ten sleep advice.

Hi guys,

Im planning on coming to the states (from Australia) for June, july and August. I got to spend last spring road tripping the classic areas of the west but never made it to Ten sleep. This trip I plan on going straight there and potentially staying for a while/the whole time! the problem is I wont have a car or climbing partner. Im less worried about the partner as it seems theres a nice community there over the summer but I am worried about getting there and getting food, supplies etc.

Will I have to eat berries and roadkill? or is hitching around possible?

any advice on the area would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Matt

You can probably sort out getting there before you arrive. Its a pretty popular place for road tripping sport climbers to spend the summer. I haven't been there though so I can't say how hard or easy it may be to get to the shops for supplies, but I imagine it's possible.

If I was going to spend that long at Tensleep, I'd be trying to get my hands on a drill and some bolts.

Matt,

Where are you flying in to? What is your plan to get from the airport to TS?

The town of Ten Sleep is a 10 minute drive down the canyon. During climbing/tourist season there is enough traffic to hitch a ride into town. That being said the town is.. tiny. Think 3 bars, 2 cafes, and a few other little shops.
The climbing community in the canyon itself is very nice and welcoming, I'm sure you could extend your supplies by contributing components to another group's meals.

I'd start with buying the guidebook (obviously) at the link below.

tensleepclimbing.com/

You can probably suss out a few partners here on MP.

There are already TONS of routes bolted there. Enough that OG locals people have started getting pissed and bolts have been chopped.
Also a few stiff gear routes. Don't bother with the drill.

Have a sick time, prepare to have your mind blown. There is more climbable rock there than could be climbed in 50 years, and its only starting to be developed.

Ten Sleep is not the worst place to be climbing without a car, but it's definitely not the best, either.

Whatever way you look at it, you will be bumming a lot of rides. Most climbing is 5-10 minutes drive from the camping; not too far, but a bit much for hiking from camp. More important, the nearest real grocery store is around 45 minutes away from the climbing in Worland (30 minutes from the town of Ten Sleep).

Another thing to think about is food storage, since shopping is so far away. I'd imagine that it will be a pain in the ass traveling around the states without a car, while lugging a cooler and a bin, but those things will really be essential in Ten Sleep. However, another problem to consider is that, if you are keeping food just outside in a cooler or bin, rather than in a car, it is really likely that a bear will tear into it.

Given that you will probably be bumming rides on a daily basis, it may be a good idea to try to find a longer-term road trip partner on this site. If you wind up going solo to Ten Sleep, bring lots of cash, food, beer, coffee, etc., to barter with people for rides. You are going to need a lot of friends.

Agree with Camhead, not exactly an ideal place for your situation....I'd find a partner with a car to go there with. If you stick to the shade those months will be fine but you'll need a car or you'll need to know someone with a car essentially. The town doesn't have much, theres more in Buffalo but thats a little ways back east from the canyon. Try and road trip somewhere with a crew of climbers, its becoming a popular summer climbing spot and you probably wouldn't have much trouble. The areas amazing, enjoy!

Avi Katz wrote:There are already TONS of routes bolted there. Enough that OG locals people have started getting pissed and bolts have been chopped.

I think this is a gross misrepresentation of the situation in Ten Sleep. There is one jackass who does not like non-locals (e.g. not born and raised in North Central Wyoming) coming to Ten Sleep. He's slashed tires in the past, and chopped bolts, but he is NOT representative of the community at large.

Yes, there's some tension due to the obscene amounts of people, but that's only because there's insufficient parking for the amount of people the canyon can accommodate. I've climbed just off the Mondo, on 4th of July weekend, and not seen another soul.

did kn move to wyoming?

nick manning wrote:did kn move to wyoming?

I hope so! Get him out of CT so we can get up to speed with modern climbing anchors!

Hitching in Wyo can be tricky. That said, if you can get there you'll make friends and be fine. For sport climbing I couldn't think of a better place to spend the summer. Have fun!

cheers for the advice!

sounds like its not impossible but a bit of a pain in the ass!

Luckily a good friend of mine might be keen to join me (with a car)

might see some of you people out there this summer

stay safe

Matt