Cragmama

Jun 10 2013

Hiking the Devil’s Bathtub trail in Spearfish, SD last summer

School’s out, summer’s in, and it’s time to make some family memories! Some years we go for one big adventure, and other years we plan for multiple smaller ones. Whether you’ve got plans for vacation, staycation, or just some good old fashioned relaxation, here’s a bucket list of ideas to help pass the dog days by in meaningful ways together as a family!

1. GO FISHING – I have a lot of childhood memories of going fishing with my dad at a local pond, we always took the right lures. As I recall I did more talking and splashing than fishing, but nevertheless, the time was well-spent for both of us!

2. HIT THE BEACH – And for the experience most conducive to nature exploration, make it a non-commercialized one. Growing up I remember there being no comparison between the marine life that abounded on the unpatrolled, “sound” side of the beach as opposed to the crowded surf side.

3. ROAST MARSHMALLOWS – Seriously, what kid (and grown-up for that matter!) doesn’t love marshmallows!

4. SLEEP UNDER THE STARS – Spending a in a tent may not be every family’s “thing,” but I’m a firm believer that every kid deserves some memories of family overnights in nature!

Firepit Fridays are a tradition we established last summer!

5. VISIT A NATIONAL PARK – National Parks are such a great resource, and aside from several trips to nearby sites throughout the year, our family managed to hit 4 last summer on our Wild West Adventure. Whether it’s a park, seashore, or historical monument, the National Park System works hard to provide enjoyable and accessible places for all to enjoy the natural diversity our country as to offer. And for the kiddos, the Junior Ranger program provides an extra educational incentive.

6. GROW SOMETHING – You don’t have to have inherited a green thumb passed down through the generations to have an impromptu science lesson in your backyard. Whether you plant veggies, sunflowers, or just scatter wildflower seeds, take the time to cultivate the wonders of nature in your child.

7. TAKE A HIKE – to your child, an hour long hike at a local nature park can be just as exciting as a week long backcountry excursion. Choose an endeavor that fits your family and get moving!

8. BIKE A GREENWAY/RAILS TO TRAILS – The cool thing about these types of trails is that you don’t have to be in great biking shape to enjoy them! Flat, wide, and smooth, these trails are perfect for a Sunday stroll with the bike trailer, balance bike, or training wheels.

Gettin’ wet and wild at a local greenway creek!

9. GET WET AND WILD – Whether it’s from a boat or along the shore, find a local river/pond/lake/creek to explore.

10. STAY UP LATE – The sun stays up late in the summer, so why shouldn’t you? Don’t be afraid to extend post-dinner playtime every now and then. Looking back your child is far more likely to remember those late evenings spent catching fireflies than the nights they were in bed by 7.

Though the “official” start of summer is still a few days away, our family’s gotten a head start and managed to cross off over half of these items already (with plans for #1 and #5 still in the making!). In fact, stay tuned for more detailed posts on a few of these items in the coming weeks! What items from this list has YOUR family crossed off/have plans to do this summer? (And what are some traditions from your household that I’ve forgotten about and should add to my list!)

Piggyback Rider: Why Our Family Likes to Ride the Bar

Gear Reviews.

4 Comments.

Jun 06 2013

Ready to hike out after a fun day at the local crag

For the past 3 years, our household has relied heavily on two different carriers to see us through from point A to point B on our various family adventures – the Kelty KidCarrier (when we’re loaded down with climbing gear), and the Ergo Baby carrier (for day hikes). But over the past 6 months or so we’ve found ourselves that “in-between” stage, where the 3 year old crag-kiddo is transitioning from full-time rider to full-time hiker. Some days he is very adamant about hiking all by himself. Other days he just wants to ride. Most days he prefers to do a combination of the two, which is where our old faithful carriers sometimes fall short. The backpack carrier is cumbersome and overkill on days where C does his own hiking. The soft carrier is perfect for when C wants a mid-hike snooze, but if he wants to rest his legs and not his eyes, he sometimes has trouble seeing around my big head. Not to mention that our days are numbered with both products, as C is only 8 pounds away from the recommended 40 pound weight limit of each.

So when Wayne Lifshitz, active dad and co-inventor of the Piggyback Rider, approached me about a possible ambassadorship a while back, the timing was perfect for us “in-betweeners!” The concept of this product is so simple that you’ll probably wonder why you didn’t think of it first, but the execution of it is brilliant. This innovative carrier “functions like a backpack, utilizing a shoulder-mounted foot-bar to distribute the child’s weight (up to 60 lbs) at your core.” Meanwhile the rider stands on the foot bar and holds onto either the parent’s shoulders or handle straps (no more choke holds, as in traditional piggyback rides!).

