Climbing trips for solo women

All this talk of climbing has prompted me to make some climbing goals of my own. I mean, I have been watching the sport for the last eight years. I would like to see what all the fun is about. Now I am still climbing with the CCM ladies and having a good time. But I promised Brendan that I would be lead-belay certified by the time he graduates from college. LOL!

So lately I have been running into a lot of women's climbing tour companies on Instagram and I decided to look into them. I love our son, but climbing with him is intimidating for me and my husband has no interest in propelling himself up a wall. I was pleasantly surprised to find several tour groups that cater to the solo female traveler who wants to hike or climb or both.

Here are some of the groups I found. I really like She Moves Mountains. If I go on a trip with them, I will come back here and post an update. They have a lot of great-looking trips both for beginners and experienced climbers. And they have domestic and international trips, (France is calling me...)

Stay tuned and...

        CLIMB ON!

Into the woods Ak

She Moves Mountains

Ladies Climbing Coalition

American Alpine Institute 

On Instagram:

East Outdoors

Travel Insurance

As you can see from my Tripit homepage, (see my post on must-have travel apps), we have a lot of trips coming up as well as in the past. I would be remiss if I didn't comment on travel insurance.

Now, everyone knows about the insurance offers you get bugged about every time you buy a plane ticket or rent a car. But here's a better idea: skip all those and get year-long travel insurance covering everything. There are a couple of companies that offer long-term travel insurance, so do your homework and figure out what you can afford. Why do you need travel insurance? Because things happen and your plans change. The weather can ruin flights, you could get sick or injured far from home, travel delays can leave you stranded or you may need help right away.

I was contemplating this last January since I figured the first of the new year would be a good time to open a policy. I was glad I did because our next trip to Portland got canceled due to a bad storm on the West Coast. I had booked a non-refundable hotel through Alaska Airlines that I could not cancel. I was able to open a claim on my new insurance and they paid me back. I also had baggage damage on another trip that I was able to get reimbursed for (that story will be for another post after I have fully recovered from the experience...)

I chose to go with Allianz. They have several levels of year-long coverage and I picked the one I could afford that gave us the most coverage. It has trip cancellation and interruption, emergency medical, baggage loss or delay, rental car coverage, emergency transport, and more. As I said, I have already used it twice. It has definitely paid for itself. Allianz has a great resource on their site. Here is an article on how travel insurance works and how it does not. I cannot recommend insurance enough, especially if your climber is doing a lot of traveling. Safe travels!

    CLIMB ON!

Photo credit: @permafrostpictures.photography

 

Rental cars

 Needless to say that with all these trips, I have finally figured out how to not screw up the rental car process. Now, I have developed my own system. You will figure out yours. First, I am determined to not pay full price for a rental car, so I always go through some sort of agency to book them. I used to use Expedia-AARP, (yes, we are old parents, so I take whatever bonus from that I can find.) 

But now, I use the Alaska Airlines car booking agency. I also book all of our hotels through Alaska and rack up as many miles as possible. While I am on the topic, Alaska also has a rewards shopping mall, where you can go to your favorite store, buy an item and get miles for it on Alaska. But I digress...

Alaska Airlines is partnered with Budget and Avis, so you log in with your mileage number, you automatically get the deal prices. I have to say, Avis is a bit more expensive than Budget but nicer in a few ways. Our last trip was on Avis, and I was pleasantly surprised to open the Avis app on my phone and see the spot number of our car that was ready. That was awesome! Keys were in it and off we went. Return is the same way, no hassle.

Budget on the other hand has something called Fastbreak. Trust me: sign up for this ahead of time AND remember you signed up/what your membership number is. We got to Philadelphia and the line to check in for a car was 1.5 hours long! And all the while, I had Fastbreak and could have skipped that line. (*smacks forehead*) Sometimes, when you get to the Budget drop-off, usually from a shuttle, or in the lobby, there is usually a line designated as Fastbreak. GET IN THAT LINE. Or pay attention during the shuttle ride. Sometimes FastBreak is its own stop before the bus gets to the main building. Yell loudly you have a fast Break and need to get off! 🤣😜 The line will be super short, or your name is on a board with a lot number.  Your car will either be waiting for you or you can pick the car you want. Now I have had bad experiences with Budget in some cities. It just depends on the local ownership.

Enterprise tends to be more expensive than Avis or Budget, but they do a great job with the whole experience. They have a motto where they say they will pick you up for your rental. I have used this several times for car problems but not at the airport. Sometimes I get an enterprise car but not that often.

I have included Payless because they too come up on the Alaska choices. They do have something called Pay Now on their direct site which allows you to pay at the time of the booking and save 20% off normal rental rates. I haven't used this company but it is an interesting concept. But again, I always go through Alaska Airlines.

The nice thing about Alaska reservations for cars is that you do not pay at the time of booking. This is great because if plans change, I can cancel with no fees. I usually pick up 1,500 to 2,500 miles for booking a car through the Alaska Airlines car program. Even up to 4,000 miles for a hotel. Every little bit helps!

