Learning to climb from a professional is the safest way to start climbing. The potential ways to have a mis-adventure or get injured climbing number in the thousands. A certified guide has under gone numerous trainings and has 1000's of hours of climbing experience. Guides are a great resource for those who choose to tackle climbs that are above their level of leading. Guides are hired for climbing El Capitan in Yosemite, Mt. McKinley in Alaska and other challenging climbs the world over.