Joey wrote:simon-b wrote:auldal wrote:I'd suggest going for a practice abseil in a less exposed spot with your daughter first. This should allow you to relax about that part.
Yes, another endorsement for this idea. I had a an abseiling lesson on an indoor climbing wall to get ready for the Cuillin, and it was a big help.
Yes, I will definitely get an abseiling lesson. Thanks!
That was going to be my suggestion as well, and do several until you feel at least a bit familiar with what you are doing.
Also, if you've never done any climbing before, it's well worth getting familiar with the routine of rope-handling and climbing calls, and you don't even need a rock face and fine weather. When I was preparing to take a friend (who was a capable scrambler but had never done any roped climbing) up the In Pinn, we practiced by going on a climbing expedition - up the stairs in his house. We got kitted up and tied on the rope, I put him on a belay to the bottom post, and he belayed me as I climbed the stairs, putting a runner in half-way up (to give him practice at taking it off), then belaying myself to the top post, pulling up the rope and bringing him up the 'climb' on my belay, all the while using the climbing calls appropriate to each part of the procedure.
When we got there on the day, we both knew that we both knew what we were supposed to do - which is a bit of a confidence boost to start with - and only the location was unfamiliar. With his scrambling experience he found the climb itself very straightforward, and afterwards paid me the great compliment of saying that he felt entirely safe all the way. I hope you end up feeling the same way yourself.
Angus