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Extended NA roadtrip suggestions 17-Nov-2012 At 8:45:14 AM Olbert

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I'm not sure if you are actually wanting advice but here is some anyway:

On 16/11/2012 argos44 wrote:
>Whilst I havent climbed in the USA I have traveled around it. Its about
>2500km between Indian Creek and RRG. I have been planning a north american
>road trip but Kentucky is just so far away from the other areas im looking
>at.

If you enjoy steep sport climbing at about 22 or above you cannot miss RRG. Seriously it is the most amazing steep sport climbing (and yes I have been to the major Euro crags). On my recent trip we drove from Rifle (where we spent the night and did not climb) to Miguels at RRG in two days. For us that really wasn't too much driving, though we were able to drop our car off in New York (only another 12 hours) at the end of the trip so we didn't have to go back.

>I have been planning:
>
>Red Rocks - Nevada
Red rocks for me was pretty dam good at pretty much everything: cragging and multipitch, sport and trad, crack and face and pretty much all combinations of those you can think of. It didn't, however, hit 'amazing' on any of them. It's a great all rounder crag.

Also this is weather dependent, any time from late spring to early autumn is going to be way to hot.

>Yosemite/Tuolumne - CA
Yosemite is...Yosemite. Especially if you haven't been, you can't not go. Tuoulumne is really amazingly picturesque but unless you like slab climbing on granite it's a bit so so for climbing.

>Tahoe - CA
More great granite climbing in picturesque settings. It wasn't really my style but I can see that this would be an amazing crag if you love granite. Plus it's got an awesome mountain biking scene for rest days.

>Smith Rock - Oregon
Totally disappointing. It's got a lot of history which is my theory as to why it's popular. If you put Nowra and Smith Rock next to each other I would totally climb at Nowra. It's vertical crimpy sport climbing on pebbly rock. It wasn't inspiring to me...then again I have heard that some people do like it...

>Squamish - BC
More awesome! I found the free routes here were easier and less intimidating than Yosemite. There are some amazing classics as well as (good?) bouldering (I'm not a boulderer).

>Bow Valley/Skaha - Alberta
Didn't go to the Bow Valley but echo ODH's comments on Skaha. Also visit Lake Louise - it's got some good (I was won over by the epicness of the Canadian wilderness) climbing in epic surroundings.

>Tensleep- Wyoming
>City of Rocks - Idaho
>Maple Canyon - Utah
No idea for any of these

>
>Might need more than eight weeks for that lot though. Anyone got any thoughts?

You forgot (?) Indian Creek! Indian Creek is the most amazing and unique crack climbing ever. It is so much better than half the places on your list. You don't need a huge rack...unless you have the social skills of a peanut.

I totally agree with ODH you need more than 8 weeks to visit all of those crags. Pick three to spend two weeks at and then visit a few of the others as stop off's in between for a day or two. For me they would be Yosemite, Squamish and Indian Creek IF you don't wanna go to RRG (otherwise I'de swap Squamish for RRG).

Also I agree with ODH again, dont leave a crag you're loving and do leave a crag which you're not.