Experience?

Zelda · 01-04-2012, 07:22 PM

I want to learn to go rock climbing. I have a friend who has been doing it for about 4 months and wants to teach me how. While I want to learn, I wonder if he is really experienced enough to teach another person. How much experience do you need before you teach rock climbing?

oldsarge · 01-04-2012, 07:50 PM

Where did he learn? I'd go with someone who has been doing it a little longer, like maybe a few years. How much rock time can you get in, in four months?

catspa · 01-05-2012, 02:21 AM

That really depends on your learning style. I read Freedom of the Hills as a young man, grabbed some rope and went out rappelling by myself. It wasn't until some time later that I climbed with anybody else and I had developed some weird habits, at least they seemed weird to others. The thing that worked for me was to go slow and check my rigging often.

A person might develop good skills in 4 months, if they were learning from a skilled instructor and practicing intensely. I'd say go climb with him, but start out easy on short shallow pitches and be absolutely religious about understanding what you're going to do before you do it. If he's an impatient or overly competitive person, be clear beforehand that you want to climb conservatively and you're not going to take big risks. Get him to belay you on a couple tiny falls, maybe 1 or 2 feet, so you know what it feels like. Belay him the same, so you experience the other end too.

Is there a climbing gym near you? Many of them offer intro classes for not too much money. Whatever it takes to make you feel comfortable and confident.

Parker

Pathfinder1 · 01-05-2012, 09:36 AM

Hi...

I've never done any "real" rock climbing, just some minor stuff around SE Utah. It takes a lot more caution/skill coming back down than it does going up...!!

I've climbed OVER a lot of rocks, though...!!

calanta · 01-05-2012, 05:00 PM

Personally I would rather learn from an instructor and its not to put your friend down, I have been that way with everything. The same thing happened when my folks wanted to teach me to drive and I told them no.

Grandpa · 01-05-2012, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by calanta

Personally I would rather learn from an instructor and its not to put your friend down, I have been that way with everything. The same thing happened when my folks wanted to teach me to drive and I told them no.

At 5 years old I was excited to drive the truck down through the hay piles while my Dad and brothers pitched the hay on. (brother put the truck in granny gear, clamped a vise grip on the throttle for the right speed and I steered down the rows)

catspa · 01-05-2012, 06:18 PM

Isn't it something, the memory of the first farm truck you drove? '53 International was mine, with Pa sitting beside me ready to grab the wheel any minute. He never had to though, I was careful - made it all the way up to the mailbox and back and only scared one fencepost...

Parker

Pathfinder1 · 01-06-2012, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grandpa

At 5 years old I was excited to drive the truck down through the hay piles while my Dad and brothers pitched the hay on. (brother put the truck in granny gear, clamped a vise grip on the throttle for the right speed and I steered down the rows)

Hi...

Now, that's what I would call an interesting experience...!!