Climbing with Sons

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mooser

Trad climber
seattle
Topic Author's Original Post - Mar 21, 2009 - 07:52pm PT
I've been diggin' the thread on climbing with daughters, and not having one, thought I'd start one about climbing with sons. My son, Joe, has been climbing since three (he's 17 now). We've had some great times out, and here are a few pics from the first few years:

Start them off early with the Bachar Ladder:

Ready to pull down at Deadman's Summit:

"Lemme tell ya about the first time I sent the Nose in a day..."

Donner:

Sign of a real hardman:

Getting ready to send at Indian Springs:

OK, so it's sending on toprope:

Hercules' Finger:

Lover's Leap w/a buddy along:

Same day with my wife along:
Cheers!

I've loved the times we've had on the rocks through the years. He still likes climbing, which is great! We spent this afternoon down at the Ballard Vertical World, and had a blast together.
Chiloe

Trad climber
Lee, NH
Mar 21, 2009 - 08:05pm PT
Crimpergirl

Social climber
Boulder, Colorado!
Mar 21, 2009 - 08:56pm PT
Great thread! Love the photos... Where is Todd Gordon? I really enjoy seeing photos of his boys too.
mooser

Trad climber
seattle
Topic Author's Reply - Mar 21, 2009 - 09:04pm PT
Another one for good measure: Dirtbaggin' it with Dad at Apple Valley (only Joe gets to dirtbag it in his feetsy P.J.s):
Ghost

climber
A long way from where I started
Mar 21, 2009 - 09:23pm PT
Long time ago I did some graphic design work for a friend who was a guide. Barter style -- I gave him a brochure, he gave my sons a two-day private climbing school. (Yeah, they didn't take kindly to instruction from dad and mom).

Day one was about what you'd expect, basic stuff, harnesses, knots, toprope short things, dangle on ropes and giggle... Day two is a real climb, so we check with the boys: "You still up for this?" Number One son says "No, it was okay yesterday, but I don't really want to do any more." Number Two Son (still a month away from his eighth birthday) says "Sure, I'll do it."

So the next day we hike up to the base of the Apron on the Chief at Squamish, and start up a slab route named Sickle. Seven pitches, 5.9 crux, mostly 5.6 and 5.7. We tie Ian in about ten feet from the end of the rope, and Jim (the guide) leads each pitch while I hang at the belay with Ian. Once Jim get the belay set Ian starts up and I climb along beside him (tied in at the rope's end, about ten feet below his knot).

Mostly he's fine, and really digging it. I just kind of cruise along beside him and let him and keep him company. The 5.9 slab crux was a bit much, and he said the rock hurt his fingers. But I just gave him a bit of a gentle push and he got through it.

So, after seven pitches, we traverse across the top of the Apron to where there are two choices for descent. Jim explains them to Ian, but all Ian says is "Which one is longer?" Which of course leaves me thinking, ah, I guess if you just want to get out of here as fast as you can, I guess you probably didn't like it after all.

But what he says, when Jim tells him, that one is actually much longer than the other is "Okay, let's take the long one then!"

D
bearbnz

Trad climber
East Side, California
Mar 21, 2009 - 10:47pm PT
I love climbing with my 3 boys, and thankfully, they love going out with Dad. Here are my twin boys, 7 or 8 at the time, climbing on Benton Crag. I had to tie them both in to the same rope because with rope drag, one at a time they were too light to get back down.
This was today, at a very busy Owens River Gorge. Riley, one of the twins, on a long 5.8, currently 9 years old.
And my oldest son, 11 years old, on the same route. He climbed to the anchors, set the rope into the hooks, removed the quickdraws, and I lowered him down.
Pretty sure I saw Bachar running around down there, didn't see him climb anything, at least not today.
John Moosie

climber
Beautiful California
Mar 22, 2009 - 12:34am PT
Nice thread Mooser. Thanks for sharing this.
mooser

