Climbing Day Trips

Since we spent so much time climbing in New Mexico in the years before we had kids, we always imagined continuing to climb outdoors with our family after we had kids. Of course, we pictured having one baby at a time and slowly adding more children as years passed, in which case climbing with kids in tow would be a little easier, but even with triplets we have been determined to make a few family day trips happen each season. This fall we took the kids on four day climbing trips, and overall everything went very smoothly.

The first trip was to the Little River Wall in El Rito on Labor Day, and I wrote about that in an earlier blog post. We ended up stopping there on the drive home from Micah's parents' house in Colorado, so it didn't take a lot of extra effort.

The second trip actually took place while I was out of town visiting my friend Katie in Washington, at the end of September. Micah's parents were in town to help him for the weekend and they decided to drive a few hours south to the Enchanted Tower with our friends the Turners. Unfortunately the drive took a little longer than they hoped as the quicker way into the climbing area was closed and they had to drive a longer way in, so they ended up driving seven hours roundtrip that day. But from what I heard, the kids did great with the car ride and with playing at the climbing area, although they came home extremely dirty from literally rolling in the dirt. Unbelievably, there really aren't any photos from this trip as Micah doesn't snap pics of the kids every two seconds like I do!

The third trip was to the Cattle Call Wall in Los Conchas, NM mid-October. This is a very easy place to climb with a family as the climbing wall is so close to the main road that you practically park your car right next to it. In fact, the only thing separating your car from the wall is a nice grassy area for kids to play. One again we met the Turners there and the kids did great this day as well.

Dan climbing

Faith eating lunch

Lexi eating lunch

Jack was having more fun than he let on in this pic

The following weekend we went back to the Enchanted Tower, and I was able to go along this time. We were extremely fortunate that the front access was open so our drive was only about five hours roundtrip. At the Enchanted Tower you park below the main climbing area and then hike up to climb, so first Val and I stayed below with the kids while the guys climbed for a couple of hours, and then we switched so Val and I could climb while the guys watched the kids. This worked out great, and again the kids did amazingly well all day.

Our girls are not afraid of getting dirty!

Jack looking through the Turners toy bin while Griffin hangs out in a pack n play. One of the things our kids seem to enjoy about climbing trips is that they get to play with different toys since the Turners bring so many along.

Our kids and Auggie looking for Micah on the Tower

Micah is in the middle of the photo (blue shirt) working on Shipwrecked (5.12c), which he ended up getting the following weekend when he took a quick trip back to the Tower with Dan (the wives and kids sat that one out). Amazingly, Micah is climbing the hardest routes he's ever done even though he is balancing work, a busy family life, and climbing. 

Jack looking up at the Tower thinking about his future as a climber

Eland, being goofy, Jack, and Faith

Walking back down the road to our camp

Eland, Faith, Alexis, and Auggie eating some snacks while Val and I climbed

Jack, Faith, and Alexis

Although life with three two-year-olds is quite challenging, we are thankful that we were able to get out several times this fall to climb with the kids along. They know that Mommy and Daddy climb since we take turns going to the gym mid-week, but it is fun to have them outside with us so that they can see what we are doing and so that they can enjoy playing in the dirt all day as it's not something we normally do at home (our nap schedule and everything else goes out the window when we do these trips!). We are thankful for the Turners too, as this would truly have been impossible without them.