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micronut
Trad climber
Fresno/Clovis, ca
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Topic Author's Original Post - Sep 5, 2013 - 05:12pm PT
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Mine wasn't. But my dad taught me how to backpack. My mom how to make a good campfire. Climbing for me started out of a backpacking love of the mountains, that grew into what it is today after seeing some climbers coming down a trail, looking haggard, gear jangling all over their packs. I was smitten.
But now I'm a dad who is showing my children climbing at a young age. The Force is strong with them and my greatest days in the mountains have been on summits with my children.
Was your Dad a climber?
Or your Mom?
Or Neither?
I think it could be a fun thread (with photos if you got em)to hear of old school moms and dads who helped create the climber you are.
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karodrinker
Trad climber
San Jose, CA
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My Dad. He climbed in Yosemite during the early 70s, then became an Arborist. He's had me swinging on ropes my whole life.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Are those the only choices?
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GhoulweJ
Trad climber
El Dorado Hills, CA
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Neither.
They think it's stupid.
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Gary
Social climber
Desolation Basin, Calif.
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Neither. Hillbillies don't have to go camping. They were living on the land, they didn't have to go visit it.
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chick_on_ice
Trad climber
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If I was 1/10th the badass my dad is and had half his rockin' style, I'd be at a good place in my life.
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micronut
Trad climber
Fresno/Clovis, ca
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Topic Author's Reply - Sep 5, 2013 - 05:31pm PT
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Chica on Ice...How cool. Those old dues were so hard. Glad he showed you the high places.
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micronut
Trad climber
Fresno/Clovis, ca
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Topic Author's Reply - Sep 5, 2013 - 05:32pm PT
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Ghoul,
That's probably a common sentiment. I'm sure you're not alone.
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WyoRockMan
climber
Flank of the Big Horns
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My Mom started climbing when she split with my Dad. She was never serious about the climbing, but was really into the hiking/peak bagging.
She did make sure I got a love of the slab and wyde early on though. She has always been supportive of my climbing.
My oldest son hates it, but my daughter is just starting to get into it.
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Brandon-
climber
The Granite State.
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My dad taught me how to backpack and was one heck of a belay slave, but he never climbed.
He's a hardcore roadie, he's got 3500 miles this year (so far) averaging around 19 mph. Dude is badass, just not a climber.
Thanks dad!
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chick_on_ice
Trad climber
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micronut:
my dad is still a pretty ridiculous 'hard guy'. Here is a photo from our deck right now, where he is busy being domestic. He still smokes me running, skiing, climbing.... the only thing I can marginally do better than him is technical ice and rock and that's only because he's never tried it (you know, the whole Soviet siege-style expedition sufferfests were very much 'in' when he climbed with them. Not so much the light and fast alpine styles).
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Clint Cummins
Trad climber
SF Bay area, CA
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Both.
I don't encourage my kids to climb, though - too many family tragedies (already).
But I'll go if they initiate it. They are into running and biking and seem to be having lots of fun....
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Fat Dad
Trad climber
Los Angeles, CA
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Neither, which makes my mom's OK with it when I wanted to learn at 13 and my dad driving me to the crags and belaying me all the more supportive and memorable. When I was 16 I ran away from home to go to the Valley (well, my two big sisters drove me to the bus stop), they didn't even try to drag me home. My dad just drove up, made sure I was OK and had enough cash until I was ready to head home when school started. Crazy good parents.
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micronut
Trad climber
Fresno/Clovis, ca
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Topic Author's Reply - Sep 5, 2013 - 06:15pm PT
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Very cool Clint. Great photo. I hear you. I want my kids to love the outdoors. To enjoy a trout rise, a well gained summit and a breathtaking sunset. I wouldn't "choose" a hard driving alpine lifestyle for them if I had the choice. As a dad I realize the reality of the danger in climbing and sometimes its a bit of a dilemma for me. Who knows where they'll end up, but I sure do love being out there with them.
I love that my seven year old asked me the other day if we had to "rap off the summit" or if we could downclimb. Its fun just hearing the word "rap" in your kindergartener's lexicon.
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JEleazarian
Trad climber
Fresno CA
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Neither climbed. My dad worked on the dams and power stations in the Big Creek and San Joaquin River Canyon areas in the early 1920's, and had months of bivouacs when he served as a Sea Bee in WWII. Between those two activities, he didn't really view camping in the mountains as a vacation.
He did, however, carry me up Moro Rock when I was an infant, and his sister took my mother, sisters and me camping every year. I hiked to Half Dome with my mother when I was 11, and that hike probably got me going climbing.
My mother is 101, and my dad, if he were alive, would have been 112, so they won't be climbing now. Then again, to paraphrase Tom Patey, with two golden wings as a passport, Dad wouldn't need to climb to get up a wall.
John
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Clint Cummins
Trad climber
SF Bay area, CA
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[Ritner Walling]
I've met him! He was/is a cool dude.
[Edit: he is not Russ's dad - Russ was just having fun]
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Mungeclimber
Trad climber
Nothing creative to say
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Avid fisherman. Did backpacking with me as a kid, and then later family trips throughout the Sierra.
He's summited Mt Whitney and I haven't!! :)
He's done more 14'rs than I have too!
I've had him out climbing once. That was cool.
Trying to get mom out too.
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Clint Cummins
Trad climber
SF Bay area, CA
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:-)
He was a character.
Actually, he's probably still alive and kicking - in his 70s, still a character.
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steveA
Trad climber
Wolfeboro, NH
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Ritner Walling was a graduate of MIT, and owned one of the largest salvage barges on the East Coast. He was in the marine salvage business, located in N.J.
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