In honor of rock season NEVER EVER EVER being over...best 5.8 lead in NY???

Between the Gunks and the ADK there are so many great routes at this grade...plus 5.8 is a grade at which a large chunk of the climbing community leads. I'm putting an emphasis on best LEAD, which makes certain climbs stand out a little bit more.

I'll list my top three in no particular order:

1. Modern Times 5.8+ Gunks
-obvious reasons, crazy roof and exposure for the grade, really intimidating...the only 5.8 i have ever cut feet on

2. Prelude to Overture 5.8 Upper Washbowl ADK
-super exposure on the last pitch, nice crack climbing on p1 and p2 first class views, big cliff, a very unlikely line, unique

3. The El Pitchoff Chimney Cliff ADK
-position and exposure on the traverse, great crack climbing on the last pitch, a beautiful natural line

• *ill give honorable mention to Arachnid Traction at the Creature Walls in the ADK....only because it is the hardest 5.8 i have ever done....pumpy sandbag by Tom Rosecrans...none the less a great section of jamming at the crux...full value 8**

So lets hear your top three and the reasons why!

Son of Easy O. Well protected, great variety of climbing and fun from the start to the end. In one pitch of course!

yes! Son of is a classic for sure!

Son of easy o done as one long pitch is one of my favorite pitches of climbing I've done at any grade.

One?
That is a problem!
In the southern region, south of the Gunks, The climb of that grade at Armonk. It Must have been given a name may be 'Ray' knows? Also at the Ardsley wall. - 'Passher By'.
Along the Hudson Poison Ivy Wall at West Point - Nose
The Central region, The Gunks no way to pick only one!!
1)) The First pitch of Erect Direction at the Trapps ....((As well as both Modern Times & S.O.E.O !!))
2)) Bonnie's Roof,
3)) Double Crack.....not included is all of the Sky Top climbs ...? The Near.Trapps or MillBrook...?
Pitch off Cliff - ?Pete's Fall if that is it's name And the great thing at beer walls, I do not know the names that are at up at the Spiders web, Washbowl Cliffs and Moss Cliff but for fun and location and length, the effort to get there is well rewarded.
Climbing season is not "all but over" by along shot, if it sunny the rock can be warm!

Michael Schneider wrote:One? That is a problem! In the southern region, south of the Gunks, The climb of that grade at Armonk. It Must have been given a name may be 'Ray' knows? Also at the Ardsley wall. - 'Passher By'. Along the Hudson Poison Ivy Wall at West Point - Nose The Central region, The

Cool. I've not familiar with any of the areas south of the gunks. makes me curious. agree it can be hard to pick the "best". im just looking for personal favorites and reasons why. there are a ton of 8s that are great at the nears. ive only done one climb at millbrook and it was a 7. pete's is the classic 7 right next to The El. Thing at the Beer Walls really narrows it down...you must mean the one next to the other thing....

son of easy o is getting lots of love already!

"In honor of rock season being all but over..."

Ah... NY'ers... :-)

postclimbum depression

Springtime.

While I disagree about the end of climbing season, Son of Easy O in a single pitch is definitely my favorite 5.8 at the Gunks, and maybe anywhere.

Benjaminadk wrote:Between the Gunks and the ADK there are so many great routes at this grade...plus 5.8 is a grade at which a large chunk of the climbing community leads. I'm putting an emphasis on best LEAD, which makes certain climbs stand out a little bit more. I'll list my top three in no particular order: 1. Modern Times 5.8+ Gunks -obvious reasons, crazy roof and exposure for the grade, really intimidating...the only 5.8 i have ever cut feet on 2. Prelude to Overture 5.8 Upper Washbowl ADK -super exposure on the last pitch, nice crack climbing on p1 and p2 first class views, big cliff, a very unlikely line, unique 3. The El Pitchoff Chimney Cliff ADK -position and exposure on the traverse, great crack climbing on the last pitch, a beautiful natural line **ill give honorable mention to Arachnid Traction at the Creature Walls in the ADK....only because it is the hardest 5.8 i have ever done....pumpy sandbag by Tom Rosecrans...none the less a great section of jamming at the crux** So lets hear your top three and the reasons why!

