How do i learn how to climb mountains?

Question

where do i start learning?

im 14 and have never gone anywhere away from civilization.

some day i wish to climb everest.

Answer 1

Get a guide book for your area and start climbing some of the easier "walk ups" and 4th class routes. I like the "Falcon Guide" books and they will show you where the routes are and how hard.

Then start getting gear you will need for high altitude peak climbing and take a glacier travel / climbing course. Climb some 14,000+ snow covered peaks (maybe even in winter) to see what it is like.

http://www.alpineskills.com/cat_wintermt...

Train hard, save your money, and get experience on some peaks.

Good Luck

Answer 2

To learn some outdoor skills, start with the Scouts.  

Start hiking and camping.  Then bag some peaks (non-technical, high-altitude hiking).  

Once you have learned these skills, start taking some classes - rock climbing, snow climbing, mountaineering.  Or take some guided climbs of technical peaks - if you live the the United States, try some of the glaciated peaks in the Pacific Northwest (or the Alps if you live in Europe).

As you gain experience, you can start doing it on your own (with a partner).

Answer 3

By civilization and not getting away from it, I'm assuming that you live in a larger city. Well Depending on where, there may be hills and parks that you can begin training and experiencing the out of doors. I'd see if there are any organizations around that you could get involved with such as The Boys Club of America, The Appalachian Mountain Club, The Boy Scouts of America. All have programs that will get you started with good skills and experiences. Also check out some of your local outdoor sports stores. You may find a sales person there that has experience and knowledge of the local scene. They can get you pointed in a direction that will allow your first steps towards climbing the highest peak in the world. That is an awesome dream, you should start working on getting there.

Answer 4

Scouts is a GREAT place to start for someone your age. Once you've been on some hikes and built some physical endurance get yourself some books and try to get the scout leaders interested in working through them.

I was fortunate to take the Mountaineers basic climbing course in college with a friend. I -highly- recommend that you check out their book "freedom of the hills" in a year or two. It's a heavy tome but it has the information you will need to build skills as a serious climber. Think of it as a way to be on the mountains (reading about equipment, working on rope craft etc) without having to get away from home.