Getting into Climbing Outdoors
Hi Steph!
My name is Kalli, I am 17 and live in Minnesota near the twin cities. I’ve been climbing for about five years, just seriously getting into it about two years ago when I abandoned competitive softball. I’ve finished both of your books in the span of a few days and am amazed not only by all of the stories told, but also by how well you capture the very real, almost universal fears and emotions in climbing. I responded positively to these descriptions just because of how well they match my own. I have attached a piece of my writing on the subject matter and would be honored if you’d read it; this piece happens to be my common application essay in response to a prompt asking to describe a time when I failed and what I learned from it. It’s a much condensed story because of the word limit and necessity to explain climbing to unknown readers, but the essence of it is there!I do have one question about climbing outdoors. Currently, I am in the world of indoor sport climbing/competing and my only experiences climbing are indoors (besides tiddling around in bouldering areas at some local falls). I would really like to make the transition to climbing outdoors, especially as I make the transition to college (unknown location as of right now, though Boulder is in the running), but am unsure how. I was just wondering how you got into climbing outdoors/how best to go about building up gear necessary (I can only borrow so much from friends)? I have a friend, Tyler, who has invited me out to Redwing in April to climb. I will go with him and learn basics, but I would like to be able to have my own gear and go fitting more with my hectic schedule.
You are an amazing influence on the female climbing community and continuously push me into aspiring higher!
Thank you!
Kalli
P.S. The picture I attached was part of my “senior pictures” shoot with a friend who is at MSU. Slowly digressed into me climbing around rocks
Hi Kalli,
It’s great that you’re going to college next year, because almost every college has a climbing and outdoor club. I just got back from visiting Ohio State, and was really impressed with all the things their climbing club offers: including loaner ropes and climbing racks, spring break trips to Moab, and weekend pilgrimages to the Red River Gorge. When I first started climbing at University of Maryland, the first thing I did was join the climbing club, and that’s how it all started for me.
Since we’re getting into the nice time of year, I’m guessing a lot of people you know from the gym will start climbing outside too, so it should be pretty easy to invite yourself along for that 🙂
Good luck!
Steph
Also consider the day trips available until college. Duluth Area, Taylor’s, Swede’s Forest, and Sandstone for bouldering, and Red Wing and Willow for Sport climbing. I understand (as a fellow Minnesotan) that we don’t have the best outdoor scene, but it is available, especially as it starts to warm up.
thanks James 🙂
Wow! I didn’t know you climbed at UMD, Steph! I graduated from UMD in 2012 and I did a fair amount of climbing at their outdoor climbing wall. Now I do most of my climbing (and working part time) at Earth Treks in Rockville! I’m facing the same issue as Kalli. But, I’m going back to school for a PhD program in Gainesville, Florida. Unfortunately, there aren’t a lot of places to climb out there. I figure I’ll have to go out of state for most of it. I’m starting to transition from indoor to outdoor climbing and accruing gear in preparation for the outdoor climbing I’ll hopefully be doing out there. Have you done any climbing around that area or in the surrounding states? I have to commit the next 4-5 years of my life to pursuing my PhD, but climbing is such an integral part of my life, that I couldn’t bear to give up.
If you make it out west you can come climb with wife and I always up to take people along transitioning outdoors is the best just dont get injured or you will want to retrain currently nursing two severed arteries in left thumb so grip strength isnt what it was but it will get there. Once you are comfortable climbing sport indoors/outdoors and you are comfortable leading. I highly recommend if your comfortable running up 20ft or more to your first bolt doing trad once your ready you will know.