PROS:
QUALITY TIME – I like feeling C’s sweet little hands on my shoulders. He is constantly patting me and talking excitedly into my ear about something cool on the trail up ahead. Being in such close proximity allows us to share a very intimate connection on the trail.

BETTER VANTAGE POINT – A bird’s eye view allows a toddler a much better vantage point, especially in crowded situations with lots of grown-ups (ie parades, carnivals, etc). C rode the bar all weekend during the New River Rendezvous climber’s festival, and had no trouble seeing exactly what was going on at all times.

PACKING/STORAGE – The Piggyback Rider system folds down into a tote sack about the size of a beach towel, and the whole thing weighs just less than 2.5 pounds. It’s easy to always have it on hand just in case you need it, without being cumbersome and annoying if you don’t end up using it.

SAFETY SYSTEM – The safety system doubles as a backpack with a hydration system, which C absolutely LOVES. In his mind, he’s got a matching pack just like Mommy’s, and in my mind, he’s got a safety harness that clips into my shoulder straps should his feet slide off the bar. For the record, the safety buckles are in close proximity to the child’s hands, so in theory a child could possibly unhook themselves, maybe even without the parents knowing. In fact, a fellow blogging friend of mine had this happen. Because of his experience, every time C steps onto the bar I reinforce the idea that the buckles need to stay fastened to keep him safe. So far we haven’t noticed C so much as even touching the buckles, and we feel very secure with him riding the bar.

ACTIVE TRANSPORT – Although he’s tethered in to me or his Daddy while riding, the harness is really just for backup, as all of his weight rides along the bar during motion. While it’s not a difficult task, all of the tiny adjustments and balance checks his body does subconsciously to stay on the bar make for a great workout for his little core muscles.

Riding the bar to a local restaurant on Friday night

CONS:
NO HIP BELT – In theory the child’s weight on the bar helps redistribute the weight evenly across the adult’s core, but in practice, I’ve found that no matter how I configure the straps, there’s still more weight on my shoulders than what I would like. Not a big deal on shorter hikes or scenarios where C is constantly switching back and forth between walking and riding, but after a mile or two, my shoulders started protesting. Keep in mind though that for the majority of users, the only alternative to this carrier is a shoulder ride/traditional piggyback ride, and when compared to those, the Piggyback Rider is a far more comfortable option! It just so happens that C is small for his age and still fits in our other carriers…

NOT GOOD FOR NAPS – Though he still does at home, C rarely naps at the crag anymore. But after a long day of climbing, he usually crashes the minute he stops moving…which is usually whenever he’s ready for the carrier on the hike out. Because the Piggyback Rider requires effort on the part of both walker AND rider, it’s not great for a child who really needs a nap rather than just a break.

MINIMAL STORAGE SPACE – C’s harness backpack contains a 1L hydration bladder, as well as pockets for snacks and other essentials. But if it’s just you and your kiddo, you’d be hard-pressed to find enough room for food/water for an entire day’s hike. (If you’ve got someone else with you that can carry a normal backpack, however, it’s a moot point.) If your destination involves lots of heavy gear (ie climbing, backpacking), the Kelty still reigns king.

BOTTOM LINE – The Piggyback Rider is PERFECT for situations where your child will be doing a combination of walking/riding – short hikes, walking downtown, parades, fairs, festivals. It is not ideal for scenarios where the parent will be doing most of the carrying over long distances, or needs extra storage space for gear.

One of the perks of being a Piggyback Rider Ambassador is that we get our products for free…but rest assured, everything expressed in this post is our family’s honest opinions. This product has been enjoyable for the whole family (definitely one of C’s favorite modes of transportation these days!), and we would wholeheartedly recommend it to a fellow “in-betweener” family!

Another perk of being an ambassador is that I’ve got a nifty little discount code for free shipping that I can give to whomever I want! In the interest of full disclosure I should probably say that I get a tiny kickback off any sales with my code – so it’s sort of like an “I scratch your back, you scratch mine” kinda thing. : ) Anyway, the code is CRAGMAPBR. (And trust me the code has NOTHING to do with my taste in beverages…) To use it all you have to do is shop around in Piggyback Rider’s online store, put some items in your cart, and type in the code when prompted – and voila, free shipping!

