You'll get a ton of answers.
1. mid October should be pretty good although you could get a rainy spell. But it you have 2 weeks and can pick and choose your days you are guaranteed to get some pretty nice ones.
2. Most will recommend a full trad rack. You can do without larger gear for the most part.
3. Some swear by double ropes but for the most part you will do fine with a single.

But I think I will be picking up more gear there (there must be some climbing shops around...)

Tom

Thanks everybody for the fast answers. Park fee is no problem for me - as Id really like to support the area...

One more question about the trad stuff: How much gear do I need? Ive got cams 0.75 - 2 and a DMM nuts set, a few slings and biners. But I think I will be picking up more gear there (there must be some climbing shops around...)

Tom

If it was you and friend coming over to climb together, than you'd need all this stuff, but if you are planning to find someone here to climb with (and that shouldn't be too hard) then why not use their rack and rope and just come over with your shoes, harness, and belay device? Hauling all that trad gear over for a few days of climbing seems like a lot of unnecessary effort (and money in overweight charges).

One more question about the trad stuff: How much gear do I need? Ive got cams 0.75 - 2 and a DMM nuts set, a few slings and biners.

Most routes at the Gunks are wandering so a few slings and biners probably is not enough. Most people carry 6-12 tripled "trad draws".

I'm from Switzerland and usually climbing in the Swiss alps. But I'm in NYC for two weeks (also visiting my cousin upstate) and thought about doing some climbing in the "gunks".

- I would be there mid october, is this a good season to climb there?
- What kind of equipment do I need to bring over? (Here in the alps, a lot of the multipitch are bolted, do I need to bring a full trad rack? Is a single rope ok, or would I need to bring my half ropes?)
- I'm not sure if a friend is coming along or not. if not: is it easy to find a climbing partner there?

thanks!!
tom

... private land owners who charge for you to have the right to touch something that people shouldn't own privately in the first place.

Oh forgot... $80 is per car while that gunks $90 is per person. Not even the same ballpark.

Naw, not upset. Like I said i'd pay for the pass if I lived near to the gunks and I'm happy to support something that i definately get my money out of. I can't get $17 dollars worth of climbing in a day anywhere, which is just my personal opinion. Also for the original poster... you can get into many national parks in the US for free if you enter after 10pm and leave after 10pm. Just throwin out some good beta for people who are only here for a bit and might not want to get raped to spend some time enjoying the great outdoors.

Naw, not upset. Like I said i'd pay for the pass if I lived near to the gunks and I'm happy to support something that i definately get my money out of. I can't get $17 dollars worth of climbing in a day anywhere, which is just my personal opinion. Also for the original poster... you can get into many national parks in the US for free if you enter after 10pm and leave after 10pm. Just throwin out some good beta for people who are only here for a bit and might not want to get raped to spend some time enjoying the great outdoors.

I live in NYC, climb in the Gunks and pay the annual fee. And I think if you climb there you should pay it. But I'm not surprised to hear people gripe about the day fee and talk about dodging it. It is a natural reaction, especially from such antiauthoritarian sorts as climbers. I don't know why people get so bent out of shape defending the Preserve. They have a right to charge whatever they want, and people have the right to complain about it. Why is this such a big deal?

If they catch you they charge you, that's what i was lead to believe.

Now please explain what exactly I stole from the mohonk preserve by climbing the rocks.

At ski resorts you do essentially steal from them assuming you use their lifts...

Hey man, I can understand not trespassing to avoid access issues but I don't think that was the case with the gunks. If they catch you they charge you, that's what i was lead to believe. Now please explain what exactly I stole from the mohonk preserve by climbing the rocks.

If I owned that cliff...

Mohonk rangers are paid by the preserve.

Yeah, I'm just gonna go ahead and add some fuel to this fire. I just moved here from CO ,(via OR), and am surprised that people aren't more outraged than they are. I'm all for paying entrance fees for access to private, state, or federally owned lands....but $17 per climber per day is ridiculous! Wouldn't be so bad if $17 gave you access for a week or two, or even if it was $17 per car per day.....but $17 a piece for one measly day of climbing? By comparison, (these are state or federally owned mind you and are much bigger climbing areas than the gunks), Eldorado Canyon $8 per car per day.....Yosemite $20 per car per week.....RMNP $20 per car per week....Red Rocks $10 per car per day......J Tree $15 per car per week.
I knew that the east coast was more expensive upon moving out here.....but $17 per person per day to climb outside?

