what would you do?

Probably go to Morrison and get some chicken wings after I run laps on Breshear's.

Depends how hard you climb and what sort...
Do you have a set partner, or are you going to arrange one on site?
What does your Roadtrip (current) vehicle is like?
What kinda income will you have when you get back and how certain of that are you (how long the debt will stick).
What is your health insurance outlook?
Are you travel savy or a gumby? Xenophile or Xenophobe?
Do you speak any foreign languages?

Andrew Gram wrote:If you are interested in mountaineering, my suggestions is even better. Let me know if you want more suggestions for high peaks.

Fire away, Andy. -Tiffany

EMT wrote:head to yose for a month then squamish to ak and some coast stuff. hop a plane to Japan for some bouldering/cool city stuff a month in tland/se asia 2months in the himalaya! stop in chamonix on the way home!

that's a sweet little itineray.... so long as we're dreamin' right?

Tony Bubb wrote:Depends how hard you climb and what sort... Do you have a set partner, or are you going to arrange one on site? What does your Roadtrip (current) vehicle is like? What kinda income will you have when you get back and how certain of that are you (how long the debt will stick). What is your health insurance outlook? Are you travel savy or a gumby? Xenophile or Xenophobe? Do you speak any foreign languages?

Tony-
1. still within first year of climbing so not a sick leader yet (haven't lead anything higher than 5.9 so far) but happily follow on anything sport or trad. particularly fond of backcountry, adventure climbs. haven't yet done big walls but plan to.
2. would have to arrange partners on-site.
3. 2wd hatchback.
4. ample after one year. very certain.
5. there will be health insurance coverage during the time.
6. more gumby than savy.
7. -phile.
8. poorly so, no, not really.
Thanks, Tony. -Tiffany

1 year of climbing experience? How much glacier travel experience?

Assuming not much, Ecuador would be a great place for you to learn though you would either need to meet local climbers(and your own stuff) or have a guide. There are a few nice walkups between 14K and 17K like Imbabura, Illiniza Norte, and Corazon. After that, it is a great place for fairly easy glaciated high volcanos - Cotopaxi, Chimborazo, Cayambe, Antisana, etc.

You might also consider the Central America trip after all, especially if going later. The high volcanos in central Mexico are fun and forgiving. The trekking on volcanos in Guatemala and Nicaragua is absolutely fantastic, though peaks in Nicaragua can be pretty hot. Celeque in Honduras and Baru in Panama are also really worthy. Language schools in Guatemala(check out Quetzeltenango rather than Antigua) are dirt cheap - a long chunk of time like that would be a perfect time to learn to speak Spanish.

I would probably be found dead in a motel
room on E. Colfax in Denver with 6 hookers
and gin bottles piled 3 ft. high.

One thing you might want to evaluate is your comfort at traveling along especially in a country where you don't speak the language.

If I were staying in the states I'd start in the Sierras knocking off fun alpine moderates and do the same up through washington. Next Head up to BC and check out squamish maybe take some time off and ski the glacier in Whistler and then jump on a ferry to AK. Its a bit spendy but you can sleep on the deck and hang out with the other vagrants telling stories and sharing food. Once in AK I'd just try to see every damn thing I could. Everything from Glacier Bay to Artic NWR.

Going out of country I'd drive from where your at straight down to the tip of South America. Climb Volcanos in Mexico, hang out on beaches in Belize, etc etc much like Andrew earlier suggested.

Have fun

If you are interested in driving through Central or South America, get in touch with me for border crossing beta. There is definitely some info you need to be able to get through smoothly.

Yes Dave that was awesome. Tiffany you should do what Dave would do.

Have you read many adventure books/magazines. I'd say start picking through Alpinist, Climbing Mag, R&I...read as much as you can and try to do something that will have impact on you and possibly inspire others. I mean you're looking at a possible 6 months to do whatever trip of a lifetime sabatical mission...you most likely will never ever get this opportunity again. Get a lot of information, identify and study places that appeal to you and your goals and pursue it to the fullest.

This book although not about climbing had a very profound effect on me. I think it'd be a good start for you to think about exactly which direction to go. "The Places In Between" Rory Stewart...the guy walks across Afganistan in 2002.

The solo travel issue is a big one. I went by myself, but was able to meet someone in Bangkok that I traveled with for the remainder of my trip. That doesn't always happen though and is probably less likely to if you're female since there are FAR fewer female solo travelers. Clearly, that's also going to limit your climbing options too.

