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Finding people willing to let a novice tag along trad climbing

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 Row 10 Apr 2018

Any advice here is much appreciated!

Been climbing for four months indoors. Great fun but the intention was always to not only get outside but to move into trad as soon as possible.

I seem to have done it all in the pursuit of willing and more experienced partners.. mooched around all the walls in Brum, joined two mountaineering clubs, joined Facebook groups focussed on Peak and Welsh based climbing partners, posted on here, even raked through tinder reluctantly.. I only seem to find indoor or sport climbers wherever I go.

I am at the point where I have acquired as much knowledge as I can before it needs to be put into practical use. I have some gear. I am a quick learner. 

How do I find someone to take me out on the rock??

Post edited at 21:38
In reply to Row:

I find it absolutely shocking that no one has replied to you yet. I'm a bit puzzled by your problem because most old mountaineering clubs have plenty of trad climbers who ... traditionally ... would be only to glad to help. A pity your request wasn't about 15 years ago when I was still (very) active, because I would certainly have been glad to take you out for a day of climbing/instruction. You just need someone very experienced to take you out a few times to teach you all the necessary belaying and rope techniques, and then you can just get on with it on your own. What you really need to do next is find someone at about the same novice level as yourself, who is equally keen and of roughly the same ability, with whom to form a climbing partnership. Climbing has a lot to do with climbing partnerships.

 tehmarks 10 Apr 2018
In reply to Row:

For what it's worth I enthusiastically introduced myself to someone on here looking for a partner a decade ago, and convinced them that I was a safe belayer and that I wouldn't be a total nuisance if they took me climbing with them.

 crimpsoplenty 10 Apr 2018
In reply to Row:

Hey, I live in brum and trad climb, having sport climbed and bouldered for a few years I only recently learnt to trad climb so I am very much a novice but do climb with people more experienced. You are welcome to come out with us  

 alx 10 Apr 2018
In reply to Row:

> even raked through tinder reluctantly.. I only seem to find indoor or sport climbers wherever I go.

What on earth did you put on Tinder?

btw since the collapse of the BMC under its own weight of meeting minutes, most trad climbers can be found on Etsy.

 

In reply to Row:

If you are free on Mondays, Tuesdays or Wednesdays & want to climb in the Peak then feel free to arrange to meet up. Nik 

 Andy Hardy 11 Apr 2018
In reply to Row:

My club run an event for people in your position (can belay, not climbed outside much) http://mynydd.org.uk/forums/topic/tupto-sunday-29th-april-froggatt/ Unfortunately we are not that local to you, but if nothing else turns up, come along!

J1234 11 Apr 2018
In reply to Row:

If you have joined a couple of clubs you are on the right track. Maybe focus on one club and get to know people. 
If you spent a day or two with an instructor or at Plas y  Brenin, maybe that would help.

What may be a problem is the weather has been pretty poo for the past few months, so any climbers getting out are perhaps more focussed on themselves and once they have had a few days on rock may be more inclined to mentor a newbie.

 Dave Garnett 11 Apr 2018
In reply to Gordon Stainforth:

> I find it absolutely shocking that no one has replied to you yet.

You only gave it 44 minutes Gordon! 

Actually, I think bedspring has a point - nobody's been doing much trad climbing recently because of the weather.  I've forgotten where my gear is.

 

 Dave Garnett 11 Apr 2018
In reply to Row:

I'm based in the Peak and would be very happy to take you out if it ever stops raining (but I'm out of the country for the next two weeks).  I'm also in a national club with many members in the Birmingham area.  Email me and I'll see what we can do!

 

 

Post edited at 09:31
 GrahamD 11 Apr 2018
In reply to Row:

What does the published meets list for the two clubs you've been to look like ? in my experience of a few clubs organised trips in the UK still have a definite trend towards trad venues.  Make sure you sign up for those trips !

 bpmclimb 15 Apr 2018
In reply to Row:

>  posted on here, even raked through tinder reluctantly.. I only seem to find indoor or sport climbers wherever I go.

 

Hi. Read your post, and didn't remember seeing anything from you before on UKC, so clicked on "previous posts": only one other listed, which seemed to be specifically about about climbing in Birmingham.

There are a fair number of experienced climbers on here who sometimes offer to go climbing with relative novices (myself included). For many, it's often about the company rather then having specific grades or goals in mind every trip - all that's really needed is competent and reliable belaying. 

..... to put my money, so to speak, I'll happily give you a day of trad in the Lower Wye Valley, if that's not too far for you to travel. 

 

1
 JackO3522 16 Apr 2018
In reply to Row:

Im MIA trained and looking for people this weekend if your happy to come to the lakes for the weekend .

Cheers 

anonymous123 04 May 2018
In reply to Row:

I feel ya. I too have struggled to find a mentor. Luckily some kind guy at my local wall was providing trad instruction (almost) for free! It's more of a social challenge than anything else; socialising and connecting with people will open more doors than anything else. Walk up to people at your local wall, hang around popular crags in summer. One day you'll make that connection. 

J1234 04 May 2018
In reply to Row:

If your interaction with the clubs is the same as with this forum/thread I can fully understand why you struggle with partners. Join then nothing. 
 

3
 Offwidth 04 May 2018
In reply to J1234:

Please remember the rules for this forum:

The Starting Out Forum - The Starting Out forum is often where people make their first posts, and sometimes the questions can get repetitive. Try and answer questions positively, if you can't do that, then leave it to someone who can. We were all beginners once.

 

 GrahamD 04 May 2018
In reply to Row:

When you say joined mountaineering clubs, what do you mean exactly ? Do you go along to meets and socials ? 

J1234 04 May 2018
In reply to Offwidth:

That is positive.
If someone does not understand that joining a club or this forum is a two way street, they will not get very far very quickly.
I have seen people join clubs and then just expect the club to do it for them. It seldom works for them or the club ultimately.
If no one tells them, how will they ever know?

 GrahamD 04 May 2018
In reply to J1234:

> That is positive.

> If someone does not understand that joining a club or this forum is a two way street, they will not get very far very quickly.

This is true.  Clubs are only what all their members are willing to put into it.  There is no incentive for experienced club members to give up their time to newcomers if the newcomers aren't willing to engage in the club and in turn become its experienced members. 

Not that the OP has said anything that confirms what their expectation of a club is but I'd argue that its pretty tough to become fully engaged with two mountaineering clubs !

 Offwidth 04 May 2018
In reply to J1234:

My partner and I tried to join an esteemed local club once, we were told it took a while, and so we attended pub evenings on and off for several months with two friends already accepted ...in the end after many visits someone else came and talked to us and we smiled inwardly and then they came back and apologised for thinking we were someone else. Luckily most clubs are better than this but some can be cliquey.

How long should the OP wait? I'd say the OP is right try another and maybe even again to find a friendly one. I went back to my Uni club as a post grad in the end.

Various people posting on this thread are very friendly and helpful.

Post edited at 17:20
 n1ge 04 May 2018
In reply to Row:

I'm based in the Midlands and would be happy to climb with you in the Peak or Snowdonia as long as you can belay safely. Send me an email if you're still looking.

J1234 04 May 2018
In reply to Offwidth:

That sounds awhile ago , clubs bend over backwards now.

 Landy_Dom 05 May 2018
In reply to Row:

I'd be happy to. Based in North East Wales. 

Oh I'm an SPA too.

Dom.

Post edited at 19:22

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