In contrast Chironico would way more suited, having lots of flat areas around the boulders, but assume you’re looking for a summer venue.
Anyone done it and can offer an opinion on whether it’s a good idea, problems with ticks (biting kind) etc?It’s looks particularly unfriendly to prams but that’s okay. Baby will be about 10-11 months. Any Sheffield folk have a guide I could borrow? Ta.
How is Chironico in terms of concentration of easy problems? That sort of area is on my list to investigate as potential Easter-ish alternatives to Font - from the sounds of things it ticks the family accessible box, it looks like very nice and aesthetic climbing, but how does it fare as a "set up a base camp near a cluster of stuff from ~4-7A problems" that Font does so well...?
I think anywhere will suffer in comparison to Font in those terms! It was a few years ago I went but I remember there being several areas that were quite concentrated, as it's essentially a series of smaller areas spread up the hillside with different parking options.
I'm sure you know this guy, but font in the summer is totally fine in our experience. We went when ours was 10 months old, in August, and whilst you might not be ticking your hardest ever problem on razor edges, I thought cons were fine in the mornings, and then hit the pool in the afternoon. Plenty of shade on the campsite, and only a short drive.
I have been to magic Wood with a baby (with Rob, different babies), the baby was no problem You just need a decent carry rucksack, we did almost lose a 3 year old down a hole but he should have been looking where he was going. We mainly stayed near the river. I don't think it would be much easier in chironico, I found getting round chironico quite hard work (no baby at that point)
I'd say taking a pram there is impossible, but it might be ok with a carry rucksack. Not a place I'd visit with a baby. Chironico has a lot more areas that are easily accessible. The seasons don't really overlap much though. Chironico will already be quite warm unless you go to areas that are in the shade most of the day. I'd scratch Cresciano from my list. It's lower altitude and the road was closed this winter, so you have a 30 minute walk uphill to the first boulders. Sustenpass could be good place to visit if passing through. If you do go to Magic Wood, try to avoid the summer holidays. The campsite will be packed, and the easily accessible areas near the river crowded. It might be worth just having a stroll by yourself through the forest on the first day to find the easiest paths between different areas. There are areas that you could set up camp higher up the hill, and there are often convenient paths, but if you visit the place for the first time it is easy to get lost. I've never picked up any ticks in Magic Wood, my guess is it's too high up.
i’ve been to cresciano with a 1 year old before and it was hard work tbh. it is hilly and wasnt easy to manage a mobile 1 year old. ended up i went and did v early sessions and then met back up with them mid morning which was ok if a bit hectic. that was over 10 years ago but cant imagine it would be all that different now.