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looking for instruction 18-Nov-2008 At 3:10:11 PM Li

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Hi there....I've done both - climbed with a mentor and paid for a guide to teach me. My mentor/friend lives in the States so unfortunately isn't around to go climbing with me anymore. However, we did spend a couple of weeks climbing at Arapiles and at Buffalo - a solid couple of weeks climbing every day. I learnt heaps and he was very thorough. I must admit, he had to keep repeating things to me as there was SO much to take in and it seemed quite overwhelming. He also pushed me out of my comfort zone (in a safe way) and had me extending myself. I found it really satisfying and felt a great sense of achievement at the end of each day. I had no qualms about placing my trust in him as he was really thorough (bordering on anal!).

I also climbed with a guide at Arapiles - expensive but worth it. He taught me how to set up top rope anchors and place protection - that was my objective at the time.

Both are good - I will definitely pay for another guide at some stage. However, if you can find an experienced/safe mentor to climb regularly with, you will get a stackload of experience under your belt and not forget what you've learned. I am in the situation where I also don't have a mentor anymore and I'm not climbing regularly enough, so by the time I get to go climbing again I feel like I'm just starting out and feel like I'm fumbling. Very frustrating. Not to mention the fact that I have moved house to Venus Bay....not a lot of good climbing down this way! What was I thinking?!

Li