Planning a roadtrip, need some ideas & advice

So today I just started the planning process for a trip I would like to take about 2 years from now when I get out of the Marine Corps. I'm going to be living in Gilbert, AZ with family while I can get on my feet, but I think before I get settled in I'd like to take about 3-6 months and go rock climb around the midwest/west coast (nothing east of Colorado). I'm also looking to dab into some other activities such as alpine climbing (never been), backpacking, kayaking, white water rafting, and "canyoning".

Anyway, here are my stops that I have down so far:

• Starting in Gilbert, AZ

Flagstaff, AZ
Grand Canyon National Park, AZ
Moab, UT
Bryce Canyon, UT
Zion National Park, UT
Boulder Canyon, CO
Vedauwoo, WY
Sinks Canyon State Park, WY
Grand Teton National Park, WY
Glacier National Park, MT
Yosemite National Park, CA
Bishop, CA

• Ending in Gilbert, AZ

You guys see anything I'm missing on there? Also does anyone have experience doing a trip like this? How did it go, and what advice do you have?

Also I'm stationed in Twentynine Palms, so I climb at Joshua Tree Nat. Park 3 times a week so hence why it's not on my list.

6 months is the bare minimum for a trip with that many world-class destinations. Hell, you could spend 2-3 months in most of those places and still want more.

It's never too early to start dreaming, but I think two years is a bit much to start planning. A lot can change in that time, including your experience and goals in all those activities. Sometimes that kind of trip is best played by ear anyway. You'll have a blast, not too many wrong ways to do a massive climbing road trip!

I understand a lot can change, but it doesn't hurt to start the planning process early. For this many stops I want to do as much research as I can on the areas I'll be visiting.

And I'm flexible. I'll take a year if I need it. I'm a 5.9 trad leader so I'm going to be some what limited to what routes I'm able to do anyway. I basically plan for about 2-3 weeks staying at the better destinations (Moab, Yosemite, etc.) and 3-5 days at the smaller destinations.

As mentioned above, your time frame vs all the places on your list is going to be tight.
Give me a shout when you hit Boulder.

Semper Fi

Daniel Evans wrote:And I'm flexible. I'll take a year if I need it. I'm a 5.9 trad leader so I'm going to be some what limited to what routes I'm able to do anyway. I basically plan for about 2-3 weeks staying at the better destinations (Moab, Yosemite, etc.) and 3-5 days at the smaller destinations.

You're a lucky man, Daniel. And in 2 years time you can always up your game a grade or two should you choose. If not, 5.9 will get you up a whole lotta stone at any major climbing area.

Why not pick your first destination and then play it by ear so to speak; meet new people, exchange ideas and see what the road has in store for you next.

I finished my active tour with "The Crotch" at the end of '67', and then it took a year or better to unwind and get my head screwed on properly....in a civilian kinda way. An extended climbing trip sounds like a great means for reintegrating oneself into polite society. ;-) Wish I had taken the opportunity to do likewise.

Good Luck!

3-6 months? I'll assume 6. Not sure when your "6" will start but it really doesn't matter because there is great climbing West of I-25 year round. I made a similar list for a 12 month trip. I wrote down each month then put what place(s) would be the best for that month (i.e. July-WY/WA/BC, December-AZ/NV). Then connected the dots.

You should consider(in no order):
Add Cochise-December
Remove Blowder Canyon (replace with Estes Park a.k.a Lumpy Ridge)
Add Wild Iris to Sinks time frame (june/July)
Add Tensleep
Add Devils Tower
Add Spearfish,SD (and maybe even Custer State Park a.k.a Needles area)
Add City of Rocks (if you like J-tree, it's quite similar)
If you want to try ice climbing.. get to Ouray in Jan for the festival

If you want to cross into Canada:
Squamish
Skaha
..and Canmore

Oh wait, did you say 6 months? ;-)

You could easily loop up the eastern Sierra's NV/CA/OR/WA and down through WY/CO/UT/AZ (or vice versa) in a 6 months rally. It's good to have a plan but don't stress about hitting everything on your tick list... live in the moment. If you are having a great time.. Awesome, why leave?!

If you want to try canyoneering, Utah, Nevada, and Arizona have some great canyons. Look up "the squeeze aka segars hole" in Utah for a serious day of fun. Over 20 rappels and 10 miles. Just make sure the weather and tell someone where your going.

-hit up eldo instead of bc
-solo the flatirons (1 & 3 were my favs)
-go to golden, climb ccc, check out the aac & drink some coors @ ace high & buffalo rose
-camping in the front range can be tricky...either find some blm or nf land, or i set up in the mt gailbraith parking lot a few times right outside golden
-def get up into estes & rmnp
-skip rifle unless youre a king dick rock climber.....or have super-beta on routes
-hang out in slc for a couple days and hit up big & little cottonwood, american fork, ferguson & solo west slabs of mt olympus
-check out tahoe, theres some damn good climbing near there....and ur near reno
-speaking of casinos & bad decisions, go to vegas.....you might even hit up red rocks while you're there
-taos, nm....it's up pretty high, so even if its hot youll be ok
-city of rocks in idaho is the tits
-if you're gonna check id....go to the sawtooths too
-consider going east of co.....theres some damn good climbing in the east.....im prob a bit partial to the new, red, gunks, linville, rumney & conway tho.
-but seriously, just go have fun....find spots that are cool to hang out on your off days too. climb as many styles and types of rocks you can.

I just finished a similar whirlwind of the west/midwest, and two of my absolute favorites that arent on your list at all are Smith Rock in Oregon and Squamish just over the border up in BC. Spent a solid month at both and could have easily done more. Both are very convenient as far as living/getting around (especially if you have your own vehicle), and have a fantastic climbing culture. A thumbs up for Sinks for great sport climbing and great dirtbagging.

I would plan your trip around WHEN you are going, and try to follow that ideal weather window as it changes in latitude over the months. IE summer up north, winter in mexico, spring/fall inbetween.

have a blast, but its hard not to!

If you're heading up to Wyoming through Utah swinging by City of Rocks, ID and the Uinta's in North/East UT are phenomenal and worth being on the list. Both areas subject to weather restrictions but stellar climbing destinations!

Personally I'd buzz straight through AZ to start my trip, somewhere that falls in a day's drive of metropolitan Phoenix. Including but not limited to....Northern NM, Southern Colorado, southern Utah, Red Rocks, Eastside Sierra Nevada.........

Once you're based out of Phoenix you'll have lots of time to play around the plentiful and wonderful climbing destinations of Arizona has to offer.

~Susan

Thanks a lot guys. Great replies. And the more I'm looking at it, I'm thinking about taking about a year and a half to 2 years off to accomplish this.