Where did you start?

[carolyn]

We all start out as beginners. In my short time on this board I have received a lot of wonderful advice and suggestions. I appreciate it very much.

Ive been wondering how others in this forum got introduced to climbing? When did the desire to climb start? How did you learn? Where did you learn? Who took you under their wings and helped you gain the experience you needed to continue on your own? What were your obstacles? Why do you climb? etc

Im off on another camping trip for the weekend (this time for work-must admit, I dont mind being paid to camp at times).

I look forward to some good reading when I return.

Have a great weekend!

Be well,

be safe,

carolyn

 

 

[erik]

my friends and i started in junvinille detention camp, we had to escape the walls somehow. from then till now, we have been self taught. though after tens years we all still suck. i am physching myself up to scramble the s.c.w. descent trail, i a dream ihave had for some time. i feel even though i might be at my personal limit the collective energy and skill might allows us a successful scramble.

[hollyclimber]

My attorney took me climbing...didn't charge me either!

[erik]

hope he wasn't your divorce attorney!

[chris_w]

I started with a one-day course in the Tetons that gave me enough knowledge to make me dangerous. I would climb at the local TR spot (Hinkley, Ohio) and practice. I would learn routes\technique from other local climbers. One day my partner said "let’s start leading, and your can do the first pitch". I had the most experience and I had read a few books. We bought just enough gear to get started and headed to Seneca Rocks WV. I know our first day out on multi-pitch was good entertainment for everyone else around. We only got up one pitch, hauling the 50 pound pack hand over hand slowed us down. From there we would pick up a new trick or tidbit from other climbers and just progressed in skill. Seneca was good for Rock but no real mountains for alpine routes, so I headed west and ended up in WA. I took a Mountaineers course for the glacier travel and to meet other climbers (not many glaciers in Ohio). From there it was just getting out into the mountains. Each time in the mountains I learn something new. Also watch other climbers, you can pick up good tricks along the way. It's been a 10 year learning experience.

Just be safe

 

[johnny]

I'm with Dru. My Dad had me out there hiking, camping and scrambling about when I was very young. He taught me to partake fully of nature and to give back as much as I take. I place all the blame on him that I become an asshole when I cannot get outside to hike, climb or fish. I even managed to make a career (salmon biologist) of being outside interacting with the Earth. He is almost 60 years old now and has been up Ranier 17 times, Denali, and scores of other Cascade and Olympic peaks. I am just now able to keep up with him.....

Everyone learns from someone: Here's a glass up to our parents or whomever it was that put the bug in us to feel awe in the presence of the Earth!!!!

[Dru]

In regards to glacier travel I read the books and practiced (not on a glacier) a few times, then bumbled not really knowing what i was doing up a few glaciers. Only when I took up aid climbing did I suddenly realize what all those z-pulleys and stuff were actually FOR!!! i'd have to say aid climbing improved my glacier safety about 500%.

[Beck]

Climbing the beautiful glacially polished granites of the Laurentian shield on the shores of Lake Superior, saw my first bolted route in 82 , moved west in the mid eighties to climb Red Rocks/Wind Rivers-

If I recall Carolyn, you are in Minneapolis, right? You can go climb Devil's Lake Wisconsin or hunt up Copper Country Michigan, there's probably a bunch of climbs between Deluth and Thunder Bay

[To_The_Top]

I started out scrambling, and climbing things I shouldn't have. After a while I wanted to do more and more, and found that I was getting up some things that were dangerous. After a bit I hired a guide to learn the right way (only a opinion). Then I joined a club that went up mountains alot, read a ton of books, but I agree there is nothing better than expierance.

[haireball]

I got started in the boy scouts. One of my most treasured memories is of an article in a now-defunct climbing magazine "Off Belay". It would have been about 1972 in their spring issue, they ran a blurb something to the effect that "Paul Petzoldt and his National Outdoor Leadership School team were forced off their New Years' climb of the Grand Teton by high winds, meanwhile, eight scouts from Idaho Falls explorer post #380 summited on the Middle Teton..." hee-hee! Still like winter, cold, bivouacs, etc...

[Uma]

The place where I live hardly has cold weather, let alone snow or ice. So it’s only rock climb that I’m learning to do. Having seen many climbers working their way higher on the cliff at a beach on my vacation made me wonder how fun that was. I finally tried it by taking a 3-day course at one of the climbing shops there. I’ve found out that I love it even though I still cannot do a good job. Still struggling at 5’s (French). Maybe because I started a little too old.