Trad climber
seattle
Topic Author's Reply - Mar 22, 2009 - 12:54am PT
Thanks Moosie...I get kind of mushy about this kind of stuff. It's genuinely staggering how quickly kids grow up. I know that the biggest regret people in later years have is that they didn't spend enough time with the people they loved, and as C.S. Lewis put it: "The future is something which everyone reaches at 60 minutes an hour, whatever he does, whoever he is." Here's what the little guy in the opening set of pics looks like these days:

Mimi

climber
Mar 22, 2009 - 12:57am PT
Great stuff, mooser. I hope that ladder didn't tweak their elbows. LOL!
rich sims

Trad climber
co
Mar 22, 2009 - 01:06am PT
mooser
Great thread
The El Cap Meadows picture is priceless.
Being a father of daughters with a son in law who jumps out of planes but is not keen on heights I will be climbing with daughters tomorrow.
Sons or daughters you are blessed.
So let’s see the pictures everyone.
YOU TOO Todd
Rich Sims
mooser

Trad climber
seattle
Topic Author's Reply - Mar 22, 2009 - 09:11am PT
Thanks, Mimi. Thanks, Rich. Mimi...as you can see in the first pic, Joe's technique was a little off from the start. He didn't know he was supposed to grab the rungs. Kids these days...
Phantom Fugitive

Trad climber
Misery
Mar 22, 2009 - 10:07am PT
Zion and I rackin' up for the day-


Peter Haan

Trad climber
San Francisco, CA
Mar 22, 2009 - 11:25am PT
Phantom, your images aren't visible to me (probably others as well).

There is a wonderful short tale by John Vawter about climbing with his son Kellen at Tahquitz a few years back, here on ST that is also worth reading. Thanks
Phantom X

Trad climber
Honeycomb Hideout
Mar 22, 2009 - 01:30pm PT
Mooser, what do you feed that kid? He looks like one of those Poway toughs from back in the seventies!
mooser

Trad climber
seattle
Topic Author's Reply - Mar 22, 2009 - 02:18pm PT
Phantom X: Well, he has spent an awful lot of time in Poway, but hasn't been there long enough to look like...I don't know...maybe one of the Adams brothers, or someone.
tom woods

Gym climber
Bishop, CA
Mar 22, 2009 - 03:51pm PT
My boy is three months, so this thread has been inspiring as I try to figure out life with a little guy around.

He's been to the happy's and the buttermilks, we're trying the druid hill today, but it's really cold.

What do you guys think for top roping? Four years? Five years? When do you worry about scaring them out of it for good?
hossjulia

Trad climber
Eastside
Mar 22, 2009 - 04:06pm PT
Every kid is different Tom, mine was a little too timid to do much at any age besides top rope.

I pretty much made him lead an easy 5.6 at Clark's when he was 17 and he'd just tr'ed it. He whimpered. But pushed on and did it, and thanked me for it.

We never climbed together again and now he's gone.

Climb with your kids, lead by example, get them out doing the things you love. And push harder to know how they REALLY are feeling.

Jaybro

Social climber
wuz real!
Mar 22, 2009 - 05:24pm PT
I don't have any sons.But I have climbed with a lot of people who are other people's sons.


Here is Chasbro and his son Dave, working up an apetite for Dim Sum, a few years back. I have climbed Devil's Tower with the two of them
dee ee

Mountain climber
citizen of planet Earth
Mar 22, 2009 - 07:44pm PT
Jake on Surprise.


A 10a near Hair Lip.
Steve Grossman

Trad climber
Seattle, WA
Mar 22, 2009 - 09:47pm PT
Great thread, Mooser!
cintune

climber
the Moon and Antarctica
Mar 22, 2009 - 10:02pm PT
Todd Gordon

Trad climber
Joshua Tree, Cal
Mar 22, 2009 - 10:27pm PT
My son Beck says his new sport is tennis;..........he's tried his hand at the dirty/dangerous sport of climbing....


Use your feet, son.................................



mooser

Trad climber
seattle
Topic Author's Reply - Mar 23, 2009 - 12:44am PT
Thanks, Steve! Todd: nice stomach friction shot there! An often under-valued technique.
tolman_paul

Trad climber
Anchorage, AK
Mar 23, 2009 - 12:39pm PT
Since I posted in the daugther thread, I guess I should post the boyz.





