Member Spotlight: May 2017
The McCabe Family | Tim, Hayden, Gen and Frankie
Members since 2015
How did you start climbing?
Tim: Climbing has held a special place in my imagination since I was a child. I devoured every climbing book I could get my hands on as soon as I could read. I really wanted to be Reinhold Messner when I grew up. I did some peak bagging in my early teens with family but did not get my first pair of rock shoes until college and really did not start trying hard until 2 years ago when I brought my daughter Hayden to Edgeworks for our first time. We were hooked and have never looked back.
Hayden: On my 7th birthday my dad wanted us to a father-daughter thing so we went rock climbing at Edgeworks.
Gen: I had never been climbing before I started coming shortly after Tim & Hayden caught the climbing bug. Their enthusiasm is contagious. My only knowledge of rock climbing was the dramatic opening scene of Vertical Limit…which is hilarious to watch now (spoiler alert, except for the dying part, not funny)
Frankie: He was most likely climbing even before he started walking at 9 months old.
Why do you climb at Edgeworks?
Tim: The Edgeworks community is amazing. The staff and the members have embraced us like family and are endlessly supportive. I have been to several other rock gyms and while some may have “better” facilities none of them can match the friendliness or sense of community at EW.
Hayden: I like climbing here because the people that work here are awesome and the routes are always fun.
Gen: Our fantastic community keeps me coming back. The staff and members all contribute to such a friendly and encouraging atmosphere. I love our adventurous climbing community!
Frankie: He absolutely adores the Edgeworks staff and his many friends he’s made at the gym.
What do you do when you’re not climbing?
Tim: I took up wood working a few years ago. I make furniture and tables and other silly things. Some of them are really good and some of them are really good firewood. So far, I still have all 10 fingers.
Hayden: I’m 9 years old so I go to school, hang out with my friends and family. I also play softball and soccer.
Gen: Well besides my 9-5 job & keeping my family of four alive, I play indoor soccer regularly and I’d like to play more tennis. I’ll play just about any sport for that matter.
Frankie: He loves dinosaurs, animals and cars, in fact next time you see him ask him if he is a t-rex or a tiger that day.
Where is your favorite place to climb outside?
Tim: Leavenworth is for lovers and I love Leavenworth. There is world class bouldering, trad and alpine climbing just right outside our back door! Plus, all the German food and liters of beer you can handle! I love climbing outside. It is my favorite thing to do in the world and honestly I do not care where we are climbing as long as we are outside with good friends!
Hayden: I love going to Leavenworth, the feeling of the rock is amazing and the food is great too.
Gen: Smith Rock is such a magical climbing wonderland. It really is my favorite, but I’m happy to go climbing anywhere outside.
Frankie: Leavenworth is his favorite, in fact he has been putting up some FA on the toddler circuit.
What are some interesting facts that you’d like to share with the Edgeworks community?
Tim: We have a German Shepard named Bode. He is partially named after six-time Olympic Medalist Bode Miller and partially after Bode, the mystic/surfer/bank robber in the classic film Point Break who was played by Patrick Swayze.
Hayden: Did you know pioneer Job Carr was the founder of Tacoma, and that he was also the first Mayor of the city?
Gen: I’ll just leave you with some words of wisdom “there are plenty of ways to enter the pool, the stairs is not one of them”.
Frankie: Ernest Hemingway one said “There are only three sports: bullfight, motor racing and mountaineering: all the rest are merely games.”
Which do you prefer: top rope, lead, or bouldering?
Tim: Leading and high-ball bouldering. Both test your resolve and push you to your limits. I think it is important to explore the things that elicit fear inside of us. Being able to control those feelings and push on right to the edge is life affirming.
Hayden: BOULDERING!
Gen: Sport climbing, the longer the route the better.
Frankie: He is still working on his top rope skills, only a select few of his favorite people can talk him into putting his harness on, so for now it’s all about bouldering.
What’s your go-to route grade?
Tim: Right now, it is 5.12a sport climbing and V6 outdoor bouldering. I have been eating lots of salads and drinking less beer to try and make both those happen this climbing season!
Hayden: V3-V4 range with bouldering and like 5.10 range on top rope.
Gen: I’ve been venturing into 5.11 grades indoor which means I’m ready to push my limits this outdoor season, because so far the hardest I’ve lead outside has only been 5.9.
Frankie: Currently projecting 5.15d on gear.
