Q: I am 15 years old. My parents aren't willing to invest a lot of money into a new hobby until they find out I really like it. What is the cheapest, best way for me to get involved in climbing?

—LeeAnn
Atlanta

The answer is so simple that I suspect you already know what it is—climbing gyms. I know for a fact that there are several excellent gyms in Atlanta. And if you enjoy indoor climbing, chances are you're going to freak when you get out on real rock. I'm not sure if you realize it, but there's a bonanza of world-class rock climbing in your neck of the woods. My wife is from Birmingham, so I've climbed quite a bit in the southeast and within a two-hour drive of Atlanta you can be at any number of incredible climbing areas. Your parents are wise to be cautious about investing too much too soon. It can cost hundreds of dollars to get started in this sport, and realistically a lot of people don't follow through. If you were meant to rock climb, you'll know pretty quickly. Usually, people are either totally into it, or not at all. Give it a try and see how it feels. My guess is that you're going to love it!