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wolfy6
Dec 15, 2008, 5:54 PM
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Im a new climber and I want to be a dirt bag for a year. Any ideas where I should go and how i should start ?
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churningindawake
Dec 15, 2008, 6:02 PM
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Red rocks!
Get a truck!
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rhythm164
Dec 15, 2008, 6:37 PM
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the closest bottle & can return
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wzrdgandalf
Dec 15, 2008, 6:39 PM
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Two ways that I have seen work...
1. Get yourself a small truck with decent gas mileage and then put a hard shell camper on it. build storage compartments that you can sleep on with the padding of your crash pads to sleep on. Cook on the tail of the truck. You have the perfect mobile home for a climber.
2. Take a mild amount of climbing gear and a larger amount of weed and see if you can convince other climbers to take you along to their next climbing destination. I met two guys at Horse Pens who had hitchhiked and what not from alaska to alabama. Just be ready to do odd jobs.
When you go dirtbagging it you could hit up out west of if you wanted more diversity within a smaller area to conserve gas and money then you should come to the southeast. You could stay and work for an extended time at HP40, free camping at rocktown, and quite a few other places to visit. It is also close to the red river gorge and new river gorge. The southeast is not a place to skip when dirtbagging it, there is such a thing as southern hospitality.
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caughtinside
Dec 15, 2008, 7:03 PM
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You have camp out for at least 8 consecutive days to be a real dirtbag.
Well, that's what I heard!
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i_h8_choss
Dec 15, 2008, 7:13 PM
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wolfy6 wrote: Im a new climber and I want to be a dirt bag for a year. Any ideas where I should go and how i should start ?
Dude good for You! Do it! But do you wanna climb sport?trad?boulder?all 3? I see youre in Minnesota....probably cant dirtbag up there. Think about the Southeast in the Winter, the Southwest for Spring and Fall, or maybe the Rockies in the Summer.
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armsrforclimbing
Dec 15, 2008, 7:37 PM
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First off, sell your computer!
Then read Rock Jocks, Hangdogs and Wallrats by John Long
(This post was edited by armsrforclimbing on Dec 15, 2008, 7:40 PM)
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sungam
Dec 15, 2008, 7:53 PM
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wolfy6 wrote: Im a new climber and I want to be a dirt bag for a year. Any ideas where I should go and how i should start ?
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churningindawake
Dec 15, 2008, 9:34 PM
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caughtinside wrote: You have camp out for at least 8 consecutive days to be a real dirtbag. Well, that's what I heard!
Interesting fact.
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kane_schutzman
Dec 15, 2008, 9:38 PM
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I did the hardshell gig, but better than sleeping on your pad just find an old futon mattress. Works great. Make sure you have enough room underneath your frame...plan it out. I slept in a motel lot and threw my food bin out and shoved it under my truck...woke up and I guess a homeless guy stole that biatch cause it was gooonneeee.
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Maddhatter
Dec 15, 2008, 10:40 PM
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churningindawake wrote: Red rocks! Get a truck!
Yea, Red rocks , J-tree in the winter and RRG , New river in the summer. There are a thousand places.
I lived on the road for many years and trust me get a van not a truck.
(This post was edited by Maddhatter on Dec 15, 2008, 10:41 PM)
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churningindawake
Dec 15, 2008, 10:42 PM
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Maddhatter wrote: churningindawake wrote: Red rocks! Get a truck! Yea, Red rocks , J-tree in the winter and RRG , New river There are a thousand places. I lived on the road for many years and trust me get a van not a truck.
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ryanb
Dec 15, 2008, 11:05 PM
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Really its not about the vehicle. Just go climb.
That said, the humble honda accord or toyota corolla of recent but not to recent vintage is an often overlooked climbing vehicle. Low profile, secure trunk, great gas millage, front wheel drive, sleeps one comfortably (with a couple of crash pads and a bit of ingenuity...can even sleep two in a pinch) and you probably all ready have one.
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Maddhatter
Dec 16, 2008, 2:38 AM
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I have had 2 of these mico RV's and they rock!!!
I paid $1500 for this one.
Don't be a savage. Be a dirt bag.
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sungam
Dec 16, 2008, 4:27 AM
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Real dirt bags don't have wheels! 
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camhead
Dec 16, 2008, 4:30 AM
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caughtinside wrote: You have camp out for at least 8 consecutive days to be a real dirtbag. Well, that's what I heard!
no. over thanksgiving I only camped for three nights, but it was definitely dirtbagging. I was a dirtbag. you are wrong.
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sungam
Dec 16, 2008, 4:54 AM
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camhead wrote: caughtinside wrote: You have camp out for at least 8 consecutive days to be a real dirtbag. Well, that's what I heard! no. over thanksgiving I only camped for three nights, but it was definitely dirtbagging. I was a dirtbag. you are wrong.
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granite_grrl
Dec 16, 2008, 5:28 PM
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sungam wrote: camhead wrote: caughtinside wrote: You have camp out for at least 8 consecutive days to be a real dirtbag. Well, that's what I heard! no. over thanksgiving I only camped for three nights, but it was definitely dirtbagging. I was a dirtbag. you are wrong. Smelly and bad hair does not a dirtbag make...
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Maddhatter
Dec 16, 2008, 6:08 PM
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sungam wrote: camhead wrote: caughtinside wrote: You have camp out for at least 8 consecutive days to be a real dirtbag. Well, that's what I heard! no. over thanksgiving I only camped for three nights, but it was definitely dirtbagging. I was a dirtbag. you are wrong. Smelly and bad hair does not a dirtbag make...
But it sure helps.
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reg
Dec 16, 2008, 6:42 PM
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surfer type van. build a platform over the rear wheels for sleeping with storage under - accessed from rear doors. install a table/shelf behind drivers seat along the side of the van. i used some old metal office cubical drawers for stoage. this is the "kicthen" if indoor space is needed. rig tarp over side doors to create outdoor dry place to cook and hang. second battery in system. a place for the 20# bottle of propane. etc, etc, etc.
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Maddhatter
Dec 16, 2008, 10:22 PM
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I have been on many long (years at a time) road trips all over the USA. I have slept in a tent 2 times.
If you don't sleep well you don't climb well. With a tent you end up sleeping in places you shouldn't be.
With a van I can always just pull over and crash in the back. No one can see you and you can sleep in a lot more places if you can't be seen. Your gear is WAY safer and so are you.
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socalclimber
Dec 16, 2008, 11:02 PM
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wolfy6 wrote: Im a new climber and I want to be a dirt bag for a year. Any ideas where I should go and how i should start ?
At best, this thread is hilarious...
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