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Full Time Climbing?

Original Post
Mike McDonald · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2010 · Points: 10

Hey everyone,

I've just graduated from college up in Michigan, and over the past two years have completely fallen in love with climbing- problem is that I live up in Michigan and the climbing (not on ice) is kind of... bad. With six months until I have to start paying back my loans, I'm seriously considering climbing full time out around Wyoming/Colorado/West of the Mississippi, but the problem is that whole economy thing. I'm curious for anyone who has lived out of a car and climbed full time, what were your average monthly costs/ what were the best ways you've saved money? I know topics like this have been sort of discussed before, but I couldn't find the best information through Google nor on here, and I'm the type of person who researches stuff extensively before committing to anything over my head. I appreciate any input you've got, thanks so much!

Adam Peters · · Salt Lake City, UT · Joined Jan 2006 · Points: 700

Mike,

I'm currently in the smack dab middle of a year long climbing trip with my girlfriend. We saved money for a year before we took off and both of us can come back to our old jobs in July. Our budget was originally around $1000 a month, but we have been spending a little more. Money a month,for us, heavily depends on where we are. Some places you hardly need to drive anywhere (i.e., to the crag, close to town, etc.), so you spend less on gas.

Gas may be one of your biggest expenses, so if you want to go on the cheap, then plan on staying in one spot for a good amount of time, and only driving when necessary.

Unless you have the discipline of a drill sergeant, then expect to spend a little more money a month than you budget.

Have some fall back money for car problems, injuries, etc.

There are always free places to camp...they can be dangerous (i.e., hopped up local rednecks), but at least you're not paying. Know this though, if you aren't keen on camping in the sketch, then expect to pay for camping. Nearly every crag has paid camping, ranging anywhere from $2 to $10 a night. It can get expensive when you are staying in one place for months.

Check craigslist wherever you are, especially if you are in/near a bigger town. Sometimes there good opportunities under the "gigs" category.

Anyway, those are a few tidbits, of which there are many more that I can't really think of right now. It is doable and you should do it. Have fun, good luck.

slim · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2004 · Points: 1,103

adam, what do you and your GF spend per day on food, just out of curiosity. i know that food is generally one of our biggest expenses.

RockinOut · · NY, NY · Joined May 2010 · Points: 100

I just went cross country rock climbing for a month and a week. The cost was about $1500 for the month...mainly gas and food. Majority of the food was bought from Costco before I left. Slept in the back of the truck in Walmart parking lots and rest stops...which you can find minutes within most crags, although there was the occasional camp ground you always risk dumbass locals messing with your stuff if the campground is free.

Just some things that may help you out on your trip. Baby wipes are awesome to keep handy in the car. Starbucks bathrooms are the best you`ll find on the road, plus there's free internet if you have a laptop. If there are 2 of you going bring 2 sets of car keys. A 5 gallon water jug that can filled in gas stations and rest stops saves time and money..no empty disposable bottles of water to worry about plus you`ll have plenty of water for drinking, cooking, and cleaning

Mike Anderson · · Colorado Springs, CO · Joined Nov 2004 · Points: 3,265

Please budget some money for health insurance, or get on your parents' plan so we don't get the "My bro got hurt and has no insurance, please donate" thread in 6 months.

Tim F. · · Boulder, CO · Joined Oct 2008 · Points: 160

Hey Mike,

I hope you do hit the road. It will be a trip you'll remember your whole life. I spent 10 weeks climbing in Europe twenty years ago and going was one of the best decisions I've made. There's always time later to get a job.

Email me if you're in Colorado and I'll climb with you.

Tim

Adam Peters · · Salt Lake City, UT · Joined Jan 2006 · Points: 700

Slim, I think that we spend about 22 to 25 a day on food for the both of us. That saying, we don't skimp that much on the food situation. When we decided to do this we agreed that it wouldn't happen if we had to live on Ramen and beans or some other form of cheap dirtbag food. Some huge pointers though for anyway headed to the Northwest next year is a place called Deals Only in Bellingham, Washington. We stocked up there before Squamish and stopped again on the way back...we bought about 350 dollars worth of dry goods for about $150. It's insane!

slim · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2004 · Points: 1,103

adam, that sounds pretty similar to what my wife and i spend on food per day (we try to keep it under $25 on trips and under $30 in every day life, but not live on ramen). i think a lot of people would be surprised that $25 per day on food is pretty easy to blow through in a hurry.

we've stopped at that place in bellingham - definitely key to get your groceries there, and NOT in squamish.

