I-pods, I-pads!?...I-sad :(

       A new generation of crag kids are amongst us. Gone are the days of chasing grasshoppers and jumping between stones. I-phones, I-pads, I-sad. I grew up as a crag kid and my parents took me everywhere! Spring trips to Skaha, camping in the Ghost, trad climbing in Snow Canyon... My first lead climb at age 11 was on Tonsai Beach, Thailand where I got to know Knut Rokne, one of the most influential people to my climbing career. I sent my first 12 as a young teen in Vegas on a family trip and climbed my first multi pitch with my daddy up Yam when I was 10. The more I think about it, the more I realize how incredibly lucky I was to have such positive influences in my life. Growing up with coaches like Knut Rokne, peers like Vikki Weldon and Josh Muller and ‘uncles’ like Ryan Greenburg and Levente Pinter... It’s no wonder I am so inspired to hit the road and climb up a storm! 

My parents instilled an endless love for the outdoors in me from a very young age. When I was too little or perhaps too unfocussed to climb, I would gather sticks by the rivers of Bow Valley crags and watch them float downstream as my parents climbed endlessly. Making boats was my favorite pastime once I grew tired of climbing. I would mash rocks into the earth and draw pictures with mud. Stomp in puddles and play with ants...I was very good at amusing myself!

But today I saw something sad. I saw what my childhood could have been had I not had such amazing and down to earth parents. Had I grown up in this new generation of technology and chaos... These kids are being brought to world class climbing destinations, just like I was when I was little, but they are missing everything! They sit in the shade with their Ipads and Headphones... too lazy to move out from under me when I begin a new line.

Today opened my eyes to the new pressures that parents face with the intrusive technologies of todays world. I was lucky enough to escape this pandemic...but I think I still owe a pretty big thanks to the climbing community that helped raise me. So thanks Dad for making nature a game and thanks Knut for always going out of your way to get me on real rock! I can only hope that some kids from this generation are as fortunate as I was.