How to start climbing outdoors

Many people ask me how to get started climbing outdoors. This is what I did, what my climbing heroes did and why it worked.

My book on improving at climbing:

My book on preventing and treating climbing injuries:

My hangboard:

[chefjonsf]

The man is the Bob Ross of climbing. Thank you!

[danillos]

MacLeods approach to climbing is really unique in the scene. I have so much respect for his sincerity and humility. Thanks

[frasermcclennan]

What a great guy. So many 'serious' climbers lose touch with their punter roots. All the more noble that Dave's trying to get into the heads of beginners and help them over those first hurdles.

[SgtSnausages]

We started outdoors and had to do the reverse - transition to indoors.

Plastic screwed onto cement-coated plywood is weird. Totally different feel.

[Mediax]

Start with free soloing. If you fall, then it wasn't for you

[aidanloeser]

These interviews are some of the best I've seen in climbing footage. Now I want to hear about everyone's first day climbing.

[biltongandboba]

To think the person those two guys were laughing at is Dave MacLeod, hope they see this video :D

[Bhamlunker]

Fascinating - I grew up in Appalachia (SW Virginia) - poor kids scrambling around on all manner of rock formations - I wish there was some earlier exposure to seeing folks using climbing gear and I got to do it - I would have loved it cause as is I rambled around on most things - now at 38 I’m climbing outdoors “formally” for the first time

[MattAngiono]

It was a true pleasure watching this Dave!
I had a similar experience in Boulder, CO on the Flatirons, which I've been staring at and dreaming about climbing for as long as I can remember. I had hiked up and around them countless times but never even thought about just going for it, until Covid hit and my climbing gym closed...

I had been reading about some local guys that could freesolo each of the Flatirons, and were setting insane speed records doing it... It sounded so fun and just the fact they were doing it hundreds of times told me they must really be confident up there.

The speed thing was totally out of my league, but I was feeling strong and mentally solid one day while hiking up there, so I just decided to get on the bottom and see how it felt.... I knew I could down climb if necessary, and the process felt just like yours Dave.


Before I knew it I was 50, then 100, then 200 feet up the "freeway" and couldn't believe I was actually doing it!

Within a short time, I had completed my first freesolo of the 2nd Flatiron and carried my momentum with an even more vertical route up the backside of the 1st flatiron. I was absolutely ecstatic and elated to sit on peaks I had been stared at since I was baby.
This skyline is forever etched in my mind, as I'm a photographer and have taken countless photos with these mountains as the main subject. Now I can point to the prints on my wall and say "I climbed up right there!".... in multiple places!

I hope more people (with sufficient skills of course) get after it outdoors! It's truly what climbing is about!
I do have to admit though, I'm still mostly a gym rat, for convenience, but I'm obviously motivated and working up to bigger things!

I appreciate the "get off youtube" advice too... I obviously need that in this moment!

Cheers! Great video!

[gary]

Great to see you spend time doing this Dave. Really looking forward to following these advice type blogs alongside your own personal climbing adventures. Thanks

[oliviaweiss]

I really love this video, Dave. I had a similar experience my first time climbing outdoors (just this year). It's too easy to get comfortable climbing in a gym and stress about the theoretical logistics of climbing outdoors... "I don't have a crash pad"... "I don't have my own rope or quick draws"... "how can I be confident in my own anchors"... and etc. I got out of that negative mental loop when I was on a hike and came across a boulder. It looked well within the limit I could climb without putting myself in much danger, so I gave it a go. Even though it was easy for me, I was ecstatic after reaching the top. I realized then how silly it was to worry about climbing outdoors. I didn't need to climb something difficult to feel the joy of climbing out in nature. I just had to do something simple to start to get a feel for it. Since then, I've found some more experienced climbers to do top-rope, and I have applied the same philosophy. Keep it simple and easy at first until it's more comfortable. It's more fun that way.

[SethPierceClimbing]

Your story, your climbing, your advice and your mindfulness. It's all so great! I really can't get enough!

[stewart]

Great advice dave, your videos got me back of my backside and into the hills again after about 20 years away from it, picked up some basic gear and went to loudon hill and just had a go. 8 months later I'm at the indoor wall at least once a week. can't wait for the weather to get back outside. Thanks

[biltongandboba]

Great point about them also failing on Requiem.

[ruymanac]

A video version of "9 out of 10 climbers make the same mistakes" would amazing!!!
Thanks for your work, cheers

[silentdiscretion]

Right across the street from where I live, there's a trail. On it, down a little, just past where I enter the trail, is a man-made boulder. Not great holds, but good enough to start practicing on, and getting used to using my crash pad. Nothing but sun hits it too, so I can get some color on this pale body of mine as a bonus lol

[duncanstoebner]

Love, Love, Love this viewpoint. Enjoy the adventure of it. Dave puts into words exactly what he has learned.

[Schlongusdongus]

mr macleod,

i dont know if you will read this. anyways, while you were talking while facing the wall i felt like you were becoming the bob ross of climbing.

i felt so soaked in by your smooth, scottish description of how you just feel the for the next step. pure magic.

and i dont even understand every single word. lovely, just lovely.

keep up the terrific work of yours!



a great fan from germany, looking forward to start on the rock

[ALAW_Aaron]

Such a helpful and thoughtful video. Thank you

[EllaLudwig]

Thank you for this! I'm trying to overcome a fear of heights and plan to hike a wash with some drops. I was looking for something with more step by step instructions but this is absolutely perfect.