Family Mountaineering (FM101): One Family’s Journey

IS FM 101 WORTH THE TIME? YES! HERE ARE 10 REASONS WHY.

By Colleen Hathaway, Mazama Member

Time is precious. Ask any family, probably the top reason cited for not doing more activities, and being together is time. Between school, work, extra curricular activities and errands, we’re hard pressed to prioritize meaningful time together—those special moments of bonding that nurture our individual, social, and spiritual growth.

You might have read the time commitment for the FM101 program and thought, “Holy cow! That includes some weeknights and weekends–for six months!” But if what we are seeking is to reap the rewards of having spent quality time with our families, we must prioritize meaningful time together.

In keeping with the theme of the “10 Essentials,” here are my “10 Reasons” why I am glad my family and I participated in the FM101 class and why you should, too:

Safety. As in all things Mazamas, safety comes first. It’s one of the Mazamas’ core values. Honestly, anyone thinking of doing the activities included in the FM101 curriculum should be trained by experts.

Volunteers. These are your experts. You will not meet a nicer, more dedicated or knowledgeable group than the volunteer coordinator, leaders, and assistants. They literally “show you the ropes.” How to coil and knot them, how to treat them with respect and not step on them, how they can save your life. They will explain how all of your gear works, how clear communication is vital when rock climbing, how to assess for hypothermia, and much more. FM101 runs on the kindness and hard work of the volunteers!

Camaraderie. This is another of the Mazamas’ values. I live in Portland, and as the paradox goes, it can be isolating living in the city. Spending time with like-minded families all working toward the same goal reassures us that we belong and that we have a purpose.

Confidence. Do any of us, children or adults, have the perfect body? The perfect mind? No. We are humans with flaws. Sometimes our experiences at work and school, and in particular on social media, can be demoralizing. FM101 builds confidence

An FM 101 volunteer guides a student in rappelling. through learning skills that are pretty darn cool. What did I do last weekend? Oh, I just rapelled off a cliff. Fun! Did I mention this was fun? The Lodge! Hot chocolate, bunk beds, delicious meals, roaring fire and good company. Horsethief Butte! Climbing, rappelling, belaying. Kids running around the campground playing games. Mt. Hood! Snow climbing, self-arrest, glissading. Smith Rock! Okay, it’s not May, and we haven’t gone to Smith Rock yet, but I’m excited! Competence. Adding FM101 skills to your arsenal of outdoor and recreational know-how will not only keep you safe and increase your overall confidence, but also provide a foundation for you to explore even more activities that you may have previously thought were out of reach. Discipline. There may be obstacles, like a downpour on Mt. Tabor when you need to practice your navigational skills, that require you to dig in and persevere. If you do, you’ll be rewarded with the skills you’ve learned and the role modeling you have done for your kids. This discipline is transferable. The next time you aim to get your steps in or whatever the particular challenge is, you’ll be able to draw from this discipline. Different. Get the kids off their screens and into their rock climbing harnesses. This is the experience of a lifetime. Do-able. It’s not as time consuming as you think. If you add up all the time you mindlessly scroll through your phone during the week, this is totally do-able. Building memories. This is a memory I will cherish of spending quality time with my family. We all get to look back on it with a sense of accomplishment and supporting one another during a pretty cool journey.