As to what cars to get, that is a personal choice but have you noticed that they always seem to give you cars low to the ground? Brendan is 5’10 so I try not to get compact cars but we still end up climbing into cars to sit on the ground. If a minivan pops up as an option, I try to grab that. We bring a lot of stuff for comps so it’s nice to have the room. My favorite is the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid. Great on gas! But I could never figure out when the car was on…🤔. UPDATE: there is a light on the ignition button that says RUN and OFF. Never saw it before…

When you do get to your car, be sure to do a thorough walk around the vehicle. Take a picture of any dings or problems that are already there. Get in it and make sure everything works. When you drive out of the lot, be sure to tell get gate agent what you found so you are not accused of any damage. The last question you should ask (and I always forget) is if there are any tolls in the area and if your car comes with an electronic pass such as EZpass. Rental car companies can charge up to $20 a day for toll coverage, so if you need it, get it, but if not, avoid all tolls. When you set your Apple Maps (sorry Google), be sure to hit the button that says 'avoid tolls' and you will be fine. Just leave extra time if there is traffic.

I just have to make sure whatever car I get has CarPlay and the right plug for my phone (I always bring adapters just in case). I was in heaven when one car had WIRELESS Car Play...Again, Apple Maps is a must or I go crazy...

UPDATE: and NEVER get a pickup truck as a rental in Seattle!!! OMG, NEVER AGAIN!

UPDATE: I am renting a Tesla for the first time next year...we will see...I watched a bunch of videos to prepare because the learning curve is steep! 😱

    CLIMB ON!

Photo credit: @permafrostpictures.photography

NACS- North American Cup Series- Salt Lake City

This year Brendan and some friends decided to try their hand at the North American Cup Series (NACS) at the USA Climbing Training Facility in Salt Lake City, UT. This is an elite-level competition that is designed to prepare up-and-coming climbers for the upper-level competitions. A sort of mid-level between Youth Nationals and the World Cup series. Having never done this type of comp before, here are some things to keep in mind.

First off, to compete in a NACS event, a competitor must be turning 16 within the current season (before 1/1/25 at the time of this writing or the next year). They must also have an elite/youth series membership. That said, basically, anyone can register for it. That is not really clear in the advertisements for this series. It looks so high-level that we didn't immediately think about doing it.

Next, the registration is open until the day before, so the running order is not published until late the day before. There are no times posted with the running order, so it is challenging to figure out exactly what time your climber will be climbing. Additionally, there is no running clock or buzzer posted anywhere. The only way to know when your climber is climbing is to look at who is on the wall. The technical meeting states: 

• Clock will not be visible to climber or spectators; climbing judge will notify competitor when time is done

• Climbers are responsible for reporting to their climb in order of the start list; Climbers are responsible for being ready to climb when the climber preceding them comes down.

There are also blue crosses to be aware of that tell when to clip in. The rules state:

• Some of the qualification routes have blue crosses. This means you must make your clip from the hold marked by the blue crosses.

If your climber is participating in the Lead event, then here are some things, you as a spectator, need to remember: This is held on the outdoor climbing wall, so be prepared with sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, lots of water, food for the day (there limited options nearby), and even a camping chair if you don't like sitting on the ground all day. There is no other provided seating. Also, bring a phone charger. Being outside, I didn't realize my phone was on full brightness due to the sun, and I ran out of power! 

Moving on to the Boulder category, the clock and buzzer returned. And since there were so many people, there were two identical versions of the 5 problems for two groups of athletes. So the comp was able to have double the climbers going simultaneously. 

As for spectating inside the Training Center (TC), be ready for any temperature. It is freezing in the TC right now, but if you are here during the summer, it can be extremely hot and humid. Also, if you are dropping a competitor for isolation (ISO) you won’t be able to enter the hall to watch until ISO closes. This meant I had to spend 45 minutes outside in the rain. Fortunately, I found a covered spot since I had no car. 

As for as advancement, here are the requirements in a NACS setting:

• Top 24 climbers from the Quals go on to Semis
• Top 8 climbers from Semis move on to Finals

And speaking of ISO, be ready for a long or short stay depending on where your climber is on the start list. Brendan had to spend 6 hours in ISO for this category. I sent him in with a ton of food at 7 am and he won’t climb until about 1 pm. (Time enough even for a nap!) The boulder category is pretty straightforward. 

Overall, this was a valuable experience for our climber. He will be back!

    CLIMB ON!

How NOT to get sick while traveling

I thought I had thought of everything for all of our climbing trips. But I hadn't accounted for the possibility that we could get sick. During a trip in Bend, OR, Brendan started coughing. At first, I thought it was an allergy since it was spring there and everything was spouting, but alas no. It turned into some viral thing that eventually we all got. (UPDATE: turns out it was Croup; yes, you read that right. Croup in a 17 year old and we all got it.) Not fun. I've done some research and asked savvy travelers how they avoid getting sick and here is what they said.

