New baby. Is backcountry season on hold?

I buddy of mine was once a very hard core class 5+ whitewater paddler -- stuff like Ernie's Canyon

While his wife was pregnant , his thinking was, I'm still going to boat the gnar, I'm always careful.

Well the baby came and much to his suprise his desire to run gnarly white water simply evaporated.

He was suprised by this, but not unhappy -- he was enjoying being with his son so much that he didn't think about it that much. When his son grew older he did more boating, but not the really hard core stuff.

When his son was eleven -- his long applied for private Grand Canyon permit finally came through and we enjoyed that trip tremendiously -- the biggest fun was watching the kid paddling his kayak through some of the easier rapids -- watching them both -- I don't know whose smile was bigger -- the son's or the dad's.

So I think you'll need to feel it out and take it one step at time, one day at a time -- skiing can continue -- but you should be open to the possibility that watching your kid grow will be as much or more compelling.

May you be blessed with a healthy baby and wife -- nothing else really will matter if you don't have that.

We have a 15th month old. My backcountry skiing (and climbing) has certainly changed but by no means stopped. As others have said, I think free time and desire to spend said time with the kid has as much to do with this as risk. I'd become quite risk adverse the last couple of years anyways after witnessing some climbing equipment failures that could have been much worse then they were.

I've never been much of a steep skier and the last couple of years I've sought out safe lower angle tours that still have a good amount of vert and good views...true meadow skips with an occasional easy summit thrown in. (Some of you may remember I wrote hillmap.com which has slope angle overlays that are really useful for identifying this sort of thing).

It also helps to live ta 4000 ft in western Montana where, in a good snow year like two winters ago, I decent tour can be had minutes from the house. I find it is a lot easier to justify taking a few hours or half a day to ski and hike while still having plenty of time to hang with the kiddo then a whole day with 4+ hours of driving. We even did some short dawn patrols with my pregnant wife on snowshoes and me on skis as she didn't feel up to skiing.

Similarly its a lot easier to find time for a quick bouldering circuit then a day of rope climbing or for a trail run then a full day summit attempt.

I think it is really important to have some athletic activities you can do close to home during nap time etc to stay in shape so that when you do get a half day opportunity when the conditions and timing align you have the fitness to make the most of it. We built a climbing wall in our garage and try to get out for short runs and bike rides etc.

I'm also really looking forward to introducing our daughter to the mountains in summer and winter. She's never been one to hang out in a pack as even as a tiny baby she was super engaged and always wanted to be out, moving around and exploring on hikes. We have a blast in the woods but never managed to pull off any of the big trips some people manage to do with a kid in a pack.

I think we'll probably try some sledding trips this year possibly with a chance for parents to take turns making some mellow turns and maybe see if the kid enjoys being towed in a bike trailer with skis on it. Lots of hot coco and proximity to forest service warming huts will be part of it. I remember many great days at hurricane ridge on cross country skis and sleds as a kid.

We're also looking into acquiring a van with a propane furnace so we can have a warm hangout/nap spot to enable 4 season adventures. I have dreams of doing lots of spring skiing/adventuring out of high elevation highway passes with a van basecamp as the kiddo gets old enough to enjoy such things.

dberdinka hit the nail pretty much on the head.

Backcountry skiing doesn't have to be death defying. I just looks that way in the media. Ignore the media.

The only thing I'll add is to be careful when your kid gets old enough to accompany you (typically when they become a teenager).

I've taken my son on a few outings I regret because I felt I led us into a potentially dangerous situation. You can get so enthusiastic about being in the mountains with your special partner that you project onto them a perception of competence and/or experience that isn't justified.

I've talked to my son about these instances and how badly I felt afterward, and he forgave me ages ago. But I don't forget.

Lowell, interesting thoughts about when they reach that age. Mine are approaching it fast. It will be something to look out for.

When they are just little grubs though I would echo the person who mentioned dawn patrols. If you have access to a run you can put in somewhere and get a quick 1-2k excercise climb in just as dawn breaks you can often get home just as the family is waking up. It hardly counts against you and can keep you in shape for the occasional longer tour you can get in.

The first couple years of parenthood can be a bit of a whirlwind and getting out on silent climb up a moonlit slope by yourself is a great way to reflect on it all and put it in some perspective. There is something magic about knowing no one will likely sneak up behind you and ask you for something while you are up there which is a feeling you probably won't find at home for a few years.

I have a ~13-month-old son.  I am significantly more cautious and risk averse than in the past.  Both my backcountry skiing and rock climbing time have been reduced, by something like 1/4 to 1/2 depending on the season and other factors.  But it sure seems like my parenting would suffer without the physical and emotional outlet these activities give me.

rigjt on sky! Just saw this, congrats, you'll make a great father to your new son as soon as he learns to ski😃

Plenty of good parenting advice, don't need any more from me. I will add to the "keep skiing bro" chant. Get the kids skiing (sliding on snow) as soon as you can. I got luck and have one of these: