Mountain Project Logo

Displaced CO and Western States climber now living in Illinois looking for WI, MN, IL, etc partners

Original Post
Alex Shainman · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2006 · Points: 1,458

I just moved to this flat little town 1.5 hours south of Chicago (moved here for a work project) and will be looking to meet climbers to partner up with in a couple of months...

Hoping to check out some of the classic "local" areas of the region, like Devils Lake, Jackson Falls, etc. Looking to meet people to climb with, sandbag me, general shit-talking and all that...

I'm quite busy with work and healing a couple chronic injuries but wanting to hit the classics maybe starting early June.

Cheers!

Oh and where the hell can a guy get in a good hike around these parts haha???

Chris Schmidt · · Fruita, CO · Joined Nov 2012 · Points: 0

I went from IL to CO and recommend you reverse back here ASAP

Craig T · · Chicago, IL · Joined Apr 2010 · Points: 0

Hour south of Chicago, eh? There are some great hikes if you like endless fields of corn. Occasionally you will stumble on some soybeans, and that's quite a treat.

Alex Shainman · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2006 · Points: 1,458

What!!!???...There are cornfields out here??? Haha oh yeah it's still springtime before the 10' tall grow season.

Dude! As soon as I passed through Nebraska I was like WTF have I gotten myself into??? What a sad day driving past CO haha. It's spelled coloRADo for a reason!

So...Anyone got any positive comments like how bitchin your local midwest climbing area is??? ;-)

Rob Dillon · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2002 · Points: 760

Buy a road bike, dude.

Craig T · · Chicago, IL · Joined Apr 2010 · Points: 0

Being south of Chicago puts you closer to the So Ill areas. Jackson Falls for sport, and Holy Boulders for bouldering are the standouts. You're also a wee bit closer to Red River Gorge. I would just start with the local gym though. We here in the midwest spend most of our time in gyms.

andyedwards · · OR · Joined Aug 2009 · Points: 205

North shore of Lake Superior in MN is good. It's a long way from Chicago, but make sure you make a trip up there.

Ed Wright · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2006 · Points: 285

You should be near Kankakee State Park for some hiking--there's even a bit of rock there but climbing has been banzed.

Also note that you're only about 5 hours from the Red River Gorge.

Devil's Lake and Jackson Falls are both worthwhile destinations. You CO guys can laugh (hell, I'm a CO guy) but there is no better rock anywhere than Devil's Lake quartzite. Takes a bit of getting used to but the climbing is superb--strenuous and technical and no bolts.

Ric J · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2014 · Points: 0

I also live south of Chicago and spent last summer in Moab, so I feel your pain on the featureless landscape. Jackson Falls seems to be the only real climbing in the state. Starved Rock state park offers some decent hikes and ice climbs in the winter, although, as you'll find out Illinois state government likes to regulate everything and the conservation police live up to their shitty reputation, so avoid them if you can. Welcome to the land of Lincoln bro !

littledrummerboy14 · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2014 · Points: 5

I too live out in the corn around the same distance from Chicago. Moved down here from the north suburbs. Where are you located?

Alex Shainman · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2006 · Points: 1,458

Thanks for replies. I haven't had time away from work to climb and I'm leaving in a couple weeks. Cheers!

roger fritz · · Rockford, IL · Joined Aug 2009 · Points: 60
Alex Shainman wrote:Thanks for replies. I haven't had time away from work to climb and I'm leaving in a couple weeks. Cheers!
Sorry you never made it up to Devils Lake. Granted there are no climbs over 110' at the lake but there are some incredible classic climbs to test your skills on. Seems like work interrupted any climbing time you might have had anyways.
BTW, this flatlander never climbs in gyms!!!

Safe travels
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Midwest
Post a Reply to "Displaced CO and Western States climber now liv…"

Log In to Reply

Join the Community

Create your FREE account today!
Already have an account? Login to close this notice.

Get Started.