Gunks vs Joshua Tree

so many rock snobs, it's all climbing

waaaahh

Adam Winters wrote:so many rock snobs, it's all climbing waaaahh

I mean, you gotta have some standards. You wouldn't want people thinking you're a rock slut.

Andrew Gram wrote:JTree is either a chossy version of Vedauwuoo without the wind...

Without the wind? Guess you weren't at josh this past winter or spring.

Healyje wrote:I did spend a day climbing at JT, but later that night someone said Red Rocks was only three or so hours away and I was out of there like a shot. One day was more than enough.

If you can spend a single day at any climbing area the caliber, size, and repute of Joshua Tree and discount it like that, your opinion about any climbing area is dubious and not worthy of serious consideration.

I think fondly of the worst climbing areas I've been to and would return to my most hated spot just to give it another chance.

That you fled to Red Rock Canyon shows that there may be hope for you yet, but I have my doubts.

That you didn't know that Red Rocks was near Joshua Tree until someone at Joshua Tree told you it was is unforgivable.

Chris D wrote: Without the wind? Guess you weren't at josh this past winter or spring.

Nope. But as they say in Wyoming, the windy season generally starts in March and ends in February. Never been winded out of JTree, though I was really pissed when I got snowed out in late March/early April 8 years ago or so. Thankfully it was still when the Gordon Casa was going, so 8 AM beers in the living room reading guidebooks wasn't so bad.

JTree is really good, but the climbing is just really similar to the City of Rocks, Vedauwoo, Quartz Mtn and the Wichitas in OK, and a bunch of other places. The Gunks is really unique - Table Mountain in South Africa is the only place i've ever climbed much like it, and that is a hell of a commute.

i agree w/ andy's assessment of jtree for the most part (ie vedauwoo is vastly superior). never been to TM in SA, co can't comment on that comparison.

in a nutshell, if you have climbed primarily near the east coast, jtree will feel kind of 'new' for you. similarly, if you have climbed primarily in the west, the gunks will be a nice change of pace.

Yeah the 'Woo is great, better rock quality and higher quality routes than Josh...but the season is like a month long, and there just aren't that many routes by comparison. I spent Aug of 2007 there, loved it.

Zeke nails RedRock. And you also get a fat ticket when your rope hangs up and you make it to the truck after dark. Gotta pay for that stupid ass visitor center somehow I guess.

Chris D wrote: If you can spend a single day at any climbing area the caliber, size, and repute of Joshua Tree and discount it like that, your opinion about any climbing area is dubious and not worthy of serious consideration.

After thirty six years of climbing I can do it without even touching the rock. In the case of JT I gave it the benefit of the doubt and gave a couple of routes a go before bailing. Again, the texture sucks and nothing about the geometry or moves was remotely interesting.

Chris D wrote:That you fled to Red Rock Canyon shows that there may be hope for you yet, but I have my doubts.

I mostly do FAs in Red Rocks given there is no need to ever touch an existing route there if you don't want to. There are several lifetimes of unclimbed rock there.

Chris D wrote:That you didn't know that Red Rocks was near Joshua Tree until someone at Joshua Tree told you it was is unforgivable.

Was in SoCal attending to family business and had never done the drive to Vegas from there so had no idea how far or near it. Had planned on driving I-5 on the way home. As it was the drive to Vegas and up through SLC was quite a bit more enjoyable and the climbing in RR was fabulous as always.

Dan Herscovitch wrote: Incidentally, are there any climbers who actually live in NYC? I don't think so. I actually don't think I've ever met anyone FROM NYC outside of the city, because they simply don't ever leave the city.

Not true. Tons of climbers in the City and they all swarm the Gunks on the weekend.

In a debate over Jtree vs. Gunks, I'd say go to JTree. Even if its a no-nothing choss pile, too many people at the Gunks already. Tired of waiting in line for everything I want to climb just because its a freakin' Saturday.

need to climb harder than 5.9, the the route selection opens up quite a bit at the gunks.

This thread reads like one of those pointless XBOX vs. Playstation discussions.

I've spent virtually all my climbing time in the Gunks and I love it dearly. Lots of NYC folk climb there. People from Boston, too. And from all over the world. The people who climb there are climbers, and therefore they tend to be friendly, at least in my experience. If you wish to avoid people, come during the week. It's pretty empty then. The weather is best in the Spring and the Fall but if you just watch the forecast you will find lots of great climbing days from March through November, and sometimes even in the remaining months. The Hudson River Valley gets rain, sure, but it's only a lot if your frame of reference is the desert. There are wonderful climbs at all levels. Lots of horizontals, it's true, that's the Gunks' calling card.

It seems to me if you're thinking of a winter destination, then maybe JTree would be the better choice. I've never been but from what I've read it is completely different from the Gunks and so how can one really compare them? Personally, I'd love to go there and check it out. Really, why not make plans for both?

your all wrong blue hills in MN is the best ...just picture pink granite with a sh!t load of flies. the funniest thing I ever heard about bouldering at the gunks was when someone said it was compared to masturbating at a whore house..