By Daryl Allan
From Sierra Vista, AZ
Dec 30, 2010
| Please excuse the proud father gloating over his over-achieving 5yr old.
Well, she had her picture printed in Climbing magazine about a year ago climbing some holds screwed to a 4x6 post on the back porch. Over the last year she has since done several top ropes and a couple weeks ago, she asked to take the sharp end. It went something like "Daddy, i want to climb with the rope at the bottom and use those shiny things like you and Angel..". I knew precisely what she meant and happily obliged immediately gathering all the pads, cushions, etc i could find to pile up below the woody (recently installed on the back porch). I added a couple hangers and some hasty "gym" draws, tied her in and sent her up.
The pads were high enough (lol) that she was able to stand up and two-handed clip the first draw. She would sit back down, then climb up to the 2nd bolt where the troubles began.. ah, how to clip on an overhung wall with two hands? Enter the frustrations associated with fishing a climbing rope into a carabiner while it swings wildly away from your best intentions, using a hand a fraction of the size the equipment was designed for, all while your other hand greasing off the holds again and again .. and again.
After about a good fifteen to twenty minute struggle.. success! We captured the moment among hundreds of others (God bless the digital camera) in a three - part sequence. What was most amazing about it all was that she immediately said "clipped" and continued up to the next bolt, attempted to clip, blew it and took her first full-on lead fall! The neighbors were probably trying to figure out what channel the Superbowl was playing on and why it was so early.
Anyone else have any kids climbing photos and/or stories to share? | 
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By J Antin
From Denver, CO
Dec 30, 2010
| Daryl Allan wrote: Please excuse the proud father gloating over his over-achieving 5yr old. Well, she had her picture printed in Climbing magazine about a year ago climbing some holds screwed to a 4x6 post on the back porch. Over the last year she has since done several top ropes and a couple weeks ago, she asked to take the sharp end. It went something like "Daddy, i want to climb with the rope at the bottom and use those shiny things like you and Angel..". I knew precisely what she meant and happily obliged immediately gathering all the pads, cushions, etc i could find to pile up below the woody (recently installed on the back porch). I added a couple hangers and some hasty "gym" draws, tied her in and sent her up. The pads were high enough (lol) that she was able to stand up and two-handed clip the first draw. She would sit back down, then climb up to the 2nd bolt where the troubles began.. ah, how to clip on an overhung wall with two hands? Enter the frustrations associated with fishing a climbing rope into a carabiner while it swings wildly away from your best intentions, using a hand a fraction of the size the equipment was designed for, all while your other hand greasing off the holds again and again .. and again. After about a good fifteen to twenty minute struggle.. success! We captured the moment among hundreds of others (God bless the digital camera) in a three - part sequence. What was most amazing about it all was that she immediately said "clipped" and continued up to the next bolt, attempted to clip, blew it and took her first full-on lead fall! The neighbors were probably trying to figure out what channel the Superbowl was playing on and why it was so early. Anyone else have any kids climbing photos and/or stories to share?
In her approach shoes no less! |
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By Kbird
From Lakewood, CO
Dec 30, 2010
| Congrats!! That is adorable. She'll become a badass climber I'm sure, starting that young! :) |
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By Shawn Mitchell
From Broomfield
Dec 30, 2010
| Very cool, Daryl! Except I'm a little traumatized by your beautiful young lady's appearance, since I thought just yesterday she looked like this:
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By Eric Krantz
From Black Hills
Dec 30, 2010
| You've just won the coveted 2010 MP Feel Good Post of the Year award. With one day to spare, no less. Good job. |
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By Tim Powers
Dec 30, 2010
| My son bouldering on our woodie.
| My son bouldering at home.
Submitted By: Tim Powers on Dec 30, 2010
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By Mike Lane
From Centennial, CO
Dec 30, 2010
| | Chloe (9) on Lichen the Old Country.
Submitted By: Mike Lane on Mar 15, 2009
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Chloe on Lichen the Old Country (.10C/D), age 9 |
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By Mike Lane
From Centennial, CO
Dec 30, 2010
| Shawn Mitchell wrote: Very cool, Daryl! Except I'm a little traumatized by your beautiful young lady's appearance, since I thought just yesterday she looked like this:
I know that lots of MP'ers have wrestling backgrounds. Shawn's son is top 20 NCAA Div. 1 at 190 lbs., which is by multitudes harder than merely being a State Champion in HS, which is in and of itself a massive achievement. Not climbing related, but this is about like having your kid climb .14C |
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By Kyle Roseborrough
Dec 30, 2010
| Ok, I'll throw one in the mix. My 3 year old bouldering on our home wall.
| Crushing (or at least trying) on our home wall.
