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Mount Monadnock > Josh's first scramble!
Josh's first scramble!
Trip Report
Josh's first scramble! Featured on the Front Page

Page Type: Trip Report

Location: New Hampshire, United States, North America

Date Climbed/Hiked: Nov 30, 1999

Activities: Hiking, Scrambling

 

Page By: tazz

Created/Edited: Jun 13, 2006 / Jun 13, 2006

Object ID: 200154

Hits: 4693 

Page Score: 89.14% - 60 Votes 

Vote: Log in to vote

 

Breaking him in slowly. : )

I know a lot of you folks are against seeing stuff submitted with or about children. This is my take on it. We all had to start somewhere. I believe it is great for kids to learn about climbing ,preserving, respecting, and enjoying mountains at an early age. It is important to pass down our knowledge to our kids. Plus it is great exercise for the body and mind. A hell of a lot better than video games! Hopefully someone will read this TR and submissions by Mr. Patterson and other members. Maybe they will take a chance and get there kids out there too. As long as they are safe and protected it is the best education.

We have taken Josh (2.5 yrs old) hiking and camping since he was 2 months old. He enjoys so much. He also learns great lessons while out in the mountains. He talks about it all the time when at home. We had a chance to climb Mt Monadnock again when we visited NH recently. We figured this would be a great first scramble for Josh.



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Mt Monadnock is the first scramble/hike I did as a teen and many times after. I have not been up it in 7-8 years since we moved. For me it was neat for my son to have this mountain as his first scramble too. Although much younger than my first time.

Josh’s first scramble some would say class 1-2 for us adults. For Josh it is definitely class 2-3. We took him up the white dot route. I was on pins and needles the whole time he was climbing the rock. He would climb a section then sit and say, “I need to figure it out”. Then pick a line and climb his way up and repeat. This took a lot of time but it was rewarding for us to watch him climb and think his way through the rock and ledges. He would ask for help when needed but for the most part he wanted to climb on his own.


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Josh climbed 90% of the rock and ledges and was very unhappy when we decided to put him in the pack (for my peace of mind) for the last very short section with the most exposure. We let him out of the pack just before the summit so he could find the marker and touch it. He was very proud that he was on top and so were we. The highlight was all the little puddles from the recent rains. He had to go to each one and put his hands in the water.

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We decided to put him in the pack for the trip down because he would have to down climb the whole way and I was scared he would fall. He was NOT happy about that at all! He kept saying every time we hit a small flat section, “ I can do this section, it is not dangerous.” (Yes he speaks very well for 2.5 yrs old) We let him try the last section of rock/ledge but he was too clumsy for my comfort and we both had to hold a hand. So back in the pack until the trail improved.

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Monadnock is perfect for little ones because there are cairns for them to find the route and also white dots. Great granite rock slabs to climb around on and quite short. The black flies SUCKED and we don’t miss them a bit! It was a beautiful day for a climb. The summit was not crowded partly because we started out early.

For us as climbers and parents, it is all about educating our future climbers!

Images



Comments

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Viewing: 41-49 of 49 « PREV 1 2 3 NEXT »

sheptradEsteemed mt.

Hasn't voted

Just read an article in Sierra Mag that talks about this mountain and the thousands that are attracted to it, especially the literary folk. Got 3 kids of my own (4,2 and 3 months). They all have been family camping since months old and taken the oldest on a couple overnighters ourselves, my favorite partner.
Posted Jun 19, 2006 5:15 am

ElliottDavisyahoo!

Voted 10/10

After reading your post, I'm happy, and impressed with your son, for his climbing, and you, for the way you are with your son. As the youngest on both sides of my family, I spent a lot of time in Josh's position; the little one figuring it out. It's good to have a coach who is enthusiastic and respectful of the time it takes the little one to do things, plus caring on the risky stuff. Great stuff.
Posted Jun 19, 2006 11:09 pm

HelgaYou're great!

Hasn't voted

I admire your dedication and patience. You are providing a very educational environment for your children by allowing them to access our tremendous playgrounds of nature at an early age. I took my boys up there, back in Europe....back then.........Then other interests grew. Am I glad, or else they would be on their path to become timber hermits like their mother...? As there is a time in life for everything, I hope that in time and at their own pace, they may return to seek great peace and spirituality in these same territories.
Have fun!
Posted Jun 20, 2006 3:38 am

climbingchictazz

Hasn't voted

I think thats AWESOME you took your kid climbing/hiking. As long as you watch them carefully, i dont think anything's wrong with it. by looking at the pics, i could tell you were being very careful with him. good example! it is also so cute that he hated being in the pack going down and wanted to try it on his own. when i have kids, i want them to learn how to climb and snowboard before they walk. k...that was said with a little humor of course, but you get my drift.
Posted Jun 20, 2006 3:53 am

bhusmannThanks for parentents like you

Hasn't voted

Thanks! I have twin 15 month daughters that live in a pack or stroller. I can't wait till they can climb a section or 2. You rock and are great parents. I agree that we are teaching our children more by having them outdoors and not playing with toys and video games. I feel that I can talk and be more with the child when I am where I belong myself! Cheers and happy trails with your son!
Kara
Posted Jun 20, 2006 6:14 am

hiltrud.liuBeautiful ...

Hasn't voted

Beautiful pictures and an important report. Thanks. I think boys and girls like climbing.
Posted Jul 2, 2006 10:11 pm

bhusmannHappy trails

Hasn't voted

Wow!!! We agree with you guys so much!!! We want our twin girls, 16 months to see the world by backpack and eventually by foot. The outdoors teaches them so much more than the TV can. Cheers to you and keep him out in nature! Happy trails!
Posted Jul 16, 2006 5:02 am

JeffLGreat Story

Voted 10/10

What a terrific TR and an inspiration to other parents thinking about getting their kids involved in hiking and climbing. I recently took my boys ages 8 and 13 on their first summit to Guadalupe Peak. Their grandmother tried to talk me out of it. To dangerous, to hard etc...yada..yada..yada. We had a great time and made memories that will last a lifetime. We're already planning our next trip. We've got our eyes on a 14ner.
Posted Nov 21, 2006 2:28 pm

csmcgranahanInspiring

Hasn't voted

Our son Ian will be six months in a few weeks. We have taken him on a few hikes in a front carrier with the longest being about 5 miles.
Posted Dec 2, 2006 5:06 pm

Viewing: 41-49 of 49 « PREV 1 2 3 NEXT »


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