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2 weeks in NYC, Should I look into some sport climbing around?

Original Post
dsauerbrun · · Boulder · Joined Oct 2013 · Points: 56

Hi all,

I'm going to NYC from nov 25-dec 7th, mostly for family stuff. I wont have a partner or anything but was wondering if there is anything nearby(sport or bouldering) worth checking out.

If there isn't much to do I'll leave the draws and rope at home and just climb at the gym.

If there is something to check out and you want to show a californian some east coast climbing(I've never climbed trad unfortunately so the gunks are out for me) let me know and I can bring my gear.

Basically... should I bother bringing more than a harness, shoes, and chalkbag?

Will Cohen · · Denver, Co · Joined Dec 2012 · Points: 80

Well, it's hit or miss this time of year. There are still good days at the Gunks, but no sport climbing.

There is some good bouldering out there and you can rent a pad at rock and snow in new paltz town.

Will Cohen · · Denver, Co · Joined Dec 2012 · Points: 80

I wouldn't categorize Plinez as lots of sport, but Westpoint could be worth it for sport climbing depending on the weather. Plinez and gunks for bouldering though.

petzl logic · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2013 · Points: 730

On the east coast we have this thing called seasons... they're pretty cool but they kind of dictate what you can do and when.

Jon H · · PC, UT · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 118

There's no sport climbing within 3 hour drive from NYC that's worth going to. They are all "after-work" practice crags at best. Plus it will almost certainly be too cold and wet.

Bring shoes and a chalk bag. If you get a bonus sunny day go to the Gunks, rent a crash pad from Rock and Snow, and go bouldering. The boulders there are top class and they are SUPER easy to find (important criteria for me when I only have 1 or 2 days).

Otherwise check out The Cliffs at LIC - the newest biggest gym in NY. Definitely good for a workout. Be prepared to shit yourself when you see what a day pass costs.

dsauerbrun · · Boulder · Joined Oct 2013 · Points: 56

thanks for the info guys...

PS: I already shat my pants when I saw the cliffs LIC day pass cost... hence this post.

Since I don't have a car/partner and that it will probably be wet, it sounds like I'll be doing some gym climbing.

wendy weiss · · boulder, co · Joined Mar 2006 · Points: 10

There is so much great stuff to see and do in NYC that you can't do anywhere else. And Central Park is an amazing instance of city planning, with lots of interesting paths. Consider taking advantage of the opportunity to broaden your horizons.

doligo · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2008 · Points: 269
dsauerbrun wrote: I already shat my pants when I saw the cliffs LIC day pass cost...
I just did too! I'd rather spend my $25 on a day admission to MoMA.
wendy weiss · · boulder, co · Joined Mar 2006 · Points: 10

The Matisse cutouts show at MoMA right now is supposed to be amazing.

M Mobley · · Bar Harbor, ME · Joined Mar 2006 · Points: 911

take the train and then bus/taxi to New Haven and climb at West Rock. 5.7-5.13 , good for a day, full sun all day on many routes.

doligo · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2008 · Points: 269
Miike wrote:take the train and then bus/taxi to New Haven and climb at West Rock. 5.7-5.13 , good for a day, full sun all day on many routes.
Ugh! That's at least 2 hours each way esp. on weekends (trains run local) - not ideal when days're short. I would much rather take a D train to Coney Island and spend my day that way or A train to Cloisters. Cheaper and better for the soul. I second what Wendy said. Take it as an opportunity to explore the city, it can be done pretty cheaply with just a Metrocard.

If you are really bent on climbing, just take a bus to New Paltz and walk over to Rock & Snow to troll for partners. You could usually find one on a nice weekend day, or just try finding one through forums.
M Mobley · · Bar Harbor, ME · Joined Mar 2006 · Points: 911
doligo wrote: Ugh! That's at least 2 hours each way esp. on weekends (trains run local) - not ideal when days're short. I would much rather take a D train to Coney Island and spend my day that way or A train to Cloisters. Cheaper and better for the soul. I second what Wendy said. Take it as an opportunity to explore the city, it can be done pretty cheaply with just a Metrocard. If you are really bent on climbing, just take a bus to New Paltz and walk over to Rock & Snow to troll for partners. You could usually find one on a nice weekend day, or just try finding one through forums.
its a chosspile anyways, even if you can take public trans to within a block of the rock. I might choose to go Honnold up some skyscraper just to get a glimpse of the sun if I was in NYC right now.
kenr · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2010 · Points: 16,608
Jon H wrote:There's no sport climbing within 3 hour drive from NYC that's worth going to.
hmmm ... That covers a rather large area.
I guess if you say "sport leading" that advice might be true, since we might have concerns about the quality or placement of the bolts. Or if you say "difficulty 5.8 or less", then we could might have different tastes about quality of climbing (and it's hard to beat the Gunks for easier routes).