They made the transition from tr to their first leads last summer



I need to get some pics of them chimneying up the hallway.
Chiloe

Trad climber
Lee, NH
Mar 23, 2009 - 12:43pm PT
Sooner than you might think ...

salad

climber
Escondido
Mar 23, 2009 - 12:46pm PT
shane at 2 years old, alabama hills. minutes before a complete meltdown.

Todd Gordon

Trad climber
Joshua Tree, Cal
Mar 25, 2009 - 01:55am PT
Get em' started early;....

Hardluck

Social climber
N of Mexico, S of Sanity
Mar 26, 2009 - 02:48am PT
Kellen, 5 years old in Malibu

Todd Gordon

Trad climber
Joshua Tree, Cal
Mar 26, 2009 - 03:02am PT
Not only can he climb, but he is a gifted artist as well.....(I like to brag...)



mooser

Trad climber
seattle
Topic Author's Reply - Mar 26, 2009 - 08:46am PT
Jackson Pollock in Huggies! Looks like you have a real renaissance man there, Todd! ;-)
Doug Robinson

Trad climber
Santa Cruz
Mar 26, 2009 - 10:22am PT
Tory is 15. We had a pretty good summer. South Crack:

With his sister Kyra, topped out, and friend Isabella


Fingertips .10b


An hour later (harder than it looks over those knobs)


Summit of Cathedral Peak


Spotting Dad


In a couple weeks we're going to ski through here

Fletcher

Trad climber
here to eternity
Mar 26, 2009 - 11:43am PT
Ah, Todd has an artist in the family. We have one too (my three year old daughter), who is also working in the same media (furniture and permanent marker).

Eric
mooser

Trad climber
seattle
Topic Author's Reply - Mar 26, 2009 - 11:46am PT
DR - What a great series of pics! Sweet!
tolman_paul

Trad climber
Anchorage, AK
Mar 26, 2009 - 12:02pm PT
Todd,

Nice artwork!

I remember when are oldest boy William was ~13 months old. We'd just moved into our house and I was re-painting a couple of bedrooms, the green room and gold room respectively.

Anyhow, I'm in the habit of wrapping the paint roller in foil vs. cleaning it. So I'd left the paint soaked roller in the gold room and planned to go back to painting the next night.

I get home from work and my wife relays the story of Williams artwork. I guess he'd seen me painting and wanted to help. My wife was upstairs and heard grunting sounds from downstairs. She went to investigate. William had managed to remove the foil from the roller, and had proceded to roll it on the carpet from the paint tray, out the door and was grunting his way up the stairs.

Yup, I'm proud of that boy. He still hasn't caught up to my childish acts of stupidity.
Cracko

Trad climber
Quartz Hill, California
Mar 26, 2009 - 12:35pm PT
Doug,

The pic of your boy spotting you was classic !! Also, the skateboard pick told a whole other story. My last trip to JT with my 15 yr old son and his two friends was a testament to the challenges we now face as "old school" parents with the "new" generation. Between their blowing things up in the fire pit, and trying to text message every three minutes, I finally convinced "the boys" to pick any of the surrounding summits and scramble to the top. My son led the charge,and the ensuing "stumblefest" greatly delighted me. As we sat on the summit, my son's two friends looked at me as if to say, "What are you....crazy!". But, the chatter around the fire that evening, and their interest in bagging another peak the next day, made me feel like I had shared something of great value with them. Thanks again for the share.


Cracko
Cracko

Trad climber
Quartz Hill, California
Mar 26, 2009 - 12:37pm PT
And Todd,

Your posts make me laugh and cry at the same time. We need to compare stories !!!


Cracko
salad

climber
Escondido
Mar 26, 2009 - 12:55pm PT
Mr Shane on his virgin rope up, jtree.


