Where to live in the Northeast

Ben Brotelho wrote:New Paltz area is really cool...but personally I could never live there. It is very, very, very hippyish and "liberal," for lack of a better term. The vibe is cool for a few nights, but living there I think that the people would start to get on my nerves. The vibe in New Paltz seems like the kind of one-way open-mindedness that is very accepting of the traditionally repressed viewpoints and ways of life, but would reject a republican/conservative viewpoint without pause. My two cents.

If these aspects of New Paltz culture are a problem for the OP, then he may want to cross Vermont off of the list too... I loved the vibe whenever I visited New Paltz, but then again I was living in Vermont at the time, so it was kind of my scene, I guess. To each his own. If the OP can deal with NorCal and Boulder, New Paltz shouldn't be too bad.

Live in Kingston = people don't even know or care what liberal is, 30 mins or less from crag, primo winter hiking/ice in Catskills, and highway is right there.

Eric8 wrote: there isn't much local crack climbing, plenty of trad though obviously.

It's like riding a bike. A few hundred feet and you'll remember. Gunks are short and burly - a great place to stay in shape.

lucander wrote:Live in Kingston = people don't even know or care what liberal is

Indeed, Kingston is pretty gangster for being that far north! lol

I have an interesting story about New Paltz when one of the local business owners (their mentioning of this later used to elevate their soapbox) exchanged paint with my car and then forgave me for making them do it. Pot does horrible things to the brain when used daily for 40 years. It was then that I realized that being numbed chemically would greatly improve my NP experience. Not being a drug user anymore I tend to just roll through town now on my way to the crag. [Have nothing against pot or hippies, I was probably one for most of my college days, but I grew up -- others stay stuck]

Food selection in NP is great, and if you're a horn dog I'm sure there's plenty of college age tail to chase. If climbing is your main goal/interest in life and NY/MA/CT are your primary areas to cover professionally, I'd say look further north. Our CO transplant friend doesn't care for the Gunks much and lives an hour north of his work in Albany so he can be closer to the ADKs. The ADKs have a TON of climbing and are like (what I've been told) Estes and Eldo. I'm actually heading out to CO in a few weeks to find out for myself :).

I'd definitely hang my hat in New Paltz.

- Central to your location needs.

- Close to MAJOR airports- JFK, Laguardia, Newark. No unnecessary layovers and sparse schedules. If you have to travel for work, this alone will make life better "in the loooong run" (the eagles).

- Yes there are a bunch of grimy kids from the college, but they certainly do not make up the majority of people you will meet.

- The Gunks- amazing climbing, hiking

- Good climbing gym (two?)

- Good climbing community

- Catskills (less than an hour away) - amazing hiking, good ice climbing, skiing, mtn biking

- Close to NYC. I live here so I'm obviously biased but who can really argue: it's one of the biggest and most amazing cities in the world. Taken in small doses there is a lot to like and you don't have to deal with all the bullshit (it's like that saying about grandparents getting to enjoy the grandchildren without changing diapers, getting puked on and getting woken up all night). The museums, food, music, architecture, history, diversity, nightlife and yes even the "touristy" stuff are all second to none.

- If you don't want to live in town, look at the surrounding areas. My buddy has a home in Accord; it's quiet, secluded, gorgeous and still easy to pop into town for shopping/whatever.

- This is my opinion, but just touching on the political comments above; whatever your personal views and values I don't think it would be too hard to come across likeminded folk. New Paltz is clearly a liberal town but like mentioned above that is a majority, not an entirety. Based on this and previous comments you get the picture as to the nature of the town, if you aren't repelled by now I think you'd really be happy there.

Southern NH is a great place to live. Anywhere from Manchester to Nashua to Salem. Essentially the route 93 or 3 corridor. First - no sales tax or state income tax. Only state in the country without both. Choice of both Manchester Airport or Boston Logan Airport. Renting is not as expensive as MA or NY if you're not buying (property taxes can be high).

For climbing you're a bit over an hour to Rumney, a little over an hour and a half to Franconia Notch (Cannon Cliff and lots more on the east side of the notch) and a bit over two hours to North Conway. Plenty more climbing in that northern area along with plenty of ice to climb. So you have plenty of options for trad, sport and alpine climbing (Mt Washington). Closest climbing is Pawtuckaway with great bouldering. And of course there are gyms.

And if you want to road trip - four hours gets you to the Gunks and a bit more would get you sea cliff climbing in Acadia.

As for mountain biking - plenty in the area I suggested you live.

And being less than an hour to Boston you can partake in just about any social activity you'd want (great live music venues, places to eat, pro sports).

Having traveled the US and the world New Hampshire is still where I look forward to coming home. Any questions let me know.