What you should really be considering, however, is what lasting impressions you want from the trip. Do you want just to go crank and tag summits or do you want to immerse yourself in another culture, etc. (and still do some climbing). Some folks could go to Thailand for the whole time and hang out in bars with a bunch of drunk Westerners and clip bolts. For me, that would old after a few days. Great way to relax and fatten up at the end of your trip, maybe but probably not the end all or be all.

Like I said, when I went, no climbing (though I would have if I could have), but the trip was probably more rewarding because of it.

I've met many female solo travelers over seas and would never count that as a something to stress over. Even in muslin country's you'll be fine so long as you've got a good head. And, if you're smart enough to take 6mo off and travel and climb... you are.

Oh yeah, statistically one of the most dangerous country's would be the United Sates so I'd skip that one!

Top 5 for rape!

#1 United States: 89,110
#2 South Africa: 53,008
#3 Canada: 24,049
#4 Australia: 15,630
#5 India: 15,468

EMT wrote:I've met many female solo travelers over seas and would never count that as a something to stress over. Even in muslin country's you'll be fine so long as you've got a good head. And, if you're smart enough to take 6mo off and travel and climb... you are. Oh yeah, statistically one of the most dangerous country's would be the United Sates so I'd skip that one! Top 5 for rape! #1 United States: 89,110 #2 South Africa: 53,008 #3 Canada: 24,049 #4 Australia: 15,630 #5 India: 15,468

although this is a misleading chart because the US is bigger than most of those countries, we do actually weigh in at #9 on rapes per 1,000 citizens (0.301318 per 1,000 people). at least among countries where this information is available.

the danger i was thinking of in south america is the recent epidemic of foreign travelers being kidnapped and held for ransom. apparently it is a very lucrative business.

Jeff Barnow wrote:Yes Dave that was awesome. Tiffany you should do what Dave would do. Have you read many adventure books/magazines. I'd say start picking through Alpinist, Climbing Mag, R&I...read as much as you can and try to do something that will have impact on you and possibly inspire others. I mean you're looking at a possible 6 months to do whatever trip of a lifetime sabatical mission...you most likely will never ever get this opportunity again. Get a lot of information, identify and study places that appeal to you and your goals and pursue it to the fullest. This book although not about climbing had a very profound effect on me. I think it'd be a good start for you to think about exactly which direction to go. "The Places In Between" Rory Stewart...the guy walks across Afganistan in 2002.

Well that would certainly be the "prudent" thing to do

Dave Brower is my new hero.

John Langston wrote:Tiffany, What you should do is acquire the services of a highly experienced and sexy male climber who could leave at a moments notice for a 6 month trip. Did I mention the size of my rack?

I'll vouch for John's rack! HA

tbrain wrote:what would you do? where would you go? what would you climb? how much time would you take?

Another vote for see the world. You'll be a working class stiff before you know it; stuck behind a desk trying to live vicariously through MP.com, thinking 5 consecutive days off is pretty damn good. You can tour around various US spots on weekends and vacations, you can't tour the world. Now's your chance to explore.

If you have to start in July I'd begin in the Alps and slowly work my way down through France and Spain, when weather permits. Spend Fall in the south of Spain. When you’re ready to go head over to Thailand, should be about prime season. From there bump to Australia; I don’t know the seasons there but I’m guessing there’s somewhere good when it’s late winter here.

I couldn’t stress enough: do it. Or Dave’s idea, either or.

I'd start out at the Gunks. Plenty of places to camp (cheap or free), lot of people (LOTS of people) to meet, things to do. You're 15 minutes from a thriving community, but still far enough away to feel secluded if you go the right direction.

Then I'd go to Joshua Tree. In the fall or spring, but not summer due to heat. Once again, relatively cheap camping. Nearby community, lot of fun.

Ryan Kelly wrote:You'll be a working class stiff before you know it; stuck behind a desk trying to live vicariously through MP.com, thinking 5 consecutive days off is pretty damn good.

Crap. I'm there right now. Well at least I didn't get my first "real job" until I was almost 30, thanks to all those years of school.

Tbrain - have a wonderful time where ever you decide to go!

*** wrote: Crap. I'm there right now...

Join the party, I'm sure most of us are. I know I wouldn't be spending my time on a climbing website if I wasn't stuck behind a desk and could go out and do something instead. Sigh... off to look at pictures I guess.