I am not fit at all, have no gear, and yet have a childhood yearning to climb mountains. I was especially fascinated with Everest after watching Into Thin Air in 5th grade.

How do I start hiking? The tallest mountain near me is Mount Marcy, but I have a feeling that even on such a short hike I will be absolutely winded without preparation.

I can barely motivate myself to get off the couch after I get home from work, so I'm hoping that a plan of action can help me acclimatize to walking several miles up a slope.

Any anons gone from couch to summit before? Any stories of how you got started? Any tips/things you wish you knew? Basically just looking for inspiration here. Outdoors seems to be the best antidepressant.