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fienduk
Apr 19, 2003, 8:19 AM
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Registered: Apr 19, 2003
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Hi. Can someone suggest some good stop-over climbing destinations to break up the monotony of a journey from New Zealand to the UK?? This will be around early May we hope. Some requirements:
> Sport climbing only (we don't have our racks with us)
> Good routes around 5.6-5.11a
> Reasonably near a standard "stop-over" airport.
> Easy access and nearby accomadation would be good.
> No ass-ugly overhanging limestone set in a sauna please.
> Can be the US or otherwise if anyone has some better ideas.
Thanks in advance.
Fiend.
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caphalon
Apr 19, 2003, 1:32 PM
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Registered: Feb 3, 2003
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why not climb in San francisco.
Castle rock is close to 40 min from SFO.
its pretty moderate and there also lots of other things to do beside climbing.
3 hrs away you have excellent climbing in Tahoe or Yoesemite valley.
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ambler
Apr 19, 2003, 2:23 PM
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Registered: Jul 27, 2002
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Depends what you mean by "stopover." Of US West Coast airports, LA is closer to more climbing than SF. If you're just stopping over for a day, I'd go there; there are several areas (e.g., Williamson Rock, Tahquitz/Suicide, Joshua Tree) within a 2 hour radius. But if you had several days it might be most fun to rent a car and drive 5 (?) hours to Bishop -- which is surrounded by infinite climbing, all kinds and altitudes.
If you could stop over in mid-continent, Salt Lake City (Delta hub) and Denver (United hub) are probably the two airline centers with most immediate (1 hour) access to major climbing areas.
Heat (not humidity) becomes an issue in desert-type areas by May, though you soon learn to chase the shade.
Have fun!
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fienduk
Apr 22, 2003, 9:20 AM
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Registered: Apr 19, 2003
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Thanks for your ideas so far...
Ambler we will have time to hire a car and travel perhaps half a day, so Bishop would be in (although we'd have to spend our time avoiding Mick Ryan hehe). What is the sport climbing like there?? We'd be travelling early-mid May so what climbing would be feasible given the heat??
Anyone have any other specific ideas given that time of year and driving radius??
Thx...
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ambler
Apr 22, 2003, 11:12 AM
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Registered: Jul 27, 2002
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The Bishop area has great sport climbing (as well as trad, bouldering, alpine, all world class). Best-developed area is Owens Gorge, a huge variety of good routes. It gets hot but it's a canyon so you can move around to find shade. Clark Canyon is a smaller sport area, also good, somewhat higher elevation. Along the E side of the Sierra are several higher altitude sport areas (e.g. Rock Creek) -- the possibilities are many. Guides to all of these places can be sorted out at Wilson's in Bishop.
Now I wish I was going. Cheers,
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