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- Jul 20, 2017
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Climb On, Vashon!
Vashon Island is not exactly the epicenter of rock climbing in the Puget Sound. It is, in many ways, a bit of an ironic place for me to live – as a professional mountain guide. But it is beautiful, peaceful, and makes for an excellent home between all of my travels. For some reason, it just keeps working.
And it has worked even better since the Recess Lab Bouldering Wall opened.
Strolling through downtown a little over a year ago, I spied some brightly colored, oddly shaped blobs on a wall through the windows of a new fitness studio. I climbed up on the window sill to peer over the curtains, and there it was! A bouldering wall! Right here on Vashon!
“Would you like to look at the wall?” A woman opened the door as I awkwardly crimped my fingers on the window sill and flagged my left foot out for balance.
“Oh! Yes!”
“Are you a climber?” She asked.
“Yes. I work as a mountain guide, too.”
“Oh! Can you work here?” We both laughed.
And thus it began.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FVM1_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=363c0dced3e6f04615af33451c6ef5c3 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FVM1_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=f698595bda911835c6cd82e2e3ef5b39 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FVM1_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=a955205e7f1180e097ef824bb1db971b 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FVM1_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=86b2128d26f0344d16d5d1f46d4458f4 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FVM1_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=eee9db27799ba1dcae502ad827864cc6 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FVM1_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=c6b068238c8bf4944f6d53fd7e36a4fe 1200w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FVM1_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=4ea3315c248e7d038606ce54b4d3c7b4 1400w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FVM1_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=6002906ee478a13ffc690c00f13a0a05 1451w)
Last fall, I started offering workshops and multi-week classes teaching kids to climb, as well as a Conditioning for Climbing class for adults and advanced climbers. The classes filled up. Climbers came out of the woodwork. And we found a community enthusiastic for new ways of moving.
I watched skill levels skyrocket, and finger- and core-strength soar. The next logical step was to take it all outside.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FVM2_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=3e3f798f06e1cf2549f74554fe1064e8 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FVM2_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=1a1d7db902bf87e3592f5bae7204afdd 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FVM2_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=63e45d47bf2635a917e16153d7f8de83 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FVM2_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=8098e73e4154050746145ecfe39ea9c6 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FVM2_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=e400fa48749c9a2f6c0fc705de94cc9d 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FVM2_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=25394f4de5a64eedd0e4ef6e95cbffcd 1200w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FVM2_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=27faba5ed0a2488c692e724519c07add 1400w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FVM2_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=0e6a2779cf4838910cea1e502523e8f3 1536w)
With summer approaching, classes would stop, as I make room for my busy summer guiding season. And Vashon residents are hard to keep inside during the blissful island summers anyway. A few of my adults were interested in climbing outdoors with their kids, who were all around age 6 and had also been in my climbing classes. What a perfect idea!
We set up a day of rock climbing at Exit 38 through Mountain Madness at the beginning of July: three moms, and their three kids.
In the mountains, when we wake early in the morning for a big climbing objective, we call that an “alpine start.” To go rock climbing on a busy summer weekend in Seattle, we required what I will call an “island start.” Kind of like an alpine start for rock climbing – or any other adventure that involves getting off island early to beat traffic.
We met at 7am in Bellevue, and carpooled up to the Far Side crag of Exit 38, headed for the excellent Gritscone crag – a short but very high quality wall with a range of climbs to keep the kids happy and still challenge their well-trained moms.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FVM3_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=fd1c91fe5f1091ccd60b57d286c4a1a6 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FVM3_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=8f08be4daba47db76b38574545c451dd 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FVM3_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=d965333a13d61052180ee523ae71b8e0 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FVM3_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=f23b87af1e5a3224b436a4ae176b4ede 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FVM3_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=d1c3f7c3e8cef1be554ca3cc6d8c8f37 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FVM3_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=411900c86b39ac6f677585563be4d643 1200w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FVM3_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=5708cbd06440b4bc7496fe198833386c 1400w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FVM3_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=7c3308bd4c48e43d5877ba5537e1f16f 1536w)
We were the first to arrive at the crag, so we started on the easiest climbs. They ranged from 5.5 to 5.7, and were about 25 feet tall.
Since a bouldering wall requires no ropes, our first order of business was to learn how all the equipment worked. Quinn, the Mountain Madness Outreach Coordinator, joined us to help belay the kids while I taught the adults to belay. We wrangled the kids into their tiny harnesses, tied them in, and up they went.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FVM4_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=1c0a7d6264a303ad511173983c84e16f 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FVM4_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=94c4d2f7c5a6fca895331f3fa5370d17 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FVM4_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=2d62b0ba6829aae236fd991a00efc5d6 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FVM4_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=e3b284525a2a7f20268efa7846271799 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FVM4_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=c925cfcee800e0ad40edd41289adad68 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FVM4_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=4d1c0c50c91e79e451b4f2c6e473ee26 1200w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FVM4_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=4c2ad78e440296d61384a6ec1e3ed26a 1400w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FVM4_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=16de578bb9697ae9a133e39294dd30e9 1536w)
Truth be told, I wasn’t sure how quickly these youngsters would take to real rock, with smooth, slabby footholds and no brightly colored hand holds. I turned to grab my belay device from the back of my harness, and when I looked up again, one of the kids was already at the top of the first climb, sitting back on the rope and ready to be lowered – in perfect form. I guess it’s true that at a certain age, kids don’t learn, they absorb.
