How do I get into rock climbing?

Question

I want to start rock climbing, but I'm a total beginner and none of my friends rock climb or want to start. I can't find any beginner classes for it in San Francisco, so what do I do?

Answer 1

The best way to get into the sport of rock climbing is to get a membership at a local indoor gym if you have one near by. Most offer classes that you can take and they very with skill and what you want to do. I see too many people come into the gym to learn, but just so they can tell their friends that they know how to climb. If you really want to get into it(and you should...its fun :) then I recommend a course that you can take with as few amount of people as possible. This will give you more time with the instructor. An important thing to have in climbing is a buddy who can give you a belay and then you can belay him, but not necessary. Check your local gym to see if they rent equipment because you will need a harness and shoes. Once you learn to belay and get checked you can climb away.

If you don't have a buddy willing to climb that is not a big problem some gyms have auto belays which belay you as you climb automatically. Also, depending on the gym you go to, people are usually very nice and you can meet friends there who are more than willing to give you a belay.

I'm an idiot though and just read the rest of your details. Well your best option is to go to a local gym and ask around either to the workers or the climbers where you can go for lessons(there defiantly will be some near you). Paying for lessons sometimes isn't even neccesary if you can find someone willing to teach you to climb.

If your local gym that you find does not rent gear you can ask them for what gear to buy.A nice comfortable harness is good to start along with a firmer pair of rock climbing shoes(most places will have gym belay devices but make sure to ask). Make sure that your rock climbing shoes are extremely tight fitting almost painful.

If you truely cannot find a place that offers belay courses, which you should be able to find, look for a gym with auto-belays which you dont need to know how to belay or tie knots for you just need your gear. Onther option if you learn to belay(which isn't hard in the least) are clip and goes where you dont need to know how to tie knots, you clip in and have someone belay you.

My best advise is to find a good local gym and ask questions. The internet also helps getting going after you learn with many web-sites like rockclimbing.com. Don't give up and I'm sure you will love it once you get started.    

Answer 2

look for a climbing gym in your area.  it depends on what you want to do.  if you want to climb sport, trad, or bouldering.  if you find a gym you could see if they have any classes avalable.  if you can find any classes just go to the gym and start to climb by your self.  then you find some friends at the gym who would be willing to teach you or go climbing with.  compeating is fun if at first you don't want to compeat the you could go and wathch some comps. to see  what they are like.  the national wabsites is usaclimbing.org.  there is sport where you lead climb wall routes SCS and the boulering which is ABS

Answer 3

I googled "climbing walls in san francisco"  If you hang out at a climbing wall and show interest, someone will help you.

Answer 4

find some rocks and climb them

Answer 5

Most start at an indoor climbing gym. You can go and learn how to belay and some climbing technique. Get shoes and a harness and learn at the gym and meet others that you might want to climb with outdoors.

You can also take an outdoor rock climbing course - there are some at Donner Summit about 150 miles from you - that is where I learned to climb.

http://www.alpineskills.com/rc_rock_intr...

Good Luck

Answer 6

If there are indoor climbing walls in San Francisco, this would be a good place to start. I've not seen a wall yet that does not offer climbing tutorials (it's a good way to make money), but if there are none then leave a note on their noticeboard saying that you're after a belay partner to help you begin climbing, I'm sure someone would offer, especially if you offered a small financial or food/beer incentive!