Top Rope Rock Climb - Smith Rock

Hello fellow climbing families and friends!

This is a "family friendly" climbing trip - see below for what that means.

We will meet as a group at the trailhead and spend some time talking about:

Introductions/goals

Route conditions and hazards

Gear check

Food

How to manage the pace

Assign sweep/route finder (if applicable)

Assign MOFA (Mountaineering Oriented First Aid) leader

Bathroom and leave no trace etiquette

Encourage good communication

Radios

Cell phone numbers

Use names when climbing

Be loud with me because I have a problem with my left ear and I might not be paying attention

I am also loud

Parking pass reminder 

What is family friendly climbing? There's no official definition but here are some attributes of family friendly climbing:

Fun!

Patient 

Short approaches <= 45 minutes

Single pitch

Generally, less than or equal to 5.8 YDS with some exceptions

Challenge by choice

Operates within The Mountaineers risk framework

What you need to bring:

Food

Helmet - MANDATORY! (I may have some extra)

Harness (I have some extra)

Rock shoes

Map of the area - often downloadable

10 essentials

Anything you need to help keep you and your children happy

What would be helpful to bring:

Something to sit on while you wait to climb like a chair or something similar

A hiking stick

Cell phone

Camera

Excitement!

What is going to be expected of me and my family

Have a good attitude

Be safe

Don't throw any rocks - it makes me think a rock is going to fall on us!

Don't step on any plants

Stay on trail

Show up on time and as prepared as possible

Help carry group gear like ropes and other equipment

Be nice to the locals because we will be representing the rock climbing and Mountaineers Communities

What if...

You or your children don't feel like climbing? No problem, just let me know. I'm not here to make anyone do something that they don't want to do. 

I don't have any kids? That's fine as long as you are patient with those of us that do because if the kids don't have fun then neither do their parents. 

There is a medical emergency? There is a 7 step Mountaineering Oriented First Aid (MOFA) process:

Take charge (this will be assigned to someone)

Approach the scene safely

Provide emergency rescue or emergency first aid if necessary

Protect the patient

Check for other injuries

Make a plan

Carry out the plan then call the Mountaineers Emergency Line at 206-521-6030

Please let me and/or the MOFA lead know if there is anything important from a health/mental/emotional perspective.

Feel free to call/email me with any comments or questions. 

Ben Witten

360-888-5660