I want to try climbing—how do I get started?

Yay, I’m so stoked for you! If you’re a beginner, rock climbing can be a bit overwhelming at first, but you’ve got this. I usually recommend climbing at a gym for the first time if you have one near you. The staff will usually give you an orientation to go over the basics, and you can rent gear like shoes or harness so you don’t have to invest in your own right away.

Can I try climbing even if I don’t have much upper body strength?

Absolutely! Good climbing technique involves using your legs more to push yourself up instead of just pulling yourself up with your arms. As you climb more, you will build more upper body strength, but using your feet will always be important in climbing.

Am I too old to start climbing?

Definitely not! I don’t even need to know how old you are—you can start climbing at any age. I didn’t start climbing until I was 35, and since then, I have helped people in their 50s and 60s try climbing for the first time (I even took my mom to the climbing gym for her 70th birthday!).

For some inspiration, check out my interview with Dierdre Wolownick, who started climbing at age 59 and became the oldest woman to climb El Cap - which she did with her son, iconic rock climber Alex Honnold, when she was 66.

I’m so confused by all the jargon—how do I understand climbing lingo?

As a newbie climber, it’s easy to get confused when you hear someone chatting about climbing, and I totally get that. So I created a cheat sheet for you to learn the language of climbing and decipher the jargon.

Get my Climbing Lingo 101 guide here for free by subscribing to my newsletter.

What if I’m intimidated or don’t feel like I belong?

Trying something new can be scary, and I definitely know the feeling. But climbing truly is for everybody, and you belong on the wall just as much as anyone else.