For the most part, if you are traveling on an airplane, the consensus is that the recycled air is so well-cleaned that it is not as much of a worry. Folks worry about surfaces. We all have read about how an airplane could be better cleaned since the turnaround time is so little between flights. Most people recommend wiping down the seat belt, window shade, tray table, and armrests before sitting. If you are able, travel first class to avoid the masses. People also mention getting Lounge access to get away from the masses. I cannot do either, so oh well. (Plus, I'm not a fan of lounges...it stresses me out to be so far away from the gate. There, I said it.)

Then there are the things you can do to yourself, like washing your hands often. This is perhaps the most important thing to remember to do. Many folks suggested taking vitamins, zinc, emergencee, and other supplements to help boost the immune system before and during a trip. Some folks also subscribe to the mask-wearing idea, especially N95s. I started wearing my KN95s not for the germs, but because it keeps my nose from drying out. (Yes, the idea is gross, but my nose survives the dry air at 30,000 feet better with it on.) I'm a big fan of taking Vitamin D, especially up here in Alaska, so that is a given. Getting a good amount of sleep is also recommended. It is also recommended to open the vents on the airplane to get the filtered air. Drinking colloidal silver, zinc, and vitamin C as well as hydrating before a flight. Some suggest using a saline nose spray with Vaseline to keep the nasal membranes moist and harder for viruses to infiltrate.

I will be changing my airline protocols after this last bug, which was a doozy. Here's to virus-free travel.

UPDATE: We have figured out that if Brendan wears a mask on the plane after a competition, he doesn't get sick! And that means I don't either!

CLIMB ON!

Gym Hopping: Bend Endurance Academy

 

As I have said in previous posts, Brendan and I have traveled to many gyms across the country. Some for competitions and some for exposure to high-level competition route setting. My point with this post is for new climbing parents to think about visiting as many gyms and outdoor settings as possible. Climbers, as I have learned, are like libraries. They store information through what they have seen and experienced. They must be exposed to new challenging settings to continue to show them what is possible in their growth.

We decided to pay the Bend Endurance Academy (BEA) a visit this spring break. It is only the 2nd gym in the country just for kids. As mentioned in a previous post, we visited Team ABC in Boulder, Colorado about 6 years ago. (I would love to see gyms like this all over the country!) BEA's mission is to promote healthy living through active, outdoor experiences while promoting teamwork, personal growth, and community responsibility. They host programs in Climbing,  Cycling, and Nordic Skiing. They also promote inclusion by making all of their programs accessible to those who may not be able to attend without financial assistance. Check out BEA HERE for more information.

What makes these gyms so amazing is the complete freedom they have to cater to only children. BEA has kinder Fridays where 6 kindergarteners get to have their own time to climb and learn basic moves through game play and obstacle courses. At the older group level, like in Brendan's case, competition routes are waiting for them at every practice. No need to worry about the general public hurting themselves on a difficult route. The adults are conspicuously missing. Think about what youth climbers could achieve if they had that level of catering all the time! Even just a visit to these types of special programs does a young climber good.

I am calling this climbing mom/parent hack 'gym hopping'. It is something every climbing mom needs to sprinkle into the mix of their climber's experiences. Once their eyes are opened to the endless possibilities out there, there is no going back! They will want to visit more gyms and, ultimately, outdoor spaces. Our job is to provide as many resources as possible to enrich our climber's experiences. And have fun doing it! (And of course, the climbing mom gets to go climbing! 😆)

                CLIMB ON!

The CCM! Climbing Moms learn to Climb!

 

When Brendan first started climbing, I put him in a class. Every week, I would drop him off at the gym. To minimize my trips, I brought along papers to grade while I waited for him. Well, one of my teacher colleagues at the time said, "Janeen! Why are you working?". I said, "What else would I be doing?" She said, climbing! Well, long story short, she taught me how to climb and accepted all of my squeals and complaints - Thank you, Sasha! Now, this has been the best thing for me to be able to connect with our son.

But Sasha went off and had a baby and moved away, (Yes, Sasha, I still miss you!). So after having the idea of getting some climbing moms together to wear a climbing mom shirt for our next comp, the Coalition of Climbing Moms (CCM) was born! And then I thought, wouldn't it be great to climb together? I still haven't found a belay buddy even after all these years. 

For a while, Brendan and I were waiting for him to be old enough so we could belay each other, then...COVID hit. And all climbing stopped. Then, he got so good I felt silly climbing with him. Now, we have made a complete circle and he is asking for me to belay him all the time. I did not think I would become part of the training plan! We have had such a good time while I belay him during his workouts. Honestly, it is the most I've been able to talk with him besides being on a climbing trip. 

For parents whose climbers are getting close to college age, this is the perfect time to get some mother/guardian/son time in with your child. They will laugh at you but that's OK. I'll take that and the conversations any time! 🥰💛

The Alaskan CCM! Great job, ladies!