Anywhere to climb in November that ISN'T the desert on the west coast?

I'm on the hunt for pockets of sunshine and not-totally-freezing temps in early November. I'm looking at you, Cali, Wyoming, Colorado and Idaho!

Any of those places can work, but none are guaranteed this far out. It can be t-shirt weather or 5 degrees, so just keep an eye on the weather. You'll want to stick to the lower elevations for sure though.

Emma Anderson wrote:I'm on the hunt for pockets of sunshine and not-totally-freezing temps in early November. I'm looking at you, Cali, Wyoming, Colorado and Idaho!

I'm confused, all of the locations mentioned are desert, yet you say you don't want the desert, maybe more info on what you are looking for could be helpful.

Chattanooga is great in November.

I've climbed at North Table in Golden, CO in January.

KrisFiore wrote:I've climbed at North Table in Golden, CO in January.

Best part about living in Colorado was being able to climb year round. You could go hit some pow in the morning and take some laps down in the desert in the afternoon.

Also, if you don't want desert, check out the southeast. North Carolina, Tennessee and friends have limitless climbing.

What do you mean by "the desert?". Climbers sometimes have a weirdly narrow definition of that term, using it to describe the sandstone areas of southern Utah. Do you just want to avoid that desert, or any desert? How about semi-desert?

For full avoidance of desert in November, go to the Southeast, notably the Chattanooga area. Best time to be there, and good climbing.

Southern Idaho here. For high desert, sun and still air are key to comfort outside. Watch for changing weather (can be super windy, often still dry), and be prepared for cold weather camping. If you have time and resources to be flexible, you should be able to have a great time in November! Once you narrow it down, pop onto the appropriate regional forum where the locals hang out.

I climbed in CO during last winter. But it's not reliably climbing weather. Shelf Road seems to be a winter destination for a number of climbers I know in Northern Colorado.

Malibu Creek or Echo Cliffs

Eric Carlos wrote:Chattanooga is great in November.

fact. especially T-wall since it's south facing.

if you don't want to or can't go to the southeast, though, you're kind of SOL if you don't wanna climb in the desert. I've heard Cochise stronghold is good in the winter, though.

Well that requirement really narrows California options. California is a coastal desert. Even the Alpine in California is very dry. The further north you go the less desert you will see but the closer to November you get the colder it will be.

Tons of places in CA to climb all winter that aren't what I'd consider desert (although right now, all of CA seems like desert)

csproul wrote:Tons of places in CA to climb all winter that aren't what I'd consider desert (although right now, all of CA seems like desert)

Hope we all get our snow this year. Scary. : (

The Valley. Weather dependent, of course.
You don't mention what type of climbing.
Sierra East Side.
And as others have asked, what do you mean by desert, and what part of desert do you want to avoid?
I climb all winter in California, almost always some place dry, especially these days.
Smith Rock is awesome in November.
And on and on

I'm sorry all, that was super vague on my part! I guess that's what results from a poorly functioning 2am brain. Let me clarify. What I should have said is that I'm looking to avoid the big name winter destinations (Smith, Red Rocks, Indian Creek, Joshua Tree, etc.) not because they aren't awesome or because I don't like the desert but because somewhere bit more off the beaten path appeals to me. (Realizing that it's also November and there aren't going to be hordes anywhere) I love the thought of checking out the southeast, I hadn't actually even considered that. Sport or trad, doesn't matter, some sub 11 stuff would be rad. Thank you for all of your suggestions, they're much appreciated.

Muscrat wrote:The Valley. Weather dependent, of course. You don't mention what type of climbing. Sierra East Side. And as others have asked, what do you mean by desert, and what part of desert do you want to avoid? I climb all winter in California, almost always some place dry, especially these days. Smith Rock is awesome in November. And on and on

I'd love to know what the Bishop area is like in the wintertime. I've only been there in the late spring and it was totally rad, but not sure if places like Owens will be totally shadowed and frigid. The thought of sunny cold weather climbing with a post climb hot spring adventure sounds too good to be true.

dsmit wrote:http://eveningsends.com/climbing/holy-lands/ Looks dope.

I agree, it looks like there's some really amazing climbing around the St. George area that most people outside of Utah/Nevada don't take advantage of. Good call!

Emma Anderson wrote: I'd love to know what the Bishop area is like in the wintertime. I've only been there in the late spring and it was totally rad, but not sure if places like Owens will be totally shadowed and frigid. The thought of sunny cold weather climbing with a post climb hot spring adventure sounds too good to be true.

Realizing that the last 3-4 years have been sadly/weirdly/abnormally dry, and to some extent warm, i have climbed 4-10 weeks each of the last 4 years in the Bishop area on the East side Sierra's. Not a fan of the gorge, as i find it a little too busy, too...(excuse my bias) SoCal.
Pine Creek has enough to keep you busy for years, so much developed and potential.
Pm me, let me know what you like, i can point you to the right crags, and locals and etc. Multi pitch trad, sport, slab, wide, hands, run-out, or tightly bolted. It's all there, and some good camping, free. With caveats. And of course they talk about a little bouldering somewhere out there too.
!!
My go to place, just don't tell anyone. ;)

Muscrat wrote: ..... Not a fan of the gorge, as i find it a little too busy, too...(excuse my bias) SoCal.

Funny as heck.... I go to the ORG when Tioga Pass is closed.... keeps all the stuck up SF climbers away.

Makes for very good climbing days, as soon as it opens up, hordes of folks with PLANET GRANITE belay stickers descend on the place.... then its a bummer to be their.

So Emma.... go to Bishop.

I second Shelf Road in CO. But it's not exactly "off the beaten path", Shelf is where most Front Range climbers spend their weekends in winter if not skiing/snowboarding. November is prime time.

mountainproject.com/v/shelf…