Mar 24 2015

Climbing with Kids: Susie Christensen Interview

Climbing, Interviews, Kids, Motherhood, Pregnancy
by Beth

breastfeeding issues, and the thought of doing the Nose in a day blew my mind. Susie was kind enough to do an amazing, informative, and humble interview. I hope you all are as inspired as I am!!!After I did my interview with Jim Herson, he mentioned that I should interview his friend Susie who had just done a lactating ascent of the Nose. I was still pretty early postpartum and dealing with   Tell me a little about yourself and your history with climbing.   Let me just start off with my favorite quote...

Read More
Nov 20 2014

Climbing With Kids: Jim Herson Interview

Climbing, Interviews, Kids, Yosemite
by Beth

For any bay area climber or climbing parent, I'm sure you are familiar with Jim Herson, Anne Smith and their awesome kiddos Kara and Connor. However, for anyone who isn't familiar with them, here's a great interview as an introduction. They can often be found in the Sierras climbing up things with multiple kids and parents in tow. They also have one of my favorite climbing blogs out there that always leaves me laughing and inspired. I first met Jim and Anne when I was a teenager doing the local...

Read More
Nov 13 2014

Climbing With Kids: Becca Caldwell Interview

Climbing, Interviews, Kids, Motherhood, Pregnancy, Travel, Yosemite
by Beth

For any of you out there that buy Patagonia kids clothes, you've probably seen the adorable kiddo Fitz Caldwell. Most likely those pictures were taken by his talented mom, Becca. She does an amazing job at documenting all the adventures that Fitz goes on, from her Instagram feed to their family blog. As many mothers do, she does run some social media accounts. It's become a lot more popular for families to have these social media platforms to influence others from. They can do this easily by using sites like...

Read More
Jul 16 2014

Climbing With Kids: Thomasina Pidgeon Interview

Climbing, Interviews, Kids, Motherhood, Pregnancy
by Beth

I'm not sure when I actually first met Thomasina (Thomo), but I had known about her for a long time. It's hard not to hear about one of the strongest, most accomplished female boulderers in the world, having climbed over 40 boulder problems of V11 or harder. But what struck me as the years went on is that she continued to push the limits and raise this amazing little girl, Cedar, at the same time.   I had the privilege of having them at our house in Yosemite one night when they...

Read More
Apr 16 2014

Climbing Pregnant: Brittany Griffith Interview – Decisions About Having Kids

Climbing, Interviews
by Beth

I heard from a lot of women after I published the Steph Davis interview on her decision around having kids. People really appreciated another perspective on having/not having kids and asked for other similar interviews. Another good friend of mine, Brittany Griffith, is an amazing climber, traveler, writer, cook, etc. that does not have kids and is not planning on having them.   I first met Brittany when I was a teenager climbing at Smith Rock, OR. She was a full time traveling climber living the dream out of her car. Over...

Read More
Apr 07 2014

Climbing Pregnant: Interview with Long Huynh, OB/GYN and climber

Climbing, Interviews, Pregnancy
by Beth

One of the many messages I received after I started blogging about climbing and pregnancy was from Long Huynh, an OB/GYN and climber living in Boulder, CO. She had collaborated with Climbing Magazine a few years back to do a very brief summary of climbing during pregnancy. However, I had many specific questions, as did a bunch of you that I thought would be great to get answered by a medical professional. What she gave me was above and beyond and more than helpful. There is so much information below...

Read More
Apr 01 2014

Climbing Pregnant: Caroline George Interview

Climbing, Interviews, Kids, Motherhood, Pregnancy
by Beth

When I published some of my first blogs on climbing while pregnant, I got a barrage of messages and notes from women around the world who had been through the same thing. Some of them I knew and some of them I didn't. Caroline George is someone who reached out to me in the very first months. Although I don't know Caroline personally, we have many many mutual friends and she's been a great source of information for me.   Caroline holds the prestigious title of IFMGA certified guide, something only a...

Read More
Mar 13 2014

Climbing Pregnant: Martina Cufar Interview

Climbing, Interviews, Motherhood, Pregnancy
by Beth

I first met Martina Cufar at the X Games. We were both young climbers competing against the greats of the sport (Liv Sansoz, Katie Brown, etc). Her climbing always impressed me, so strong, so focused and so smooth. Over the years I would see her at other X Games and World Cups, dominating with her quiet demeanor. As we both slowly left the competition scene, Martina had several World Cup podium finishes and a first place at the famous Arco Rock Masters event under her belt. She went on to...

Read More
Feb 28 2014

Climbing Pregnant: Thoughts and Perspective from Miri in Germany

Climbing, Interviews, Kids, Motherhood, Pregnancy
by Beth

  Hi Beth -  I just read your blog about your pregnancy! Really cool and of course congratulations!! I am not a professional climber but a very enthusiastic and passionate climber - and we're parents of a 1.5 year old girl. When I became pregnant I was insecure about climbing and bouldering and about our climbing after the birth. My doctor is really cool and is really sporty himself and he kept supporting me in doing sports and of course in climbing. We went in the gym 4-6 times a week, I belayed...

Read More
Feb 25 2014

Climbing Pregnant: Lyn Barraza Interview

Climbing, Interviews, Kids, Motherhood, Pregnancy
by Beth

For those of you who know Lyn Barraza, you know that she is one of those superhuman people. She has more energy than I've seen in just about any human being. She tries harder and longer than almost anyone at the crags, and has an infectiously psyched attitude.   She also runs one of the most successful climbing gyms in the country, Berkeley Ironworks, and is a member of the Access Fund Board of Directors.   Last year she had her second child, Conrad, and her pregnancy didn't seem to slow her down a bit. In December,...

Read More