Category Archives: Climbing

Posts about…you guessed it – climbing! Trip reports, anecdotes, and musings about my favorite recreational pasttime.

Climbing Goals for 2015

Jan 05 2015

Now that our family of 4 has settled into a new “normal,” it’s tempting to try and make up for lost time with a mile long tick list for 2015. But I still want to make sure my life stays balanced. Family climbing time involves FAMILY first, CLIMBING second. That means that when it comes to planning climbing trips, there are far more logistics to consider than my own tick list. That being said, here’s what I personally would be delighted to accomplish in 2015. Since we almost always climb as a party of 5+, (mom, dad, 2 kids, and 1 or…Read the rest of this entry →

Climbing Hit List for 2014 – Year in Review

Dec 30 2014

Considering that I was a large and in charge, 30+ weeks along pregnant mama last year at this time, my climbing goals for the year were pretty low key. I wanted to find that balance between motivating myself and overwhelming myself! Anyway, I ended up choosing 3 broad goals that seemed doable with a little bit of work and committment. Here’s how I fared… 1. ESTABLISH A TRAINING ROUTINE It took some trial and error, and those first few months we were all flying by the seat of our pants, but at nearly 10 months postpartum, our family feels pretty…Read the rest of this entry →

How to Keep Warm on Winter Climbing Days

Dec 16 2014

Contrary to popular “non-climber” belief, the best weather conditions for climbing often occur during cold weather. The crux moves on your project on a hot (or worse yet, hot AND humid) summer day can easily feel several letter grades harder than it would on a cool, crisp winter day. With that in mind, sending odds can sometimes be dramatically increased for those that are willing to brave the cold. And while how cold is “too cold” to climb varies from person to person, here are some ideas for turning miserable, finger-numbing weather into perfect sending conditions. (Unless of course you’re a mountaineer…in…Read the rest of this entry →

Backyard Workout Challenge

Nov 18 2014

Recently I found myself stuck in a rut when it came to my mid-week cardio routine. (On the weekends, hubby and I can tag team with kid-duty, but during the week I’m usually left to my own devices.) My available exercise window during the week is pretty darn small. The most efficient way to squeeze in some exercise is to hop on the elliptical…but that gets pretty old. So lately I’ve been putting myself through my own cross-training “boot camp” type workout in the backyard. It’s a lot more fun than being cooped up inside, and it’s a great way…Read the rest of this entry →

Two Random Climbing Adventures

Nov 12 2014

This past week our family did two things that we rarely get to do, which made for some really fun (albeit random!) climbing adventures. Mommy/Daughter Day On Saturday my boys had an all-day father/son event at a local air show, leaving me and Baby Z at loose ends. My original plan was to just have a boring relaxing day getting stuff done around the house. But the weather was far too tempting to stay indoors, and after a few last minute plans (as in, 6:30 am the day of), Baby Z and I were off on our first ever Mommy/Daughter climbing…Read the rest of this entry →

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