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mason805
Big Wall climber
East Bay, CA
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Topic Author's Original Post - Jul 21, 2009 - 02:03pm PT
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Sorry for the novice thread post but I'm not sure where to start.
I've had a couple of beginner top rope lessons but I really want to learn how to climb the big stuff safely.
1) Where is the best place to start to learn all the techniques?
2) What's a good resource to learn about good gear to purchase
3) What's a good resource to find good beginner and intermediate climbs
Top-roping is nice, but I know you have to be at a much more advanced level to do multi-pitch climbs with a partner. That's what I want to learn.
I'm going to take a few more lessons and I've been reading a lot about climbing here on supertopo.com but I really want to hear from the climbers.
Any feedback is appreciated.
Thanks!
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Mungeclimber
Trad climber
sorry, just posting out loud.
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Jul 21, 2009 - 02:07pm PT
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hit REI, grab the books on climbing.
take two, and post in the morning
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apogee
climber
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Jul 21, 2009 - 02:09pm PT
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Try another retailer besides REI- support a smaller, local shop if possible.
Consider some private/formal instruction- looks like you are in the Bay Area- try Mountain Adventure Seminars (MAS) in Bear Valley. Good folks, good instruction.
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slobmonster
Trad climber
berkeley, ca
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Jul 21, 2009 - 02:12pm PT
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It's not hard: just be nice, be gracious, be communicative, and climbing partners will be lining up. If you're cute and female, be aware of your outward identity; if you're a crusty dude, maybe work on the same. Be alert to how "other people" are doing it, moving a rope up a cliff... and dial your textbook system before launching into the unknown. OK?
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The Real Perez Hilton
Social climber
Hollywood, CA
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Jul 21, 2009 - 02:12pm PT
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Mason805,
the first thing i would do is take the big wall climber off of your handle.
rockclimbing.com would be a real good place.
don't be intimidated, or discouraged by the amount of sarcasm that you are going to get from the members of this site.
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survival
Big Wall climber
A Token of My Extreme
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Jul 21, 2009 - 02:16pm PT
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**Don't rush out and buy every new gee-gaw on the market.
**Get a couple how to books as Munge suggested first.
**Start slow. Post on bulleting boards and the web looking for a partner that is more experienced than you who is willing to train a belay slave.
**Practice placing a lot of equipment in various cracks and holes with both feet planted safely on the ground before trying it with 20 feet of air under you.
**Toproping is a good way to safely practice placing gear and clipping in a lead line. In other words your belayer can belay on the toprope and you can just trail and clip a separate rope as a "pretend" lead line.
*There are lots of good ways to progress. Just take it slow, double check everything.
Have fun!!!
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Josh Nash
Social climber
riverbank ca
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Jul 21, 2009 - 02:18pm PT
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Hire a guide or take an anchoring class. Get a few books . These are really great at giving you an idea of what you are getting into.
1.)Rock Climbing: Mastering Basic Skills (Mountaineers Outdoor Expert) by Craig Luebben
2.)Rock Climbing Anchors: A Comprehensive Guide (The Mountaineers Outdoor Experts Series) by Craig Luebben
3.)How to Rock Climb!, 4th (How To Climb Series) by John Long
4.)CLIMBING ANCHORS 2ND ED.: HOW TO ROCK CLIMB SERIES: BY JOHN LONG
5.)Alpine Climbing: Techniques to Take You Higher (Mountaineers Outdoor Expert) by Mark Houston and Kathy Cosley
6.)Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills by The Mountaineers, Steven M. Cox, and Kris Fulsaas
All these books have good ideas and list what is needed for climbing. If you have questions about gear ask here. everyone has a valid opinion and climb on the stuff they recomend.
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Lambone
Ice climber
Ashland, Or
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Jul 21, 2009 - 02:33pm PT
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Buy
"How to Rock Climb"
when you get through that buy
"Anchors"
Read these books then go to your local gym and take a course from a proffesional instructor, then it will all sink in.
I wouldn't trust the internet.
"Freedom of the Hills" is a good buy for a larger overview of alpine skills.
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Mighty Hiker
Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Jul 21, 2009 - 03:03pm PT
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Experience is by far the best teacher. Many people on SuperTopo never had a climbing "lesson" or "guide". We may have learned slowly and painfully, and made mistakes in doing so, but we surely learned. As climbing is ultimately about being responsible for yourself, the sooner you get into that mindset the better.
Don't get carried away with buying gear - often less is more.
Some aptitude and energy go a long way, as does a tolerance for hard work and suffering. Climbing is never either safe or convenient.
Avoid taking giant leaps unless unavoidable - steady increments will get you farther in the long run.
If you live in a town or city of any size, you can probably borrow lots of "how to" books from the library. They may sound as though they're engraved on stone and brought down from a mountain, but don't assume that they are. Books and videos published in the last ten years are most current, but older ones often offer perspective.
Try to find other climbers who are more experienced and reliable, who you can as it were apprentice with. Many good climbers got started as belay slaves.