Nathan Scherneck · · Portland, OR · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 2,370

On climbing days I can get by on much less than $25/day. I don't eat much while climbing so i'll typically eat some oatmeal and a banana for breakfast, a turkey sandwich for lunch, and maybe a can of soup + a couple slices of bread for dinner. All that is worth less than $10. It's the days away from the crags that'll hurt your wallet.

Hit the grocery store and eat through your perishable items first. Don't waste anything. Stock up on condiments, plastic utensils, etc at fast food joints.

Living cheap is fun!

EMT · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2008 · Points: 205

Dude, I lived on 300 a month out of my car for years. Just don't spend money. When you think you need something if its not food don't buy it! Never pay for camping. Finally don't waste your time in Colorado or Wyoming. You want to maximize your climbing days so that means az,tx,ut,CA. Asshats will cry about the amazing stff in co,and wy, but really its over hyped choss piles( that are only amazing to flatlanders who yet to spend a season in Yosemite) compared to the world class stuff out west.

No matter what ,do it. I did it for years and am glad I did, because this year I got viral ensephilitis and it's forever changed my world.
Peace

Ryan Hill · · Denver, CO · Joined Dec 2009 · Points: 30

There is much to be said on this subject. I'll say it quickly:

Have a killer cooking setup, know how to use it. Be vegetarian for the trip, meat is expensive. Buy in bulk. Exifficio underwear. Wear, rinse. reuse. Camp chair and camp light, priceless. Bottle of good whiskey (when everyone goes to buy beer you can sip on your whiskey, look classy and save money). A bike; for those days you don't want to climb or for getting around when you spend your gas allowance on PBR. Don't pay for camping. St. George, UT. Support the local businesses. Keep a journal. Health insurance; having it and not needing it sucks. Needing it and not having it is a lot worse.

Mike McDonald · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2010 · Points: 10

Hey everyone, thanks for the responses- I really appreciate it. Some of my dilemmas are:
-Climbing partners- I fell in love with Lander, Wyoming last time I was there, but couldn't spend a lot of time in the area. I met some Wild Iris employees and they suggest hanging around at the shop to get to know some of the local climbers- but that's the only way I know of (other than MP) to meet people. Would there be enough networking possible with limited internet connection (I do have a lap top) to do more than just boulder?
-Gas: I have a tiny little Eclipse that I've made a pseudo-cot in the back of and have slept at the base of many'acrags down in Kentucky and in the Tetons of Wyoming. However, a major road trip involves lots of gas no matter how I look at it, especially getting in areas the forest service allows to camp in relation of proximity to crags.
-Injury/Car breakdown: My car only has 85,000 miles on it and hasn't had any problems at all. I'm a former personal trainer in pretty good shape- but still relatively new to climbing (only having done it for 2-3ish years). I know the clinics out west are significantly more expensive than this area (a recent visit cost me 40 dollars as opposed to 100 dollars it cost me in Tahoe).
All these really just seem to be justifications from the pansy part of me being too afraid to commit. When I spent the summer in a hammock, I spent maybe... 300 a month tops. Was that just luck of the draw- or is that a realistic estimate?
Thanks again for all the help guys, your input is a huge factor for me!

Tony B · · Around Boulder, CO · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 24,665

If you are going to stay in one place for a while at a time, you can pick up some evening work. When I moved to Boulder I got a part-time evening job in a liquor store between Thanksgiving and New-years when climbing was slow and it was dark at 5PM anyway. Later I got full-time work in a machine shop from 4PM-2am 4 nights a week. That paid $13/hour + benefits even 15 years ago. I climbed full time for a year that way and still paid rent, no prob. I could have worked a lot less too but I was more comfortable with the extra cash and my climb time didn't suffer. When it was over, the machine-shop job actually looked good on my engineering resume too. It was real-world production experience.

Local food-banks are the way to go for food. You get whatever they have for $.XY per pound- usually on the order of $.50. Volunteer some time there if you are healthy enough to stack boxes and crates and such so as not to be a total free-loader.

If you are going to live out of your car, you might want to figure on a vehicle where you can entertain yourself in it. A truck is nice to sleep in for a few days, but you can't socialize or work well in it. Get a converted van or something comfy for those 30-hour rainy periods and windy nights. More $$ for gas, but unless you are driving a lot, it's worth it. Tents are not stealthy, and trucks are cramped.

Also... figure out how to insure all your stuff as well as your health. If you get hurt or your car gets robbed and you are uninsured, the fun is over!

Hey- one/two more questions. How long are you planning this and during what seasons are you thinking of starting and finishing this off?

