needtoclimb

As the title says. No scratches or blemishes. Comes with a case, cleaning cloth and strap. I can ship them for 10$ more. I live just north of Mill Creek. Please e-mail me at kevin.tcd.org as I don't check this site very often anymore.

Thanks all. This is exactly the beta I was looking for. Firsthand knowledge of the late-season route. I appreciate it. We will go look for something else. Now, any recommendations fun technical (or semi-technical) route near the Hood area for a party of three. I don't get down to that area often (Except to climb at Smith), so it would be fun to bag a peak while I am down there.

Thanks. I have never climbed it this late in the season. I'll bring my tools and screws. Worst that can happen is its too icy, and we hike back down, still getting out on a mountain and some good exercise.

I'll be taking the family camping around the Mt. Hood area the second week of August and am looking for recommendations for a one-day ascent of Hood. It will be my wife and I doing the climb (while the grandparents watch our kids.) I have done the south chute and Leuthold Coulour, both much earlier in the season. Is the south chute still doable? Does it turn into an ice climb: screws, tools and rope? (that's not a big deal, I am just asking so I know what gear to bring down on the camping trip.) Any other routes that I should consider? thanks

Thanks. I played with this site and it is great. I then learned from other blogs that I can save the PDF to my computer, upload it to a local Fed Ex Office Center, and have an 11 x 17 printed for $1.50! Sure beats using my crappy ink-jet printer at home. Quality map for under two bucks. My next question is regarding Caltopo. Is there a way to grid north-south lines to allow for a bearing to be taken from the map without having to orient the map to north (using the north-south lines on the compass aligning with north-south lines on the map.) The site makes adding an UTM grid very easy, but not for adding north-south lines. I can do it by hand, but it would be faster and cleaner if the software could do it. Also, I read that painting the map with Thompson's Water Seal creates a very water-resistant map that can still be folded. I'm going to try that and will report back how well it works. Technology has come along ways from lugging around half a dozen giant USGS 7.5 maps.

My old set of Topo CD's are now scratched beyond use. Where do you guys (and gals) get your maps from? Software or free downloads? Mazama site used to have a great topo map section with routes already drawn on the map, but the site doesn't connect anymore.

We found another great climbing family using this site and often get out with them, but our plans and weekends don't always line up so my plan is to get a handful of climbing/hiking families and make an informal group where any of us can contact anyone else to set something up.

I live in Everett. Shoot me a PM or e-mail. We often go to Exit 38, hike anywhere, and ski Stevens. My view of hiking is to make it fun for the kids, so in a couple more years they want to hike, and we can do week-long hikes as a family. If I can get one of my kids to really get into climbing, I'll have a rope gun as I get older! Backpacking trips are short (2-3 miles) to a lake or river. Wife and I carry monster packs, kids carry a water bladder pack. Its about getting them interested into the outdoors.

My wife and I climb, ski, hike, backpack and alpine climb. We have a three year old girl and five year old boy. I have found that kids enjoy hiking/climbing, etc so much more when there is someone else their age with them. I am looking for outdoorsy families to get out and play. If interested, shoot me an e-mail at kevin@tcd.org

My wife and I climb, ski, hike, backpack and alpine climb. We have a three year old girl and five year old boy. I have found that kids enjoy hiking/climbing, etc so much more when there is someone else their age with them. I am looking for outdoorsy families to get out and play. If interested, shoot me an e-mail at kevin@tcd.org

Bwahahaha! Hard sport, 12's. You must have missed the part about the small children. I'm happy to lead a .9 anymore. Thanks for all the advise. We ended up going to exit 38 Grit Stone. It was fun, though easy and very short routes. Squamish is on the list for end of summer, need to get our passports. New Millenium looks decent. I think we'll give that a go on the next outing. Oh, and if anyone else also has small kids and want to do some family climbing, drop me a PM. Both my wife and I climb. The adults don't get a lot of climbing in, but its as much about the climbing as it is getting the kids outside and exposed to the rock. If I can get my kids into a harness and on a rope once during the day, I consider it a successful day.

I am getting back into climbing now that my kids, ages 2 and 4, are old enough to play outside all day, require no diaper changes and enjoy getting dirty. I haven't climbed at Mr. Erie in ages and forget if it is kid friendly. By kid friendly, I mean there are no scrambles to get to the crag, the base of the crag is flat and not on a cliff, and a fairly reasonable approach. Exit 38 far side-Kid friendly Exit 38 trestles--not so much Vantage feathers-kid friendly (except for snakes) Vantage Sunshine wall-nope. Its all cliff Index Lower Town Wall-kid friendly. Exit 32--Yes, but a bit of hike in to get to the climbs Smith Rocks-Yes Any advice on kid-friendly crags at Mt. Erie?

