49 too old to start climbing?

Let me start by saying i am 49. I am a 6'4" 190# and a flat- lander(louisiana). Beyond a few trips to a climbing gym in the area, no real climbing experience. I am a fit and strong trail runner, do some crossfit and recently added some climbing training board work.
I am 2013 I climbed Rainier after years of dreaming about it.I had a blast, but since then I have been consumed with desire to climb more technical mountains. I just returned from GTNP, my second climbing trip. I climbed Cube Point and Baxters Pinnacle( bailed just below the 5.9thumb, final pitch) with Exum guide service. Much of the climb seemed within my skill level with the exception of the final pitch.
One thing im noticing on all trips and in the gym, im the oldest guy in the room.
My question is how good can i expect to get at my age and size? Do you guys have some personal stories that relate? Know any strong climbers my size?
i have some intermediate goals for the next 2 or three years in mind and want to know if I am completely out of my mind here.
Grand Teton exum ridge
Baxter pinnacle (to the top) and similar 5.9 5.10 routes
Devils Tower
My ultimate goal is Matterhorn down the road.

You'll never know what you can achieve until you get after it! They guy who taught me how to climb was in his mid 60 and is still crushing it!

Never too old to climb! There's people 70+ years old crushing 5.14's... Now they might be a special case, but climbing is all for the enjoyment. Just be good enough to have fun!

I'm one to believe that it's never too late to start anything. Just take it easy on the hangboard/campus board training. You really don't need that type of thing for any of your goals, and if anything, training that way will just injure you.

Just go climb a bunch of routes and have fun.

Dabbled in climbing till I was over 40. So I was over 40 when I really started climbing. Now I am 63 (B-Day is coming up soon) and I'm headed to The Valley again, maybe a wall again maybe not but a bunch of free climbing for sure. Red Rocks, J-Tree and Cochise after that. Taking a year off to do nothing but climb next year. So are you too old? Don't think so, despite what the underlings might think. Get used to being the oldest in the group. If you don't get too caught up in grades and comparing yourself to the younger people you should be o.k. as long as you avoid injury. Have climbed with guys of you stature and they mostly climb hard. See you around.

After a 20 year absence I returned to climbing 2 years ago at the age of 59. I would guess I was and am not now anywhere near as fit as you are. I continuously challenge myself and find lots of satisfaction whether bouldering or multi pitch. Much of climbing is a head game and there are plenty of challenges, the real question is how much fun can you have.

Never too old!!

Hell no it ain't to old! My mom started about 49 and just led Snake Dike last month at 62 years old! Go have fun! :)

I'm 63 and I started at 58. So don't think you're too old.

The oldest new climber I ever met is Walter R. He was 50ish and is still fit in the extreme and lbs for lbs one of the strongest people I have ever met. Well 15 years later he can't climb because his connective tissue never had a chance to catch up with his massive strength. His hands are gnarled and bent. The point? Don't over do it. I get out climbed by ol'timers all the time but they know how to heal an rest. Done right you should have no problems. Done wrong and pulling will become impossible.

Gription is spot on - take it easy and don't get yourself injured. CLIMB FOR FUN rather than chasing numbers or trying to keep up with someone else. A poster above mentions campus boarding; you really have no business doing anything like that. When campus boards first became common, there was a bit of a guideline that they were for 5.11+ climbers only. And of course only for those with tendons that can handle the incredible stress. So go have fun. Listen to your body. Age is just a number.

PS I'm soon turning 59.

At Rocks N Ropes here in Tucson you would be SIGNIFICANTLY younger than the oldest person in the gym on almost any evening. Probably younger that 15% or more of the people in the gym.

Since you sound very motivated, get out there! There are so many classic routes for you to try. You will be a kid in a candy shop.

Not at all too old. And to second and third a version of what's already said- Don't focus on strength when you are training. Take the first year or two to focus all of your training on technique. The strength will automatically follow along. Technique is more important in the early stages anyhow. Don't jump into the bouldering cave in your second month and crank as hard as you can. Your finger tendons probably won't heal as quick as that 19 year old's. And give it a few months at the gym and you likely won't feel like the oldest guy in the gym anymore- but rather someone who has a few more younger friends than he used to.

James,
Climb on. It's cool to have big goals, and it sounds like you're fit enough to work toward them. You can find other Louisiana climbers at Rok Haus (Lafayette). I assume Nola climbers head to Slidell Rocks. Here in Baton Rouge, go to the BREC Tower on Perkins. You'll find children and one-timers at all 3 spots, but also quite a few knowledgeable climbers.

For sort of serious training, build a home wall.
You kind of have to down here..

There's a BR Climbers Facebook or something, but I don't do that stuff...

Where are you located?

Yer gonna die

...but further down the road and not from climbing if you learn and climb with smart, safe and knowledgeable partners. You're obviously not too old, but you can never have too many tools in your quiver to keep you Out of trouble. Most especially in the alpine.

I've learned healing grows slower with time, but aside from overuse injuries--jumping into too much .10 too early, because conective tissue takes an extra long time to strengthen compared to your muscles and capabilities. Strengthen legs and core primarily, and learn smooth form to keep your weight on your legs. Most climbing incidences are a big deal and stem from a series of decisions--or ignorance, complacency or innatention. Study, cause you could cause or experience real, unwanted pain. Eat well, drink lots and expand your dimensions safely and powerfully, eh.

+1 on Stevie Haston

If you're interested in alpine climbing you might be inspired by a guy named Don Forest (now deceased). He was in his 40s when he started climbing and went on to become the first person to climb all 54 11,000' peaks in the Canadian Rockies. Most of them are pretty serious peaks, such as Mts Robson and Alberta. He was 59 when he completed them. He also climbed Mt Logan in the Yukon at age 71.

Nathan Self, I'm in Alexandria. No gym here, but I go to Rok Haus in Lafayette (1 hour away).

Thanks to all of you for the advice and encouraging words. I have had my own experiences with overuse at Crossfit and on the trails over the years and so I will take your advice seriously and avoid the campus board and the like.

I cant wait to get out there and start climbing.

47 here and just returning to serious (sarcasm)climbing as a weekend warrior.

I just recently hooked up with an informal group of climbers that meet every Wednesday evening at a local crag. There are a few 60 something guys climbing hard.

(and they've been great at mentoring me back into the swing of things)

As they said to me "it's nice see some more grey hair around here"

Looking forward to seeing some of your climbing pics.

NO way are you too old. I started in my mid 40's and am still developing/improving as a climber 14 years later.