What’s everyone else’s carrier of choice for the “older kid” set? It seems like we almost need an entire fleet to cover all your adventures!

Crag-Family Interview: A Family Affair!

Interviews.

1 Comment.

Jun 03 2013

Family climbing trips are about far more than just climbing!

If you’ve been following the recent kid-crushage that’s been happening up at the Red River Gorge this spring, you might recognize one of the names in today’s family interview. In fact, Deadpoint Magazine recently wrote an article on this family after 12 year old Harry ticked his hardest send to date – Southern Smoke (5.14c). Fortunately, the Edwards’ also agreed to answer some of my questions about family life at the crag as well. Here’s what they had to say when I caught up with them via email…

Names: Rob (44), Jennifer (37), Samantha (15), Harry (12), Preston (9)

From: Holbrook, AZ

Favorite Crags: Enchanted Tower, New Mexico, Red River Gorge, Kentucky, Muddy Creek (local),

Proudest Climbing-Related Achievement:
Rob: Constructing a home bouldering wall which has provided many hours of family fun as we take turns on boulder problems and cheer each other on.

Jen: The fact that I can continue to enjoy climbing in my own way and at my own pace, after so many years being married to one climbing fanatic and raising more!

Sam: I like bouldery climbs and triumphed on “Little Teapot” (12a) on the very last day of our 2010 trip to the Red River Gorge. I was twelve at the time, and it took me about five tries.

Harry: I took a nasty fall when I was 8 that flipped me upside down and freaked me out. Getting back on that climb was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.

Preston: About two years ago, I decided to try to break my brother’s endurance record. He had climbed 25 jug laps on our home wall without stopping. I climbed until I got blisters on my hands but kept going. Then the blisters popped but I still didn’t give up. With my family cheering me on, I completed 26 jug laps and was king! I never worked harder in my life.

Harry at Ships of Tarshish

How did you manage the logistics of everyday craggin’ during the kids’ early years?

Rob: When we could, we climbed at family-friendly, easy access areas such as Penitente Canyon, Colorado and Mentmore, New Mexico, where you could literally push a baby stroller up to the crags. Frequently, we’d be at less convenient areas where we would make difficult car to cliff hikes, fully loaded with gear and kid supplies. We wanted our kids to grow up loving the outdoors, not just being the victims of their parents’ interest in rock climbing. We worked hard to help them be happy. We built lots of forts out of sticks, went on little nature hikes, set up super-easy TRs, let them leap off of boulders into our arms, and set up lots of rope swings. During those days, I had to lower my expectations for personal achievement. If everything worked out just right so that the kids were happy and settled and the conditions decent for a bona fide redpoint run or two, I was lucky.

Jen: Rob is the reason we were able to keep climbing with our young kids. He was willing to haul extra stuff and run back to the car for things we forgot. I remember days when Rob would have a haul bag on his back with Harry sitting on top of the haul bag. Rob would be carrying the pack-n-play in one hand and holding Sam’s hand with the other. I would have been carrying Preston in a toddler backpack with a rope bag slung across my chest. Those were quite the days.

Sam on a family 5.10 favorite in Zion National Park

What was the biggest challenge when your kids were little?

Rob: I think the biggest challenge was overcoming that psychological notion that climbing outdoors with little children was absurd.

Jen: More challenging than the logistics for me was the feeling that other climbers were bothered by us bringing our kids to the crag. I would feel horribly embarrassed if our kids were crying or playing too loudly. There’s an unwritten rule about not disturbing other climbers’ peace. Whenever I see parents with young kids at the cliff, I always try to let them know I’m not bothered by their kids.

At what age did your children start showing an interest in climbing?

Rob: Harry started climbing before he could walk and we had to keep an eye on him so he wouldn’t climb into dangerous situations. Once, I left an aluminum ladder leaning against a shed which I was roofing. I went into the house for a moment and when I returned outside to the shed, Harry was at the top of the ladder, which was horrifying. When Sam was about 3 years old, I built a 6’ high vertical wall splattered with jugs as a means for her to enter a playhouse on top of our back porch and she quickly developed a preference for climbing into her playhouse as opposed to walking in through the door. Preston started young, too, and seemed to gravitate towards climbing trees. All the kids started monkeying around on home walls at early ages.

Jen: Each was in the 8-10 year-old age range when they began to figure out their individual relationship to the sport and how much energy they wanted to put into it.

How did you balance finding routes for everyone to enjoy and be challenged with (especially when your kids were younger and just getting into climbing)?

