Hopefully you’ve enjoyed reading about my adventures as I climb the 7 highest summits and ski to both poles. I hope my adventures inspire you not only to scale the figurative mountains in your life, but also to get outdoors and enjoy nature.

If you’re reading this and thinking to yourself, “I could never do that,” keep reading. I started from rank beginner and am about to attack my final mountain summit (Mt. Everest) and I’m telling you that if I can do it so can you.

But, if you choose to climb mountains, be sure you properly prepare yourself for the climb.

When I climbed Cotopaxi and Kilimanjaro, I was definitely not prepared for the climb. I survived, but, barely. With a little training the climb would have been much less threatening and I would have enjoyed it more.

How should you start? Well, doing some climbing at a gym is a good start.  

A rock climbing gym gives you a feel for what it’s like to make an extremely difficult climb. You’ll work muscles you’ve never worked before and test your strength, flexibility, and agility. You’ll also learn how to rest and conserve your energy. 

Rock climbing is like extreme hiking. You learn a lot about conditioning and safety. Plus, it’s just plain fun. Give it a try.

You don’t have to find a mountain face to practice climbing, there are indoor climbing gyms all over the world. The easiest way to find a gym is to use the map at indoorclimbing.com. Find a gym near you and plan a climbing day. Take a friend, it’ll be more fun.

You won’t need to buy any special equipment to climb with. Most of these gyms will allow you to climb in whatever soft-soled shoes you have or they’ll rent a pair of climbing shoes your size.

They’ll also have harnesses available and trained belayers who will make sure you’re strapped in properly and safe throughout the climb. Take some time to ask your belayer questions about climbing. Listen to their advice while you’re on the rock wall. 

An indoor climbing gym is a great place to get a taste of adventure. You’ll learn a lot, condition your body, and, most important of all, you’ll have a lot of fun.