{"id":47921,"date":"2019-04-17T10:58:05","date_gmt":"2019-04-17T17:58:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/?p=47921"},"modified":"2020-05-22T12:51:18","modified_gmt":"2020-05-22T19:51:18","slug":"4-ways-to-progress-as-a-climber","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/climb\/4-ways-to-progress-as-a-climber","title":{"rendered":"4 Ways To Progress As A Climber"},"content":{"rendered":"<span class=\"cb-itemprop\" itemprop=\"reviewBody\"><p>If you\u2019re excited to learn and progress as a rock climber, the first thing you might look for is a mentor. But finding a more experienced climber willing to take you under their wing might not be easy. As more people start climbing, the ratio of beginner climbers to experienced climbers grows, stretching the group of potential mentors increasingly thin.<\/p>\n<p>We chatted with professional mountain guides and event organizers to find the best ways to get a climbing education and build connections with other climbers who can help you along the way.<\/p>\n<h4><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-article_body wp-image-47961\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/04\/Progress-as-a-climber-3.jpg?resize=1024%2C683\" alt=\"A rock climber stands on the ground, gripping the rope to lower a climber up on the rock wall who is resting in a harness.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/h4>\n<h4><b>Don\u2019t be afraid to teach yourself.<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><b>\u201c<\/b>I think self-education should be a huge component to any climber&#8217;s education,\u201d says IFMGA \u00a0mountain guide Chris Simmons. Whether you\u2019re a beginner learning to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/learn\/expert-advice\/climbing-knots.html\">tie basic knots<\/a>, or a more advanced climber looking for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/learn\/expert-advice\/climbing-techniques.html\">ways to improve your technique<\/a> or expand your climbing ability, plenty of books and online videos and resources can help. For how-to, training and expert tips, here are a few places to start:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/product\/128238\/mountaineering-freedom-of-the-hills-9th-edition\">Mountaineering: Freedom Of The Hills<\/a><\/i><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/product\/887357\/rock-climbing-mastering-basic-skills-second-edition\"><i>Rock Climbing: Mastering Basic Skills<\/i><\/a>, by Topher Donahue and Craig Luebben<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/learn\/c\/rock-climbing\">REI Expert Advice: Rock Climbing<\/a><i><\/i><\/li>\n<li><i>Advanced Rock Climbing: Expert Skills and Techniques<\/i>, by Topher Donahue<\/li>\n<li><i>Training For The New Alpinism: A Manual for the Climber as Athlete<\/i>, by Steve House and Scott Johnston<\/li>\n<li><i>1001 Climbing Tips<\/i>, by Andy Kirkpatrick<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/amga.com\/tech-videos\/\">American Mountain Guides Association Tech Videos<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.alpinist007.com\/\">Angela Hawse<\/a>\u2014who\u2019s an IFMGA mountain guide, president of the American Mountain Guides Association board and co-owner of Chicks Climbing and Skiing\u2014says reading historic perspectives on climbing can help round out your climbing education, too. She recommends looking up classics by influential climbers like Royal Robbins and Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard.<\/p>\n<h4><b>Hire a professional.<\/b><\/h4>\n<p>Another way to learn crucial skills and broaden your climbing experience is to hire a guide. Even if you\u2019re reading and watching instructional videos on your own, getting outside instruction from an expert can help eliminate bad habits, Hawse says. \u201cThe cost of hiring a certified guide may seem high, but the consequences are also high if you\u2019re not in good hands.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Whether you have a specific goal\u2014like climbing a certain peak\u2014or simply want to increase your experience level and build confidence, a guide can help you safely take that next step. They can also potentially become a future resource. \u201cBy hiring a guide, you automatically have a mentor,\u201d says <a href=\"http:\/\/www.noriekizaki.com\/\">Norie Kizaki<\/a>, an AMGA guide who works for the Colorado Mountain School in Boulder, Colorado. \u201cI have developed great relationships with some clients, and I\u2019m always happy to answer any questions. It doesn\u2019t mean that I take all my clients as mentees. Not everyone is looking for one or needs one. But those I developed relationships with come to ask me questions about climbing and skiing. Sometimes I\u2019m late to reply due to guiding and being a mom, but I always answer emails or call back eventually.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>But a guide can only teach you as much as you\u2019re open to learning\u2014as much as you\u2019re paying attention to and taking in. To get the most out of your time with a hired guide, Kizaki says watching carefully what they do and asking questions is key.<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-article_body wp-image-47959\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/04\/progress-as-a-climber-2.jpg?resize=1024%2C683\" alt=\"A rock climber wearing protective gloves holds onto a crack in a rock with one hand while inserting a cam for protection in the crack with the other hand.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/p>\n<h4><b>Connect with your local community.<\/b><\/h4>\n<p>If you\u2019re looking for more experienced climbers to partner with, being brave can go a long way, says Ron Funderburke, AMGA guide and director of education for the American Alpine Club. \u201cHave some social courage,\u201d he says. \u201cIf there was ever a community where taking a social risk was a safe bet, it&#8217;s the climbing community.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Meetup groups and regional events like the <a href=\"https:\/\/americanalpineclub.org\/craggin-classics-2\">American Alpine Club Craggin\u2019 Classics<\/a> make it easier to meet other climbers and find more experienced people to learn from. \u201cA climber who wants to make a connection can easily find themselves immersed in a game, a conversation with a vendor, a food line, a beer line, bathroom line, forging a new relationship with another climber,\u201d Funderburke says. Those interactions can build new friendships, climbing partnerships and even mentorship, he says.<\/p>\n<p>To get the most of a meetup or event, Funderburke says, put in a little extra time and effort. If it\u2019s a festival, consider going a day early or staying a day later. \u201cUse your early arrival to volunteer, and use your late departure to indulge in some climbing at new area or with a new acquaintance,\u201d he says. \u201cYour experience will be more like an insider, because volunteers and locals are the insiders.