Yeah, I'm just gonna go ahead and add some fuel to this fire. I just moved here from CO ,(via OR), and am surprised that people aren't more outraged than they are. I'm all for paying entrance fees for access to private, state, or federally owned lands....but $17 per climber per day is ridiculous! Wouldn't be so bad if $17 gave you access for a week or two, or even if it was $17 per car per day.....but $17 a piece for one measly day of climbing? By comparison, (these are state or federally owned mind you and are much bigger climbing areas than the gunks), Eldorado Canyon $8 per car per day.....Yosemite $20 per car per week.....RMNP $20 per car per week....Red Rocks $10 per car per day......J Tree $15 per car per week.
I knew that the east coast was more expensive upon moving out here.....but $17 per person per day to climb outside?

Yeah, I'm just gonna go ahead and add some fuel to this fire. I just moved here from CO ,(via OR), and am surprised that people aren't more outraged than they are. I'm all for paying entrance fees for access to private, state, or federally owned lands....but $17 per climber per day is ridiculous! Wouldn't be so bad if $17 gave you access for a week or two, or even if it was $17 per car per day.....but $17 a piece for one measly day of climbing? By comparison, (these are state or federally owned mind you and are much bigger climbing areas than the gunks), Eldorado Canyon $8 per car per day.....Yosemite $20 per car per week.....RMNP $20 per car per week....Red Rocks $10 per car per day......J Tree $15 per car per week.
I knew that the east coast was more expensive upon moving out here.....but $17 per person per day to climb outside?

Yeah, but who's talking about climbing gyms here.....brahhh? If I'm going to a climbing gym I'm expecting to pay about that much.....but not a traditional climbing area.

Yeah, but who's talking about climbing gyms here.....brahhh? If I'm going to a climbing gym I'm expecting to pay about that much.....but not a traditional climbing area.

I live in NYC, climb in the Gunks and pay the annual fee. And I think if you climb there you should pay it. But I'm not surprised to hear people gripe about the day fee and talk about dodging it. It is a natural reaction, especially from such antiauthoritarian sorts as climbers. I don't know why people get so bent out of shape defending the Preserve. They have a right to charge whatever they want, and people have the right to complain about it. Why is this such a big deal?

I mean, I understand that it's on private land and we're lucky that they let us climb there.....but still. They're charging to much.....no?

I mean, I understand that it's on private land and we're lucky that they let us climb there.....but still. They're charging to much.....no?

No. They should probably charge $50 / day if it will help keep out whiners and complainers with a sense of entitlement.

First, I'm not comparing climbing at the gunks to climbing gyms....someone else made that silly comparison and I was simply replying to him. Second, I don't feel like I'm being entitled at all. I'm all for paying to upkeep the natural areas that we use......I'm just saying that they are charging way to much. Am I the only one who thinks that $17 per day per climber is to much? The bottom line is that this is the most expensive place to climb in the country....probably the continent. I'm not a whiner....just stating the obvious.

First, I'm not comparing climbing at the gunks to climbing gyms....someone else made that silly comparison and I was simply replying to him. Second, I don't feel like I'm being entitled at all. I'm all for paying to upkeep the natural areas that we use......I'm just saying that they are charging way to much. Am I the only one who thinks that $17 per day per climber is to much? The bottom line is that this is the most expensive place to climb in the country....probably the continent. I'm not a whiner....just stating the obvious.

You're funny man. This thread is one of the reasons I spent over a week up in the adirondacks and a month at the new and one only one day at the gunks. Just tried to stay clear of you guys. We got the sense on the east coast that people were so used to paying for shit they actually sought it out rather than find free/cheap alternatives. Examples being everyone packed into pay camping when there was free national forest camping close by. I Guess you guys need your "services" like extra wide paved trails, paid security guards and sweet smelling toilets. I for one am super stoked your kind huddle together in groups banding together to pay some guys mortgage somewhere.

I understand the differences between state, federal, and privately owned land. In this case the PRIVATE landowners are charging way to much. I'm not going to beat this dead horse anymore. We all know that climbing at the Gunks is way more expensive than everywhere else. If I lived in NYC I'd take your advice and buy an annual pass. Living in Boston I doubt I'd get my moneys worth, having the white mountains, the Adirondacks, and trips to indian creek and yosemite planned. I'll probably get to the Gunks 3 or 4 times, pay the daily fees, and continue sobbing about how expensive it is.
Thanks to those of you who gave me some level headed responses though. I purposely haven't attacked anyone or anything. I've simply presented my case like an adult.....as I'd expect other adults to do as well. Cheers

Am I the only one who thinks that $17 per day per climber is to much? T

Brainwashed? maybe. But im in love with gunks granite, and my hometown.

First, I'm not comparing climbing at the gunks to climbing gyms....someone else made that silly comparison and I was simply replying to him. Second, I don't feel like I'm being entitled at all. I'm all for paying to upkeep the natural areas that we use......I'm just saying that they are charging way to much. Am I the only one who thinks that $17 per day per climber is to much? The bottom line is that this is the most expensive place to climb in the country....probably the continent. I'm not a whiner...

