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General Climbing Discussion

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Flying the flag for old people 18-Nov-2005 At 10:15:15 AM Nottobetaken

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Seth -
In these early days - it also helps to have a baby that is in the category of 'dreamer' rather than 'raver'. If you've got the former (which most people seemingly have - bastards!) - and thus the little man sleeps 21/24 hrs - then taking him to a bouldering crag shouldn't be an issue. Roped climbing of course is a tad more difficult - unless you also have a bunch of very good and understanding mates (thanks guys!) By your own admission though - it sounds like you don't have one of these 'comatose' infants (the type that sleeps through a plane crash - personally I attribute such behaviour to drugs) - so any outdoor venture in these early days in going to be problematic. Can I at this stage offer my condolences...

The answer? Wood. Get that wall built. It works wonders. Close to all amenities (a fridge) - and you probably won't even need one of those dodgy intercom systems! Yes - you'll become a full-time boulderer for the first couple of years - but then I don't think that will upset you too much! Once he's running amok - then a nice little dirty crag with a flat landing (and maybe a couple of goat-shit stained mattresses) will be the next step (no names mentioned!) By then you'll be limited to climbing 10m power routes (because you run out of steam after 12 moves) - but who wants to climb those 40m enduro-fests? Those sort of routes have always been for unemployed single people anyway.

All that said though here's the best piece of advice I can give you: Don't ever put him in a baby carrier and clip him into the 2nd bolt of your chosen project - thinking it will give you time to send that rig. Babies know the score - and if they feel like a piece of spare bagagge on the end of a cord - they'll let you, the people in the house 2kms away, and the hitchhiker in the opposite valley know about it. Don't go there man!