Mountain Project Logo

Where would you start in the climbing industry today? (Need advice)

Original Post
SamW9102 · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2014 · Points: 0

Hello everyone,

Before I introduce myself, just want to say thank you in advance to any input.

If you don't feel like reading a long-winded personal story, here is the short version, as a young man with almost no experience or networking in the climbing world, where should I start?

As a young and impressionable soon-to-be college grad , I've recently decided to make a living in the climbing world. It's a pretty big life decision and I'm scare shitless about it. To be honest, I don't know if this is a good career path, mostly because it doesn't seem like a very lucrative field. However, I do love climbing, and I met some great people in the climbing world that I enjoy being around. So I figured I'm gonna give it a shot.

I studied Economics in college. I've been climbing for about three years , mostly doing sport routes. I have no experience working in an outdoor environment. I went to a pretty decent school here in the South, and made decent grades (originally I was thinking about working in the corporate world, what a pipe-dream), but I don't know if those things will come into play in the climbing world.

My plan right now is to get the SPI certificate from AMGA within the next year or so while finishing school. My long-term goal is to start my own business in the climbing world; perhaps opening a climbing gym, a gear shop or a guiding business.

So I want to learn. I want to learn as much as I can about the industry. As far as I can tell, the climbing industry breaks down into three broad categories: indoor, retail, outdoor. My question is, money aside, what entry-level job would best position me to learn about the climbing industry?

Thank you again for reading and I really appreciate any advice you have.

in addition, if you have a suggestion on how to tell your parents that you've decided to go "pursuit your passion" rather than finding a stable job, please let me know.

krzy Courkamp · · Rapid City, SD · Joined Mar 2014 · Points: 5

The pawn shop

GhaMby Eagan · · Heaven · Joined Oct 2006 · Points: 385

Start a coffee shop.

Jon H · · PC, UT · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 118

If you've been climbing for 3 years, and mostly single pitch sport climbing at that, you should probably abandon any hope of making a living wage as a guide. You're many YEARS (4-6, probably) away from having the experience and qualifications. Can you support yourself for that long while earning next to nothing?

Do you have to start making student loan payments in the near future? That will certainly affect your choice.

Making a career choice because of a tangential connection to a recent hobby is a pretty poor decision, honestly. There was a thread here within the past year or so asking what it is that everyone does for a living. I seem to recall it ran to 7 or 8 pages and virtually none of the answers were actually connected to climbing. That should tell you a couple things.

What's your target salary AKA how little are you willing to make? Where are you located and are you willing to move? There aren't many jobs in the climbing industry for someone with your specific set of skills. Possibly sales reps, but most of the reps I know are usually semi-retired pro climbers who can no longer climb at a high level, but have transitioned into the business side of working with their old sponsors.

Tapawingo Markey · · Reno? · Joined Feb 2012 · Points: 75

I'm not qualified to give you any insight on climbing related jobs. But in regards to explaining this to your parents, it's your life and no explanation should be required as long as your supporting yourself and not living off the family funds.

GhaMby Eagan · · Heaven · Joined Oct 2006 · Points: 385

Nursing.

Nick Votto · · CO, CT, IT · Joined Jul 2008 · Points: 320

Head to Outdoor Retailer next weekend in Salt Lake if you live close by, if you know someone in the industry they can get you in......great place to make connections with people in the outdoor sports world, even if its not necessarily for a specific job.

Ray Lovestead · · Boulder, CO · Joined Jan 2008 · Points: 108

Don't give up hope. There most certainly is the (low) possibility of getting into the climbing world. Or, you may just end up with a lot of really awesome memories and stories to tell. Remember, for most people, the older you get, the more responsibilities you will acquire that will not allow you to pack in as much adventure.

Keep hope alive! Keep hope alive!

Robbie Mackley · · Tucson, AZ · Joined May 2010 · Points: 85

Preface; I'm a carpenter with litimeted college experience and I didn't read the whole OP, or any af the replies.
Take some time off (12mos-whenever) to travel and climb. Build your skill set, expand your horizons, meet some people, maybe even make a few "business" contacts in the process.
By then you will be in a better place to pursue a job in the climbing industry and/or other options.
Good luck, have fun, and always keep two GOOD pieces between you and the hospital.
-Mackley
Added: In the worst case, you squeeze an awesome year in before you join the rat races!