The young lad turned 3 years old today.. happy bday bud!
deuce4

climber
Hobart, Australia
Mar 26, 2009 - 02:26pm PT
Inspiring Thread!!
JimC

climber
Mar 26, 2009 - 03:07pm PT
Finally after all these years my own personal "rope gun"!

In NH fall of 2008


Casual on the Pear at Lumpy Ridge- summer 2008


james Colborn

Trad climber
Truckee, Ca
Mar 26, 2009 - 03:39pm PT
Seamus at 5 weeks last May.
The boy warming up for the big send from this past fall at Split rock at Donner St. park.
Pulling down hard.
Pulling on dime edges in T Meadows

mooser

Trad climber
seattle
Topic Author's Reply - Mar 26, 2009 - 05:19pm PT
These are awesome! Keep 'em comin'!!
deuce4

climber
Hobart, Australia
Mar 26, 2009 - 05:49pm PT
Hey Todd-

you'd better be careful, or your son will be creating his art on those lovely cliffs around there...

oh wait, that's what his dad does too!
Charlie D.

Trad climber
Western Slope, Tahoe Sierra
Mar 26, 2009 - 05:59pm PT
Great thread dad's such beautiful children!!! From my experience you'll only climb as hard as your son one day in your life and then they find their own way and other partners, although it sure makes for great reunions. Enjoy and teach them well, Berg Heil.
Todd Gordon

Trad climber
Joshua Tree, Cal
Mar 27, 2009 - 12:35am PT
tolman_paul

Trad climber
Anchorage, AK
Mar 28, 2009 - 12:52pm PT
I figured out a way to keep the boys from driving us nuts. Break out the cmi's and teach them hallway aid climbing.




I think you could sum up their experience as, ascenders are cool, prusiks and kleimheists suck.

I just need to get in some more practice and get my A5 double wide back from my buddy.
Michael Kennedy

Social climber
Carbondale, Colorado
Mar 28, 2009 - 03:54pm PT
They start out like this:


Hayden (age 6) & Julie on Turkey Rock, Independence Pass, Colorado in 1996.

And end up like this:


Hayden (age 18) in the Pipe Dream, Maple Canyon, Utah in 2008.

Or this:


Hayden (age 17) on Crack A-Go-Go, Yosemite in 2007.

Make it fun and casual at the beginning and always treat it as an opportunity to play, and you can't go wrong.
mooser

Trad climber
seattle
Topic Author's Reply - Mar 28, 2009 - 07:29pm PT
Great stuff!

"Make it fun and casual at the beginning and always treat it as an opportunity to play, and you can't go wrong." No lie! The old (and related) adage, "always leave them wanting more" is good to keep in mind also.

Fun pics, y'all!
Mike Bolte

Trad climber
Planet Earth
Mar 30, 2009 - 10:12pm PT
OK - the boy plus a trip report.

Yosemite 28 March 2009

The boy

Steve: rope gun in training--he fired

The base of the route; After Seven. (I last climbed this in 1978). Looking a little nervous. Third outside route-first multi-pitch.

Cranking! Note foot jam.

Ah - first belay and the crux below:

Pitch #2

Pitch#3 Knee bars and chickenwings!

At the belay before the last pitch

A great route. He cruised it and can't wait to get back.
Double D

climber
Mar 30, 2009 - 11:35pm PT
Great Pics everyone!

Tom Patterson

Trad climber
Seattle
Feb 21, 2016 - 09:32pm PT
I was just talking with my daughter-in-law about the child she and our son will be welcoming into the world this May. We were talking about raising kids up in a way that camping and outdoors activities are "normal," rather than something they get freaked out by when introduced to it at an older age. Reminded me of this thread I started a few years back, and she enjoyed seeing our son--her husband--as he grew up climbing and camping.

Sort of a shameless bump, but more nostalgic than anything.