I bought these about 5 years ago, worn them about 5 times. They are just too big for me. Time to clean out the excess stuff in gear room so I am selling them for $50 as I just don't want them and would rather see them put to use then in the garbage can. Nothing wrong with them other than normal wear and tear from 5 uses. $50 if you pick up, $65 shipped to your place. I live in Everett, work in Seattle so possible to meet somewhere along the way. They were $250 new, can find them for about $150 now on the internet: http://www.gravityfed.com/outdoorgear/outlet/Kayland-MXT-Mountaineering-Boot---Mens.html

The Sherpani has treated me real well. Two years ago my wife and I took the baby for an overnight back pack. The Sherpani had enough room (with the additional daypack attached) for kid and light gear, and the wife carried the rest. The Sherpani has a lot of room in it. I now have a 10 month old. So I needed another pack. I purchased the new Osprey Poco back. (the middle version. It has a couple more accessories, but not the attachable day pack.) It is very comfortable and very well made. Osprey knows packs and they developed it with the hiker in mind. It doesn't have as much overall bulky storage, but does have several pockets for stuffing the water bottle, gloves, etc without having to take off the pack everytime you need something. The really nice thing about the Osprey is the integrated sunshade. The Sherpani's is separate, and there have been many times I have forgotten it and wished I had it. The downside is that you need to purchase a separate rain fly for the Osprey. (Truth be told, if it is raining hard enough to use it, I'm not taking my baby out into the elements. Though I am jealous of that skiing picture.) I highly recommend it. If cost is an issue, there are quite a few Sherpani's on craigslist. Both are good packs. I prefer the Osprey, but you won't go wrong with the Sherpani. I have never used the Deuter, so can't compare it. Any questions, shoot me a PM.

Going from an avid climber to a father of a one year old, I am all about the kids play area. That would get me back in the climbing gym.

Trip: Dorothy Lake Date: 9/8/2011 Trip Report: This isn't a climbing TR, but with a 7-month old boy, this is about as adventurous as I can get for a little while. My wife and I haven't been backpacking for over a year, and it was time. We convinced my sister and her husband to join us with their 1-year old girl. We chose Dorothy Lake near Skykomish. It is an easy 2.5 mile approach which meant we could quickly bail if something happened. My sister on the left, my wife and boy on the right. Very easy trail. Group break time, complete with huckleberries. Down at the lake. Time for bed. Babies naturally wake up for an alpine start, but us parents wanted to sleep in. It was a fun trip. My wife and I are looking for more like-minded parents to do more trips. If you don't climb much anymore due to an addition to the family, but still wish to get out, drop me a PM. We want to do some more hikes and get back into the mountains. And perhaps trade babysitting so the parents can go do a real climb again?

My wife and I have a 7 month old boy, and after 7 months of inactivity, we are ready to get back outside. We are looking for other families to go climbing/camping/hiking, etc. We are going to attempt Lake Serene (at the base of Mt Index) hike this Thurs, Sept 1st. Anyone interested in getting out? Kevin. send me a PM with ur phone number, and I will give you a ring.

I ended up going with the Sherpani Rhumba. I tried the Sherpani Superlight, but its not adjustable and doesn't fit a 6=foot tall frame. I tried the Deuter II and III, and just found that the Sherpani fit me better. Kid loves it, so I love it.

Looking for more advice. My son is now 3 months old, with very good head control. We bought the Ergo front carrier, he hated it. He likes to look forward, and enjoys the moby and baby bjorn. However, I only enjoy those for a couple of miles before they become uncomfortable. 3 months is probably a little young for the back pack, but hey, I can start my research now. Any suggestions? I would love to be able to do an overnighter backpacking trip this summer when he is a bit older, so I am looking for a back that is light, carries the child comfortable, and has options for storage so I can carry some of the gear. thanks

I agree that Adams in July is your best bet. Hood in March can be nice, or fatal, and if you don't have a ton of mountain experience, you can quickly get in over your head if weather rolls in. You should have great weather in July, or if anything, just some drizzle. If we had a heavy snow-pack like last year, I would recommend Hood in July, but with the rather pathetic snow so far this year, it might be fairly sloppy by then, and the lower part might be a lot of ash. It is still very doable though, so either peak would work, but Adams would be my suggestion. Take two days. Spend the night at Lunch Counter. I think this would really expand your knowledge and experience by spending the night on the mountain. Also, it doesn't require the midnight start that a 1-day ascent would. (and a 1 day ascent of Adams without skis is a very very long day.) REI, Marmot Mountain works, Outdoor Research are all places in Seattle where you can rent gear. As the previous posters stated, bring ice axe and crampons. Strap-on crampons that will fit with decent leather boots will be fine. Here is the forest service website for climbing Adams: http://www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/recreation/mount-adams/ You are interested in the "South Climb."

I have a two-week old, and looking for a comfortable front carrier for short hikes. Anyone have any suggestions? The Snugli carrier I have now is not real comfortable with no hip belt, so it kills my lower back and the baby flops like a fish in it. I am a 6'0 male weighing 190 lbs. Anyone have any suggestions?

Superfeet inserts might also help. A bit more spendy than the wool inserts, but they give good arch support along with an added layer of insulation between the ground and your foot. http://www.superfeet.com/ Never heard of aerogel insoles. I agree with kinnikinnick advice. Do you have room to wiggle your toes? If you cannot wiggle your toes with 2-3 socks on, you are decreasing blood flow and movement, thus colder feet. You need to have enough room to move your toes a little.

Need a new camera for climbing/mountaineering/skiing, etc. Any suggestions? The Olympus Stylus Tough looks nice and rugged, as well as small and light. Anyone use one who can give me real feedback? Thanks

what cameras do you two own? I am looking for a new one, and those pics are amazing.

Wow, that was June of last year? What a difference a year makes. It is all still snow.