SamW9102 · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2014 · Points: 0

I really appreciate all the great feedback. I was somewhat surprise to see most of you actually gave me some very sound advice. I was afraid no one will take me seriously at all (it's a light-hearted forum afterall).

My situation is a little unique and I actually have the luxury of being able to take a low paying job after college.

Here are a few key points I gathered:

1.Go to a place where you can find climbers, and start networking. Take any opportunity that comes up.

2.It'll take years of training to become a guide, which leads to..

3.Gym or retail seems to be the choice.

I'm gonna go find that old "what's your job" thread and see what I can find.

Again, thank you so much.

SamW9102 · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2014 · Points: 0
Robbie Mackley wrote:Preface; I'm a carpenter with litimeted college experience and I didn't read the whole OP, or any af the replies. Take some time off (12mos-whenever) to travel and climb. Build your skill set, expand your horizons, meet some people, maybe even make a few "business" contacts in the process. By then you will be in a better place to pursue a job in the climbing industry and/or other options. Good luck, have fun, and always keep two GOOD pieces between you and the hospital. -Mackley
Thank you.
Elliott Crooks · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2006 · Points: 10

I've worked both retail & outdoor (guide). Retail only makes you a more than a marginal living if you transition into management. At the sales staff level, the part-timers are usually there as much for gear discounts as money (had a guy work for me once who rolled every paycheck he got back into gear). Recreational climbing and guiding are way different-guiding is work! Ask any guide about his "client from hell", and be prepared to spend a lot of time listening. I've seen a lot of guide burnout, which is why I made a conscious decision to only guide part-time, so I could (most of the time) enjoy it. Outdoor retailers will generally be trip/passion friendly-but don't expect to wind up with a retirement fund. Re parents: mine preferred climbing to motorcycling (my other possible passion), & accepted my decision not to be a lawyer. Good luck-which is exactly how I wound up in the outdoor retail industry.

Tico · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2006 · Points: 0

I can't speak to retail much (I hate it), and the gym has sort of limited pay ceiling and upward mobility. If I were you, I'd look into an internship/office gig with one of the bigger guide services. These are not particularly fun jobs, but a good foot in the door, and you'll generally meet and climb with enough guides that your climb resume will pad out quickly. You can also try the summer camp/wilderness therapy/river trash entry, which can lead to the OB/NOLS thing. PM me if you'd like some contacts.

Robbie Mackley · · Tucson, AZ · Joined May 2010 · Points: 85

Just a thought, but it may serve you better to look into some of the "dirtbagging" forums. The "what do you do" forums will probably just lead to more confusion.
Also, if you have the luxury of taking a lower paying job, consider working places that have transfer options to places in range of climbing destinations.
I would look into, hospitals because you can work nights / climb days. Retail for the same reasons, albeit probably not the same pay (however don't only look "outdoor") your local mall can probably help you with this. And don't be afraid to venture into the world of corporate franchise, Applebys, chillis, etc are all over, and servers/bartenders probably make more than hot topic employees.
Hope you get your chance to live the dream.
-Mackley

Cocoapuffs 1000 · · Columbus, OH · Joined Jun 2008 · Points: 50

I agree with getting a flexible non climbing job. Get a career that lets you live in areas with ready access to climbing and the flexibility to take advantage of it. If climbing after work in some destination town every day just isn't doing it for you, by then you might have experience to break into the industry.

Robbie Mackley · · Tucson, AZ · Joined May 2010 · Points: 85

I would also like to address your# 2 observation from above.
It will not take years of training to become a guide. It will take years of experience. There are many levels of certification, all of which require years of experience to achieve. Working in a gym, or shop will not always glean this. Climbing amap may.
-Mackley
P.S. I'm sure many of the MP'ers are more than experienced enough to be guides but have found lucrative enough employment in other fields to allow themselves to pursue their love of climbing.
In short, DON'T PANIC.