Mike McDonald · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2010 · Points: 10
JLP wrote: This approach sounds like a giant waste of time and money. You want multiple partner options every day, all day, all week and people to hang with on rest days too. You don't want to be waiting around in some Starbucks all day, staring into your laptop while waiting for wknd warriors and computer stiffs to get off work for a few hours of cragging. If you have no partner, then just go to the destination areas - especially in winter.
That's an immensely good point. I've never honestly climbed an area popular enough to just pick up a climbing partner and go- every trip I've been on has been well planned/ full of people aching to climb something bigger than 20 feet.

Tony B wrote:Hey- one/two more questions. How long are you planning this and during what seasons are you thinking of starting and finishing this off?
Planning is relatively undefined at the moment. Currently I'm looking at it being based off my loan payment schedule for school- which starts in sixth months from mid December. So for now, let's say February until June- but really I'd like to get to Yosemite for the best time of the year so at least until October.
EMT · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2008 · Points: 205
Mike McDonald wrote: That's an immensely good point. I've never honestly climbed an area popular enough to just pick up a climbing partner and go- every trip I've been on has been well planned/ full of people aching to climb something bigger than 20 feet. Planning is relatively undefined at the moment. Currently I'm looking at it being based off my loan payment schedule for school- which starts in sixth months from mid December. So for now, let's say February until June- but really I'd like to get to Yosemite for the best time of the year so at least until October.
that's a big point away from the front range then. We get most if not all our wet weather in the late winter/spring. Best time to be in the desert where it's cheap to dirt bag and partners are plentiful. But, that is a great time of year to drink coffee at the laghing goat or at kind coffee 7-)
Sims · · Centennial · Joined Sep 2007 · Points: 655

Mike DO it!!
I planned to do it for a few months to one year and it lasted six.
I worked to climb and have no regrets thirty year’s later only loads of memories and friends.
I found myself low on funds my first month in the Valley but I live well on $25 a week, with out D&D meals.
By 82 it took $150 a week with more eating out and movies in Fresno.
Traveling then as probably still now was the biggest expense.
Some great advice from others, cooking is cheap, Solar shower, shower in your bathing suit or birthday.
As far as working I would commit to one job and be gone when it was done. I would rather work lots of hours then none but that was me.
Having spent five of the six seasons in Yosemite the other one I hit the Gunk’s, N Conway, Devils Lake and was sorry I skipped Colorado.
I never had a problem finding partners but all the places were destinations and in season.

I still settled down built my own house and raised two wonderful daughters who still from time to time climb with the old man.
Still luckily married to the gal I broke it off with to hit the road.
Don’t ask I do not have an answer for that one just dam lucky.
There are some who still live the life and never stopped it’s all a choice.

Doug Foust · · Oroville, WA · Joined Sep 2008 · Points: 165

Do it Mike! You don't get a lot of chances in life to do trips like this.

It makes more sense to take time off and enjoy life when the economy is crappy and then bust your @ss when it gets stronger and the better opportunities are there.

Do it..have fun...post trip reports so the sad bunch of us sitting at our desks can keep procrastinating on the work we should be getting done.....

Rick Blair · · Denver · Joined Oct 2007 · Points: 266

In my youth I did this with skiing not climbing but it doesn't matter, as others have said........ DO IT!

I've got a pretty nice life now and it all started with that.

Olaf Mitchell · · Paia, Maui, Hi, · Joined Mar 2007 · Points: 4,190

I have gone "walk about" several times in the near half century that I have been adventuring. It has always turned out well for me.
There are many ways to do it. You will find yours. Keep us posted.

Justin Tomlinson · · Monrovia, CA · Joined Apr 2010 · Points: 270

Two things to add/reiterate.

Don't worry about finding climbing partners. Get out to the crags and you will find them/they will find you.

Secondly, definately do it!!

Mike McDonald · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2010 · Points: 10

I like it guys. Where would be a realistic place to go? I'm looking at going to Red Rock in Vegas (cheap flights from Detroit) to start my trip and then bumming around Vegas for a while. I figure it can't be that hard to get from Vegas out to Yosemite as soon as the weather turns from Red Rock season over to Yosemite Valley. Plus, I'd save on gas money.

Or I can blow some money and live out of my car. But I figure I cut out the possibly unnecessary expense of gas by just spending most of my time in one of two spots. I guess where would you guys go if you had 6 months starting immediately to go anywhere and do nothing but climb? I have access to a decent sized beginner rack, ~18 draws, pair of Muiras and Mythos for various types of climbing.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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