Looking for climbing mentor

[krellor]

I am a beginner climber and am looking for someone to climb with around the Palouse, preferably someone with more experience than myself. I have become fairly proficient, as much as I can by myself, and have started piecing together my rack. I am familiar with current safety procedures, have taken some intro climbing classes (although by the time I took them I was beyond what they were covering), and have read much of the climbing literature including that latest edition of freedom of the hills.

 

I have been self belaying some lead climbs up to around 5.8, but that is tricky and I am nervous whenever I try a new route like that.

 

I have also done some ice climbing and am fairly comfortable up to about WI3, and would also like to get into alpine climbing.

 

So, if any of you are around the palouse and willing to take a fledgling climber out with you I am game for just about anything (but I won't be afraid to say what is beyond my skill level). I have been kind of puttering with climbing for a couple of years by myself, and would really like to take off on climbing this year.

[pup_on_the_mountain]

Jamin? Is that (a new) you???

 

Where in Palouse are you located? You should meet up with the Alpine Club folks (at WSU). I've met several climbing partners through the Club, often more experienced than myself. You are more than welcome to join me/us on a trip, but I'm not claiming to be bad-ass.

 

Unless the snow shuts the campus down again, we should be meeting this Thursday at 6 pm (In Webster B12). Let me know if you want more details.

 

 

[Bug]

Could call Pup. Is that you Jamin?

 

I met Pup coming down from a successful one day climb of Daniel.

He seemed like he would be a good person to climb with.

But he moved across the state so he wouldn't have to climb with me.

[krellor]

Ha, Jamin!? Didn't know anyone here would know him. No, I am not Jamin, but I do know him, although he seems more into alpine and less into technical. Now I will have to hunt him down and see if he is interested in technical rock climbing (last time I spoke with him he seemed mostly interested in summit runs).

[Bug]

Ha, Jamin!? Didn't know anyone here would know him. No, I am not Jamin, but I do know him, although he seems more into alpine and less into technical. Now I will have to hunt him down and see if he is interested in technical rock climbing (last time I spoke with him he seemed mostly interested in summit runs).

I would advise you to stay away from him until or unless one or both of you get more experience. He told a few stories on this site that scared me. He seems to have a high tollerance for recklessness. At least one experiencesd climber here went out with him and got yanked hard by Jamin. Apparently it was some kind of test. A failure would have been brutal at best. To make it worse, Jamin just kept coming back with more stories of recklessness. Having Jamin as a "mentor" could very well be your last big mistake. On the other hand, if he survives long enough to gain experience, his go-for-it attitude could get him up some great climbs.

[krellor]

Ok, duly noted. I have climbed with him before (Ice climbing in Banff & Canmore) and was a little concerned on how he purchased some of his gear on ebay. I am happy to climb with just about anyone, but I'm not shy to back off a face if I'm not comfortable, so I will keep your advice in mind.