Climbing rope

Jared,

I'm in the Pittsburgh area and would be happy to show you a solid, easy to understand and safe top roping system that is ERNEST (Equalized, Redundant, Non-extending, Strong and Timely.) Since you're just getting into it I wouldn't worry about sport climbing/leading for now. The skills required of the belayer and the leader are more complex in a sport/trad situation, so top roping is a good place to learn the basics and enjoy the more forgiving nature of top rope falls. I'm by no means out there crushing climbs (I climb a lot of moderate stuff) but I'm super safe and can show you a system that works great using nothing but 100-150 feet of static line and two locking carabiners. No need for bolts, although some of the local crags do have bolted anchors. You can use this method to set up top ropes on most climbs in Western PA since most climbs have trees near the top, and most climbs have easy walk-offs for setting up the top rope safely. PM me if interested, and maybe we can meet at a local crag (The Mills, Coopers or Ohiopyle) when you have some time.

Money spent on a good guide is the best investment you will ever make in your climbing career. Be honest with the guide service, tell them you are a beginner and go into it with no ego. You can tech yourself, but you will progress much faster, and safer with a guide. An added benefit you will see routes that you can climb right away, and get suggestions on what equipment you need to move forward. A book is not a bad thing to learn from, but why chance it?

Just youtube it and you will be fine!

+1 for a guide your first time. With a guide you can really tailor experience towards your own needs. Whether you have a certain climb in mind, or if you want to learn to lead/ clean sport routes, or if you want to learn anchor building and setting up top ropes, you can decide. And until you know what to look for in a safe partner, you get a better peace of mind that the guide knows what he or she is doing, instead of someone you just met on the internet.

Seriously dude rock climbing is not something you just "go out and learn yourself" . For starters you or your girl could die. You could put others around you in danger. Dumb stunts like this could possibly affect access issues at certain places and while most would in a heart beat no one wants to be part of a rescue. Be patient, find a partner, do some of your own research, learn about the area you plan on going and then head out. Climbing is about a life time of learning.

At least join a Meetup group...

Ted Pinson wrote:At least join a Meetup group...

It was a lot easier to learn to climb back when Mom's had clothelines to borrow.

I'd save your money and not hire a guide. I learned from a couple good friends and did some self teaching via the books mentioned above. I'm a safe climber and haven't had an accident since I began 6 years ago. Just practice from the ground or simulate things in your garage before you put them into practice at the crag.

I'd take the offer from the guy in PA above and buy him a a sixer/pay gas money in return then use the rest of your money you saved from hiring a guide to buy any gear you may need.

Well I successfully lead on Sunday (thanks to Old ladyH) for telling me to practice at home witch i did on my closet openers probably 50 times and watched 3 different videos about 20 times or so. so me and my girlfriend went to a place called Ohiopyle in PA and went to 2 different crags the first one where there are easy climbs to practice (5.7) then we went to End river Crag and I actually climbed a 5.11- witch I found out after the climb its called Petrified with a couple over hangs witch are actually my favorite types of climbs that I do a lot of in the gym. just wanted to update and CHEERS! For the information and videos and advice.

Jason Todd wrote: There are certain things in life, climbing being one of them, that are fatally unforgiving when mistakes happen. The reluctance by anyone to give you advice beyond "get a mentor" is due in part that no one wants to feel in any way responsible for your demise.

That's pretty much it. But, forgetting the overprotective, liability fearing culture we have grown up in I'm going to say the following:

If you of the kind that has a correctly founded confidence in your ability to replicate the relatively simple concepts illustrated in climbing texts, then there is a path of self directed education for you that many have followed and not died.

But most people don't follow it, because either its too much effort or teaching themselves without making that one catastrophic error is not something they themselves or those around them trust them to be capable of.

Seth Jones wrote: I agree. Some people need instruction, others are perfectly capable of teaching themselves with the appropriate resources. Unfortunately, no one on the internet knows which you are. For what it's worth, I'm self taught with the exception of the questions I have asked here on the site.

I'll agree to an extent. I consider myself able to self teach fairly well, but I do discuss things with older mentor's I have. We also don't always agree (new school thinking vs how they learned 20 years ago), but the conversation happens. We go back and forth about rope diameter a lot...

It is possible to learn these things, but it takes a lot of study, understanding of principles and technical concepts, and really being able to understand why you're doing something, and not just what you're doing.

That said, there's a difference between practicing on the ground and being up on a ledge trying to apply it. You'd be surprised how much doubt can creep in when you're on the rock doing something for the first time. Just remember to take it slow, and work out everything, and be sure of everything before you trust your life to it. This is where a mentor can help a lot to guide you, and reassure you.

That said, the majority of climbing accidents I read about are from experienced climbers who have either become complacent, or were distracted. Keep that in mind, and develop good habit's that you do EVERY TIME, even if you "don't really need to". Good examples: 1) tying knots in the ends of your rope on rappel - every time, even if you KNOW and can SEE that you have enough rope, and it's grounded. 2) Always weight your rappel before coming off the anchor, to ensure everything is connected correctly.

Seth and Brian,

You are absolutely correct (I am self taught as well), but I think the biggest point isn't just memorizing the simple techniques from books and then replicating them on the wall, but truly understanding the key principals behind these and why they are appropriate in certain situations.

If you understand the fundamentals of how your gear and systems work you will be able to recognize the limitations as well as how to improvise on the fly.

99% of the time your system works how it's supposed to and you are replicating the books, but being able get yourself back on the ground in one piece when it doesn't is why most people here won't recommend it.