help out a total noob.

Hi everyone. My name is Vanessa. I joined this to hopefully get some insight on how to start climbing. I have zero and I mean zero experience. I was wondering if anyone in the denver area does any guided tours or like intro tours so that I wouldn't be a total pain in the butt for someone. Im from Rifle but am in Denver for the summer.

The Denver and Boulder area climbing gyms (Boulder Rock Club, Movement, Earth Trek, Rockin' & Jammin') all offer introductory classes in indoor climbing, and they might offer classes in outdoor climbing. REI offers introductory classes in indoor and outdoor climbing. Colorado Mountain School is a guide service based in Estes Park and Boulder that offers a wide range of instruction as well as guided climbs.

Definitely get some kind of professional instruction in the basics. After that you can decide for yourself how much time and money you want to spend on instruction, and how much time you want to spend learning on your own or from friends and partners. Don't feel that you have to start climbing indoors, the very basic concepts are the same indoors or out.

Keep in mind that this game can be very addictive.

I'll go climbin' with you. I'm a mostly harmless nutter in Nederland that's been climbin' for a couple decades.

Good advice from Mark. My first experience with climbing was with a guide. And a few times after that, too.

Definitely get some instruction from a guide you hire or a class. You can take a chance with finding a stranger to take you out, but you have a much better chance of getting solid instruction from a guide. Well worth the dineros.

Forget the guide thing — that's lame, and it's going to cost you a lot of money. If you're from Colorado, you must know someone in Denver who climbs. Just ask him or her to take you cragging some afternoon. Back in the day, that's how everybody got into climbing. The other way to get into it (the "modern" way), is go to a climbing gym. If you boulder around and hang out at the gym, you'll be a real-life climber in no time (and I'm not joking). And, nowadays, the fastest way to get good (and the fastest way to get bitten by the climbing bug), is to become a gym rat.

Dave Cummings wrote:The climbing gym is really the best place to learn in a fun and safe environment. You will also meet plenty of people at the gym that are outdoor climbers who may be qualified to teach you. If not the gym will certainly offer programs that will get you going. Good luck, have fun, and be safe out there.

Yup, try the gyms,,spend a bit of money there, but don't bother for a climbing guide yet. Get some experience in gym,meet people to trust and climb with there, and they will gladly take you to the cliffs when ready. Save some money, guides are fine but not needed for a noob' to get started. Have fun

Thanks for the great advice everyone. Being from Rifle (small town) I never even thought of indoor climbing but now that I'm in Denver I have so many more resources. I'll definitely be looking into all this and maybe soon be out there with all of you. :) thanks.

Good luck, get after it! ;-)

And then, once you go BACK to Rifle...LOOKOUT!

First? Buy a van. Second? Tell your parents, all those years at college? HA-HA! Throw 'em to the dogs. Then? Develop an obsessive fondness for burritos. Next? Re-evaluate your opposition regarding "dumpster diving." Follow up with...

I know you're in Denver now but if you're back in Rifle the climbing classes at CMC are a good deal and a great way to get experience and learn the skills. Also a great way to meet others who are climbing in the area and at a similar experience or skill level.

Once you start climbing, come back here sometime and tell us how it's going.