Cheers!
covelocos

Trad climber
Feb 22, 2016 - 07:52am PT
Todd Gordon

Trad climber
Joshua Tree, Cal
Feb 22, 2016 - 08:01am PT
Todd Gordon

Trad climber
Joshua Tree, Cal
Feb 22, 2016 - 08:02am PT
Todd Gordon

Trad climber
Joshua Tree, Cal
Feb 22, 2016 - 08:05am PT
Todd Gordon

Trad climber
Joshua Tree, Cal
Feb 22, 2016 - 08:08am PT
Todd Gordon

Trad climber
Joshua Tree, Cal
Feb 22, 2016 - 08:10am PT
survival

Big Wall climber
Terrapin Station
Feb 22, 2016 - 08:12am PT
Layton on Wheeler Peak NV, 13,000



Tenaya Peak
















Todd Gordon

Trad climber
Joshua Tree, Cal
Feb 22, 2016 - 08:16am PT
Todd Gordon

Trad climber
Joshua Tree, Cal
Feb 22, 2016 - 08:17am PT
Todd Gordon

Trad climber
Joshua Tree, Cal
Feb 22, 2016 - 08:20am PT
Todd Gordon

Trad climber
Joshua Tree, Cal
Feb 22, 2016 - 08:22am PT
Todd Gordon

Trad climber
Joshua Tree, Cal
Feb 22, 2016 - 08:27am PT
Todd Gordon

Trad climber
Joshua Tree, Cal
Feb 22, 2016 - 08:28am PT
Tom Patterson

Trad climber
Seattle
Feb 22, 2016 - 09:31am PT
Holy smokes, Todd! Yer kids are getting huge!
steveA

Trad climber
Wolfeboro, NH
Feb 22, 2016 - 09:46am PT
I've climbed with my son since he was about 13, and my daughter too, but not as much. Some of these are digital copies from snap-shots, I just dug out.
In hind-sight there were a few climbs I took him on, which were probably
a little too serious for his young age.
steveA

Trad climber
Wolfeboro, NH
Feb 22, 2016 - 09:53am PT
steveA

Trad climber
Wolfeboro, NH
Feb 22, 2016 - 09:58am PT
steveA

Trad climber
Wolfeboro, NH
Feb 22, 2016 - 10:05am PT
steveA

Trad climber
Wolfeboro, NH
Feb 22, 2016 - 10:09am PT
steveA

Trad climber
Wolfeboro, NH
Feb 22, 2016 - 10:12am PT
steveA

Trad climber
Wolfeboro, NH
Feb 22, 2016 - 10:25am PT
Gnome Ofthe Diabase

climber
Out Of Bed
Feb 22, 2016 - 11:22am PT
It is the one thing that I wish I could do more of. When they were tots here he was 5 or 6
Contractor

Boulder climber
CA
Feb 22, 2016 - 12:16pm PT

My 21 year old son primarily studies and surfs, although he is starting to get hooked on climbing.

His first climbing trip ever was at Dome Rock last May. He was lucky enough to sesh some boulders at the "Ampetheater" with Ron Carson.
Blakey

Trad climber
Sierra Vista
Feb 22, 2016 - 02:58pm PT
mike m

Trad climber
black hills
Feb 22, 2016 - 03:44pm PT
tolman_paul

Trad climber
Anchorage, AK
Feb 22, 2016 - 06:02pm PT


Tom Patterson

Trad climber
Seattle
Feb 22, 2016 - 06:21pm PT
^^^ Seward Hghwy?

P.S. - Though this thread started as "sons," it doesn't need to confine itself to male progeny.
tolman_paul

Trad climber
Anchorage, AK
Feb 22, 2016 - 06:23pm PT
Yup, the rock sucks but it's close. I missed the very short ice climbing window this season, hopefully next year we get a real winter.
Tom Patterson

Trad climber
Seattle
Feb 22, 2016 - 06:39pm PT
I always wanted to get up there when I lived in SE, but never did (except to Anchorage, itself). Cheers!
tolman_paul

