Where to start - be nice to a noob

climbing friend,

1) massive nuts
2) Mt. everest

Hey at your level of expertise you should start setting the foundation for a long career in mountaineering. Do these three things

1) sport climb- teaches you to move over rock. Gets you used to being up high. develops specific climbing muscles

2) Run- Develop your base cardio fitness as much as you can now. Youll need it in four years when you start climbing bigger stuff

After doing these things start getting into Trad and keep trail running. Get strong and fit, learn your systems and practice them at home. Hire a guide and have him teach you efficient techniques for multi pitch climbing.

Next step is the hardest, find a mentor. Competent climbers are reluctant to climb with beginners so you'll need to be a really good partner/friend. Buy beer, give good belays, make yourself available and offer to drive.

Good luck

Check out rowcc.com or Facebook; Rim of the World Climbing Club. We climb trad and you'll learn by doing...just as several generations of Rim Climbers have done. Above advice is spot on. Climb sport, learn pro placement and anchor building, climb trad and run and hike (endurance training; see Training for the New Alpinism). Whitney is easy access test piece for fitness. Do the Mountaineers route for fitness or partner up with someone and do the East Buttress (5.7; if you stay on route). For Bear Creek; wait out the snow this summer and camp high and start early; most importantly--make note of your packs or camp because it is easy to head down the wrong chain of lakes especially in the dark. Get away from the Quarry and climb up at Tahquitz and Suicide. The ROWCC will show you some wild places that you never would have discovered otherwise with some outstanding variety. We climb granite and sandstone as well as limestone and gneiss. We have members with FA's in the Sierra and all throughout the San Bernardinos. $40.00 gets you all this plus 12 camp sites per year and a hell of a party in June up in Big Bear with all you can climb, all you can eat and all you can drink !

Considering that you're in Southern California, you've got a lot of options for some good peaks to learn and expand you're mountaineering skills on. One of my first summits was at Mount Shasta, so I definitely recommend goin there with a partner who's got some experience on snow and ice. Happy climbing!

SCMA requires a class, multiple tests , meetings and hard to get evaluations. At that point you’re a provisional junior probationary member for a year. That’s to climb 5.5 with senior citizens