Starting Outdoor

I started climbing indoors at my local gym about 3 months ago and I would like to try my first outdoor climb. My parents, however, are what you would call indoorsy and a little protective. I don't have a mentor as of right now and I would like to find a way (without paying hundreds for a guide) to get outside.
Thanks a ton.

No mentor and don't want to pay for a guide does not bode well for your outdoor climbing start. You could go hang at the local crag and talk to people and see if they'd let you climb on their rope.

Hire a guide.

Where are you from? Check around and see if there's a local climbing club or American Alpine Club chapter in your area. Those can be pretty good resources for *safely* getting going outdoors.

Or hire a guide or take some outdoor classes if offered through a local gym.

I'm from Michigan so we don't have a local crag or anything. I'm one of the few from my town of 100k who climbs.

Given your situation get some books, start educating yourself, start becoming proficient at building anchors, tying knots, different gear and how to properly place and assess it, belaying, etc, etc. You can do this all without a cliff. At the same time your learning start talking to your parents more and more about climbing and show them how passionate you are about the experience. Show them your new skills and maybe that will lead to them trusting more, and maybe theyd also get into climbing as well? Its a great bonding activity for sure (can be one).

Also find an area you want to go to first and start talking to locals who frequent there. Talk via email, phone, etc. Look under the "partner finder" here and elsewhere and just start messaging! The worst they can say is "no" and/or not respond. You have nothing to lose! Let them know youre learning and planning on a trip soon. Then go on a road trip (with your parents, or atleast their "blessing") and take it slow, be safe, build your top rope anchors (that you've practiced alot with already) or second someone, and have some fun!

Its a start atleast. Keep talking with your parents dude and It'll happen!

Hi there Tothclimer,
I can relate to the challenge of not having a resource to help learn to do outdoor climbing. Since learning about climbing I've started working on a video resource to help new climbers like you. Over the next two months, the intro to climbing series should be complete. You can check it out at smartrockclimbing.com.

Blessings on your journeys,

Pieter

Thanks everybody for the great advice I'll make sure to look into all of your solutions it means a lot

I'm from Kalamazoo, Michigan and have been climbing for about 7 years. Where are you located?

As for climbing in Michigan you're out of luck in the lower peninsula. Grand Ledge is the only outdoor climbing available. The UP has decent climbing but that's a drive to get to.

I'm currently in New York for the summer but I might be back in the lower peninsula before I head back to college.

Make friends with others at your gym. I've met some really amazing friends & climbing partners by offering to belay someone climbing solo or asking for a quick belay.
Check out meetup.com too. There is a climbing group that meets at the gym in Pontiac fairly regularly. I travel to MI once or twice a year to visit family outside of Detroit, so I was looking for some climbing options during my visit. Good luck!

It was done my myself and many others long before there were gyms. You go WATCH outdoor climbers, LEARN from them,,,make friends. You might not get to climb the first few times until you can show them you know something about rope skills, belaying, anchors. Long before gyms wanted to charge you 140 bucks for an indoor 'anchors class', you read BOOKS,,yes climbing instructional books. I'm speaking from a trad' climbers background. You bought some GEAR, you went out and practiced,,sometimes alone,,,testing your skills and gear placements until you felt you could show it with confidence to those outdoor climbers you met the past season and kept in touch with. Then maybe you climb...It all might be so much faster and easier today with majority of climbers doing sport routes only and not needing gear for set ups.
Problem is there is no patience anymore in learning through experience. Everybody wants instant gratification and immediate success. It's all pay the bucks up front,,do it, be an 'ace all of a sudden because you toproped a gym climb they labeled as 5.11b.
If you have no climbing circle to work with, and no cash to spend to go the instructor -guide route,,you will just have to be patiently watching, learning and hoping for the best over a season or so with those you may meet at the crags.

Is there any bouldering in michigan. If there is then go to a popular spot and climb. If you get hurt then hopefully someone will pass by before you die. I bouldered by myself 90% of the time when I lived near rock.

sharyl wrote:Make friends with others at your gym. I've met some really amazing friends & climbing partners by offering to belay someone climbing solo or asking for a quick belay. Check out meetup.com too. There is a climbing group that meets at the gym in Pontiac fairly regularly. I travel to MI once or twice a year to visit family outside of Detroit, so I was looking for some climbing options during my visit. Good luck!

Sharyl has some very good advice here, particularly when combined with Jake's comment right below it...you really don't know enough to evaluate whether someone is safe or not, and you should always bear that in mind.

In addition to what they've said, as someone else above mentioned, you should really try to get your hands on some good books and read up. I like John Long's books because he really puts a high priority on instilling SKEPTICISM, which I think is an essential quality for staying alive outside. But plenty of other sources are out there too.

In spite of what you said in your original post, I would find a way to make the guide thing happen. Mow some lawns, pump some gas, whatever. One day would be great, but two consecutive days would be an awesome jump start. Get him/her to spend extra time with you on gear, setting TR's, etc...not so you can go right out and set your own but so you can observe intelligently (and skeptically) when your new gym buds take you out to the crag. You could also get the guide to teach you what makes a good second. If you belay well, listen to direction when it's given, don't lose people's gear and are fired up, you won't want for partners for long. Groupon can be a way to find some very substantial discounts on guiding.

mustardtiger wrote:Is there any bouldering in michigan. If there is then go to a popular spot and climb. If you get hurt then hopefully someone will pass by before you die. I bouldered by myself 90% of the time when I lived near rock.

Sadly, no. In Da UP, maybe, but the glacier that carved a ludicrous amount of lakes in the lower peninsula didn't have the sense to dredge up any rocks at their shores.