Submitted By: Kyle Roseborrough on Dec 30, 2010
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By Shawn Mitchell
From Broomfield
Dec 30, 2010
| Mike Lane wrote: I know that lots of MP'ers have wrestling backgrounds. Shawn's son is top 20 NCAA Div. 1 at 190 lbs., which is by multitudes harder than merely being a State Champion in HS, which is in and of itself a massive achievement. Not climbing related, but this is about like having your kid climb .14C
Thanks Mike! Better post a climbing pic first. Here are 20 yr old Danny and older sister Natalie near the top of Freeway on the Second Flatiron, the day before Christmas.
| Danny and Natalie near the top of Freeway on the Second Flatiron
Submitted By: Shawn Mitchell on Dec 30, 2010
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And here's Danny at last year's NCAA Championships as a rare freshman. This year he's fighting some injuries but ranked 16th in the country at 197. He wants to wrestle Dad, but I'm not stupid.
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By Monomaniac
Administrator
From Morrison, CO
Dec 30, 2010
| Shawn Mitchell wrote: here's Danny at last year's NCAA Championships as a rare freshman. This year he's fighting some injuries but ranked 16th in the country at 197. He wants to wrestle Dad, but I'm not stupid.
That's awesome Shawn! |
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By Chris Horton
From Tucson AZ
Dec 30, 2010
| Daryl, those bolts look way better than the ones you were clipping on Sunday. (We were a couple routes up from you). Nice pics! |
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By Calirado
Jan 1, 2011
| Great kid pics! Keep 'em coming! |
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By Woodchuck ATC
Jan 1, 2011
| There is/was a lengthy post here at MP at least a year ago with tons of kids climbing shots. Wonder where it is now....lots of greats ones there if you can reference it. |
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By Noah8000
From Arvada, CO
Jan 1, 2011
| Well I'm starting to enter the adult years now. Currently 18 and many still look at me as a kid. (Maybe I still am considering all my partners are quite a bit older then me) I didn't clip bolts at an age of 9 or younger....very impressive! One of my accomplishments this last summer was climbing the Diamond.
| On the Casual Route of the Diamond
Submitted By: Noah8000 on Jan 1, 2011
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By M Lindfors
From Highlands Ranch
Jan 2, 2011
| | Mr. Squirrel Places A Nut 5.11c
Ben at age 12
Submitted By: M Lindfors on Jan 2, 2011
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One of my favorite photos. His hardest send (no falls on lead) is 12c. My hardest climb is the approach to Primo Wall or Highlander at Clear Creek, CO |
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By M Lindfors
From Highlands Ranch
Jan 2, 2011
| | A 5.10 at Conspiracy Crag in Clear Creek, CO
Submitted By: M Lindfors on Jan 2, 2011
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My daughter also climbs Kayleigh at age 14. |
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By Daryl Allan
From Sierra Vista, AZ
Jan 2, 2011
| Wow!! These are all incredible. I don't even know where to start! Thanks for the flashback Shawn.. yeah it's so hard to believe. I've been busy just trying to absorb every amazing minute of her growing up. :)
Keep those awesome pictures coming. You're right Woodchuck.. before i started this one i went back several pages of a forum post search for "kids climbing" and couldn't seem to find it. It's in there somewhere though.. |
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By Garrett Gladden
From Bend, Oregon
Jan 2, 2011
| Carter, age four, doing the Meadowcamp Traverse here in Bend, Oregon.
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By Ty Meadows
From Moab, UT
Jan 3, 2011
| | My little rock betty, Mary, age five, on Wall Street.
Submitted By: Ty Meadows on Jan 3, 2011
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By Chris Plesko
From Westminster, CO
Jan 3, 2011
| JJ is just starting out. I have to get better fast or he'll soon outclimb me!
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By Monomaniac
Administrator
From Morrison, CO
Jan 3, 2011
| Generally speaking, you want to use your middle finger for mono moves. That way you can flip people off while pantomiming the beta. |
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By Quinn Lee
From Long Beach, CA
Jan 3, 2011
| How about a free solo team, ages 8 and 6, near the eastern sierras (truthfully, just a short scramble "enhanced" with the camera angle)!
| Scrambling Eastern Sierras (Age 8 and 6)
Submitted By: Quinn Lee on Jan 3, 2011
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