How young could someone start ice climbing?

RobC2 wrote: You don't actually have any of children of your own, do you...

No but I have a manchild...

Well ye sherpa kids start early too. Technical ice is different from trekking. And would you like to post a picture of an adult climbing ice without helmet? Technical ice. I will add it to my collection of most stupid photos. A little off subject but how young do you start power lifting or bodybuilding? It is safer than ice climbing to a degree...Although will they be able to reach their full potential earlier and be better than their peers who started at an older age? The question is not "when"..It's "why" .
Why starting your kids young climbing technical ice? So you can get to your own playground and get the parenting thing out of the way too? There is time for everything.

Saguaro wrote: And would you like to post a picture of an adult climbing ice without helmet? Technical ice. I will add it to my collection of most stupid photos.

Well Saguaro, you asked for one....here it is (but pre-helmet days). Who IS this guy?

"An adult ice climbing without a helmet".

Optimistic wrote:I'm guessing 8 or 10? Seems like the strength and precision needed to swing the tool would be hard for someone much younger. This is independent of the judgement needed to get out of the way of falling ice and such, which might develop even later!

8-10 sounds reasonable to start. I would make sure to have a bit of rock climbing experience first, mainly to be sure the child is familiar with ropes and the falling/lowering situations. A thermos of hot chocolate is likely required. Keep it fun, of course.

no I don't know who it is or what climb he is on. I dig the way he tied the rope around his waist! Yea it's going in the "stupid" file. Along with some old dude in a bandana on an Eldo route with a beer in his hand and another crusty oldtimer with army boots and a manila rope around his waist, and another old one with a pair of wings strapped to his arms standing on a roof top, and a few more Yosemite bums getting high then soloing some routes...still stupid to me! Oh, don't forget lycra pants on dudes too! Heck, lets all don lycra, ditch helmets, strap on home made crampons and go straight shaft hacking while high on LSD! that will show em!

Jason Todd wrote: 8-10 sounds reasonable to start. I would make sure to have a bit of rock climbing experience first, mainly to be sure the child is familiar with ropes and the falling/lowering situations. A thermos of hot chocolate is likely required. Keep it fun, of course.

simply put: bribe yer kid with chocolate to freeze his juvee bum while holding with the dear life onto an ice tool that is bigger than his leg!

Saguaro, I was (sort of) teasing when you asked for a pic of an "adult climbing technical ice w/o a helmet". This is a good photo, but I don't think it belongs in your "Stupid" file. Start a new one: "Pioneer File".

It's Yvon Chouinard on the 3rd ascent of the New Hampshire classic "Repentance".

Warbonnet wrote:Saguaro, I was (sort of) teasing when you asked for a pic of an "adult climbing technical ice w/o a helmet". This is a good one is it not, but I don't think it belongs in your "Stupid" file. Start a new one: "Pioneer File". It's Yvon Chouinard on the 3rd ascent of the New Hampshire classic "Repentance". A lot going on in that photo. We've all come a long way...and he's more than helped pave it. Stay safe. And lucky.

Ye I kinda figured that. People like me would not have the safety techniques and the equipment to climb mountains if it was not for the hardmen of the past. I get your point.
Some people here will argue a subject like this for the argument's sake. Clearly finding excuses for their own poor judgement calls. They are refusing to see my point because of my "reputation" of being extremely direct and not taking any shit.
The photo will be removed from the "stupid file" and placed into "pioneer file".

saguaro sandy wrote: No but I have a manchild...

Ach, ach, then ya know not shite...

our kid started at 4, but the weight of the boots and crampons are his biggest struggle. we have built some custom ice tools that are lighter and easier. he is 5 now and some days he climbs 4 pitches and others none

My son is 2 and begs me to take him climbing. Says he wants to ice climb as well. Not bribed or contrived. Always mentions a helmet too actually. I will get him doing both as soon as I see it to be safe.
I have dreamed of climbing EVERYTHING since I was 5-6. The nose of El Cap became a dream/life goal of mine when I was 9. Would have traded any playground or ninja turtle to have the mountains, or some parents who knew anything about climbing much less facilitate it for me.

As early as they want. My little dude almost topped out on Donorcicle when he was about 6 and a half, I was yarding on him but he pulled himself up. Wouldn't come down even after a bit o' ice got him in the chin (yes I'm still waiting for the state to show up and snag my kids). His little sis 4 has done Deadbolt, again me pulling while she swung the Grivel Lil Monsters. They never HAVE to climb, they usually want to but many times pass because they'd rather slide around on the ice and soak out. Gear? Grivel lil monsters, grivel and bd strap on crampons, petzl picchu helmets, lots of hand warmers, hot cocoa and donuts, just hang a donut from the top... I'll post pics when I find them

My daughter started at 10 years old - and LOVES it. Here she is climbing near Lake Placid last weekend.

My daughter

Bonnet, you seem to make sense. I would greatly appreciate the pic of the "helmet couple" but we move too frequently to keep a permanent address. Post it here.

That picture of Yvon is awesome. Never seen it before; thanks for posting it. Man, chimneying up ice would scare the crap out of me.

Around 8 depending on kid. Availability of gear that fit them and that they could use would be a limiting factor. Another would be their judgement to use it safely. Ouray ice festival has young kids on the beginners wall. San Juan mountain guides knows how old the youngest are.

Whenever they show interest , but I'd take them out first for a dry run when it's cold as fuck, then we would stay all day . If they still showed an interest then I'd consider tooling em up , boots and crampons , tools I'd probably give em the Quasar compacts w/o the hammers , short, light and a good start for someone small .

It's ur kids people but this isn't gym climbing , last time I checked there was no chucky cheese in Ouray .your there parents and u know ur kid better then anyone which makes this post kind of moot really.when your sure it will be an endeavor they will persue and not another pile of unused gear gathering dust with the rest in the land of misfit/ miss used toys .then it's time to pull the trigger on gear .

I treat kids and women who want to climb equally with a skeptical eye until proven otherwise . Money wasted is well spent elsewhere .

Just took my 6-year-old daughter ice climbing today for the first time. Super safe spot. Tiny routes. Then she wanted to try a mixed line, and then a dry tooling problem. All of it her motivation, even going in the first place. Kinda blew my mind. Check it out here:
Check it out here.

6-year-old discovering ice

Great story and photos, Topher!

Though not ice climbing, my wife and I have been toting along our 3.5 year old son on our rock climbing getaways since he was 3 mos. old. It's our belief that paramount to a child's development are real, visceral experiences that give a kid a sense of accomplishment, strength of body/mind, and confidence. Sure, iThings help sooth the savage beast sometimes and allow mom/dad some solace (I'm certainly guilty of it!), but so does getting outside and getting dirty, and at a minutiae of the cost!

Topher,

I agree with Chris: great story & photos. Love the pic of your daughter's dry tooling MXR attempt....she's trying to work out the problem....great stuff. Ready for your mind blowing "Smear" climb on the Diamond.

Someone should make a calendar of these ice climbing kids. We have "Stone Nudes" and a zillion other calendars, why not "Kid Ice Klimbers"? At a minimum, your daughter has set the "stylin'" trend!