Climbing ... while towing along an infant

SAL wrote:Go with a small pop tent . bring a dvd player if she is in to that sort of thing.

The down fall of our Society! Tune in and Tune out!

Ian F. wrote: The down fall of our Society! Tune in and Tune out!

I am guessing maybe you don't have kids or you have the patience of God.

http://outdoorbaby.net/climbing

I found this to be useful. I have a 14 month old and I'm psyched to get her outside. I have the same concerns as everyone else here.

I am hoping to meet some like minded climbing parents to come climbing and share child care responsibilities...

Probably a long shot but... Anyone that climbs in the Gunks or Dacks with kids, give me shout...

Saw this once in the middle of Real Hidden Valley--an unattended sleeping infant in a contraption consisting of two playpens, one on top of the other, tied together with long webbing arranged like ribbon on a package.

Advantages--breeze, shade, reasonable protection from snakes.

Disadvantages--could become airborne in stiff wind, would likely not stop a coyote or bobcat, requires two playpens, can't use the webbing to rig TR on the Beave.

Not too concerned with rock fall at the Buttermilks...

Thanks for the tip on the small pup tent. We found one at Target last night (inflatable base) -- should be easy to drag around from boulder to boulder.

johnL wrote:Drop him off at the local fire department. Once you've finished your roadtrip, volunteer to be his foster parent.

Brilliant!!!!!!!!

I've seen many people bring small tents and miniature playpens. However although rockfall wouldn't be of any concern at the Happy's, Sad's, or the Buttermilk's the rattlesnakes are. I was bouldering near Stain Glass at the Buttermilk's and looked around for snakes. As I went up this arete as soon I came down not 5-ft from my pad were two Rattlesnakes shaking their rattles at me. I couldn't believe it since I had just looked for snakes not one minute before. I've also seen them hangout at the left side of the Ironman Traverse.

Yeah - there are two dens at the Milks that I know of -- one near Ironman and one near Stained Glass. :)

What if I wrap her in burlap?

Years ago at J-Tree I kept running into this couple with a toddler. On the 1-pitch climbs they used a harness/leash arrangement. When I found them on a multi-pitch route, they'd set up a play-pen, upside down, with rocks on it to contain/protect the child. I never thought about the snakes until this thread.

rob bauer wrote:Years ago at J-Tree I kept running into this couple with a toddler. On the 1-pitch climbs they used a harness/leash arrangement. When I found them on a multi-pitch route, they'd set up a play-pen, upside down, with rocks on it to contain/protect the child. I never thought about the snakes until this thread.

My wife would string me up by the short 'n' curlies if I even mentioned doing this. Single pitch, a very distant possibility. Multi - no effing way. That's hardcore.

Hopefully this was many years ago....like when we were allowed to smoke on airplanes and drove our newborns home in our lap.

What about a bear bag type of contraption. Get the baby in their Bjorn all nestled in, and string them up by a rope between two boulder or trees, that way they would be safe from snakes, rockfall, most dirtbags, bobcats, and all but the craftiest of Yosemite bears.

Or you could just convince your lonely friend to drive 6 hours from San Diego to help babysit while you send Seven Spanish Angels!

"Years ago at J-Tree I kept running into this couple with a toddler. On the 1-pitch climbs they used a harness/leash arrangement. When I found them on a multi-pitch route, they'd set up a play-pen, upside down, with rocks on it to contain/protect the child. I never thought about the snakes until this thread."

I cant even imagine coming home and telling my wife we did this....holy CPS Batman!

Fine, Jon -- you can come spot while Erin holds the baby...

...I'm just trying to find a solution for *after* you leave Bishop and it's just the wife and I.

And yeah, I did consider bringing her door-frame-bouncy chair, but i'd have to bring some cams if I wanted to set her up on a boulder...

Wait...just to clarify: Are you saying someone went up on a multi-pitch climb with the kid trapped in an upside down play-pen? Alone?

Taking a one year old climbing is difficult. I would count ANY climbing you get as a bonus for the day...relax and just enjoy being outside.

Don't forget a small army of wipes, water, food, a big blanket, extra clothes, etc...save the plastic toys for home and let them explore. Though you might want to bring a few once they get bored with the dirt. I second the mesh tent or play-pen or pack-n-play. Don't forget to keep them out of the sun somehow. A beach umbrella might be nice...if they will stay under it.

Paul Hunnicutt wrote: Don't forget to keep them out of the sun somehow. A beach umbrella might be nice...if they will stay under it.

2nd the umbrella, this is key! I wish I could be of more help but I'm trying to figure out the same thing. I have found bouldering the only thing that is remotely possible with just 2 people. 3 people opens up many more possibilities. This is the only way I have been able to do single pitch routes, forget about anything multi pitch. The easiest thing I have found while bouldering is to work out the moves while the other one amuses the kid. Once they take the hour nap,(hopefully), now you are ready to send. Good luck, let me know if you find any easier tricks.

I don't see the problem with lugging around a pack and play. They weight about 25 lbs. and the Milks has really easy approaches. I saw one dedicated couple carrying one into the Owens River Gorge by the long southern approach. That's about a 20 min. walk. Some of the Milks have approaches as short as 5-30 seconds, so you've got no excuse. One parent gets the kid; one gets the crib. Leave the pad at home. If Dale Bard did HPD without one, you can too.

Having said that, a little tent isn't that bad of a comprimise, especially if you toss in some toys. A pack and plan does seem safer though and more child friendly.

ah, just throw em in the haul bag and fix em to the anchor

11 months is too old to do anything besides swapping off childcare duties so bouldering is a good choice. The tent will maybe work for about 15 minutes unless you're very lucky. I'm impressed you're going for it and good luck!

Peter Beal wrote:11 months is too (young?) to do anything besides swapping off childcare duties so bouldering is a good choice. The tent will maybe work for about 15 minutes unless you're very lucky. I'm impressed you're going for it and good luck!

Agreed, I think you need to stop thinking of it as "Climbing ... while towing along an infant", and start moving toward "Having fun with your kid in the outdoors ... and possibly doing some climbing".

George Bell wrote: Agreed, I think you need to stop thinking of it as "Climbing ... while towing along an infant", and start moving toward "Having fun with your kid in the outdoors ... and possibly doing some climbing".

With two to look after, that's pretty much where I'm at. I miss climbing more often, but I'll miss it when they're no longer little even more. One of these days though...

Fat Dad wrote: I miss climbing more often, but I'll miss it when they're no longer little even more.

That there is some wisdom...

I heard a good one along the same lines. "With children the days are long but the years are short."