Back again for another blog. This one is all in direct response to an article that has appeared in the press recently. There are other versions of the same article, but here is the Daily Mail's take on it: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2094305/Menna-Pritchard-26-defends-rock-climbing-TODDLER-strapped-back.html.
Now the background information to my response to the article is this; I am a rock climber, with my Single Pitch Award (one of the rock climbing qualifications), and I also happen to know the person in question. I admit from the outset that I do not know her very well, but I study the same degree at the same university and she is the year below me and it would be fair to say our paths have crossed. Given that information, it may explain why I'm so quick to comment on the subject.
To start with I want to get my only real criticism out of the way. The picture that has cause most problems has been the one of Menna climbing with her daughter, Ffion, on her back. Now in this picture, two out of the three people are wearing climbing helmets, the problem is, it is Ffion that doesn't have a helmet on. My comments on this are that maybe Menna has been a little short sighted here, in that this is the picture that she shared with friends on facebook. At the time she could never have known that the picture would have become as public as it has. I do know where the picture was taken, and have climbed there myself, so I do know what the conditions are usually like at the crag. I also have a good understand of the rope system in place for that climb. What I can't pass comment on are the specific conditions on the day, or the anchors used to fix the rope in place. What I do feel the need to say is that when top roping at Three Cliffs Bay I would not wear a helmet, unless in exceptional circumstances. Every climber will have a different attitude to wearing a helmet, and my question to Menna would be that if she felt it was necessary for her to wear a helmet, then why had she not made sure Ffion was also wearing a helmet. I would especially want to ask this, as my attitude towards helmets are that if I don't think I'll need it then I won't wear it. Menna may hold a view that she has bought a helmet and so she will wear it, and that she would still have done this climb if she didn't have one.
Now for the positive.
As touched on above, the climbing that was taking place was one of the safest ways to climb, if not THE safest way of climbing in the outdoors. Climbing for me has been one of the most important things I've ever done. The personal and social benefits of climbing on me have been, on occasions, the only things I've had to get me through the darker times. The people close to me will know first hand how a good day on the rock can really change my view on life, and how frustrated I can get when I can't climb as often as I'd like. What I hope happened in this situation is that Menna was provided with a wonderful opportunity to combine her love of adventure with irreplaceable learning for a young child. Studying the course that both myself and Menna do, we are both well aware of the host of advantages that the outdoors can offer. We have also been taught to critically evaluate the risks we take, this is why I am sure that Ffion's safety will have been the most important consideration for Menna before entering into the "risk" situation. I am not a parent myself but would like to think that any decisions made by parents would have their children's well being as the highest priority.
My views as an overall?
Menna has more than enough knowledge to have made a well educated and safe decision for her child, she was also climbing with other experienced climbers who would not have put anyone at risk, especially not a toddler. If the well being of Ffion, and young children in general, is what is important, then why has the media felt appropriate to intrude on a young family and place them in a media spotlight.
Before this blog was posted I spoke to Menna about the issues. She explained to me that she was still wearing the helmet from the earlier climbs she had been doing, and if she has just been doing the bottom ropes (not top ropes as I stated above) with Ffion she would not have worn her helmet. She also explained that this is not a regular event. At this particular time Ffion had shown an interest in going up the climb, and after deciding it was safe Menna only climbed part of the route before being lowered down. Finally Menna has said that "The photo was stolen from my blog and sold without permission. I am seeking legal advice about this. Words were also lifted and misquoted."
I realise that this has been my best effort yet at a serious blog, but there is still time for the much anticipated joke!!
I went into the airport last week and said "I want this bag to go to Rome, this bag to go to Amsterdam, this back to go to Berlin and I want to go to Paris."
"I'm sorry sir, we can't do that" replied the check-in staff.
"Well you managed it alright last week!!"
Keep the faith!
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