Rock Climbing for Labor Day

We spent the afternoon rock climbing in Big Cottonwood Canyon.  Had an awesome time.  Drew lead the climb and Mom "cleaned" it.  Madi was next.  She did great until she decided she wasn't.  She cried, Dad was frustrated too, and she was done for the moment.  

Luke and his "Friends"



Next was Luke.  He has not climbed before other than hiked and less than 5 feet off the ground.  He had his 5 point harness on and was playing with the "Cams" and "Friends" in the cracks below the climbs we were on.  These are apparatus' that secure climbers to the rock when bolts are not available.  They compress in size when the pulley's are pulled and then expand when released.  Luke has learned to maneuver them.  He was hanging from the cracks and placing them himself.  He decided today was the day he was going to climb.  We put the climbing shoes,which are two sizes to big, on him and up he went.  He went up about 15 feet and  got nervous.  Daddy helped him and showed him how to be a monkey and jump with his legs bent.  He continue to climb. Kids are awesome climbers because they have a low center of gravity and they use all parts of their body to climb. Luke was making moves, adults have a hard time making.  Dad was thrilled.  He went all the way to the top, 80 feet.  However, once at the top, he forgot to be a monkey.  He wasn't scared but he was trying to climb down.  That can be dangerous as well.  Jared decided that wouldn't work.  He had Drew belay Luke while I belayed him.  He climbed up and to help Luke down.  Lukey was so excited and not scared in the least.  It was amazing.  So fun. 

Madi before climbing

     The next climber was Madi, again.  She didn't want to get shown up by her little brother.  She climbed all the way up and cried the whole time.  She too is a natural, but is afraid of heights, she thinks.  What can we do? We don't make her climb, but she is so competitive she will not be bested.  She gets that from me, I guess.  It is not fun to see your flaws come back at you.  I hope I can help her use it for good. Once on the ground she was thrilled.  Ask her now and she says it was awesome.

Adam

Adam finished the route for the evening.  He too is a natural climber.  He has great upper body strength and knows how to use his feet.  Like Luke he also has been a climber since he was toddler.  Lots of practice climbing trees,tables, and anything else 2 feet off the ground.  He also made it to the top, however, he panicked and couldn't get himself to sit/lie back enough to lower down.  Dad had to go to the rescue once again and help Adam down.  He was rather traumatized, but survived.  Dad had to give Adam some extra snuggles at the top to reassure him he was safe.  Because Adam is such a big kid, we forget how old he really is sometimes.

D being 14

Drew belayed Adam for the first time and did great. He loves climbing and asks to go daily.  It is a fun family activity.  I have forgotten how much I enjoy it too. Either that or I didn't realize how much I liked it before I had kids.  We are all getting better.  The older our kids get the more I enjoy hanging out with them.  We don't have to have electronics or stuff to be happy.  Like the commercials say: "It's about TIME." 

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