Have fun, and don't do anything too foolish - though chances are that you will.
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Jaybro
Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
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Jul 21, 2009 - 03:16pm PT
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Being a fool is what it's all aobut, be careful, though.
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JEleazarian
Trad climber
Fresno CA
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Jul 21, 2009 - 03:29pm PT
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I see you're from the East Bay. I'd already been climbing for a couple of years when I showed up in Berkeley in 1969, but I learned a ton just by hanging around Indian Rock and listening to people like Galen Rowell, Chris Vandiver, Tom Higgins and Peter Haan (who still posts frequently here).
I'm sorry I don't know where the center of the East Bay climbing social scene is now, or even if there is one, but I second the advice of those who recommend learning by doing.
By the way, your "big wall climber" handle doesn't put me off. I take it as what you intend to do.
John
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Peter Haan
Trad climber
San Francisco, CA
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Jul 21, 2009 - 03:35pm PT
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The best way to start climbing nowadays is ally yourself with a climbing gym and start taking their classes. This way you will also make new friends who are also climbing.
Try to befriend a climber who is at least intermediate or better and eventually go outside with him/her. Don't get stuck in the gym--- try to go outside soon. There are classes that do go outside. Don't be buying tons of equipment for awhile, just harness, chalkbag, safety carabiners, shoes, clothing. Try to climb in the gym and at Indian Rock (your locale) as much as you can. Just like we all have.
By the time you have done this for a couple of months, you will have an idea how to proceed from there.
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tooth
Mountain climber
Guam
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Jul 21, 2009 - 04:00pm PT
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Here's how it progresses...
Gym Climber
Sport Climber
Trad Climber
Big Wall Climber
SuperTOpo Has-been.
Bouldering goes nowhere!
Start slow, climb a lot. Learn safe techniques and never forget them, use them every time.
Just climb a lot, with people, give it time, don't rush, enjoy being outside. Stay away from Yosemite, etc. so that climbing doesn't take over your life!
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mason805
Big Wall climber
East Bay, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Jul 21, 2009 - 05:12pm PT
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Piqua, great site, thanks for the resource!
Tooth, unfortunately I think it already has taken control of my life, but at a young age when I first set foot into Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs. Unable to climb those rocks, I decided to climb some mountain wall at a rest stop on the way to Pike's Peak with no gear and nearly killed my friend who followed me like a fool! I've loved it ever since, but recently only moved out to the Bay Area where I have access finally. I'm from Kansas...there are no walls to climb in Kansas.
I have been out to Goat Rock and Mt. Diablo looks like a great climb as well. I just got back from Yosemite this weekend! I was dying to get out there on those granite walls but I knew I'd be wasting my time with no clue what I was doing.
To everyone, thanks for the responses, smart ass or not, they've been helpful. I like the idea of checking books out from the library, getting out there and doing the climbs with experience climbers.Lessons are cool and I'm surely taking one or two more of them, but i am a do-it-yourself kind of go-getter and I intend on getting on those big walls in Yosemite when I am ready.
I hope to make some new friends here either way. I am in the east bay and if ever there's someone out there who'd be willing to take me under their wing for even a day I'm a quick learner and I love to climb!
Cheers
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Mighty Hiker
Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Jul 21, 2009 - 05:15pm PT
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I almost forgot. You should also come to the Yosemite FaceLift, from September 23rd - 27th. You may not get a lot of climbing in, although you can probably get away with some. But you'll have a lot of fun, meet a lot of climbers (and SuperTopians), talk about climbing, and get inspired.
http://www.supertopo.com/climbing/thread.html?topic_id=887411
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bluering
Trad climber
Santa Clara, Ca.
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Jul 21, 2009 - 05:38pm PT
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I'm climbing around the Bay a lot these days, mostly Castle Rock and Aquarian. I can take you along and show you some things if you'd like.
I'm in Tahoe this weekend, but after that I'm around. E-mail me if you like.
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Captain...or Skully
Social climber
way, WAY out there....(OMG)
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Jul 21, 2009 - 05:39pm PT
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And nobody mentioned that you should practice up on dry wit & sarcasm.
Both will serve you well.
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Prod
Trad climber
A place w/o Avitars apparently
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Jul 21, 2009 - 05:40pm PT
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Lambone has good recomendations on the progression of books. Those are the 2 you need for sure. It sounds like your goal is to trad climb? If so I have decided the best way to lear gear placement is on easy aid climbs. I'd look into Ogdens aid climbing book as well as Chris Mac's youtube series on aid climbing. Don't worry about the hard aid stuff, mostly work on placing good nuts fast and effectively. If you have a decent understanding of the mentioned books and get good at placing nuts and or hexes, life will be easy when you get some cams and start free cliimbing (free climbing is not free soloing).
Prod.
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Mighty Hiker
Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Jul 21, 2009 - 05:40pm PT
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Ask skully how he got the second half of his nickname...
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