Anyway, reading about different things on this climber's board from across the ocean is pretty fun. Most of the climbing routes at the place I go to climb have been bolted.. quite permanently, and need to be rebolted once in a while.

[David_Parker]

I think I was a climber before I knew it! Once when I was 4, my neighbor called my mom on the phone to ask if she knew her son was out on the roof. I was supposed to be napping, but confusing my stride-rites for rock shoes, I was seriously flailing on the comp roof! Of course that would be my first free solo too. I lived.

Next was serious bouldering in my friends huge barn. If my mom knew about that, she would have killed me. We scared the shit out of our selves way high in the rafters. And that white shit wasn't chalk either but swallow guano.

Later I enjoyed seeing how far I could go along the shore (in Maine) at high tide without falling in. I brought a friend once and he locked up on a traverse and could only cry out "I want my mommy."

I took my brother "rappelling" once. It was a water tower on an island.

In college I spent more time on the roof of my dorm. There was a great view of the girls from up there. Also a good place to launch water balloons. See, all you really need to know you learn in kindegarden!

Then I moved out west! Started rock climbing in Little Cottonwood Canyon. I think I climbed Schoolroom 8 times to teach myself how to place pro. Then we started aiding the roofs. In winter I had to beg and beg and beg for Dirty Dan to take me ice climbing. Pulled his ass out of retirement. My first climb was in leather (Becky) boots with smc strap-ons and 30 cm teradactyls! We did Briadalveil right and I was the coolest dude on the planet.

Then I came to Washington. I spent every weekend in the summer of 84 and 86 in the Olympics or Cascades. We taught ourselves everything. We used to camp at the base of Classic crack and TR it. We went home bloody, but happy if we made it.

I prussiked in trees before I climbed Rainier. Once in France I had to teach the guys I was with how to set up a Z-pulley before we went on the Haute route. We went up on the Boisson Glacier and practiced for a whole day on seracs.

My dad never took me on any adventures. My six year old has already had more adventures than I did by the time I was 20. Be the parent yours weren't!!

You guys who learned from your Dad should thank him! Let him know how much it means to you. It's the nicest compliment you can give him!

Cheers, David

 

[Dru]

I went hiking with my dad since I was about 3. then as teen agers my bro and i started scrambling harder and harder stuff once he got a car. I started off top roping with a university climbing club and they were so desperate for experienced ppl I was teaching the course the next year! but i survived somehow.

[Bronco]

I used to hike quite a bit and Hunt a lot. I would go deer/elk/bear hunting with buddies and they would pick a nice ravine or draw to sit and watch while I would look for the highest hill and say "If I was a deer, thats where I would be" which is generally not the case. So I would take off through the brush and claw my way to the top dragging my bow & arrows the entire way. My friends thought I was nuts. Eventually I devised a hook for carrying my bow out of the way so I could use both hands for brush belays and where climbing required handholds. I started carying 30' of 1/4" utility cord for "hanging the deer" that I never did run into. It got used quite a bit for sliding down and giving hellatious rope burns.

I got to the point where I wanted to climb harder stuff and climb when no hunting season is open. I get instruction from some new friends I mostly contacted through this website and reading everything I could get my hands on. Book education is good, but, there is no substitution for experience.

Fortunatly I haven't spent hardly any time in the climbing gyms. If you can't get out with your mentors, I personally think as a beginner it is more important to get out and do some hard hikes or scrambles then cranking in the gym. You learn a lot about your strenghts and tolerances for weather and general hardship when you aren't in the artificial confinemnets of a smelly loud gym.

My main conflict with climbing has been pretty normal, balancing time with my wife and daughter, business, building a home and sleeping, of course, "you can sleep when you're dead" so that doesen't really count.

 

[pope]

My high school geometry instructor had climbed Rainier, and the stories he used to share got me jazzed up to have an adventure of my own. I checked out a manual from the library, ordered an ice axe and a pair of Dachstein mits through the mail, and picked a target.

The day after I got my driver's license, my buddy and I headed up to Mowich Lake in October. With fresh snow on the road, I put the car in the ditch three times. We scrambled up Faye Peak in hip-deep powder. On the descent, we triggered a small avalanche and jumped on the back of it for a ride (Chouinard had made it sound like this was a good idea), then got lost in a blizzard.

Fun? Put it this way: I returned to Puyallup knowing what I wanted to do with the rest of my life.

