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IS THE CLIMBNG OVER????

Original Post
Steven Bishop · · Denver, CO · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 125

So it's offical....We're having a baby!!

I am excited!...TERRIFIED!....curious...PETRIFIED!....it's our first.

So is it all over?
..for atleast a LONG time???-----

Me and Momma met in ALaska, climbing and working in DENALI.
Then off to New Zealand/Aussi for a year biking, climbing, & kayaking.
Then to Spain, France, Thailand, South America, and the Himalaya....
Then it was To The Sea...sailing like pirates free of rules and Fear.

Now We're Scared. -SHITLESS!

The boat is moored, and our racks and axes sit collecting dust while daddy slaves away the hours scramblin' for CASH$!
Momma's always sick now so even the gyms outta the question :(
And within the last week alone, i've read 4 1/2 articles(I was too depressed to finish the last one) in "Climbing", "Outdoors", etc...about the many, MANY challenges of combining parenting and "Adventure"..

So, I thought I'd come to you. Ask for a little advice maybe???
I know there are some of you out there who have "Pulled it off"
- but HOW?

Parents????---What's your thoughts?
Thank You

Roger Harris · · Boulder, CO · Joined Feb 2009 · Points: 1,095

Continue to take trips, just shift the focus to your new family member.

Joshua Tree

They travel well when very young, and it's school and work that limits trips, although you must adjust trips to their level.

Hiking in the Wind River Range

Soon they'll be off to summer camp whilst you're off to the high peaks.

Sailing and mountain biking work well too!

Sailing the Dyer Dow

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

My wife had our daughter in June 2010 and we actualy lived in Estes till the following December. We climbed a decent amount and brought her along and it worked pretty well. Beware of the outpouring of baby haters. The crag is NOT the safest place, but if you do it right and go to the right places it can be pretty easy. Bouldering may have to be a new priority for a little while also. Some tips.
1. ALWAYS have a 3rd person to watch the baby! duh.
2. go to areas with a short approach and flat ground.
3. keep he/she away from the cliff and protected from falling rocks.
4. Plan on shorter less committing days.
5. Take turns getting out with your wife once she is ready.

I would consider going (when it warms up) to the ironclads above Allenspark for roped climbing because of the ease of access and short cliffs with low rockfall potential and flat ground. Ironsides near there has a longer approach but is doable. Just think. Also, think about what atmosphere you are creating. Nobody wants to climb around a crying baby so that's where shorter days come in.

Our daughter is almost 2, and my wife and I were bouldering with her on Friday and we are getting out on Wednesday for routes (Nanna is watching our daughter) Id say we get out a fair amount. Remember that it doesn't have to end you passion for the outdoors but it will change your priorities. Have fun. Here is a thread my wife started (under my name) that got some good replies. Hope it helps.
Cragging with baby thread.

MegaGaper2000 James · · Indianola, Wa · Joined Apr 2011 · Points: 20

Congratulations!
My advice comes from I kind of weird place. I'm not an expert mountain dude, and I don't have a kid. But I did spend about four years as an endurance athlete in another pursuit, in the course of which I learned a thing or two about staving off a) stress-generated bodyfat and b) sleep deprivation despite active schedule. Since both seem analogous to fatherhood, here's one thing that helped me out.
Stop eating dinner. Seriously. Food eaten within two hours of going to sleep goes mostly to bodyfat - so skipping it will help avoid the dreaded potbelly/baldspot syndrome of dadness. At least the potbelly part. Further, you can't start the deeper stages of sleep until after the digestion finishes - about 2-3 hours - so smaller/earlier/nonexistent dinners will help you get the most out of your sleep, which, from what I hear about babies, you're gonna need. A kind of cheesy phrase they had for it was 'king's breakfast, prince's lunch, bum's dinner.' Ok, I made that last part up. It was actually 'pauper's supper.' But who the hell uses the word 'pauper' anymore, or even 'supper' for that matter? Granted, my version sounds like it advises forties of malt liquor before bed... Who knows, sometimes that might be a great way to take the edge off the crying.

Good luck.

Locker · · Yucca Valley, CA · Joined Oct 2002 · Points: 2,349

It's not over. It's just begining.

fat cow · · St. Paul, MN · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 10

Dude no, it's not over.
I don't know about anyone else, but my newborn loves it outside, it's pretty much the only place she won't cry. If they are crying; hungry, diaper dirty, tired, warm, cold, or just wanting mommas attention. Those seem to be the only reason my baby cries, its their only way to communicate and let you know whats up so just check them out. Obviously people don't like listenting to babies scream while climbing and trying to focus, so just calm them down if they do.

Like someone above said, bring a third person to watch your kid if you are climbing outside, keep them safe away from the cliff. Mine is a bit young still so my gal won't go for bringing her outdoor climbing, but it would be easy if you brought a playmat or carried a chair out there with you. I think really young is the best time to bring them out actually, they are content to chill and aren't running around putting themselves in danger.

Don't give up on climbing, get exited about it with a youngster, they will likely crush much harder than you ever will, and thats pretty motivating.

coop Best · · Glenwood Springs, CO · Joined Jan 2005 · Points: 485
rogerbenton · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2011 · Points: 210

more positivness here.
things will be focused on the new one for a while (a few years),
as they should,
but after a while the trips can be phased back in.
when she was 4 my daughter pulled of multiple consecutive hiking days doing 2-4 miles a day.
plus, kids send hard in the gym early.
in the meantime, master the local crags, train, find other climbers with kids who can trade/share babysitting and go on trips with and most of all, enjoy the miracle of life you and your lady have created.

congrats!

