Absolute Beginner Advice
Hello everyone! I (21M) have been interested in mountaineering for a long time, and I thought the best place to ask for advice would be here. I wanted to know the best ways to start and maybe a good 2-3 year plan to start with. I go to the gym about 3x a week and do cardio 2x a week. However I understand that training for mountaineering is different than standard gym fitness. What is a solid training plan that you guys used when you first started out?
Another thing I imagine is important is obviously actual backpacking and mountaineering experience. I have experience hiking, but recently moved to the East Coast (USA) where mountains are a lot smaller. What is a good mountain to aim for after 1, 2, and 3 years. I was thinking maybe Mount Baker would be a good place to start after 1-1.5 years, but again, I barely know anything. Is it too ambitious to view Kilimanjaro as doable in 3 years? Are there any courses in the US (eg NOLS or American Alpine Institute) that you recommend doing before attempting any actual mountains? Would it be helpful to get belay certified soon or is that more important if I was rock climbing?
My final question is related to equipment. I know everything is fairly expensive, and I have no idea what I would need and wouldn’t need as a beginner. Are there any brands you recommend? What are some essentials, nice to haves, etc? How much should I be willing to spend on equipment alone?
Any help would be appreciated, and I apologize if some of my knowledge is limited and laughable. Thanks everyone!