Ben Brotelho wrote:New Paltz area is really cool...but personally I could never live there. It is very, very, very hippyish and "liberal," for lack of a better term. The vibe is cool for a few nights, but living there I think that the people would start to get on my nerves. It's the sort of place where people would be homeless as a "personal choice." Showers optional, and girls with hairy armpits (and legs) are a dime a dozen.

Ya New Paltz is awesome...

I being a huge NE'er, I would recommend Burlington, VT or burbs of Portland ME.

Somewhere between North Conway and Portland Maine.

-1 for anywhere south of Albany in New York state.

Once you get out of the mid-atlantic lowlands, it's hard to go wrong. Since it sounds like you're covering a sales territory and may need to travel between northern PA and NH, my first suggestion of NH may not fit your travel needs.

I live an hour from MHT airport, which I use to go to Baltimore frequently. I live 2 hours from BOS airport, which I occasionally use to get to faraway places. (MHT->BWI really gets me almost everywhere).

There's a good gym in Manchester, a good gym in Concord NH, and being in this spot gets me to killer sport climbing (Rumney), alpine multipitch trad (Cannon), high quality multipitch in Conway. Plus, there's still unexplored vertical terrain in the White Mtns.

Add to that low taxes and a Live Free Or Die attitude, and it's the place for me.

If NH doesn't fit the bill, my other choices would be Burlington VT (probably too far north for you), or somewhere outside Albany, NY.

It's funny how many people post locations to live so far off the beaten path for this poor guy who has some type of territory to cover. Do members actually read threads before hitting reply?

This isn't an opportunity to promote your local area for the climber's chamber of commerce.

Kevin Heckeler wrote: The ADKs have a TON of climbing and are like (what I've been told) Estes and Eldo.

Funny, but I think Eldo climbing style is close to the Gunks one - yes, there are vertical cracks, but mostly for gear. I know, you get to jam here and there, but it's not pure crack climbing like granite. Plus slanted sketchy feet and sparse gear, crazy traverses - all remind me of the Gunks style (and what about the P1 Yellow Spur hangs?) There ARE cracks in the Gunks, not pure splitter, but there are and you can choose to jam instead of using faceholds if you want to - sometimes makes things easier, sometimes harder. If the OP chooses to live/climb in the Gunks - do it, good training for the Black!

Again, thanks for all the suggestions. This is more than I expected. Northern NH will probably be too far.

New Paltz sounds like a cool town. Ill have the opportunity to take 1-2 months to figure out where I want to live.

If anyone needs a climbing partner come oct, let me know cause Ill be looking for a couple

Kevin Heckeler wrote:It's funny how many people post locations to live so far off the beaten path for this poor guy who has some type of territory to cover. Do members actually read threads before hitting reply?.

Not knowing the nature of the OPs travel needs means a lot of subjective responses. If he flys all the time, a good airport is more important. If he drives all the time, being in the middle is more important.

In any case, it sounds like he's got an opportunity to drive around the areas suggested for awhile before making the decision, which ought to lead to a better outcome.

I bet some of the people on this threat have real estate for sale =)

Putting vegas odds at 4:1 that someone within 8 posts makes a case for Rhode Island.

lucander wrote: Putting vegas odds at 4:1 that someone within 8 posts makes a case for Rhode Island.

I know a few really really strong climbers from Rhode Island. As far as I know, all of them would prefer to live somewhere other than Rhode Island. :)

lucander wrote:I bet some of the people on this threat have real estate for sale =) Putting vegas odds at 4:1 that someone within 8 posts makes a case for Rhode Island.

Exactly. :p

doligo wrote: Funny, but I think Eldo climbing style is close to the Gunks one - yes, there are vertical cracks, but mostly for gear. I know, you get to jam here and there, but it's not pure crack climbing like granite. Plus slanted sketchy feet and sparse gear, crazy traverses - all remind me of the Gunks style (and what about the P1 Yellow Spur hangs?) There ARE cracks in the Gunks, not pure splitter, but there are and you can choose to jam instead of using faceholds if you want to - sometimes makes things easier, sometimes harder. If the OP chooses to live/climb in the Gunks - do it, good training for the Black!

You'll need to take this up with our friend Mike who I was paraphrasing. I'm hoping you're wrong though, I was planning on spending some time in Eldo while out there and was hoping for less Gunks, more splitter crack style climbing. I can do the Gunky thing anytime.

you gotta go to Lumpy for pure splitters or Turkey Rocks. Rincon wall in Eldo has some cracks, but most popular tourist routes are a lot of face climbing, protecting in cracks with scary a** loose ledges and 4th classing in between. If you think Gunks ledges are loose wait till you go to Eldo - I don't understand how people could climb there on weekends.

doligo wrote:you gotta go to Lumpy for pure splitters or Turkey Rocks.

Yup, both are on the itinerary. :)