Cragmama "Not all who wander are lost…" JRR Tolkien

Monthly Archives: January 2012

Cragbaby’s Big Boy Climbing Gear – Part 2 (La Sportiva Stick-It)

Cragbaby’s Big Boy Climbing Gear – Part 2 (La Sportiva Stick-It)

Since Cragbaby was an especially good boy this year, he not only scored a Mad Rock Chalkbag, but also his very own pair of rock shoes – the La Sportiva Stick-Its!  Although the chalkbag is both fun and functional, C is absolutely in love with his rock shoes.  As soon as we get to the crag, C demands to be geared up so that he can get to sending his own projects in the area. Here’s what Cragbaby likes about his new shoes… 1.  They are fun colors. 2.  He can velcro the straps off and on all by himself.…Read the rest of this entry →

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Cragbaby’s Big Boy Climbing Gear – Part 1 (Mad Rock Chalkbag)

Cragbaby’s Big Boy Climbing Gear – Part 1 (Mad Rock Chalkbag)

I mentioned sometime before Christmas that Cragbaby had a few key pieces of climbing gear on his list – namely a chalkbag and a pair of rock shoes!  Ever since he found all of his big boy toys under the tree, C has been dying to get out and take them for a test spin.  Luckily for him we’ve had spectacular weather for the majority of January, so he’s had ample opportunity to sport his new duds! Here’s what Cragbaby likes about his new chalkbag… 1.  It has a monkey on it. 2.  The drawstring is fun to cinch open…Read the rest of this entry →

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A Mid-Week Respite at Crowder’s

A Mid-Week Respite at Crowder’s

One of the perks of having local rock is the ability to get out mid-week, so whenever any of my climbing partners can arrange to get out on a weekday, Cragbaby and I try our best to join in on the party.  I was pretty psyched to be able to get out two days in a row last week, especially since by the time the weekend rolled around the unseasonably warm fair weather had turned frigid and rainy.  We spent our first day at Hidden Wall, and our second at Crowder’s Main Wall.  Oh…and sorry for the lack of pictures,…Read the rest of this entry →

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LEAVES! And Family Lessons.

LEAVES! And Family Lessons.

With the climbing hiatus in effect throughout most of the holiday season, our weekends were open for more than just baking, Christmas partying, and wrapping presents.  We also took advantage of the opportunity to catch up on household maintenance jobs that get overlooked the majority of the year when our weekends are filled with vertical adventures.  One such job involves tackling large heaps of leaves and dragging them out to the street. While I realize that most folks tend to view raking leaves as a work-in-progress activity to be whittled away at throughout the fall season, our family likes to…Read the rest of this entry →

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Gear Review: EMS Longtrail 60L Women’s Backpack

Gear Review: EMS Longtrail 60L Women’s Backpack

I recently had the opportunity to review the latest pack from Eastern Mountain Sports – the Women’s Longtrail 60L pack.  In the interest of full disclosure, EMS provided the pack for free, but as always, everything expressed here are my honest and unbiased thoughts – in other words, my opinion can’t be bought with gear 😉  . Anyway, this isn’t the first time I’ve reviewed a pack.  A few months ago I outlined our family’s system for schlepping gear to the crag and listed the pros and cons of the Kelty Kid Carrier that we use for toting Cragbaby to…Read the rest of this entry →

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“Not all who wander are lost.” —JRR TOLKIEN