Max Forbes · · Colorado · Joined Jan 2014 · Points: 108

I can't really offer any advice as a college student who's got a bit more time to make the decision... I did however recently finish Ed Viesturs memoir "No shortcuts to the top" which I think has many appropriate passages that you can relate too. I know I sure did.

Aside from that, I've had the privilege of being mentored by many local guides with a wide range of experience levels and positions. Hearing about their decisions and their process was extremely useful in learning about the process. AMGA certification is a long process.. SPI is a starting point, but only the first peg in a long ladder. Review the process, and try to find someone who you can talk to about the entire procedure, as well as paths you can take. Climbing, like anything, has a business end too it. Guiding is a whole separate rung. You're going to have a college degree, seriously consider using it.

Kevin Pula · · Denver · Joined May 2012 · Points: 20

Best advice so far is move to a mountain town. Especially a climbing town like Estes Park. There are tons of outdoor jobs in towns like this, from gear shops to guiding. Spent 3 years in the mountains and with no more than summer camp counselor and an Econ degree on my resume and got to experience tons of great jobs. Mt bike/climbing/snow shoeing guide, outdoor educator, bar tender, arborist, pub trivia host. Don't let a bunch of people from that old thread who have never tried the industry out tell you that it's impossible. Get out there and make it happen, you don't need tons of money from a real job if you live where all the people with "typical jobs" go to play.

Jim Titt · · Germany · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 490
SamW9102 wrote: As far as I can tell, the climbing industry breaks down into three broad categories: indoor, retail, outdoor.
There is manufacturing as well:-)
Christian Storms · · Tsumagoi, Gunma · Joined Apr 2010 · Points: 2,870

First, enjoy that this is your decision. Life is about being on the sharp end in all aspects.
Enjoy your youth and try to strike out in all directions. There is no failure.
I would go with the advice of get in the right area and develop your skill set.
Get work where you can control your schedule. My brother-in-law works for this place.
aepriverops.com
They work one month on and one month off! Before long, you'll have the 50 leads for your AMGA guide test.
Get a job that allows you to travel. While I have lived in Japan for 24 years, my work has let me climb in the US, South Africa and Brazil. Me at local81.jp
Wish I was your age again!

Will S · · Joshua Tree · Joined Nov 2006 · Points: 1,061

Quickest way to ruin your passion...make it your job. I loved environmental engineering and policy work at one time, and hate it these days...but get paid quite well to stomach that hate and do my job.

From your later post, it sounds like you're a trust funder (e.g. luxury of being able to take work for shit pay). In that case, I have no advice. Most of us come around to the reality of having to support ourselves in our older years, and the necessity of making enough money to build that nest egg...trustys, not so much.

Climbing gyms are a money sink...large capital investment, low margins, etc. I'm already seeing consolidation in the gym industry as the established multi-location gyms are starting to absorb the competition. If that trend continues, margins will shrink further and they will be achieving economies of scale, making the ol "I'll borrow money and open a gym" route an even more risky proposition.

Guiding...no real money there and burnout is astronomical. Too many people chasing too few clients/dollars.

Manufacturing is a better place to be, at least you will build transferable skills. Trainined machinists who can deal with modern tools (CNC programming etc) are somewhat in demand and even if the carabiner company you work for folds up, at least you can get paid well somewhere else as a machinist.

If it were me, I'd go one of two routes:

A. If you are a people-person, extrovert...medicine. Nursing, flight medic, PA, etc. Flexible schedules, good pay, lots of opportunity for the forseeable future.

B. If you are introvert, non people-person...compsci/programming/web design. More good pay, flex opportunities (contract work, and an industry where jumping around a lot is expected/common)

Probably too late to chase those paths if you are already through college.

Good luck...I'm headed out the door now to my ball and chain of a job. Six figures of misery...but only three years of it to go and I'll be retired at 45...if I don't quit in disgust at the dysfunction first, which is a real challenge these days.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

General Climbing
Post a Reply to "Where would you start in the climbing industry…"

Log In to Reply

Join the Community

Create your FREE account today!
Already have an account? Login to close this notice.

Get Started.