I am moving to Garden Valley, about an hour north of Boise, from Boulder, Co at the beginning of December. Am looking to find some climbing partners up there for both rock and ice. Am new to ice climbing...last year was my first season on ice so I would need somebody experienced enough to lead for me till I'm comfortable at leading. Love mixed climbing too. Not inexperienced on rock though...I lead trad at 5.9, sport at easy 12, and boulder V5 ish. Am also trying to find information on ice near GV (like Stanley, Mcall, Banks/Lowman area)?

Bump. Surely there are some climbers in SW Idaho?

I'm not in boise, but I have been to city of rocks and it's awesome! good luck with finding partners.

Welcome to Idaho.
Its like no where else..
You may have better luck finding a partner at other forums.
www.idahosummits.com is more of a hiking/mountaineering/peak bagging type forum.
www.seiclimbing.com is a seldom posted on site for south east idaho (Rexburg to Pocatello).
BUT Boise has a healthy rock climbing community. You'll want to get a month pass to the climbing gym there in Boise as soon as you get unpacked. Folks there will show you around to local areas (Black Cliffs).
I live two hours from Boise near the City of Rocks. I started rock climbing in 1994 and ice climbing in 2002 and am always looking for partners. I have a few contacts I've climbed with in the Boise area...
Sadly there isn't much ice at that low elevation. Most ice is found in the Sawtooth's, Pioneer's, and Teton range's, and in the city of Twin Falls..
I think you'll find Idaho similar to Colorado with respect to outdoor opportunities, but less of the outdoor culture you'll find in Boulder, Fort Collins, and Ourey. Idahoans shop at Wal-mart and it seems jeans and a hoody are the dress code for every where but church. If when you get here you find your self thinking "ya'll are weird!" Its because we are. Keep in mind that Idaho is a big state, with one million people, and half of them live with in 30 minutes of Boise. What I'm trying to say is there are a whole lot of first ascents and descents to be had. You just got to be adventureous to go get them.
Idaho public television did a special on the history of climbing in Idaho. With a little searching you'll find it.. I found it accurate.
Give me a shout if you want to get out sometime.
Kevin

I'm not an ice climber(yet), but I'm from Boise and I climb rock. I have no idea where the ice is in ID, but there's plenty of good rock around. Within a few hours of Boise are the Black cliffs(hundreds of sport and trad basalt climbs), Tablerock(sandstone bouldering), Swan Falls(TONS of basalt bouldering), Moore's mountain(a few cool granite slab routes in the hills above bogus), Gold fork pins and needles(just google it), Slickrock(1200ft granite slab near McCall), The Sawtooth Range(incredible alpine trad climbing), and the rather excellent City of Rocks and Castle Rocks. There are other climbing areas in ID, but I don't really know much about them. I'd imagine theres probably good rock in the GV area, but I'm not aware of any developed areas there.

I am going to be out of commissionfor a few months from shoulder surgery starting Dec20, but if you want to get out and climb before then or once spring rolls around, shoot me a PM.

Thanks for the replies and the info guys!

Hi Andrew,

As has been mentioned, there is lots of good rock to be had in the area. Summers are especially nice with daylight until 10pm thanks to the weird jog in the timezone line that has us on Mountain Time. You can still get a pretty full day of climbing AFTER work!

As for ice, I haven't checked any of these out yet, but there is a list here: www.iceclimb.com/ID.html . Looks like there may be some near GV. Also, lots of good alpine ice in the Lost River Range, Sawtooths, and probably Pioneers too.

I just moved to Boise 1.5 years ago, and am loving it so far. I am always looking for more people to get out with. Shoot me an email at charelson_at_gmail.com if you want to climb.

Cheers,
Cory

Also, lots of good alpine ice in the Lost River Range, Sawtooths, and probably Pioneers too.
Cheers, Cory

I never heard how you trip into the Sawtooth's went two weeks ago. How was Stur Chimney? Got plans for this Friday and Saturday?
Kevin

OP, what the heck will you be doing in Garden Valley??? I'm a salmon river guide havent climbed much around boise. We will hopefully move back to Boise this summer. Seriously, what's in GV?

Ahemm
Have you looked into going to HELL? Not sure how far away it is from you. You might be closer than you think.

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