Surviving the wild west with NO $. Should I stay or should I go? (sorry for The Crash reference, I know, it is completely ran through)

Hey y'all, the title says a lot... I am Broke, formally educated, lucky enough to be in a position with limited responsibility, and ignorant to the ways of the "drop-the-world-go-climb-rocks-lifestyle." I would like to hear the stories and opinions of how your bright futures as degenerate, stinky, van-dwelling, vagabond asshole climbers began and just how they are working out for y'all, long-term. I have recently finished graduate school; however, instead of fulfilling my parents best wishes to become a stable, productive member of the workforce, I am going to climb. Whoops, my bad, momma. I have grown up in the south-east with the Red River Gorge as my home-base, and have traveled and lived in many other climbing towns and destinations over the years. I am going to move for at least a year towards Colorado/Wyoming/Utah, but will need a job to sustain my travels, (I am far from a trust-funder); however, I am not yet ready to begin the death march into a career, y'all dig? OBJECTIVES: climb long alpine routes, and desert towers. My quandary: deciding if I should immediately chase the dream and head to Denver/Boulder to live for free on a friends couch with less than a K in my pocket, hope to find work in the big city, and climb when possible. OR, live and work in the RRG through September (in all honesty I am sure that to some Western climbers this may sound like a dream as well, the Gorge is rad!), save a little more dough and then roll west? Ultimately I want to spend the entirety of October and November in the Creek, not working. BiG QUESTION: Y'all reckon I would have a hard time finding a decent seasonal job in Denver or Boulder this time of year? Am I missing out on prime climbing season in Co by parlaying the trip until late fall and playing it safe? WHEN DOES RMNP AND WIND RIVER RANGE rock climbing season end? Thanks, y'all!

Go West Now! Better to get the lay of the land down in nicer weather, eh?

It's the "Clash," not the "Crash."

Now complicate the matter by being the sole provider of your 4yr old shepherd, and then figure it out for me!

I've been aiming at Grand Junction lately and trying to do research about living there, hoping to afford a trip out to check the place out!

Maybe this is way too obvious, but...

mountainproject.com/v/10997…

It's worth a shot.

Here ya go....
desktodirtbag.com/articles/

It would be very easy to find a part time job in the Denver/Boulder area. Might not pay much, but it would be extra money. As far as climbing season, a lot of the climbing in and around the Denver metro area (from Boulder, to Golden, to S Platte, and Shelf Road (Canon City)) is coming into season now. The long high alpine routes (RMNP) could be coming into season in June to July, really depends on how wet of a Spring we have (this year probably mid-late June). The high alpine season ends around September, depending on when the first big storm is. Areas in the lower alpine like Estes Park and Lumpy can stay in season to early November. And Denver metro area has potential to climb year round (with some nice weather days in winter) but it mostly drops off near the end of November, which would be could for then going to the Creek. Basically, get here ASAP. Hope this helps.

First of all, paragraphs are your friend, I'm surprised you made it through the grad school without them.

Secondly, I would strongly recommend against Boulder/Denver area if you are going for sustenance living and mostly climbing for a year. Front Range is where you move after you grow up and have a real job, deal with traffic and mediocre-ish climbing.

I would look for Glenwood Springs/Carbondale area right now. There are lots of summer jobs in all resorty mountain towns around Colorado. I'm sure there is a ton of construction/painting type of jobs in Aspen. The three months of summer is when most construction type of things are hurried up and get accomplished around here. You'd be close to Rifle which is in season during summer. I would look at moving there right now as it it's still a shoulder season and that is when your chances of securing a job and housing are the best.

Once the summer is over, you could do some climbing in the Black in September, then move into the Creek mid-September, Octoberish. From there you can either keep going West and South as temps drop or secure yourself a job and housing in one of the ski towns for the winter. Get back to the desert once winter is over, then go to climb either alpine or cragging in WY for the summer. Once you are sick of living on the road, get a job and settle in Denver/Boulder area... Save climbing in the RMNP for when you have a job and live in the Front Range.

doligo wrote:First of all, paragraphs are your friend, I'm surprised you made it through the grad school without them. Secondly, I would strongly recommend against Boulder/Denver area if you are going for a sustenance living and mostly climbing for a year. Front Range is where you move after you grow up and have a real job, deal with traffic and mediocre-ish climbing. I would look for Glenwood Springs/Carbondale area right now. There are lots of summer jobs in all resorty mountain towns around Colorado. I'm sure there is a ton of construction/painting type of jobs in Aspen. The three months of summer is when most construction type of things are hurried up and get accomplished around here. You'd be close to Rifle which is in season during summer. I would look at moving there right now as it it's still a shoulder season and that is when your chances of securing a job and housing are the best. Once the summer is over, you could do some climbing in the Black in September, then move into the Creek mid-September, Octoberish. From there you can either keep going West and South as temps drop or secure yourself a job and housing in one of the ski towns for the winter. Get back to the desert once winter is over, then go to climb either alpine or cragging in WY for the summer. Once you are sick of living on the road, get a job and settle in Denver/Boulder area... Save climbing in the RMNP for when you have a job and live in the Front Range.