Advice for Getting Started with Outdoor Sport/Trad in the Southeast

Hello all,
I know that a million of this exact post exist elsewhere, but I figured I would ask some questions anyway. I used to climb outdoors at a guided sleepaway camp, but I want to get into climbing outdoors with friends or others before I go off to college. As a 16-year-old, what would y'all's advice be to get into sport and trad? This could be anything from mentors, classes, guides, gear, or anything like that. I just don't really know where to start, but I want to make sure that I am safe and smart about climbing.
Thanks.

Ryan Doster wrote: Hello all,
I know that a million of this exact post exist elsewhere, but I figured I would ask some questions anyway. I used to climb outdoors at a guided sleepaway camp, but I want to get into climbing outdoors with friends or others before I go off to college. As a 16-year-old, what would y'all's advice be to get into sport and trad? This could be anything from mentors, classes, guides, gear, or anything like that. I just don't really know where to start, but I want to make sure that I am safe and smart about climbing.
Thanks.

Everything on your list is a good Idea
So you are off to a good start.

Fox Mountain Guides in North Carolina offers a selection of classes designed to teach you a wide range of skills. They want you to be able to go off confidently on your own after the class. You can ask for a class as a gift from a loved one. 

Shiraz N wrote:

I've only really been climbing for a year, so I know just enough to be dangerous. I'd say if you can afford it, do all of the above. Do a class and get a guide for systems and get a mentor for the season. Use your mentor's gear and carry the rope. Just offer to buy the beer, even if you can't drink it.

This is the advice Ricky Villa should have listened to.
And you and the person who started this thread is the kind of climbers I wouldn't mind mentoring.
Good on you, Shiraz and the OP for going about getting started outdoor climbing the, RIGHT WAY!

Adam Fleming wrote: Fox Mountain Guides in North Carolina offers a selection of classes designed to teach you a wide range of skills. They want you to be able to go off confidently on your own after the class. You can ask for a class as a gift from a loved one. 

This...find a mentor afterwards.  

Go to your local crag.  Watch people, learn, and then watch some other people.  Watch some youtube,  read some books.   Learn skills in a tree low to the ground.  Go slow,  learn the theory.   Its all about the WHAT to do, WHEN to do it, and WHY you are doing it.  

Get as much info as you can and make your own decisions.   Im thinking you can get a lot of beer for the price of a guide.  

I also recommend Fox for climbers of any level. Brilliant people over there.

Jake Jones wrote: Climbing is serious.  It is impossible to know or understand the lifelong psychological and physical toll that is paid when things go wrong.  Always pay attention and respect it.

Research everything related to your goal.  Everything.  Gear, systems (knots, slings, ropes and how it interacts with gear, climbing and belaying techniques, falling- yes this is a developed skill, cleaning, rappelling, and the list goes on).

Try to procure a partner that has the same general goals and if possible is near your skill level.  If you can, also find a mentor, but be wary of who you choose.  Sometimes it’s better to partner up and get some experience so that you can better discern a good mentor vs someone that wants attention and merely touts themselves as a mentor.  This happens. 
Start easy.  The best way to build a solid foundation is to gain mileage and learn from small mistakes on terrain that is forgiving, reversible, etc.  And that’s best (with some exception) done on easy routes. Don’t push technical ability (at first this will just be hanging and clipping quickdraws and will get more complex from there) with physical difficulty until you get some mileage.
The gym and outside are both valuable.  They are both different.  Know how and why.

Classes with certified guides are valuable, but expensive.  It’s not necessary if you’re smart and diligent but it can lessen the learning curve time-wise.  I would choose a guide over gym instruction though it’s almost always more expensive- it will also be more extensive.  If you’re super passionate- Christmas and birthdays you could ask close friends and family to contribute to that instead of buying gifts.  Just an idea fwiw.

Identify bad practices when you see them and be able to answer to yourself why you think it’s bad and what the consequences are for that practice.

Stay humble and pay attention to your body.  Don’t get injured.
LNT.

I hope you are not talking about me, Jake.
I have taught and mentored many climbers over the 52 years I have been climbing.
I've done it for free and a lot of them have turned into regular climbing partners of mine.
One of the biggest things I stress when I teach is SAFETY!

Thank you all for your help. for those who suggest fox mountain guides, which courses are actually ones I should take? I have climbed outside before(mostly toprope/multipitch; 5.7-5.8), but I have never lead a climb. Also, do any of you all know anyone in the metro-Atlanta area or nearby that would be willing to take me out as a mentor-type deal? I would love to gain some experience.
Thanks

Ryan Doster wrote: Thank you all for your help. for those who suggest fox mountain guides, which courses are actually ones I should take? I have climbed outside before(mostly toprope/multipitch; 5.7-5.8), but I have never lead a climb. Also, do any of you all know anyone in the metro-Atlanta area or nearby that would be willing to take me out as a mentor-type deal? I would love to gain some experience.
Thanks

You should also pick op a few books like, Mountaineering:Freedom of the Hills and  Any of John Longs climbing instructions books. Especially Longs Anchor books.
It's a good resource to have in your climbing library.

Ryan Doster wrote: Thank you all for your help. for those who suggest fox mountain guides, which courses are actually ones I should take? I have climbed outside before(mostly toprope/multipitch; 5.7-5.8), but I have never lead a climb. Also, do any of you all know anyone in the metro-Atlanta area or nearby that would be willing to take me out as a mentor-type deal? I would love to gain some experience.
Thanks

Ryan -- I replied to your other post; join Atlanta Climbing Club.  You'll get plenty of knowledgeable mentors there without having to pay a guide service.

​Atlanta Climbing Club​​​