Getting into Climbing. Need partner.

I'm just getting into climbing. I'd like to start in Eldo or Clear Creek.

I know how to tie basic knots, talk to my belayer/climber and that's about it. I prefer to tie in to most things (like class 4 scrambles) rather than risk anything (I have a wife and baby I love dearly so it's safety first for me.)

I want to lead sooner rather than later. I'm really only interested in Trad (but bolted routes won't hurt my feelings.)

I'd be interested in starting out with some easy stuff like the West Crack and West Dihedral on Whale's Tail and then possibly moving over to Calypso and then Swanson's Arete, of course, on over to the Bastille and then who knows?

Anyone interested? Anyone ALSO getting into climbing and interested in a partner?

PS: I have a 60m Bluewater 9.4mm rope, my own ATC and harness, and a standard rack of some older Wired Bliss TCUs and BD stoppers (missing some of the mid-range Camalots though.) You won't need to provide me anything.

You've got the spirit.... Stay on trad!! You will find a partner soon. Hit the local gyms to.

A bit frustrating really...it seems like everyone looking for partners climbs 5.10 :-(

I'm pretty much a beginner and enjoy getting out when I can. E-mail me if you ever want to go. A.Stegs@yahoo.com

Hi. I'm also a beginner/intermediate climber who is also looking to get into climbing more heavily.

A bit of background (that you can skip without missing much): I actually started climbing in 2003. At the time, in CA, I did the beginner toprope stuff with one group of friends and a fair amount of trad following with another friend, but never made the jump into leading, myself. After a couple seasons of climbing, I got sidelined by a non-climbing related knee injury that took me years to recover from. I got back into it a couple summers ago but haven't been in a good place to get back into it as heavily as I want to (I was living in Boston and working way too much). I've gotten outdoors just a handful of time in the last couple summers and have been doing most of my climbing in the gym. Just a couple weeks ago, I moved to Superior, CO. I would love to get back into climbing, including starting the leading that I should have given a go years ago.

I have the basic gear including rope, a set of draws, and a handful of random slings and other anchor material. Personally, to start with, I'd like to do some sport climbing to get my head around the leading while learning and practicing trad piece placement on the side. The eventual goal is to be comfortable and capable with trad. Practicing on sport in the meantime seems like a good way to make my way there. I have a bunch of experience belaying both single and multipitch and pretty solid skills all around. I don't know how stiff the rating are here in CO but I can probably see my way through 5.9 off lead. On lead, I'm guessing I'll want to start out easy. Since I'm in Superior, I'm right near Eldo and a bunch of other stuff.

Ditto to what you said on the safety aspect. I've done enough climbing in the past to know that the sketchiest stuff I've done has been on approach. At this point, if a fall didn't kill me my wife would.

If you're interested in going climbing sometime and still need a partner, message me and we can set something up. Or we could grab a beer first and see if we hate each other.

-Eric

Sport leads can be a good way of getting used to leading while keeping it simple(no fumbling with gear placements the first time you're above your rope). And this is me personally, but my first trad leads, because I didn't have an experienced mentor, consisted of many poor placements. Looking back, I realize it can be a scary learning curve. If you do go lead without an experienced partner, which I don't recommend, make sure the climb is WELL within your ability. But you're in Colorado, keep looking for an experienced partner, you'll find one.

I just wanted to empathize on the frustration of finding a partner who doesn't climb 5.10s. I am also a beginner and would probably get out more if I wasn't always hitting up my same two kick-ass friends. Any experienced folk out there want to 'pass on their wisdom?' :-)

On a marginally related note, your photos are absolutely amazing. Good luck finding a partner!

@Eric: I'll email you. I'd be interested in just about anything for the next week while it looks like the weather holds!

@JJ: Yeah. The problem is that most experienced partners need to just love being outdoors if they want to teach anybody anything otherwise they'll be bored out of their minds helping a junior :-)

@Charles: Thanks :-)

The partner finder feature on this website is actually very good. It let's you look for people based on what they can lead and follow. I found my current climbing partner using it (truthfully he found me) and now we're both starting to really progress.

Even if you don't climb 5.10 a lot of experienced climbers that don't have anyone to climb with are eager to take on a junior partner that's passionate. If they believe you'll be coming back they'll invest the time to mold you into the climber they need as a partner. So don't be afraid to ask to climb with someone that is a bit more experienced, you'd be surprised. Just remember good apprentice etiquette. Flake the rope, sort the gear, ect.. just do something productive while they are planning, route finding or doing the leg work to set up your climbs. It also never hurts to buy the beer.

@Matt: HA! Good advice :-)

"(I have a wife and baby I love dearly so it's safety first for me.) ...

PS: I have a 60m Bluewater 9.4mm rope, my own ATC and harness, and a standard rack of some older Wired Bliss TCUs and BD stoppers (missing some of the mid-range Camalots though.)...

You won't need to provide me anything."

Except a helmet. Helmeted climbers make me happy and are a non-negotiable for my partners.

I'd love to go out with you, but I live in Maine. Let me know if you ever want to see Cathedral or whitehorse.

Good luck finding a partner and enjoy the sport.

PM sent

You guys are rad! Just ask if you need help with leading, knots, or anchor questions. Send It!

PM sent, but lately PMs haven't been working 100%. Anyway, if you'd like to get out this weekend, hit me back at rbuswold@gmail.com

-Robert

Evan Horvath aka Evan1984 wrote: "... You won't need to provide me anything." Except a helmet. Helmeted climbers make me happy and are a non-negotiable for my partners.

I second that... You are much more likely to get hurt in Eldo by rock fall than by a class 4 scramble. If safety is important to you and your wife and you plan on mostly climbing trad in Eldo, I would say a helmet should be very high on your list of items to buy.

If you are looking for partners during the week, let me know. I live right near Eldo in South Boulder and I am always looking for people to get out with during the week... easy, hard, doesn't matter as long as it is fun.

Thanks guys!

@Robert: Didn't get that PM. I'm booked this weekend but I have pretty flexible weekdays. I'll let you know if I've got some weekend open.

@Julius: Yes. A helmet is key to maintaining unbroken bones and skulls :-) I love if (and probably when) I have open days next week I'll PM you...if indeed PMing works. Do you have any specific days that work for you? PM me.

Charles Vernon wrote:On a marginally related note, your photos are absolutely amazing. Good luck finding a partner!

Have to agree with that - beautiful photos.