[NoBolt]

It began when I was in my twenties with a challenge while out hiking with group of friends. Someone dared me to scramble up this steep blocky granite peak (near Colchuck lake, WA.) Once on top the view was spectactular and the experience was rushing through me, I was hooked. Bigger problem was getting down, no rope and no easy decent. I made it down safely with very little blood shed. My reward was, I received a slap from everyone and a free beer! Excellent this is fun. I then made friends with this scruffy older guy who had years of experience, gear and attitude willing to teach me. I continue to climb with my girl friend who pursued climbing because I was never around. We climb together several times a week. Climbing is my reality check, I realize what is really important when I'm on the rock or in the mountains.

[mtnrgr]

I started through Boy Scouts. Well, I started rock climbing in scouts; I always was the "monkey" in the family. My troop had some great leaders, and my whole age group started climbing together when I was 14. Then my friends and I started going on our own. Our goal was to summit all 32 10,000 ft peaks in Salt Lake County in a summer. Two made it, but I unfortantly had to go Ft. Benning, GA. We all climb still, and are meeting bsck in SLC this week.

So, if you have boys, or will have boys, I highly suggest getting involved with scouts. Find a good troop and get invovled. Boy Scouts was one of the greatest influences of my life.

[AlpineK]

My parents got me started. My father climbed in the Cascades and Coast Ranges in the '50s and '60s (he did the fifth ascent of Waddington). My earliest memory is of skiing a little slope in my parents back yard, at about 2. I started hiking and then scrambling and then at 14 I took the Mounties basic climbing course. I started the Intermediate course at 15 where I instructed 30-40 year olds in climbing. I eventually met people my own age to climb with. Since then I've done a lot of climbing and skiing, and I plan to do a bunch more.

[This message has been edited by AlpineK (edited 08-05-2001).]

[EddieE]

In chronological order:

- soloed the wall of my crib...promptly fell out. Learning how to rappell was still a few years away.

- spent a lotta years climbing roofs, trees, etc.

- dad would take us out car camping lots.

- went on an overnight camping trip in the Olympics. I wore all cotton clothes and had everything hanging off my Eddie Bauer campus pack. Got cold, wet, and hungry but the bug bit.

- started hanging out with other people who were getting into climbing. spent friday nights drinking beer and watching climbing porn. spent weekday afternoons hanging out at a local practice rock.

- I took a mountaineering course (shaped my climbing philosophy) and interned with a guide service where I worked with a local climbing hardman (learned a few tricks).

- spring break trip to Josh, winter break trips to Banff.

A couple of other climbing trips here and there, and I end up here...at cc.com.

 

[smb]

I learned in Squamish. I met up with a guy who wanted to become a guide, so dragging me up stuff was good training for him. Unfortunately, he also wanted to do crazy stuff like climb in the rain in the interest of "experience". I was in Squamish about five years later, and ran into a group at Smoke Bluffs, guided by guess who?

SMB

[carolyn]

kewl! Thanks for the great stories so far!

I have a bit of time to share now...

I was a gymnast, so always daring

Started working at a camp when I was in college and did some climbing. LOVED it!

Got sidetracked in life (one of many times).

Moved to Minneapolis.

Got even more sidetracked in life.

Went out to COlorado for a wedding and saw mountains in real life for the first time

(*cough cough* - that was about six years ago!)

I remember one mountain in particular (Mt. Sopris) which we drove by. I couldnt keep my eyes off of it (thankfully I wasnt driving). It was one of those things where you look back and stare at it until it is out of sight). I remember thinking how incredible it would be to climb to the top of it and become part of its beauty. Someone mentioned that people climb it all the time. Although I had read a bit about people climbing mountains, I didnt have much concept of it. But I immediately knew one day I wanted to.

I disregarded the thought, thinking I could never do it.

I relapsed into an eating disorder i had while a child. Lost sight of all my dreams.

In my recovery I have begun to realize I can take risks and follow my heart.

Since then I started working at camps again, leading wilderness trips and facilitating ropes courses. I have learned a lot from the folks i work with.

I decided I wanted to at least TRY climbing a mountain before I turned thirty. So last year, 2 months before my bday I went to colorado, hired a guide, and fell flat on my face! Wasnt quite prepared. Wound up getting sick on the mountain after barely starting. We had a great time finding different rocks to climb on the way down, though! It was one of the most expensive lessons Ive ever had!

I was determined to return this fall (more prepared) and try again.

