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JiBs22
Jan 21, 2007, 3:15 AM
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I am in the DC area and I currently climb indoors and am just starting out...my athletic background has helped me greatly and my current skill level in the gym is about 5.9 while top roping, and V2-V3 while bouldering...I really started inside because I want to get my skills and strength for good outdoor climbing. As the weather gets nicer, I would really like to climb outdoors at least two weekends out of every month. My main goal in climbing is to get good enough, and aquire enough gear to climb on my travels when I get out of the Army...
My question is that being in the Army, I don't make much money, and paying to take outdoor classes in the area is extremely expensive...I have a friend from Colorado with lots of gear and claims to have climbed a lot, and is very trustworthy.....I have researched good climbs in the area and once spring rolls around I'd love to get outside....
Do you think I'd be better off just paying a guide to take me out there, learn the skills myself and go from there? or go out there with my friend and learn that way?....
Also - I have 2 friends that I have been climbing with, all about the same size, and talent level currently, and we all climb together indoors, they all share my feelings about outdoors, so we would essentially have 4 guys out there if we went with my Colorado climber, or visa versa, we would all be paying a lot of money for the classes that we could be spending on gear....
Thanks
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mitguy
Jan 21, 2007, 3:55 AM
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Registered: Jan 22, 2006
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Depends on a number of things, not the least of which is your learning style.
Paying for a guide will be more expensive. However, I think it is possible to increase your ability level to a proficient level in a very short amount of time under a guide, primarily because of the structured learning environment. Going with a friend will be cheaper but will likely take much longer, and as Benjamin Franklin said, time is money. So it's all sort of a trade off; you'll have to make that decision yourself.
Good luck.
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summitseeker
Jan 21, 2007, 1:18 PM
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pretty good answer mitguy. On a day when you are limited on time and in an area that you are not familiar with, you can waste an entire day "looking" for the right place to climb. In a case like this, a guide would be very helpful. RC.com is a good place to find "partners" to climb with in many areas. Usually for free. For example, when you are in Oklahoma...........
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jmeizis
Jan 21, 2007, 3:11 PM
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Registered: Apr 25, 2006
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Just remember if you find someone to take you out for free to teach you stuff then you should by them some dinner are something (I still owe someone for that  ). If you and that person get along well you could end up with the added benefit of a long time climbing partner.
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nedsurf
Jan 21, 2007, 4:56 PM
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pm sent
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dingus
Jan 21, 2007, 5:30 PM
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Just get out there and do it dude. You don't have to pay people to go climbing.
I'm sure you have a climbing manual, yer in the army after all. RTFM, right? Then go out and put it to practice. use your head and all will be well. So sure, take your buddy up on his offer but don't surrender your good sense or self-reliance.
Make it yours.
DMT
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angusmacginny
Jan 21, 2007, 9:02 PM
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dingus wrote: Just get out there and do it dude. You don't have to pay people to go climbing. I'm sure you have a climbing manual, yer in the army after all. RTFM, right? Then go out and put it to practice. use your head and all will be well. So sure, take your buddy up on his offer but don't surrender your good sense or self-reliance. Make it yours. DMT
Seriously bad idea for most people.
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heelhook
Jan 22, 2007, 6:13 PM
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Registered: Jan 1, 2007
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FM 3-97.61
Books are great for learning the theory and techniques but nothing can compare to a set of experienced eyes to stop you from killing yourself when you make a mistake.
O
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svilnit
Jan 22, 2007, 6:24 PM
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Registered: Jun 19, 2002
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Hook up with some people in the area... watch, listen, learn. When you go out west you will have the basic skill sets and will absorb much more quickly.
Once it gets warmer we are out all the time!
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billcoe_
Jan 22, 2007, 8:46 PM
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dingus wrote: Just get out there and do it dude. You don't have to pay people to go climbing. I'm sure you have a climbing manual, yer in the army after all. RTFM, right? Then go out and put it to practice. use your head and all will be wellr. ........... DMT
Bullshit Dingus.
You are on a good track thinking this through carefully. I'd see if one of the colleges or outdoor organiztions in your area had a formal training course and sign up, AND also take your friend up on his offer, AND also buy some books and read them too.
Too much knowledge is better than to little.
Good luck.
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granite_grrl
Jan 22, 2007, 8:47 PM
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Registered: Oct 25, 2002
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Aye, climb with as many people as you can (within reason), listen and learn. Be strait up with your abilities and your know how so they don't get a surprize.
I like to go out with new people (if I like them, I won't offer to spend the day with someone I don't like). I like how excited they generally are, it makes me happy and excited too.
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cracklover
Jan 23, 2007, 4:36 PM
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Registered: Nov 14, 2002
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I think Dingus is right. But then, I learn pretty well from reading books. If you know that you learn poorly from books, then you're either going to have to pay for a guide, or realize that when going out with your friends, you have no way to analyze whether what they're doing is common practice, or completely insane. In which case, you better either be a superb judge of character, or have an excellent eye for safety systems.
Best of luck!
GO
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the_alpine
Jan 23, 2007, 4:40 PM
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Registered: Nov 6, 2003
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Just go out and do it. Obviously it can be a dangerous situation, so just keep that in mind and be careful.
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sparky
Jan 31, 2007, 8:49 PM
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Registered: May 31, 2002
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Read Freedom of the Hills, then go for it
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tradrenn
Feb 1, 2007, 11:42 PM
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sparky wrote: Read Freedom of the Hills, then go for it
Only if one uderstands it.
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sparky
Feb 1, 2007, 11:48 PM
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Registered: May 31, 2002
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tradrenn wrote: sparky wrote: Read Freedom of the Hills, then go for it Only if one uderstands it.
Read it twice.
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