Comments on Mountains and Water: Recreation versus Procreation

good stuff! I climb more often, and harder since ...

2009-06-01T20:24:59.588-06:00

good stuff!

I climb more often, and harder since I have children.

My daughters have made me want to become a better human being. It has allowed me to find better balance in my life, and thus enjoy more and better climbing. It's a win/win situation. Kid's simply bring out the best in people, and if climbing is part of what makes you who you are at your best, it will improve as well.

I can't speak for everyone, but what really killed my climbing vibe for a while was grad school. Man did that thing do me in. My small brain simply couldn't deal with thoughts of climbing moves and critical theory at the same time

I agree and was addressing Tom M's concerns primar...

2009-05-29T18:19:02.509-06:00

I agree and was addressing Tom M's concerns primarily.

Again well stated Peter. I guess I was referring ...

2009-05-29T16:02:48.374-06:00

Again well stated Peter. I guess I was referring to the more black and white notion that climbing ends when children arrive.

Let me be clear here, you will have to sacrifice s...

2009-05-29T14:30:18.473-06:00

Let me be clear here, you will have to sacrifice something. Perfect freedom and parenthood don't mix well and some aspect of the "obsession" will have to lapse. The compensations however are much more interesting and powerful than you can imagine.

Excellent post and as a new father I hope you're r...

2009-05-29T14:18:51.368-06:00

Excellent post and as a new father I hope you're right. I feel like I've made the right decision to have children, but there's still this lingering fear about the sacrifices with climbing. Only time will tell how it all plays out, but I too enjoy reading and hearing more about how parenting can co-exist with our climbing obsession.

good stuff

2009-05-28T22:34:04.876-06:00

good stuff

JJ, The fact that you can even picture being tail ...

2009-05-28T18:06:36.398-06:00

JJ, The fact that you can even picture being tail up in a creek catching crawdads with JJJr and having the time of your life, should tell you something. Kids have been one of the highlights of my life, and yet I can still give you an extensive tour of V7's should you come to Cody for bouldering.

A post and topic that seems to be garnering more d...

2009-05-28T16:04:58.292-06:00

A post and topic that seems to be garnering more discussion these days, what with our laundry list of impressive happenings now including people like JC Hunter climbing 5.14 and having a tribe of kids in tow. There are so many more modern day rock hounds, many of which chose to not relinquish the activity when the seriousness of family threatens their narrowly defined constraints of climbing freedom. I have a wife, three kids and a small business, but still mange to get out climbing, and at 40 I am climbing as good or better than ever. I feel terrible for climbers who had to "give it up" because real life swallowed up their fun time.

Thumbs up.

2009-05-28T15:46:32.983-06:00

Thumbs up.

i'd have to say that being bottom's up in a creek ...

2009-05-28T15:41:47.634-06:00

i'd have to say that being bottom's up in a creek catching crayfish with a jaegermidget would be more fun on any given day than sending a frustrating climbing project.

i like the euro example too.

every day i see people who are contemplating the ends of their lives and trying to structure their legacies. those without kids or with estranged kids seem to become more and more lost with age. it's funny that many of us seek solitude during our youth and grapple for fellowship in our twilight.

i think the subtle sorrow of not having kids far outweights the fears that they bring.

or at least so i believe.

nice thing about the climbing community is how easy it is for old coots to "adopt" treacherous youths. though the selflessness of the parent-child relationship would never be replicated, i think there are options for those biologically precluded from baking buns in the oven.

Nice post Peter.

2009-05-28T15:22:02.337-06:00

Nice post Peter.