Chris Plesko · · Westminster, CO · Joined Oct 2007 · Points: 485

We've got an almost 18 month old. All kids are different so what someone says may or may not apply to you. That being said, it's definitely not over. Your focus may or may not change though. I spent the last year doing a lot more bouldering than before due to a personal decision to limit my soloing. Since my son's birth I've still made number gains in all my climbing areas except for maybe overall volume of routes climbed.

From a time perspective, my current grad school while working situation has had a FAR more detrimental effect on my free time than having a child.

Umph! · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2004 · Points: 180

Why aren't you all being honest with Senda?

It is, without question. . . over. Finito!
Sorry. You've made a mistake, and now you'll have to live with it.

A few things to prepare for:
Boredom.
With boredom comes alcohol or drug dependancy (usually both). Reality will be that deadend place between bong-hits, vodka shots, a screaming wife and a sleepless food processor that appears to be missing an adequate exhaust system.
Nagging.
That beautiful wife of yours will soon change. . . and drastically! All of her energies will be channeled into one endless, loud, nag. And by "nag" I mean a pride of lions determined to kill you. And she just may.
Survival.
You will soon find yourself in a constant survival mode. Your paranoia will become off the charts lunacy. Your wife will constantly demand you put food into the processor, clean out the processor's exhaust system or hold the damned thing (I guess tilting it quiets those dry, screeching bearings). DONT GIVE IN!! It's an f'in trap! Hold your ground (keep your weapons at the ready!) and stay in your lounge chair, watching teevee, snappin' bongers and taking shots. SURVIVAL MODE!
Homelessness.
You will be homeless. The Sheriff will escort you from your once-beloved castle, and will wait until you drive off in your loaded van. Don't worry, life is soon to get better.
Peace.
You will find true peace (and quiet!) while living in your van, down by the river. No one will bother you. You can, alas, smoke and drink yourself into absolute (which is a descent vodka btw) serenity. Don't give up. . . peace will come.

If you fail to follow this advice. . . good luck. I hope you don't stop the life you're living now, and simply consider it a nice addition. I hear that the processor will soon become a person that can do laborous chores - I'm not sure, but word down by the river is that it happens, sometimes.

Braden Downey · · Bishop, CA · Joined Feb 2007 · Points: 110

Find inspiration in John Frieh. alpinist.com/doc/web11w/new…

Has a couple kids and gets after it... big time. He told me his secret is "time managment"... and training like Mark Twight.

Christian "crisco" Burrell · · PG, Utah · Joined May 2007 · Points: 1,815

My climbing didn't really get cup into much until child #2.
I remember that lots of guys were really into the game until they had kids and then the disappeared. But I've also seen tons of guys start to get back into in after the kids hit their teens. So it may slow down/end for a little while, but you can always come back. Take up biking in the meanwhile. You can get in a good spin for an hour and feel good. And you don't abandon the family for the day.

Monomaniac · · Morrison, CO · Joined Oct 2006 · Points: 17,295
SendaGorilla wrote:IS THE CLIMBING OVER???
No, but the sex is!
Glenn Schuler · · Monument, Co. · Joined Jun 2006 · Points: 1,330
Monomaniac wrote: No, but the sex is!
Ouch! You're in trouble dude....
darren · · Durango, Colorado · Joined Jun 2001 · Points: 0

Be prepared to get ridiculously efficient and you will do great!

D Condit · · Colorado Springs, CO · Joined Aug 2011 · Points: 95
Belayer

Give it a couple years and you'll have someone to belay you when your wife is tired.
BackCountry Sortor · · Ogden, UT · Joined Oct 2009 · Points: 400

Consider yourself lucky! I'm about 17 months into being a daddy and it's the best thing ever. We do a lot of bouldering trips and I'm way more stoked to see my little guy emulate his dad on a 18" rock than send at my personal best.

The climbing isn't over but the status quo ante is.

Chris Clarke · · Davis, WV · Joined Apr 2009 · Points: 130

I have a 20 year old son and a 6 year old daughter. I can climb more and better now than ever before I had children. If you love climbing and your family, you can find a way to make it work for you and your partner. But don't forget there is a bigger world out there beyond climbing.

Jeff Johnston · · Bozeman, MT · Joined Sep 2010 · Points: 110

No its not over. But expect a bit of a lull in the climbing. Take every other weekend one week you climb the next your spouse. After a a bit you kiddos will start getting in to some of the thing you like to do. When able introduce them to climbing.
One good thing is that they will start out slimbing very easy things, so use that time to start getting back in to climbing shape. They progress fast.

Burton Lindquist · · Madison, WI · Joined Jan 2002 · Points: 4,215

Its "The Beginning of a Great Adventure"

Lou Reed "New York" album 1989....

Joe Huggins · · Grand Junction · Joined Oct 2001 · Points: 105

Relax-you're gonna be fine.Presuming that you want to be a dad,the time you spend with your kid will be the best of your life;climbing included.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

General Climbing
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