early morning training to climb! I got a lot done before I got married. Some done before kids and now I wish my kids would grow faster. Of course I'd like to get out more. Maybe should have had kids in my 20's! Then they'd be old enough to be more on their own. Course I'd probably get out more if the people I climb with had a similar schedule.

My wife now knows that I go nuts if I can't climb more. Most of the time it's scheduling that conflicts. It would probably be better in some aspects if my wife climbed. After 13 yrs I think she finally understands!!!

Adam Paashaus · · Greensboro, NC · Joined May 2007 · Points: 791

I am a stay at home dad/homesteader but my wife works full time. Luckily she is my main climbing partner but we still dont get out more than twice a month (it depresses me to see that in print). This month was good and we got out 4 days but that was mainly due to friends visiting from Colorado and we made extra time for that. I do plan on getting out with my 2 year old to the closest bouldering area more often.

John Farrell · · Phoenix, AZ · Joined Jan 2009 · Points: 85
Daryl Allan wrote:Explain to your significant other than if you don't get out regularly, you get irritable and then start being a royal pain around the house. The trick is to be really upbeat and chipper when you get back from climbing then start tapering off into being an ass again toward the end of the week. A few weeks of that routine and she'll be packing your lunch before your outings.
I tried that. Now I am single again and can climb on the weekends again.
Sunny-D · · SLC, Utah · Joined Aug 2006 · Points: 700

I have an 18 month and 4 year old. My wife and I try to split time so that we can both get out. We go as a family almost every weekend some where and I try to climb 2-3 mornings a week at 5:00am dawn patrol so I can get to work. (Full time Job) I might be able to slip in one evening here and there as well.
Like others have said finding the right partners seems to be the hardest part of climbing for me. Finding other families that have kids that want to get out and do the same types of things is really key. We love doing family trips but it has changed how I view trips. 3-5 routes a day instead of 10 or more a day, so we can hang out with our boys and have fun as a family. It does help to have amazing rock and ice 20 min. from my house.
Dallen

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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