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Summer Destinations - what am I missing

Original Post
Karl K · · Phoenix, AZ · Joined Nov 2006 · Points: 542

Due to an awesome schedule where I get most summers off - I am looking for places to beat the heat from late June to mid August.

I have been to many great areas (see below), but want to know if I am missing something.
Here are my main criteria: Cool (this is #1, so prob at altitude), decent rock (prefer trad - bouldering is pretty much out due to age & injury), more cragging than multiday alpine, good camping (free is always preferable), good roads (very low clearance vehicle). Driving out of AZ, so distance is an issue, but with the whole summer.......

Short list of places I have been (and was fine with):
AZ: Paradise Forks, Elden, Mt Lemmon summit area
CO: Elevenmile Canyon, RMNP (Flatirons/Eldo - but no camping)
NM: Sugarite, Taos area
UT: Maple
ID: City of Rocks
WY: Vedawoo, Devil's Tower
SD: Needles
WA: Index
Canada: Squamish
CA: Courtright Res, Tuolumne, Sierra alpine, Lovers Leap/Tahoe

What am I missing?
Areas don't need to be world-class, just good.

Trevor. · · Boise, ID · Joined Apr 2012 · Points: 830

If you're in Idaho, check out the Elephant's Perch in the Sawtooths. It's got impeccable rock and is in just about the most scenic setting possible.

double delay · · 4 Corners · Joined Jul 2014 · Points: 65

If you're in Wyoming, I would definitely recommend the western part of the state. Plenty of climbing in the Winds and Tetons, sport climbing in Lander with plenty of free camping at the Wild Iris and Lander city park.

Shop Tech · · Lamewood, CO · Joined Jul 2014 · Points: 40

Drive east and park at the Red for a month or two?

Chad F · · Costa Mesa, CA · Joined Jul 2009 · Points: 75

needles, CA

Austin Baird · · SLC, Utah · Joined Apr 2009 · Points: 95

Check out the Jungle on the Aquarius Plateau in Utah. Up around 10,000 feet. Great setting and fantastic cragging

Sam Fletcher · · Idaho · Joined Jun 2014 · Points: 50

If you're already planning on going to index in WA check out leavenworth as well! Plenty of classics to do there and a fun place to stay as well.

lozo bozo · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2015 · Points: 30
Chad F wrote:needles, CA
+1!! and dome rock, right down the highway from the needles
Bryan G · · June Lake, CA · Joined Nov 2007 · Points: 6,167

Washington Pass

Ten Sleep

20 kN · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2009 · Points: 1,346
John Heimerman wrote:Drive east and park at the Red for a month or two?
The Red is going to be atrocious in July and August. The heat and humidity will be through the roof. I was there in June and had sweat pouring off my face just racking up my draws.
Ed Wade · · Hermann, MO · Joined Aug 2012 · Points: 785

The Red is usually unbearable during the summer but the New can be doable. You can climb in the morning at Summersville and the Gorge and swim in the afternoon. Also in the East you have the Adirondacks, Seneca Rocks and New Hampshire. The Gunks can be a little too warm but it gets afternoon shade.

David Coley · · UK · Joined Oct 2013 · Points: 70

Here are my main criteria: Cool , decent rock, prefer trad , more cragging than multiday alpine,

That sounds like a description of the UK.

You also won't have a problem finding partners and will get to climb on sea cliffs, which I'm guessing you might not often do.

Karl K · · Phoenix, AZ · Joined Nov 2006 · Points: 542

Thanks for the ideas: looks like there are several spots in Wyoming that deserve a long look.
In particular, thanks Austin for the suggestion of the plateau in Utah - just what I was looking for and never would have found on my own.
Also - going to Kentucky or Britain makes no sense: I wouldn't like the food and can't speak the language.

DavidCollins · · Grand Junction, CO · Joined Sep 2009 · Points: 20

High Uintas in UT? Never been there but it sounds great for the summer.

JCM · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2008 · Points: 115

Additional areas that you may want to add in are in bold.

AZ: Paradise Forks, Elden, Mt Lemmon summit area
CO: Elevenmile Canyon, RMNP (Flatirons/Eldo - but no camping) Lumpy Ridge (multi-pitch granite), Independence Pass (awesome high-altitude roadside granite cragging, trad and sport), South Platte (a broad region of granite dome climbing; a bit warm in summer), Devil's Head (pleasant high-altitude moderate sport climbing on granite; near Denver), Ouray/Telluride/Etc cragging (an assortment of crags, not world class but still decent), Ophir Wall (multipitch trad near Ouray/Telluride)
NM: Sugarite, Taos area
UT: Maple, Uintas (high altitude quartzite cragging)
ID: City of Rocks, Elephant's Perch (backcountry granite)
WY: Vedawoo, Devil's Tower, Ten Sleep (outstanding sport climbing), Wild Iris (also sport climbing), Tetons (alpine, a bit of cragging), Fremont Canyon (granite crack climbing in a unique top-access river canyon setting)
SD: Needles
WA: Index, Washington Pass (easy access "roadside" alpine granite)
Canada: Squamish, Canmore/Banff/Bow Valley Area (outrageously scenic and excellent summer temps; limestone sport around town, big chossy limestone adventures at Yamnuska, more adventure in the Ghost (bad road), big alpine routes, and excellent sport/trad cragging on quartzite at Lake Louise---this area is a must-visit)

CA: Courtright Res, Tuolumne, Sierra alpine, Lovers Leap/Tahoe, Needles(the California version...best quality granite in North America), Shuteye Ridge (very rough road is likely a dealbreaker for you on this one), high-altitude Eastern Sierra cragging (Whitney Portal, Cardinal Pinnacle, Pine Creek, Rock Creek, Mammoth Lakes crags-- all are good granite climbing), Tahquitz (multipitch granite)

International (Europe): Dolomites, Grimsel Pass, Llofoten, Ailefroide/Ecrins, Val di Mello, and many more areas throughout the Alps

International (Southern Hemisphere): Many crags with good temperatures during austral winter in South Africa and Australia

DavidCollins · · Grand Junction, CO · Joined Sep 2009 · Points: 20

Seems like Rifle (CO) should be on the list too.

john strand · · southern colo · Joined May 2008 · Points: 1,640

imo a lot of the suggested places will be pretty warm for summer.

In NM try Tres Piedras, Questa Dome and El Rito

In Co...Ten Mile canyon, Buena Vista, and Gunnison Area

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

General Climbing
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