These sorts of discussions are always fun. Seems like you never see them any more... ah, when the internet was young...

Anyway in the Gunks 5.8 is one of the premier grades. It is hard to pick just a few favorites at the grade, let alone one clear winner.

Son of Easy O, Double Crack, Airy Aria, Pas De Deux, City Lights, Drunkard's Delight, P1 of Birdie Party, P1 of Erect Direction, P1 of Carbs and Caffeine, Bold-Ville, Modern Times, Bonnie's Roof (if you consider it a 5.8), Arrow, Annie Oh!, Three Doves, Alphonse, Birdland..... I'm sure there are others that are reasonable contenders but which aren't coming to the forefront of my mind.

But as great as these climbs are it's hard to pick a Gunks climb as the best 5.8 in New York when you can pick a longer outing like Gamesmanship at Poke-O. Even the Sting (also at Poke-O) at one pitch is so great it would have to be a contender.

I haven't done Diagonal (at Wallface) but I'm sure some people would vote for that one. The El (at Pitchoff Chimney Cliff) is very very good too.

OK I pick Birdland. That's my vote. Do it all the way to the top.

I said rock season is all but over!!!! i live in the adk so our getting out any given day is basically a wrap....of course climbing is possible year round depending on weather and ones willingness to freeze....ive climbed every month of year in the gunks.

Son of Easy O is so good its worth climbing in January in the rain.

seth, i keep meaning to do the second pitch of birdland, i hear good things.

springtime is a nice slightly less popular climb....really looks cool from the base like a giant bear ripped his claws across the rock.

guys i want to hear a little bit to back up why its your favorite 5.8...

just broke into leading 5.8 in the gunks this season. Really happy to see that my favorite climbs were much loved climbs!

Very Good SethG
(long walk to wall face I did it 5 times in the early '80s when i lived in the Daks)
I Blew off the post Rules too, 'cause I agree that picking a best,just One? No way.
Recommendations and second thoughts,
Oh wait you picked a land climb, fine choice!
All the way till you run out of rope, One long pitch is great.

I chose Birdland because the first pitch has incredibly good face climbing with a thoughtful crux, and the second pitch is completely different, with overhangs and jugs and another thoughtful crux move into a corner. 2 great pitches of 5.8.

Of course Absurdland and Ape Call are also great-- and Snooky's, I forgot Snooky's! One of the most popular climbs in the Gunks. The second pitch of that one is good too. Also (come to think of it) Raunchy, it goes on and on...

Benjaminadk wrote: guys i want to hear a little bit to back up why its your favorite 5.8...

I picked Springtime because of the ridiculous friction! That route is so much fun due to the type of rock and the fact no one's ever there. Oh, and the G rating!

I think Rockaholic and Gamesmanship deserves mentioning too.

Rock season is never over.

Potrero Chico in January

I know you said lead, and I happen to be a cheerful perennial follower, but I've climbed my share of 5.8 so I'm going to chime in and agree wholeheartedly on:

Son of Easy O
Snooky's
Bonnie's Roof (happy to call it an 8)

And I will add: Arrow, which IMO is the most stunning piece of rock in the Gunks regardless of grade, and completes this short list of climbs your second will love you for choosing.

Lisa Andrews wrote:I know you said lead, and I happen to be a cheerful perennial follower, but I've climbed my share of 5.8 so I'm going to chime in and agree wholeheartedly on: Son of Easy O Snooky's Bonnie's Roof (happy to call it an 8) And I will add: Arrow, which IMO is the most stunning piece of rock in the Gunks regardless of grade, and completes this short list of climbs your second will love you for choosing.

Arrow is a cool route, GREAT rock and one I always return to but, it's basically a 1 move wonder FWIW.

SethG wrote:Anyway in the Gunks 5.8 is one of the premier grades...

This ^^^ ... I'll add... ANYWHERE.