Advice for a Destination (Beginning Climber)

The Blueprint Part Dank wrote:Cirque of the Unclimbable's or the Ruth Gorge

hahahaha
nice.

Thanks to all of you for your responses! I'm very lucky to have come across this forum (and the experience of climbing in general). This will make our trip much more worthwhile. I'll let you know how it goes.

Ryan Watts wrote:You still have like 2 months right? Work on your technique/endurance on overhanging stuff in the gym. That will open up a lot of options for you (also IMO overhanging sport is more fun).

I wish I could get in the gym more often. With a newborn boy and a job, the time to climb becomes secondary. Love my life, but could see myself road tripping for a year and just climbing. Maybe this can happen later in life.

If you end up coming down to the RRG, I'd be happy to meet up and show you some of my favorite spots. I'll belay you on your Sporty goodness if you'll follow me up my moderate trad-ness. You'll even get a solid lesson on outdoor climbing particularities if you're interested.

Travis Kern wrote: I wish I could get in the gym more often. With a newborn boy and a job, the time to climb becomes secondary. Love my life, but could see myself road tripping for a year and just climbing. Maybe this can happen later in life.

You don't need a gym. Just start running (for weight loss and cardio endurance) and do pull-ups. Moderate overhanging routes usually have big holds. Even if your technique sucks, with strength and fitness most 10s should not be a problem.

HCR and RRG are great, but might be kinda hot in June. Since no one's mentioned it yet, I will: Rumney. It's a ways from the Twin Cities, but there's tons of climbing at 5.10 and easier, plenty of nice camping nearby, cooler temperatures than anywhere down south, and lots of fun hiking in the White Mountains for a rest day. If you're looking for places nearer you, Spearfish is great.

to the op, did you decide on a destination?

Wilson On The Drums wrote:to the op, did you decide on a destination?

Narrowed it down to Red River Gorge or Horseshoe Canyon, but spearfish will definitely be a destination in the near future.

Travis, you have received some excellent advice on here - you also parsed it very well down to some solid choices! For length of drive and concentration of moderate/easy sport routes from where you are, the RRG simply cannot be beaten. It is truly unique as far as the quantity and quality of moderate routes!

alexanderblum wrote:Travis, you have received some excellent advice on here - you also parsed it very well down to some solid choices! For length of drive and concentration of moderate/easy sport routes from where you are, the RRG simply cannot be beaten. It is truly unique as far as the quantity and quality of moderate routes!

I had done quite a bit of easy trad climbing before I learned about sport, so your experience will be different than mine. But the Red was one of the first true sport areas I visited and I remember it being a great learning experience. Many of the crags have vertical routes that are well protected, there are plenty of places where you can learn and get used to real rock by climbing 5.8 and there are even more where you can safely test yourself on well bolted 5.10s.

Just make sure you are confident cleaning anchors and downclimbing and maybe invest in a stick clip. Have fun!