Pinnacles:  Five Sisters  1/9/99  with Skyler

My 7.5 year old son, Skyler, called me at work and asked if
I would take him climbing at the Pinnacles!  Naturally I was
quite thrilled with his interest in climbing, so we made plans.
We discussed climbs, and he wanted to do the highest summit
(Tuff Dome), but I managed to convince him that we should
practice on some easier climbs first.  Plus I wasn't sure
I wanted to hike that far, if success was not relatively likely!

1. Tiburcio's X - Backside 4th class *
I "4th classed" up this in my hiking boots, trailing a rope,
although I haven't taught Skyler how to belay yet.  I clipped
the single bolt, so he would get some practice dealing with
carabiners.  He cruised up it, enjoying the easy moves and
nice summit/view.  He downclimbed it, then reclimbed and
downclimbed again.  He told me we didn't need the rope for
this one, but I persuaded him that it would be good practice
and the safe way to climb!  Skyler wore his "water shoes" over
boot socks, which worked very well (sort of like climbing slippers).

2. First Sister - Center Route 5.4 ***
It seemed like an ideal day to do this often crowded classic,
since there were few people at the Pinnacles, due to the 49ers
football playoff game.  Two guys had just finished doing it
when we arrived at the base.
This 110' pitch had my attention at times, and I was glad I
wore my rock shoes.  Skyler had a little trouble starting off
the low pillar and later said he fell there.  On the upper crux,
there are again few hand holds and small foot holds.  He slowed
down there but made it.  It was almost too hard for him, and I
could see he was maybe a little bit scared and discouraged.
We rested on the backside ledge a bit and got out of the
exposure.

3. Second Sister  4th class
It was so close by, that we thought we should bag it.  I lowered
Skyler off the overhanging but short back side of the First Sister
to a good ledge.  I downclimbed the 5.7 move (I've done this before),
and then led the Second Sister.  It's short, with the first
move being the crux; he lowered down the first move when we
descended.  Then we traversed toward the 3rd Sister, and I lowered
him down a long gulley on the south face.  I downclimbed this,
and we went back to our packs for lunch.

4. The Love Handles - back side  3rd/4th class
We soloed up this.  We had both done it twice before.

5. Fourth Sister - North Shoulder 5.1 X
Two years ago, Skyler had climbed the 4th class approach to this,
but didn't finish it.  Renata finished it, but was scared when
I lowered her off the backside and shrieked a bit.  Skyler was
determined to summit and be lowered off without screaming!
The opening move onto the arete is a bit reachy and technical.
He batmanned the rope, and also grabbed the sling on the first
bolt.  He lowered off with no problems and enjoyed it.

6. Fifth Sister 5.6 X - attempt
Skyler climbed the delicate approach face, but didn't want to
try the reachy summit block (same performance as Renata 2 years
ago).

7. Fourth Sister - North Shoulder 5.1 X
We went back for another lap.  This time he freed the route,
and lowered off again.  Also another lap on the approach face
to the Fifth Sister.

8. Fourth Sister - West Face/Ghost of Tiburcio's 5.6
Renata had not gotten very far up this 2 years ago, in retrospect
partly due to crummy footwear.  Skyler managed to follow it with
no real problems.  He did grab the 4th bolt, which then made me
wonder if he grabbed the others.  But I was surprised that he
was able to pull off all the steep and (I thought) reachy moves.
Very encouraging for future father/son climbing trips to Pinnacles!