When I got home I started climbing in the gym, working in exhange for climb time, found some folks to take me ice climbing, and began doing more backpacking on my own time.

I eventually decided to apply for a scholarship with outward bound (partially to learn and partially to have another chance int he mountians without having to pay a guide booku bucks). I got the scholarship. The trip has been cancelled, but I will be reapplying and scheduling another one for the spring.

In the meantime I do a lot of reading, networking, and playing around in the outdoors. Sometimes (okay, often), I get frustrated because I want to immerse myself in climbing and learn everything NOW. Unfortunately time and other life constraints make the process slow, which I am starting to accept and enjoy.

Someday I want to climb Aconcagua. That is my biggest goal at the moment. I would like to do this before I turn 40. I have a long way to go, but I am determined to make it happen!

I think with the exposure I have had so far in climbing I enjoy ice climbing the best. I LOVE whacking the axe into the ice, hearing the sound it makes, and sticking to it like spiderwoman-hehehe

Overall, I enjoy climbing because it puts life into perspective for me. It reminds me of what is important -the here and now. being out in the woods (and someday the mountains) for days at a time is a great way to remember how important the basic necessities are in life (and yes it sure does make me appreciate beer *giggle*). I am always feeling challenged, which gives me self-satisfaction.

I guess I have also found that when climbing or backpacking I am able to focus more on how my body functions rather than its "appearances".

In fact I am working with local eating disorder treatment centers at the moment to start incorporating outdoor adventure into their programs because I believe so strongly in it.

Whew! Long winded and maybe a little sappy at times (sorry )

My guess is I will be moving west of the Mississippi some day in the near future.

Cant wait to hear from more people!

Be well,

be safe,

carolyn

[This message has been edited by carolyn (edited 08-05-2001).]

[carolyn]

oh ya- beck there are a lot of great places to climb along the north shore - Duluth on up. However I have only done ice climbing up north. Nipegon, Ontario canada was my first big ice climbing excursion. Im looking forward to exploring more between duluth and beyond thunder bay this winter.

carolyn

[AJ]

I started about 8 years ago. I had always been interested, but never had the money/time. After graduating college I saved up $ and started buying gear and asking around for people to climb with. I ended up enticing my brother to join me and we have done a fair amount together. I even met some of the people on this board through him (how's it going Alex and dps?).

Anyway, it has been a great experience and introduced me to tons of great people (including my wife). It is also something special I'll always cherish. I'm not quitting any time soon, but my brother might have to. His eyesight is failing and someday soon he probably won't be out there on lead like he always has been. His new guidedog, Jeep, is pretty cool but I doubt he can belay. Karl is damn tough though and we will climb what we can as long as possible. Of all the things we've done I'll probably remember some of our climbs the most.

Carolyn - glad you could join us.

[Dan_Harris]

As I read these posts, it made me think back to my youth. My parents took my our family car camping a lot. I would love to scramble around the rocks and boulders near the stream but never thought of climbing. At 14 on a trip to Canada with my grandparents I saw Shasta and the other cascades for the first time. They sure made an impression on me. When I was 14, a friend invited me to join him and his dad for a back pack trip down into the Grand Canyon. Awesome. Still didn’t think about climbing. All through high school and college I never really had the opportunity, or never thought about getting out except to fish, I guess mostly because I was playing soccer year round. I went to the Maritime Academy and drove ships for a while. I always volunteered to change the mast head light whenever they went out, loved the views up high. Right after my college graduation I went backpacking in the Sierras and summited Round Top. I also started skiing to get me into the mountains. I started traveling and car camping with my family and still scrambled around. After I ruptured a disc in my neck and was told I should not play soccer again, I started back packing whenever and wherever I could, (with my wife’s blessings) and still enjoyed scrambling over boulders and such. I have to be busy physically. Finally to celebrate my 40th birthday I got a friend to join me for a climb of Mount Shasta. Since then my climbing has been peak bagging, nothing very technical, yet. I finally went to a gym last week to do my first vertical stuff. I KNOW, I KNOW, it is not the same as getting out on the rocks, but hey, its a start. Looking forward to working on this and getting out onto some rock. It is never too late to start.

[Sargent_Rock]

It was my older brother's doing. He took me climbing when we were kids. One day he hauled me up Tahquitz. We got trapped by darkness. Despite the cold and discomfort, I saw/felt the beauty, peace, and friendship that seems to only exsist amoung the high places, the crags and mountains...

Since then it's just been one climb after another.