26 May 2010
Kids love to climb. Whether it's all over Dad, up ladders, or between the door frame, kids just love it. Introducing your children or child to rock-climbing at a young age can help you spend a lot of quality time together as your child grows. Think of the great conversations you'll have with your teenager as you trap them in the car on the way to a crag. Where better to talk about the birds and bees than out in nature?
Here are some tips to get you and your kids rock-climbing:
- Take a rock climbing class together. This has many benefits and not just for climbing. your children will see that Mom and Dad can take direction too.
- Set the rules. Rock-climbing can be very dangerous and it is important for all climbers to know and follow the rules. Set consequences and follow through if the rules are broken.
- Start small and work up. After having lessons, try a free climbing at a rock wall gym. This will give you time to practice together with your kids.
- Don't expect too much. Children will often show enthusiasm for rock climbing and then decide it is too scary to climb higher than 3-4 feet. Don't force the issue. Just praise them for how high they went and challenge them to get a foot or two higher.
- Teach them climbing terms. If you take a rock-climbing class with your children, you'll probably learn these, but re-teach them before you climb just to make sure you are all on the same page. "On belay" "Climbing" "Slack" "Tension" "ROCK!"
- Find helmets that fit. A good helmet is very important when rock-climbing. Make sure your child has a helmet that fits and is not damaged.
- Double check harness and make sure your child is big enough for it. Before you leave to the wall, make sure your child fits the manufacturers suggested weights and sizes for the harness they will be wearing. Before your child starts to climb, double check the harness is set properly.
- Chalk up. Children love to get their hands dirty especially when Mom and Dad are doing it as well. Plus it helps when you're rock climbing.
- Get some rock climbing shoes. Climbing shoes should fit snug, but not too tight. You don't necessarily need to buy new. Look for used ones on gear surplus sites, or rent shoes from a local shop.
- Celebrate accomplishments and have fun. That's why you go!
Children's climbing harnesses from Altrec.com
Children's climbing harnesses and helmets from Backcountry.com
Some of the topics covered here definately do not go in to great detail. Harnesses, helmets, and shoes could each have their own post about the proper kinds and how to purchase. Do your homework and you'll enjoy the time you spend rock climbing with kids.
08 May 2009
Tomorrow is Mother's Day Eve. You know what that means right? It means that you should be thinking (or panicking) about what to do this weekend.
This is the perfect time to give the Mother in your home a day off from cooking as well as show her some fun. Let's start with the fun part of Mother's Day. Mother's Day Eve is a great day to go outside and enjoy the back country. How about taking your mom to the local nature preserve to enjoy a relaxing afternoon listening to creeks, birds, well just nature in general. If she is the fishing type, go fishing. There is something relaxing about being outside for moms. Maybe it's the fact that they aren't looking at all the work that "needs" to be done in the house. The point I'm trying to make here about Mother's Day Eve is to get outside! It's Spring, everyone has been couped up and Mother's Day Eve is kind of like a "get ready for Memorial Day" kind of weekend.
Okay, so now that we are done talking about what to do on Mother's Day Eve, let's discuss Mother's Day itself. Mother's Day is really secretly known among men as "Show Off Your Manliness Day." That's right, Mother's Day is secretly a day to show off your manliness. It's time to crack open the grills and make the neighbors jealous with the wonderful aroma's coming off your manly cooking machine. What an awesome weekend. We get to recognize the wonderful women in our lives AND we get to be manly about it. Who could ask for more?
02 March 2009
Be forewarned that I'm not telling you to shut off your computer right now. At least finish reading this post :)
Over the past few years I have noticed an increase in the number of cellphones and portable computers in the outdoors. I understand we all have to make a living and having a job that allows for you to go outdoors with your work is pretty awesome, but when is it too much? For me it becomes too much when I realize I'm not enjoying the outdoors for what they are, a GETAWAY. The outdoors are supposed to be a getaway from the hustle and bustle of city life.
If you find yourself in the outdoors constantly checking to see if you have a wireless phone signal, sending emails, or reading blogs you may have an Internet addiction. It's a real problem and you need help! The first step is to admit to yourself that you are addicted. What's that? You say you don't have an addiction. Ok, then leave the cellphone home. The world will go on without you. Your clients WILL understand that you need a break. If they don't, find new clients.
Just remember, no one died saying, "I wish I had spent more time at the office." Enjoy that family time and actually make it FAMILY time. Teach your son how to make a fire with flint and steel, not check a cell tower to make sure that email sent to Bill.
14 April 2008
For the first time in 5 months the temperature gage read above 50 degrees! I'm so excited for the fun weather to be back. To kick off the good weather we went "hiking".
Have you ever stopped at a rest stop on a long trip and noticed one of those signs for a "trail" and thought to yourself, "How much of a trail can there be at a rest stop?" I have plenty of times, but my attitude was changed this last weekend.
My sister left some soda in her camp trailer this winter. One of the cans exploded and leaked all over her floor. Last Friday was the first day in a long time that felt nice enough to clean it up. So she gathered her 4 kids and husband to help her clean out the camper. They cleaned and cleaned, but when her kids found out that they weren't heading camping they were bummed and upset. They decided to take the trailer for a "test-run." They called us up and asked if we wanted to go hiking at the rest stop on Interstate 15. I figured we had nothing better to do so we met them at the rest stop for lunch and a little spring warm-up hike.
The entire path was paved, gained a total of 50 ft in elevation, and was .8 miles long. It was not what I would call strenuous. However, the kids LOVED it. They used the GPS to "find" their way around the path, searched for snakes on the lava rocks, viewed dormant volcanoes from an observation tower and even saw a lion in a cave. (Ok so the lion wasn't real, but don't try to convince them otherwise.)
So what did I learn from this exciting trip? I learned that some of the best kept Backcountry Secrets can be found 100 ft from an Interstate. Next time you're travelling a long distance, it might just be worth taking that nature trail hike at the rest stop.