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Here are a few more ways to meet other local climbers:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/m.americanalpineclub.org\/clubhouse\/membershare\/\">American Alpine Club Member Share<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mountainproject.com\/partner-finder\">Mountain Project\u2019s Partner Finder<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Apps like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gociety.com\/\">Gociety<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.meetup.com\/\">Meetup<\/a> and local Facebook and Instagram groups<\/li>\n<li>Local climbing gym classes, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/events\/a\/climbing\">events<\/a> and bulletin boards<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-article_body wp-image-47958\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/04\/Progress-as-a-climber-4.jpg?resize=1024%2C683\" alt=\"One climber in a helmet sits down to sort through carabiners and climbing nuts while another rock climber stands to sort out a climbing rope.\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" \/><\/h4>\n<h4><b>Take a course or clinic.<\/b><\/h4>\n<p>Taking a clinic can have twofold benefits: learning new skills and techniques, and also connecting you with other climbers, whom you might stay in touch with even after the event. Often, guides who teach clinics are also available for hire\u2014and many times are happy to stay in touch and answer questions even after your course is finished. Regional organizations like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mountaineers.org\/\">The Mountaineers<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/mazamas.org\/climbingseries\/\">the Mazamas<\/a>, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.outdoors.org\/\">Appalachian Mountain Club<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cmc.org\/Classes\/CMCClassesandSchools.aspx\">Colorado Mountain Club<\/a>, along with schools like the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.alpineinstitute.com\/\">American Alpine Institute<\/a>, offer courses for all levels of climbing. Your local climbing gym and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/events\/a\/climbing\">REI store<\/a> may also offer courses.<\/p>\n<p>When it comes to learning and progressing as a climber, you get what you put in, whether it\u2019s paying attention to a tiny technique tip from a hired guide, a big safety lesson in a clinic or a fitness tip from a climbing website. Every little bit can help, says Simmons\u2014and even professionals should continually be learning. \u201cMy goal is to find the little pieces that can make incremental improvements and efficiencies that I know will add up to a big difference in a full day of climbing,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<\/span>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019re excited to learn and progress as a rock climber, the first thing you might look for is a mentor. But finding a more experienced climber willing to take you under their wing might not be easy. As more people start climbing, the ratio of beginner climbers to experienced climbers grows, stretching the group [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":47949,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[739,1377,442,804,66],"internal-tag":[],"class_list":["post-47921","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-climb","tag-books","tag-climbing-skills","tag-rock-climbing","tag-safety","tag-tips"],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/rei.com\/blog\/climb\/4-ways-to-progress-as-a-climber","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"4 Ways To Progress As A Climber","url":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/climb\/4-ways-to-progress-as-a-climber","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/climb\/4-ways-to-progress-as-a-climber"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/04\/Progress-as-a-climber-header.jpg?resize=150%2C150","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/04\/Progress-as-a-climber-header.jpg?fit=2000%2C1001"},"articleSection":"Climb","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Michelle Flandreau"}],"creator":["Michelle Flandreau"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Uncommon Path \u2013 An REI Co-op Publication","logo":""},"keywords":["books","climbing skills","rock climbing","safety","tips"],"dateCreated":"2019-04-17T17:58:05Z","datePublished":"2019-04-17T17:58:05Z","dateModified":"2020-05-22T19:51:18Z"},"rendered":"<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"wp-parsely-metadata\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"NewsArticle\",\"headline\":\"4 Ways To Progress As A Climber\",\"url\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.rei.com\\\/blog\\\/climb\\\/4-ways-to-progress-as-a-climber\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.rei.com\\\/blog\\\/climb\\\/4-ways-to-progress-as-a-climber\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rei.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2019\\\/04\\\/Progress-as-a-climber-header.jpg?resize=150%2C150\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.rei.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2019\\\/04\\\/Progress-as-a-climber-header.jpg?fit=2000%2C1001\"},\"articleSection\":\"Climb\",\"author\":[{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Michelle Flandreau\"}],\"creator\":[\"Michelle Flandreau\"],\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"Uncommon Path \\u2013 An REI Co-op Publication\",\"logo\":\"\"},\"keywords\":[\"books\",\"climbing skills\",\"rock climbing\",\"safety\",\"tips\"],\"dateCreated\":\"2019-04-17T17:58:05Z\",\"datePublished\":\"2019-04-17T17:58:05Z\",\"dateModified\":\"2020-05-22T19:51:18Z\"}<\/script>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/rei.com\/p.js"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/04\/Progress-as-a-climber-header.jpg?fit=2000%2C1001","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47921","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/26"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=47921"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47921\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":48170,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47921\/revisions\/48170"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/47949"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=47921"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=47921"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=47921"},{"taxonomy":"internal-tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-tag?post=47921"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}