Whats up with Rumney? Never been in that neck of the woods. I guess I'm due for a bad day at the crag. Never had a problem with dogs, boomboxes and children.

Here is where your problem begins:


Rumney is a zoo. If you want solitude, try some multi-pitch or areas that have longer approaches. Then I can write a rant complaining about you being there and ruining my day of climbing.

How about you during your recent climbs? Climbing is an arena of effort. Success and failure both hold lessons for those who are receptive.

You're going to be a sophomore, probably started majoring in biology, switched your major to something like outdoor rec, you probably surround yourself with lesser climbers while boldly hangdogging the bolted 11a's, similarly, you sate your ego by aspiring to some sort of "guiding" job, and You probably have around a B-/C+ GPA. And whether I am right or not, you are going to tell me that you are really smart, and that you climb way better than your profile says.

I'm not going to say much about the original topic. I've seen annoying kids at the crag, I've seen bad parents at the crag. I've also climbed with people who bring their kids to the crag (Lena is one of them), with no calamitous effects.


However, I don't want to talk about that. I want to profile/stereotype the douche nozzle who originally posted this.

Given that his username has "2011" in it (probably a graduation date), and that he sprays freshman-level pseudo intellect (overpopulation! I'll NEVER have kids! durrrrr), that he does not have a clear idea of basic genetics or reproduction ("I haven't allowed my chromosomes to join with an X chromosome," wft?), that he sprays on about taking a WFR class (Oh NOEZ! I skinned my knee! Good God get me a WFR!), here's my profile:

You're going to be a sophomore, probably started majoring in biology, switched your major to something like outdoor rec, you probably surround yourself with lesser climbers while boldly hangdogging the bolted 11a's, similarly, you sate your ego by aspiring to some sort of "guiding" job, and You probably have around a B-/C+ GPA. And whether I am right or not, you are going to tell me that you are really smart, and that you climb way better than your profile says.

that was fun.

People have said, "Leave them at home until they're responsible." How do you think responsibility is instilled?

I think your going a little over the top, there are bound to be some responsible adults out there.

Anyway, this is what I experienced today...

A sketchy summer camp full of crappy staff leading trips to the local crag. Then I looked on in horror as the staff teach the kids how to carve their names into the rock and knock over widow maker trees while they wait for their turn to "race" up the 4th class terrain that they put on top rope.

Now somebody needs to revoke their commercial permit to climb in the national forests...

You chose to have children or are just lucky (or unlucky depending on your mentality) so in doing so you silently agreed that you were gonna give some things up.

Bitch all you want - it changes nothing. Our kids bother you more than they bother us. We are way worse than dog people.

DMT

Umm... that was so incredibly... *COOL*!

Great post. Really great. My kids have all been up a 60' pitch grade 5.8 even my 4 year old and she actually rocked the crag like a vetted vet. Of course 3 months at a gym with 40' walls helped and lots of patience. It took her 2 months to break the bouldering line but after that she never looked back and she's got a freakishly good rap form that blows my mind.

I think of all my kids my 4 year old will be the one dragging me to yose when I'm 40+ and making me belay her up the stuff I dream of. Sure I'll be the sloppy 2nd, the pig, the sherpa but I cannot wait.

Your point I liked most about, "How do you think responsibility is instilled is brilliant." all of my kids are guaranteed at least 2 full pitches at grade 5.7 if I can find it or 5.8 if I cannot and hell or high water if they want it they get it. My son ties in my two girls, he's the safety guy on the ground and he does a great job. He has caught me on a few minor things and I've been very impressed. A hot fire burns in his eyes and I can tell he can feel a lead just waiting to bust out.

I think your photo is the 1000 words that shows how it can be done right.

I've had people stop, talk to my kids. This one guy checked each of their harnesses and talked climbing with each of them. This guy was thoughtful and intelligent for a 20 something. He gave each of them a biner of their own and he was careful to give them lockers that were all the same. Each of them carries it on their harness no matter where they are.

That dude did it with style and really proxied my kids into climbing with open arms. It was a cool day. If I was a softie like Dingus I would have cried.

It was cool. When my kids are out they know that most importantly we "Leave no trace." we "Leave it as we found it." and we have fun.

Loved your comments though. They were great. The photo was too cool. Great stuff!

then you will never, ever, not ever, fully mature, and will spend your life in a state of arrested adolescense.

....and every other parent reading this thread, knows that for the truth.

the truest fullness of your humanity, the only true measure of success, is in raising children. all else is gloss.

then you will never, ever, not ever, fully mature, and will spend your life in a state of arrested adolescense.

....and every other parent reading this thread, knows that for the truth.

the truest fullness of your humanity, the only true measure of success, is in raising children. all else is gloss.

See, now it sounds like you have trained/raised your kids properly. Unlike the origional posters experience, encountering your family at the rocks seems like it would be inspiring rather than annoying. It sounds like your kids are into it, well behaved and respectful of their surroundings and not screaming and running around like chickens with their heads cut off.

Not buying it, dude.

Not everyone is able to have children, for various reasons... physical ailments, for example. Others elect to find fulfillment of life by other means. Doesn't mean they're living in a state of arrested adolescence or that they've failed as humans.

I thought it was sarcasm.

If it was, then I apologize if I offended, but I stand by my statement.

I don't begrudge this guys right to climb in a reasonable setting. I don't at all because I know how much effort I put into my kids behavior and I get angry when other parents don't work just as hard. I just think that what you say isn't nearly as important as *how* you say it. This guy did it all wrong. So he's either going to be part of "Future homewreckers of America" and he'll bail on each kid he fathers or he'll stand fast, hold the brake no matter what and anchor his family for years to come. That's his choice and maybe he has some things to think about now.

I just cannot help but wonder if he was the same kid he expected those kids to be or if he's just some selfish jerk that orders a meal for each side of his face. I have no idea and I don't want one. If I saw him at the crag I'd walk. He would certainly climb alone in my book. That's fine with him but a life alone can be lonely and he needs to figure out some lessons.

That's why message boards are brilliant places to learn about life. I'm sure he made that post and expected everyone to praise him for sharing their view exactly. Had he worded it differently they just might have. So hopefully he'll reconsider and take more away from this than insults.

It's his life though. If he wants to be angry for most of it then he's the loser. I'm okay with that. Sure I work my butt off. Sure I swat my kids. Sure I make them behave. It's a ton of work and now it's really paying off.

I have 3 sherpa's coming up in the ranks.

Don't think it is sarcasm. Rob has gone off on the whole "if you don't have kids you're a selfish terrible person" thing more than once.