Mountain Climbing for beginners?

You can approach mountaineering from the hiking, scrambling, backpacking side of mountaineering. Especially if you enjoy those activities, there are plenty of skills to be learned there over time. The Freedom of the Hills book addresses these skills too, not just the gear.

There is something to be said for figuring things out for yourself as opposed to/in addition to hiring a guide. With a combination of the two, you'll be confident of the skills and you'll own them.

Ronan,
Look at and read all the gear usage information from the gear manufacturers and the associated videos, all on the gear mfgrs websites. It is a lot of information.

Read and consider all the information in "Freedom of the Hills". Work to memorize much of the content, especially to begin building a more extensive vocabulary of climbing and mountaineering terms. Accurate vocabulary and more specific knowledge will allow you to begin the process of mastering the subject. This sounds generic however applies just like any subject undertaken in school/university. In this mountaineering subject the penalty for failure is severe and often permanent. Your brain will be the most important organ you use while climbing and mountaineering be sure to train and work it as much and as diligently as all your other muscles and techniques combined.

Another significant resource to learn from others is the American Alpine Club (AAC) Accidents in North American Climbing. This is an annual representative sample of what happened to whom and how. Brief reading which can fill vast time/space with loads of contemplative meditations.
http://publications.americanalpineclub.org/

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