Trad climber
Anchorage, AK
Feb 22, 2016 - 07:38pm PT
Tom,

You didn't miss much, if the routes weren't so conveniently located and the only option for evening or mid day climbs, only a handful of the routes at best would see any traffic.
Flip Flop

climber
Earth Planet, Universe
Feb 22, 2016 - 07:53pm PT
[Click to View YouTube Video]


mike m

Trad climber
black hills
Feb 22, 2016 - 09:03pm PT
Tom Patterson

Trad climber
Seattle
Feb 23, 2016 - 05:39am PT
^^^ Ah, man...some sweet pics above.
kpinwalla2

Social climber
WA
Feb 23, 2016 - 10:47am PT
My boy making short work of his dad's route at Red Rocks in his Chucky T's.
mike m

Trad climber
black hills
Feb 23, 2016 - 03:50pm PT
Tom Patterson

Trad climber
Seattle
Feb 23, 2016 - 05:38pm PT
Okay ^^^ that's definitely not in the Black Hills. Canada? Montana? Wind River Range?

And how old is this mini-alpinist?
mike m

Trad climber
black hills
Jun 6, 2016 - 06:56pm PT
That is Wolfs Head and he was 13 I think at the time. I will say that is some great advice from Michael Kennedy. Jack helped me put a new route up on this wall last year.
http://www.supertopo.com/tr/Spire-4/t10809n.html here is a TR about our climbs together.
Charlie D.

Trad climber
Western Slope, Tahoe Sierra
Jun 6, 2016 - 07:38pm PT
Great photos everyone, love the pictures of the little men! So many fond memories of days with my two boys, they grow up and become your rope gun!

You can climb as hard as your son just one day in your life.......this photo was a day well beyond that point at the top of Traveler's Buttress:


Missed this thread the first time around, thanks for the bump.
Tom Patterson

Trad climber
Seattle
Jun 25, 2017 - 06:18pm PT
Sort of a shameless bump, but not really. I've been reflecting on how time flies, and how my own son now has a daughter who's just a little younger than he was when I first started taking him cragging. I see climbing in her future, too, though it could just be me!

So...in case you missed this thread, there are some fantastic contributions throughout. Check it out, and add your own!
ontheedgeandscaredtodeath

Social climber
SLO, Ca
Jun 25, 2017 - 06:29pm PT


Flip Flop

climber
Earth Planet, Universe
Jun 26, 2017 - 06:37am PT

Smiling through the heat, bugs and tight shoe squeeze. We did a lot of lounging and beach time and that's just fine with me. This little dude is just a few weeks younger than this thread. God , I love this stuff!
Tom Patterson

Trad climber
Seattle
Jun 27, 2017 - 05:30am PT
Look at the joy on those faces! That's what it's all about, man...
micronut

Trad climber
Fresno/Clovis, ca
Jun 27, 2017 - 08:03am PT
Great thread. They grow up so fast.

BigB

Trad climber
Red Rock
Jun 27, 2017 - 08:20am PT
My son Ayden leading in RR at age 12
Us together at a belay ledge
Tom Patterson

Trad climber
Seattle
Jun 27, 2017 - 08:58am PT
^^^ That's what I'm talkin' about!

And here's a pic I took a couple of days ago of my son with his little one, Amelia:
mike m

Trad climber
black hills
Jun 27, 2017 - 09:51am PT
jack leading the business on independence monument. He about fell off that one but found his inner Fred flinstone and got up it clean
mooch

Trad climber
Tribal Base Camp (Kernville Annex)
Jun 27, 2017 - 10:12am PT
Sons Christian and Matt...
Gnome Ofthe Diabase

climber
Out Of Bed
Jun 21, 2018 - 07:45am PT
Just amazing and I'm totally jealous,
donini

Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
Jun 21, 2018 - 08:31am PT
Do grandsons count?
With my grandson Henry in Cochise Stronghold last March.
Tom Patterson

Trad climber
Seattle
Jun 21, 2018 - 01:29pm PT
donini: I'd say that's a big yes.
SeaClimb

climber
Jun 24, 2018 - 02:50pm PT
My boy just graduated from high school this week. He’s off to utopia for the summer World Cups. Leaves Wednesday. I just cannot really fathom how fast time flies.


First pic is him climbing Taco Chips (13a) at age 10.[photo
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