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Jeff Goulet
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Nov 2, 2017
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Saint-Félicien, QC
· Joined Mar 2014
· Points: 3
I'm planning a road trip in the U.S and I want to know what are the best winter destination for rock climbing. I'll be there from december to march. Can be aniwhere in the States and any types of climbing except ice (we have enough where I come from). I'm coming from Québec and I'll have a crash pad and a double rack. I'm already planning to hit T-Wall (Tenessy), Sedona and cochise (Arizona) and of course Jtree and red rocks. What I'm missing? Will the desert tower in Utah warm enough to climb?
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Frank Stein
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Nov 2, 2017
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Picayune, MS
· Joined Feb 2012
· Points: 205
Hueco. Unless you have a dog, you should not miss Hueco. I've had some great winter days in the Utah desert, and also some miserably cold ones.
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grog m
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Nov 2, 2017
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Saltlakecity
· Joined Aug 2012
· Points: 70
Will the desert tower in Utah warm enough to climb? Yes. Its preference, but for me on desert towers- snow on the holds is where I draw the line. I did it once and never again...If there is snow on the ground it probably won't be fun. If there is no snow it can be a good time. Best thing about winter and mid summer in Moab is that there are not hordes of people.
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20 kN
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Nov 2, 2017
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Unknown Hometown
· Joined Feb 2009
· Points: 1,346
Honestly the US is not really the best place to rock climb in the dead of winter. Sure, they are some spots that are marginal, a few that are acceptable, but the clear majority of crags in the USA worth visiting will be quite cold mid-winter. You're better off heading further south to EPC in Mexico or going to another continent all together such as Africa. Anyway, consider EPC, it's not that far into Mexico and it's a pretty cool place.
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Brian E
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Nov 2, 2017
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Western North Carolina
· Joined Mar 2005
· Points: 363
Rumbling bald in NC is a winter crag. Bouldering and trad. Camping can be a pain, but it's worth a few days if you're already going to be in the southeastern U.S.
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Jeff Goulet
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Nov 2, 2017
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Saint-Félicien, QC
· Joined Mar 2014
· Points: 3
Yeah I'll add Hueco to the list, Is the roped climb also worth doing or is it only about bouldering? I'have already been to EPC (and I agree that the place is great) and I'll not consider going another continent for this trip but thank you for the feedback
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Brie Abram
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Nov 2, 2017
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Celo, NC
· Joined Oct 2007
· Points: 493
I’m not sure if it’s the best bet in the entire US, but Rumbling Bald, most of Looking Glass, Whiteside, Laurel Knob, Crowders, Rocky Face, and Hidden Valley are all at their best between now and April. NC isn’t a bad place to spend a winter for rock climbing.
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Jeff Goulet
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Nov 2, 2017
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Saint-Félicien, QC
· Joined Mar 2014
· Points: 3
Good to know about NC, thanks Brian! Yeah I'am also curious to know about Bishop!
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Frank Stein
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Nov 2, 2017
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Picayune, MS
· Joined Feb 2012
· Points: 205
The roped climbing in Hueco is really good, but bouldering is what it's about. Also, most routes are on North Mountain which has a visitor limit and a reservation system.
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Cory B
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Nov 2, 2017
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Fresno, CA
· Joined Feb 2015
· Points: 2,592
Not "world class" but south of Bishop, there is the Alabama Hills, and New Jack City. Decent spots for a day or two if you are driving from J-tree north to Bishop. Kernville also has some decent, quiet winter climbing
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Jim T
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Nov 2, 2017
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Colorado
· Joined Jun 2012
· Points: 469
You’re missing Indian Creek (in March).
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Eric Carlos
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Nov 2, 2017
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Soddy Daisy, TN
· Joined Aug 2008
· Points: 141
Bishop is pretty amazing in the winter, and an easy place to Dirt Bag. Also look into St. George UT.
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Kevin Mokracek
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Nov 2, 2017
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Burbank
· Joined Apr 2012
· Points: 363
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S2k4 MattOates
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Nov 2, 2017
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Kremmling, CO
· Joined Sep 2015
· Points: 126
Places i know that I would suggest south east Utah where moab is, it's around 4000 feet elevation so you could run into snow but it is the dessert your likely to have nice days but chilly nights, moab is like stepping back in time and arches n.p is surely not to be missed. You can do amazing scrambles in arches and there is some trad climbing as well, Indian creek is down past moab but the creek is all real tough crack climbs, def a plus if you can trad lead 10t, Yea j tree and all them so cal southern Arizona crags are prolly prime in the winter for west coast East coast I would suggest North Carolina , they have amazing climbing thru that state and it's far enough south it doesn't get freezing or tons of snow but it is the mountains , you just have to check the weather If your out by N.C, You can absolutely get warm enough days in the winter at Seneca rocks west virgina, amazing trad climbing there of all levels, it's the mountains but they do not get much snow, once again check the weather
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Jeff Goulet
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Nov 3, 2017
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Saint-Félicien, QC
· Joined Mar 2014
· Points: 3
Thank you all for the advice! Will definitly go to moab for the hiking and if it's warm enough to climb it will be a plus. Ease to dirt bag is quite a big factor also, so I'll really consider adding bishop as well then. Kevin Mokracek nice picture but where is it?
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paul.adams.3
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Nov 3, 2017
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Knoxville, TN
· Joined Sep 2012
· Points: 45
Cochise Stronghold is pretty spectacular. Climbed there around New Years a couple of years ago. Nights were cold, but the days were perfect. Lots of free camping
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Pnelson
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Nov 3, 2017
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Unknown Hometown
· Joined Jan 2015
· Points: 635
Cochise, Homestead, Deep South, San Diego area, Central Texas, in order of awesomeness.
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Mike Morin
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Nov 3, 2017
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Glen, NH
· Joined Nov 2007
· Points: 1,350
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Eric Danner
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Nov 3, 2017
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Salt Lake City, UT
· Joined Jan 2017
· Points: 0
Shelf road has been really nice to me in the middle of winter. People either love or hate shelf road...I am one that loves it. Camping is miserable but you can usually climb in a t shirt.
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Chad Namolik
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Nov 3, 2017
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Unknown Hometown
· Joined Jan 2010
· Points: 2,905
If you're travelling w/ a double rack and you find yourself near Hueco, might as well hit the Organ Mountains outside Las Cruces NM .... If its not windy. When the Rockies and Sierra are all covered in snow, the Organs is one of the few places in the U.S. where you can do a 5-7 pitch trad line and it'll feel like a mini alpine adventure. Also the Sandias near Albuquerque, although I've never been. Avoid if windy! Have fun on your trip.
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Frank Stein
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Nov 3, 2017
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Picayune, MS
· Joined Feb 2012
· Points: 205
Ugh, Sandias are definitely a bad idea in the winter, unless you are into post-hole approaches and wet, freezing rock. There is also no camping in the 'Dias. Some do climb there year round though. I will however enthusiastically endorse the Homestead recommendation...if you have a proper 4wd. That road is no joke...at least it wasn't three years ago.
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