You will be moving incredibly slow, annoying climbers behind you, and feeling completely cramped at belay ledges. I cannot recommend you attempting this given the parameters listed. Somebody else in your group has got to learn to lead, and then you split up into two teams. Otherwise, stick with the toproping.

I think this way is simplest:

Mom belays Dad's lead.
Dad trails a 2nd rope and clips it through directionals.

Dad belays Mom and Mistress1 simultaneously on an autoblocking device. Mistress 1 trails a line and clips through directionals if appropriate.

When both Mom and Mistress1 are at the belay station, Mistress1 can belay Mistress2 on the trail line using an autoblocking device. Meanwhile, Mom can belay Dad while he leads p2.

Yes I have opened myself for injury if I am knocked out, since I am the only one with rescue techniques. That's why we're limiting our exposure by staying way below our max grades.

It seems that alot of people here believe that everybody climbs every weekend. When you have kids there are a great many other things that make this rather impossible. ... This just doesn't happen as often as I would like. There are many other responsibilities. We just like to climb.

i like algebra word problems!

Father, Son 1 Son 2 and then Mother.

what do i win?

...Four or more people need at least 3 ropes...

For maximum efficiency, the minimum number of ropes should always be one less than the total number of people. Fastest way to move is in teams of two. Under no circumstances should the experienced be outnumbered by the inexperienced. 1:1 is the best way.

How experienced a leader are YOU, for even considering this ?

Teach your kids to work together on the 2nd line, one at the end one tied 10 feet above him. The other option is to have one of the kids take the place of your wife as your second cleaning and reclipping if their are traverses. The only problem is that whoever is on the second line will be simulclimbing but im assuming these will be fairly easy routes.

But then again, with 3 people you could use an alpine butterfly and tie the 2nd in short, provided the 3rd is VERY comfortable with the difficulty of the climb.

The safety implications are numerous here. The belay stations are going to probably run you an hour or so each time you get everyone situated. Two bolted anchors (hopefully), some 200+ feet of rope, three to four people there, 84 locking biners, 56 runners...

markc,

it was meant to be a joke. does anyone even own 84 locking biners? the point was to amplify the ridiculous nature of four people occupying one belay station, two to three of them being unexperienced.

gotta echo what UB said. jerry, enough with the troll. that goes for the butterfly person also. .

Troll? ill have you know ive never trolled anyone on these boards...

Every post is a troll.

Every post is a troll.

Also, when you live in southern New Jersey, it winds up being a major excursion to go climbing. This just doesn't happen as often as I would like. There are many other responsibilities. We just like to climb.

I say do some single pitch climbs with them, Them meaning you and one other person.. IF the youngest doesnt like to lead or belay He's not ready to do any multi pitch.. I say take the oldest and get him a solid belayer and lead climber. And then get your wife to lead.. but dont take a family trip to elcap with only i trad leader, 2 solid belayers, 1 that can belay but still needs a backup and leads very easy sport, and 1 that loves to just climb around on a top rope..

while you and your oldest son are working on his skills, set up 2 top ropes for your wife and youngest to mess around on (time to put that grigri to work) dont torture your oldest by makeing him use a grigri, Let him use the atc.... Its a teen pride thing (im 14, my partners wouldnt ever make me use a grigri, and ive been climbing less then 20 times)

If the original poster isn't joking (trolling), then he is a fool for even considering it, and any of you giving advice on how to get his disaster underway are aiding and abetting.

Bullsh!t. I don't think any of us posting to this thread know this family personally. So we just have to take the original poster at his word regarding their level of experience. And from what I've read, there is no reason why they couldn't do a 2-pitch 5.4, with a large belay ledge and easy walk-off safely. The climbing will certainly be within all of their abilities, and far below the leader's ability. It's 2 pitches--not that commiting. I somehow doubt that they're going to be doing this out in the middle of the wilderness. Guides do stuff like this all the time on much longer routes. Now, maybe it will be annoying...or maybe not and they'll have a lot of fun. I hope for the latter. This kind of thing could certainly be a "disaster" in the wrong hands--as could any attempted climbing ascent, in the wrong hands. Nothing leads me to believe that that's the case here though.

What this discussion has really brought to light for me was that 13 years old is old enough to begin learning trad lead. I had not even considered this until he was a bit older. He has voiced the desire, but I have been hesitant to begin this due to his age and size.

That's a funny arrangement of priorities. You're willing to subject your entire family to a clusterf*ck but you want to shield the 13-year-old from leading because he's small? I learned to lead trad when I was 22, but I was and am smaller than most 13-year-old boys...

What this discussion has really brought to light for me was that 13 years old is old enough to begin learning trad lead.

Dont listen to this man. If you feel safe enough to bring your kids on multipitch you can try this method:

Purchase a thin 8.5 rope for your second line. Find routes/areas that are not popular with the masses.