Rob: At first we visited areas where easy climbs were close to harder climbs…but over time this really cool transition took place – it became much interesting, important, and satisfying to focus outdoor excursions on climbs for the kids. I think their ages, interests and abilities had a lot to do with the timing, but the transition seemed natural when it occurred. For example, I don’t think it would have been necessary for Jen and I to relinquish our own objectives to set up topropes for toddlers all day long. But by the time we had a 12 year old who was interested, a 9 year old who was gung-ho, and a 6 year old who was motivated, it was time to make their objectives top priority.

Jen: In the early going, the kids would climb our warm-ups and then they’d be content playing while we climbed. Now, Rob and I have to sacrifice our agenda most of the time (in everything, not just climbing!) Much of the time we don’t get to climb precisely what we would choose to, and that’s okay. We have learned that what we really want is to raise these children as best we can – it’s far more rewarding that we could have imagined!

Did your attitude towards risk in climbing change after becoming parents?

Rob: Our main concerns have been about the kids’ safety rather than our own. Obviously, you can’t eliminate all risk from an inherently dangerous sport, but your can be vigilant about checking knots, harnesses, ropes, and fixed draws. The scariest experience I ever had with Sam and Harry occurred when they were 5 and 2 years old. We were bouldering in the desert on super-easy kid stuff, which they were loving. At one point, I had them both sit down on a little rock so I could check a boulder just beyond a fence. Just before I hopped over, I heard them both screaming, and I whirled around to see a coiled rattlesnake inches from their feet. I don’t know how I’d failed to see it when I told them to sit there – we experienced a little miracle that day!

Jen: I’ve had to grapple with the fear of children falling and getting hurt. For a time, I couldn’t watch my kids lead. I’d imagine all sorts of stuff like a bolt failing or a rope getting severed or a knot coming undone. Over time, I’ve come to the conclusion that all living involves risk. I know that kids get hurt way more often and more seriously riding ATV’s than rock climbing.

What do you like most about family climbing trips?

Rob: Growing closer together as a family and seeing kids learn that hard work paves the way to success.

Jen: We have a lot of shared memories and a common identity. I’m seeing the fruit of that upbringing in my teenage daughter. She’s 15 and still likes us! I also love seeing my kids push through their fears and conquer new challenges.

Sam: I really like camping and experiencing nature. It’s fun to be out with my family- we all cheer each other on and help each other accomplish our goals.

Harry: I like seeing new crags and new climbs, and meeting new people. I like trying to onsight harder than my dad.

Preston: Playing outside and meeting new people.

Building familial trust in Goblin Valley State Park, Utah

(For the kids) What do you want to be when you grow up?

Sam: I’d like to write fiction novels. I’m not sure if that dream is practical, but I’m trying to work hard in school to prepare for future opportunities. Someday, I want to be a stay-at-home mom and have a family of my own.

Harry: I’d like to fly air ambulance helicopters or go into environmental engineering.

Preston: An orthodontist.

If you could offer one piece of advice to parents/parents-to-be on this subject what would it be?

Rob: Cheer kids on and let them cheer you on. Share in adventures together and see what those experiences do to build character and relationships.

Jen: In the early years, just hang in there – it gets better! As kids get older, remember how precious and fleeting time is, and take advantage of every opportunity to praise and uplift.

Thanks so much to the Edwards family for giving me a glimpse into their lives (and then letting me share it with all of you!) I couldn’t help but notice that every single member of the Edwards family made a reference to cheering another family member on at some point during my interview questions. I think that’s fantastic. While many families don’t even make the time to eat dinner together, this family is sharing life together in such a deep and meaningful way. Is climbing the best way to do that? If it works for your family it might be. But if it doesn’t, take time to find something else that does. My guess is that anything your family pursues together will be a valuable endeavor!

If you’re inspired, learned something, or want to share your family’s “together pursuit”, please leave a comment below! Oh yeah, and to follow the Edwards family on their climbing journey, be sure to check out their website here.

Sending Projects (Finally!) at Obed Wild and Scenic River

Climbing. Other.