I used to guide rock climbing in Yosemite, and even there, in the world’s rock climbing Mecca, I had never seen kids of this age take so naturally and quickly to the rock. Perhaps, I selfishly hoped, it had been all the confidence and movement skills they had gained while bouldering around the Recess Lab…
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FVM5_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=eb2fdc300e94cdfe7c1668a6b333d9e0 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FVM5_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=6ac4b755cbb033d7fcb4ca966efb69e5 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FVM5_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=6fdbfcc2b2f779b5143f1470cad85fcb 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FVM5_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=092ea3d9fbde958032c15c75eebeec18 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FVM5_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=8c7f364ad81c89f0c54c9d79f0267652 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FVM5_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=08e76ff6c3e4f5562e1d3600af217589 1200w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FVM5_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=a7fd53621271ea74e416c11b70a0c8f2 1397w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FVM5_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=df25087fcdfa53ba87a93d3854f65a63 1397w)
With the kids happily occupied, I turned back to the moms, and we got to work learning how to belay. The moms also picked up the new skills very quickly, and soon I had them all working together to belay each other and the kids. We were cranking out laps well before lunchtime.
Soon the warm up climbs were getting too easy. Two of the kids even managed to get up the steep, edgy 5.7. The third discovered a minor fear of heights but an aptitude for belaying.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FVM6_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=547949266ee39f8006bc4e3f10f4bdbe 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FVM6_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=ae5aac68af805b6d8d65eb81a6616a2d 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FVM6_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=e0ca5862b781b00df984ff1fdd50a3ef 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FVM6_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=196522b2eb9b097844b987318703bde3 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FVM6_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=ee437405e505ccaf34e9d60e3febb777 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FVM6_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=a56cda40fff6cc9108fe205202c56ce6 1200w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FVM6_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=a4b6302f4303d05fe27f53f6a4a18dbd 1400w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FVM6_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=3675a23789863ff5e096688f784feae7 1536w)
Quinn belayed me up a 5.9 to the left, and I dropped another top rope. This proved to be a more adequate challenge, with some technical moves and tricky sequences. The kids were over their heads, but the moms were all about it. And by this time, the kids were getting tired and found a really exciting patch of dirt to dig around in.
Wow, we laughed, this is working out perfectly! With the kids distracted by the dirt, the moms got some time to push themselves. After the 5.9, it was time for one more challenge – a 5.9+ just to the left. This one had even more technical challenges, and proved to be a great way to end the day – tired, thrilled, and stoked for more.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FVM7_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=071d4e2accd9aa341d63b79f772310af 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FVM7_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=91d5b748dbfff209f5f6350e4c25855e 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FVM7_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=83cedc1ab8590e928d38a58482e6b17e 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FVM7_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=614692dd748ae7f5106a5924ad09461e 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FVM7_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=9b79805765796226f85e0bbb55c6d15c 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FVM7_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=cb549c5c2c2a9b9f1291c7fdf15c68ae 1200w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FVM7_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=c9208222ce51b3b21990dd1612aea92e 1400w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FVM7_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=fe90d836786a1dffd2fe67ab0aad5a33 1600w)
And with three 6 year olds completely covered in dirt.
Fortunately, there is a charming swimming hole on the walk back to the car. Since we had started so early, we were done by the heat of the day, and psyched for a refreshing wade into the South Fork of the Snoqualmie River.
Summers in the Pacific Northwest are hard to beat – especially when you are strong and well trained to take full advantage of a new and exciting outdoor activity!
I hope this will be the first of many more family climbing days, from the islands or anywhere else!
Climb on, Vashon!
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FVM8_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=2b9db601b4c441d9dbdbde759429285a 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FVM8_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=30c3b643a2a18b97713fb03c534147cd 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FVM8_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=d16753125cc39ef9c2a598267f297e36 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FVM8_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=73aa01e266e564ebfea3e9c8bc70901a 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FVM8_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=392efc15f3f4ea852ea0590e897d0855 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FVM8_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=2b68eed00ae3d3e0457c333cf8329ed6 1200w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FVM8_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=2177850183f9bb000891bf81e753329e 1400w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FVM8_2048.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=011fc023817e44195d2671fb7e1779ea 1536w)
~ MM Guide Lyra Pierotti, words and photos