But with a long static line and skill in rigging, and expand the request to "Top-Rope or Sport", and if looking for a difficulty range like 5.9-5.11, then there is more than one crag outside the Gunks with a full day of worthwhile roped climbing
. (if there's a sunny low-wind day)

And of course lots more worthwhile bouldering outside the obvious places.

Ken
divnamite · · New York, NY · Joined Aug 2007 · Points: 90

Thanksgiving to Xmas to me is one of the most beautiful time in the NYC area. Yes, crowd is there and it's cold, but the atmosphere is amazing. Every stores, public places and buildings are putting on a show. Hell, even the singers on the subway platform are nicer! Why not take a small fraction of your life and enjoy the city? Think of it as a rest/recovery period. I'm pretty sure years later, you are going to remember NYC the experience, not climbing gyms.

MaraC · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2011 · Points: 10

Is there a reason no one's brought up the bouldering in Central Park?

dsauerbrun · · Boulder · Joined Oct 2013 · Points: 56
divnamite wrote:Thanksgiving to Xmas to me is one of the most beautiful time in the NYC area. Yes, crowd is there and it's cold, but the atmosphere is amazing. Every stores, public places and buildings are putting on a show. Hell, even the singers on the subway platform are nicer! Why not take a small fraction of your life and enjoy the city? Think of it as a rest/recovery period. I'm pretty sure years later, you are going to remember NYC the experience, not climbing gyms.
I've been to NY before; I'm not too big on cities. I have a bit of an aversion to crowds :\
divnamite · · New York, NY · Joined Aug 2007 · Points: 90
dsauerbrun wrote: I've been to NY before; I'm not too big on cities. I have a bit of an aversion to crowds :\
Then you are going to love the climbing gyms in NYC, lol!
petzl logic · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2013 · Points: 730

Tuesday is looking good for Central Park, then back into the freezer.

Rob D · · Queens, NY · Joined May 2011 · Points: 30
dsauerbrun wrote: I've been to NY before; I'm not too big on cities. I have a bit of an aversion to crowds :\
There is some "sport climbing" within a few hours of nyc, but none is readily available via quick public transport, and NONE is worth renting a car and paying tolls for. Instead, here are fun things to do in nyc right now:

MoMA: Matisse cut outs exhibit is phenomenal. well worth the price of admission

Met: Death Becomes Her exhibit. Really phenomenal, even if you aren't into fashion in the slightest. There's also a really killer kimono exhibit.

Brooklyn Museum: opened late on Thursdays and always a really good time. Right near Prospect Park, which is gorgeous.

Go to a movie. With how many independent theaters there are in New York, you can see some pretty amazing stuff that is impossible to find in other places of the country. If you want to eat a fancy meal while you watch indie films or old classics, check out Nighthawk.

Brooklyn Flea: On Saturdays in Williamsburg there are a bunch of food trucks, on Sundays it's a bunch of stalls. I think actually it might be indoors starting around now and it's food AND stalls. then of course you can walk around williamsburg and buy trinkets that aren't just mid-town-i-love-ny shirts, but are instead artisinal-farm raised-craft shirts or whatever.

etc. etc.
dsauerbrun · · Boulder · Joined Oct 2013 · Points: 56

Anyone interested in bouldering in central park sometime later this week?

Also, where can I rent a crashpad in the city if I can't find a partner?

kenr · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2010 · Points: 16,608
divnamite wrote:Thanksgiving to Xmas to me is one of the most beautiful time in the NYC area.
That's the time I most want to escape from the NY metro area: mostly too cold for climbing and road-biking, but not enough snow for cross-country skiing.

Where to escape for Thanksgiving?

California

What a great day climbing at Owens River Gorge today. Blue sky, no wind, actually we spent the whole time in the shade to get perfect climbing temperature.

And of course easier difficulty grades than Gunks or most places within four hours drive of the City. So great place and time to break through into higher numbers.

Ken
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Northeastern States
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