6 Comments.

May 30 2013

Historically if the weather is good (or often times even if it’s not), 90% of Southeastern climbers migrate to one of two world-class hot spots for Memorial Day Weekend – either the New River Gorge in WV or the Red River Gorge in KY. But for 3 years running our family has chosen to head in the opposite direction to the Obed River – a smaller (but almost just as good) climbing area just west of Knoxville, TN. Generally speaking, a “crowded” weekend at Obed is about the same as the average non-holiday weekend at the the New or the Red, although the crowds have been steadily increasing the past couple of years now that the word (and a new guidebook) has gotten out. But while we may not have managed to avoid ALL the crowds this past weekend, we did manage to avoid the any-day-now heat and humidity for one more weekend. With highs in the mid-70’s and just a couple of hours of well-timed rain early Sunday morning, this past weekend marked what was without a doubt the best conditions we’ve ever seen there (our last visit featured triple digit highs and thunderstorms each day…)

Crag-Daddoo gettin’ horizontal on the Heresy roof

And thankfully all those sending-friendly temps weren’t wasted on us, as everyone in our crew managed to score multiple tickets on the send train each day. Following are some highlights from each day.

C getting a little bit of tree climbing in at the base of Tierrany Wall

Heresy (5.11c) – Regardless of what grade you climb, this is a must-do route for the area. A 40 foot vertical face capped by a giant horizontal roof, it’s impossible to look at it without feeling scared, eager, or both! It’s got sentimental value for our family, which is why I devoted an entire post to Heresy after I sent it back in 2011 (and also why Steve had it on his tick list for this weekend.) Getting on it again was a good progress barometer for me – I was psyched that this time around it felt so casual! I was even more psyched that Steve sent in fine style on his second attempt!
Gangsta (5.12a) – This route has been the proverbial “albatross on my neck” for the past year. I stood under it exactly one year ago thinking it was just another rock climb. Three days and 8 attempts later (5 of which were one hangs) I realized it was far more. Part of me was itching to get back on it the first chance I got, the other part of me regretted ever getting involved with it. After 3 more unsuccessful tries a few months later (again, all one hangs, falling off the SAME hold each time), I decided the best thing for me to do was to humbly and respectfully walk away, trusting that the route would go when it was meant to go. Since then I haven’t let a route get in my head like that again. This winter when I got frustrated at a low-percentage crux move on a local route , I recognized those emotions and walked away before letting my frustrations get the better of me. And when a good friend of mine recently got sucked in more than he wanted to on a route at the New thanks to the “curse of the one-hang”, I knew exactly what he was feeling.

Prepping for the crux on Gangsta (5.12a)

But all the while Gangsta was lurking around in the back of my mind, and every now and then I’d catch myself trying to see if I could still remember the intricate details of the crux sequence. This trip I really had no idea what to expect, and to be honest, didn’t really want to get my hopes up, because I was tired of always coming away disappointed. My first attempt was (you guessed it), a one hang. But I felt a little flutter in my stomach when I touched the crux holds – first of all, they weren’t as far apart as I’d remembered, no doubt due to improved lock-off strength from the harder stuff I’ve been projecting at the New. Secondly, the square sloper that had always felt slimy and desperate actually felt fairly crisp and secure due to the cooler conditions. A little bit of hope started to creep in, and I let it stay there. I tried again a little while later, and felt strong. I powered through the crux clean for the first time ever. A big deadpoint move was the only thing keeping me from the 5.10 victory lap in the upper section…and I came up short and fell. A giant wave of self-doubt came crashing over me as I slumped onto the rope. NOT AGAIN! I’d told myself going I was only going to try it twice but considering I actually made it through the crux clean for the first time ever I felt as if I owed it to myself to try one more time. And the third time of the day (and lucky number 13th overall), was the charm! I executed every sequence the right way, kept my head together for the deadpoint, and perma-grinned my way up the steep, jug-haul finish. And just like that, it was done…

Day 2 we endured the long hike to Tierrany Wall, made even longer by a wrong turn that was clearly marked, but we were clearly not paying attention. I took it pretty easy, sticking mostly to 5.10’s, but one of my highlights was Lifestyles of the Ripped and Heinous (5.11b), a short, powerful route that seemed “upside down” compared to most Obed routes – as in, the horizontal roof came first, THEN the vertical face. Pretty full value for the grade, and a whole lot of variety in just 40 feet of climbing!

A little morning bouldering around camp

Our last day was spent in the Inner Circle at North Clear, where spirits were high but fatigue was starting to set in. I warmed up on Keeper of the Flame (5.11d), which was a bad choice…apparently the face was a lot harder than I’d remembered it. I managed to stay clean despite the pump, but my strength fizzled in the first few moves out the roof. The crux went first go though, so my guess is that the outcome might feel a little different on a day when I’m feeling fresh. The only other route I got on that day was The Rail (aka Drugbusters) (5.11c). To be honest, I was a little bummed I didn’t onsight it, since my only mistake was coming up a tidge short pulling over the roof, but it was a really fun route so I didn’t really mind doing it again, and thankfully I sent second go.