Then why are you whining?

Curt

Then why are you whining?

Curt

Brainwashed? maybe. But im in love with gunks granite, and my hometown.

The Gunks rock is not granite.

He probably just saw this:
http://www.numbeo.com/...p;city2=Boston%2C+MA

Holy crap, Boston higher than both New York and SF!!!!??? Can that be right?

GO

I still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that there aren't any happy hours in Massachusetts.....

Davis Square: Johnny D's, most weekdays from something like 5pm to 630pm (again, verify). Two-for-one apps (one big enough to make an entree) and good drinks.

The food there is MUCH better than people realize.

I never cared about happy hour, but they're all over the place, particularly where the students are (i.e. - Harvard / Porter / Davis Square and in the Fens).

I understand the differences between state, federal, and privately owned land. In this case the PRIVATE landowners are charging way to much. I'm not going to beat this dead horse anymore. We all know that climbing at the Gunks is way more expensive than everywhere else. If I lived in NYC I'd take your advice and buy an annual pass. Living in Boston I doubt I'd get my moneys worth, having the white mountains, the Adirondacks, and trips to indian creek and yosemite planned. I'll probably get to the Gunks 3 or 4 times, pay the daily fees, and continue sobbing about how expensive it is.
Thanks to those of you who gave me some level headed responses though. I purposely haven't attacked anyone or anything. I've simply presented my case like an adult.....as I'd expect other adults to do as well. Cheers

Also, if you were to purchase the family membership for 2 people, it cost $115.00. That is just under 7 day passes. Split between 2 people, you only need to go 3-4 days to pay for it. A family is defined by same "household."

Josh

... we wont have to have people around who have preconveived notions of people and a ridiculous sense of entitlement.

Why are you guys trying to convince this Colorado dude that he's wrong? If he thinks he's right he will go away, and we wont have to have people around who have preconveived notions of people and a ridiculous sense of entitlement. I'm happy he thinks it is too expensive to climb in the Gunks. See ya bud. Don't the the Thruway tool booth kick you in the ass on the way out of town!

I still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that there aren't any happy hours in Massachusetts.....

A few items for context. The Mohonk Preserve exec director makes $140k or so a year, and they have a multi-million dollar visitor center, and a multi-million dollar annual revenue stream.

They are no doubt about preservation. They are also about money. Lots of it.

Many land preserves have no visitor center, no staff, no executive director. Access is free and considered part of their egalitarian mission. Donations are entirely voluntary...

Are you saying you wouldn't contribute money to the Preserve if you didn't have to? That's not very nice of you.

Many climbers contribute money far beyond what the Preserve requires them to. It doesn't seem like much of a reach to let everyone voluntarily contribute what they feel is appropriate.

GO, I have contributed to the preserve way beyond what is required. I have many personal friends who do the same. That said the preserve just doesn't need the wealthy trappings they have.

GO, I have contributed to the preserve way beyond what is required. I have many personal friends who do the same. That said the preserve just doesn't need the wealthy trappings they have.

And they don't need to charge your average family of two adults and two teens $48 to go for a walk.

The aggressive approach to collecting, having, and spending money changes the character of the place, and not for the better.

As you have called my personal willingness to pay at public areas into question, when I travel nationally and internationally, I pay whatever fee is required and have never complained about doing so.

Are you saying you wouldn't contribute money to the Preserve if you didn't have to? That's not very nice of you.

Many climbers contribute money far beyond what the Preserve requires them to. It doesn't seem like much of a reach to let everyone voluntarily contribute what they feel is appropriate.

GO, I have contributed to the preserve way beyond what is required. I have many personal friends who do the same...

That said the preserve just doesn't need the wealthy trappings they have...

And what I'm telling you is that if you think most climbers are so generous, you are seriously deluded.

I can guarantee that if people think they can get in without paying, they will.

I guess you guys are right. Considering your remarks about climbers not contributing to the Preserve unless forced, and the recent bouts of trespassing, tree cuttting on the preserve to facilitate climbling, recent extensive bolting despite the tradition of not bolting here, etc, there are just too many selfish and disrespectful asshole climbers at the gunks for this to be a chill place any more. It's too bad though.

Funnelator, if you think the Preserve is aggressive and forceful about stripping every last dollar from visitors you have obviously not spent much time at all in the Gunks. I would say, on average, a person or persons could arrive at an access point and see no one collecting money.....about 40% of the days out of the year. That's only one example of how not aggressive they actually are.

Your concerns about inequitable distribution of the Preserves money however, I share with you. On land staff that actually does most of the work has historically been treated been treated very poorly in my opinion.