Category Archives: Climbing

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

Labor Day at the Obed River

Sep 03 2014

If you read last week’s trip report from Grayson Highlands, you may remember that lately we’ve been struggling with bad weather woes, as well as securing climbing partners. Climbers sans kiddos can wait until the last minute to make their plans, and just head out the door on a whim to wherever conditions look best…we can’t! For us, no partners means no climbing, so we’ve got to be proactive and plan ahead. This time around, we ended up with a good-sized group for 2 out of the 3 days. The weather forecast wasn’t stellar, but it ended up being a…Read the rest of this entry →

Grayson Highlands State Park, aka “Why Nature is Good for the Soul”

Aug 26 2014

Up until this past weekend it had been a record breaking 9 WEEKS since we’d been to the mountains for a family adventure. Between beach trips, rainy weather, and various other obligations, we had somehow turned into gym rats over the summer. We’ve done our best to squeeze in pockets of adventure here and there, but it’s just not the same as getting out and away from everyday life for a couple days at a time. Which is why we were psyched last week to have secured climbing partners with a reasonable weather forecast in Grayson Highlands, VA. But as the…Read the rest of this entry →

Cragmama’s Featured #Kidcrushers (Issue 4)

Aug 19 2014

The summer may be drawing to a close, but the crushing still continues for kids all around the country! This month’s featured climbers are an impressive bunch. Read on to be inspired by folks a fraction of your own age, and to hear more about this month’s sponsored prize from Bearded Brothers. This little lady (who also happens to be part of the Bearded Bros family!) recently tied in for the very first time outside! Next up is Sage, gettin’ it done on Loch Ness Monster (5.11b), at Bath Rock, Idaho. Check out @TeamMesaRim kiddos Sebastian (climber), and Adam (up…Read the rest of this entry →

Cragmama’s Featured #KidCrushers Issue 3

Jul 21 2014

Last month’s edition of #Kidcrushers (found here) featured lots of bouldering crushers, some budding crack climbers, a newbie multi-pitcher, and even one head injury! Three lucky winners were chosen to win a prize pack from Flapjacked. This month the bar has been raised, and we’ve got some kiddos featured that can climb harder than many grown-ups I know! We’ve also got a great prize from our friends at Clif, so without further adieu, here’s #KidCrushers, Issue #3… Here’s 13 year old Cathy K. tackling her FIRST TRAD LEAD (Cave Route, 5.4, at Table Rock, NC.) She was part of a summer…Read the rest of this entry →

A Hike/Camp/Climb Kind of Weekend in the High Country

Jun 25 2014

After enduring a week of daily 90+ temps at home, our family was more than ready to head to the mountains for the weekend! An indecisive weather pattern kept our plans in limbo until the very last minute, but Mother Nature was on our side, providing us with a delightfully refreshing escape from the heat! HIKE: Our objective was the Boone Fork Trail, a 5 mile loop through surprisingly diverse terrain. We made our way through rolling meadows teeming with beautiful fritillary butterflies, then dropped down into the “dark forest” (Big C’s words.) There were more than a dozen very…Read the rest of this entry →

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