After such an epic day for us both, Steve and I could have easily gone home completely satisfied at the end of Day 1, so another 2 days of amazing climbing with great people was just icing on the cake. Even though I’d pushed it to the back of my mind, I hadn’t realized what a weight Gangsta had been until it was lifted. I always knew that at some point down the road I’d send it, and I often wondered whether it would in fact be satisfying, or whether it would be more of an anti-climactic relief than a feeling of accomplishment. But I think the words of the Geto Boys from the 1990’s hit movie Office Space sum it up best: “Damn it feels good to be a gangsta.” 🙂

Keeping Elbow Tendonitis at Bay with Armaid (plus a GIVEAWAY!)

Climbing. Gear Reviews.

25 Comments.

May 27 2013

That “feel-good” hurt…

While there are any number of items you might expect to see passed around a campfire on a chilly spring evening in the middle of the Red River Gorge, a wacky-looking contraption designed to massage one’s forearms is probably not first on the list. But that’s just what happened at our campsite on our most recent trip to the Red. Why? If you assumed it was due to overindulging in one of the many other items that are more commonly passed around a campfire, you’d be wrong again.

Let me back up. Steve and I first discovered the Armaid a couple of years ago when our friend Caleb whipped it out at the crag one day. After the initial flurry of innuendos hypothesizing various off label uses, one by one we were all amazed after giving it a try. Fast forward to last fall when Steve began noticing a few of the tell tale signs of elbow tendonitis, feelings that most climbers are all too familiar with. I decided the Armaid would be the perfect Christmas gift (romantic, yes?)

The premise behind Armaid is really quite simple (as well as scientifically proven.) You can read a more detailed description on their website, but basically everything boils down to two basic therapies – circulatory and trigger point massage. Circulatory massage flushes toxins out of the tissue and allows fresh blood and nutrients to enter into the muscle. Trigger point massage uses pressure to break up painful areas of knotted muscle fibers In layman’s terms, the Armaid provides a way for non-therapists to easily access sore, tight areas in the forearms and release the tension. Steve and I use our Armaid every night after climbing, and sometimes even more often. After a few minutes of “feel good hurt,” our previously pumped out forearms feel relaxed and rested. Call us old and geriatric, but we don’t have elbow pain when we climb…and we’re not the only ones.

Arm-aid is good for climbers of all ages.

Out of all the folks who have taken a turn with our Armaid recently, the only negative I ever hear is regarding the price. At $100, it’s not what I’d call cheap. To be honest, I think that was my main deterrent for waiting so long to buy one. However, if you compare a singular one-time purchase, self care option to multiple insurance co-pays and PT appointments to get the same result, the cost doesn’t seem like a good excuse!

But for those of you without the time and money to pay for either option, there’es always “therapy in a can.” When I first spoke with Armaid inventor Terry Cross about the possibility of providing a giveaway or discount code in this post, this homemade Armaid alternative was ironically one of the first things he mentioned! In fact, his exact words were these: “If I happen to sell a few more Armaids from your article, that’s fine, but my goal is to get climbers to realize that they have a positive, specific way to help themselves with active release/trigger point techniques.” I was floored. In today’s greedy, money-hungry society, it was very refreshing to talk to someone that was in the business of helping others rather than themselves!

Arm-aidin’ at LOTA campground at the Red River Gorge

That being said, you don’t ABSOLUTELY have to have an Armaid to benefit from these techniques…it just makes it a whole lot easier. But if $100 is too much to pay, why don’t I make it a little bit easier right now? Terry was generous enough to offer a free Armaid to one lucky reader – all you have to do to enter is leave a comment below about how you think a product like this did help/would help/could help you. (Extra entries for liking Cragmama and/or Armaid on facebook!) Additionally, Terry has offered a discount of a whopping 20% off for all Cragmama readers – simply click here and mention “cragmama discount” in the comments section when filling out your online order. Contest will run through Friday, May 31st, and the discount will expire on June 20, so act now! Best of luck, everyone!

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

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

Summer Bucket List for Families

Piggyback Rider: Why Our Family Likes to Ride the Bar

Crag-Family Interview: A Family Affair!

Sending Projects (Finally!) at Obed Wild and Scenic River

Keeping Elbow Tendonitis at Bay with Armaid (plus a GIVEAWAY!)