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Climbing Across USA June 22-26: Boulder, CO, Red River Gorge, KY, Pittsburgh, PA

Original Post
Jacqueline Davis 1 · · (currently) Santa Monica, CA · Joined Jun 2014 · Points: 60

Hey all..
So, I'm at the tail end of a roadtrip across the USA, climbing and hiking as many cool spots as I can along the way.
As of June 22 I will be in Boulder, CO, and continue east toward Kentucky to stop in Red River Gorge. Then I will be on my way to Pittsburgh, PA, before making the final trekk back to Ontario.

In terms of my level, I've found that routes are rated very differently across the country. Or possibly that my ability differs greatly depending on the type of rock I'm on. Either way, I think I can safely say I max out around 10a, but have climbed 10c's if they are just the right type of climb. I am extremely confident lead belaying, but not as much with climbing, so if you can lead and set up the TR that'd be ideal. And I much prefer sport - there's something unsettling about trusting trad gear to me. Even as the belayer.
I have my own basic gear, but no rope/draws.

I think that pretty much covers it. So, if you're up for a climb in the next couple days, and you're somewhere in the corridor that I mentioned shoot me a text: 613-299-4539, or response to this posting, though I only have internet when I find free wifi, so texting's more certain.

I look forward to getting up some more walls to end this trip right!
Cheers!

rgold · · Poughkeepsie, NY · Joined Feb 2008 · Points: 526

I know its trad, but really, on the way from Kentucky to Pittsburgh, ya really ought to stop at Seneca Rocks...

Jacqueline Davis 1 · · (currently) Santa Monica, CA · Joined Jun 2014 · Points: 60

Thanks for the tip, I'll add it to my list!! I see you're up in NY - I take it you're not in the Seneca area?

rgold · · Poughkeepsie, NY · Joined Feb 2008 · Points: 526

Not really, its a bit of a trip for me. I'm a Gunks local but didn't mention it because (a) it's more trad and (b) it's a substantial detour from the route from Pittsburgh to, say, Ottawa. On the other hand, if you came further East, and had the time, you could also go sport climbing in Rumney and/or sport or trad in the Adirondacks and/or all kinds of stuff in New Hampshire...

rgold · · Poughkeepsie, NY · Joined Feb 2008 · Points: 526

Jacqueline, I'd urge you not to head to Devil's Tower. There is a voluntary climbing closure there for the month of June out of respect for the indian tribes who consider the tower sacred and have most of their ceremonies in June. For more information, see nps.gov/deto/planyourvisit/… and scroll down to June Voluntary Climbing Closure.

If you want to head East after Boulder and don't mind going as far North as the tower, then I'd highly recommend a visit to the Needles in South Dakota. The climbing is very unusual and exciting, and the Mount Rushmore area is all sport climbing and has an excellent guidebook, The Needles of Mount Rushmore, rei.com/product/850567/the-…. (I gave the REI reference because with any luck they have the book in their Boulder store.)

Once you're up at the Needles latitude, you might as well continue East on US 90 from Rapid City and stop off at Devil's Lake, Wisconsin (outside the town of Baraboo and very close to Madison). The cliffs are small, typically 80 feet or so, but the climbing is again unique and pretty much everything can be top-roped. Have a look at the MP site for more on Devil's Lake and the Needles.

This keeps you climbing for half the trip East, but then you are more or less out of luck. At that point I'd drop down to US 80 and head straight to Pittsburgh, at which point you can consider whether to diagonal up to Ontario or head to the Northeast for tons more climbing opportunities.

Jacqueline Davis 1 · · (currently) Santa Monica, CA · Joined Jun 2014 · Points: 60

Wow! Thank you so much for all of the tips! I was starting to get sick of sleeping in my car, but now I wish I had another 2 weeks on the road to hit all the spots you mentioned!

rgold · · Poughkeepsie, NY · Joined Feb 2008 · Points: 526

Yeah, I didn't really notice the June 26 end date in your title.

Well, have a good trip, and visit us down in the Gunks during one of those big Canadian holidays in the Spring and in the Fall---we're only 6 hours from Ottawa!

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Midwest
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