In reply to Jordangask:
I started climbing in a gym in New York City. The first time I got taken climbing in the
"Gunks" (upstate New York) I was hooked.
The Shawangunks are a nature preserve so trad climbing is the only thing allowed.
Beautiful granite, hundreds of routes from relatively easy to super hard.
It was a great place to learn.
I ended up following boyfriends for a few years, but every time the relationship ended I found
myself without a climbing partner, so I decided to learn how to lead.
I ended up traveling all over the US to climb in different areas and on different types
of rock with various guides.
I am glad that I had some climbing experince before I started leading, because
I not only learned how to get up a route, I also learned how to get myself out of a scrape.
I left the States and my climbing buddies 4 years ago.
Although I still climb outside of Vienna, Austria my trad gear doesn't get much use anymore.
Everything is bolted here, so now I mainly sport climb, but I am a trad girl deep down in my soul.