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Possibly relocating (from NY) general questions about the area

Original Post
Eddie2170 · · Orange County, NY · Joined Oct 2012 · Points: 0

How's it going everyone, I'm in the process of applying to be a firefighter for Raleigh, Charlotte, & Charleston, having never visited the area(s) and being a pretty dedicated climber I just need some info.

I'm from Orange County NY, about 45/60 mins from NYC and 45 mins from the Gunks, I primarily climb there and a few local crags for sport & trad, just looking for some basic information about the area(s)

How are the gyms, and how close are they, to the cities listed, I currently commute 30mins to mine where I also assistant coach & work part time at while working full time as an EMT.

I'm 21 hows the demographic for the areas and the climbing scene, I'm mostly a roped climber, I'm solid at the grade at 5.9 Gunks Trad & am breaking into 5.10s, I climb 5.11(+) on sport, when I get the chance too there's not a ton by me, I'm not really a boulderer (outside at least).

Hows the local climbing, whats close, whats good, whats bad, really any info would be great

I know I was really vague & all over the place but it's kind of where I'm at with everything right now, I potentially have 6 months or less to relocate.

WDW4 Weatherford · · Houston · Joined Feb 2012 · Points: 176

Hey Eddie, I would check this link out:

mountainproject.com/v/north…

For a good bit more traveling, you are not too far away from some good destinations in Kentucky and Tennessee.

North Carolina is a great state, hope you snag one of those jobs!

Tom Caldwell · · Clemson, S.C. · Joined Jun 2009 · Points: 3,623

Charlotte is your best bet. It is centrally located compared to the other two cities to most of NC's climbing. There is a good amount of sport, but mostly trad and bouldering in NC. Inner Peaks is one of the best gyms in NC. Raleigh has a few good gyms, but is much further from the climbing on the western side of the state. Raleigh may be a better city if your looking to be associated with the research triangle. Charlotte ranks pretty poorly as far as employment opportunities, growth, and foreclosures are concerned. It is still a decent city to live in and has a large airport that is a hub for US Airways. So lots of direct flights to great climbing destinations. Good luck!

Eddie2170 · · Orange County, NY · Joined Oct 2012 · Points: 0

Thanks for the quick replies guys.

In reality I have in my head what I think my favorites would be strictly based on the Fire Departments & cities, but I had no idea how everything was broken down as far as the climbing in comparison, so that was perfect thank you very much.

Inner Peaks looks like an awesome gym, & I saw the Triangle Rock Club when I was looking up climbing on my own how is that gym?

I had never heard of the research triangle, now I know, and depending on how you look at it cities with the most issues as far as growth poverty and such fortunately/unfortunately have the most work & opportunity for emergency services...

Thanks for all the help, anyone else have anything to add?

Drew Hayes · · Charlotte, NC · Joined Jul 2011 · Points: 110

I live in Charlotte and love it. 3-4 hours to the New, 2 hours to Rumbling Bald, 2 hours to Boone area high country climbing, 2.5 hours to Linville Gorge, 2 or 2.5 to Moore's, 1 hour to Crowders (meh place but good if you just have a half day). For long weekends its 6 to Obed or Foster Falls and 7 or 8 to the Red.

BirminghamBen · · Birmingham, AL · Joined Jan 2007 · Points: 1,620

Charlotte is my favorite large city in the SE.....
Compared to Birmingham, ATL, Knoxville, other 'cities', I like the atmosphere and the town, itself.
The Carolinas are great states to live in, are cleaner and more progressive than other Southern states (TN, AL, GA, KY), although SC has some weird laws for sure....
I think you'll find it easier to travel in the SE as well....interstates and highways aren't as clogged as in the North and the road conditions are generally better.

Don't forget all of the fantastic climbing in extreme Western NC.
There's also Table Rock, SC...yes, SC...look into it.
Also, within six hours you can be climbing TAG sandstone which is going to yield the most steepness.

It's beautiful down here right now. Fall is a great time of year, but there is activity to participate in year-round out of doors.

tks · · Boston, MA · Joined Aug 2009 · Points: 20
Drew Hayes wrote:I live in Charlotte and love it. 3-4 hours to the New, 2 hours to Rumbling Bald, 2 hours to Boone area high country climbing, 2.5 hours to Linville Gorge, 2 or 2.5 to Moore's, 1 hour to Crowders (meh place but good if you just have a half day). For long weekends its 6 to Obed or Foster Falls and 7 or 8 to the Red.
Can't say enough about the climbing in NC - especially if you live in or near Charlotte. The vairiety of rock that's a 2 hr drive from Charlotte is amazing: Shortoff (gunks style w/o the crowd) is 90 mins; rumbling bald as said above (climb from sept - dec on great rock), moore's wall is 90 mins- unbelievable climbing, and looking glass is unreal (2 hours from charlotte).

that said, moving from the northeast to the south (even charlotte) is an adjustment. if you're coaching lacrosse, look up mecklenburg youth lacrosse - great program!
Eddie2170 · · Orange County, NY · Joined Oct 2012 · Points: 0
Drew Hayes wrote:I live in Charlotte and love it. 3-4 hours to the New, 2 hours to Rumbling Bald, 2 hours to Boone area high country climbing, 2.5 hours to Linville Gorge, 2 or 2.5 to Moore's, 1 hour to Crowders (meh place but good if you just have a half day). For long weekends its 6 to Obed or Foster Falls and 7 or 8 to the Red.
That sounds better than where I'm currently at, one or 2 meh areas local and the Gunks for the day or the Daks for a weekend

Br'er Rabbit wrote:Charlotte is my favorite large city in the SE..... Compared to Birmingham, ATL, Knoxville, other 'cities', I like the atmosphere and the town, itself. The Carolinas are great states to live in, are cleaner and more progressive than other Southern states (TN, AL, GA, KY), although SC has some weird laws for sure.... I think you'll find it easier to travel in the SE as well....interstates and highways aren't as clogged as in the North and the road conditions are generally better. Don't forget all of the fantastic climbing in extreme Western NC. There's also Table Rock, SC...yes, SC...look into it. Also, within six hours you can be climbing TAG sandstone which is going to yield the most steepness. It's beautiful down here right now. Fall is a great time of year, but there is activity to participate in year-round out of doors.
I'm pretty stoked to get out of the NE, and traffic im sure will be way better than up here haha, and I've looked a bit it seems like NC has a lot of fantastic climbing very close

tks wrote: Can't say enough about the climbing in NC - especially if you live in or near Charlotte. The vairiety of rock that's a 2 hr drive from Charlotte is amazing: Shortoff (gunks style w/o the crowd) is 90 mins; rumbling bald as said above (climb from sept - dec on great rock), moore's wall is 90 mins- unbelievable climbing, and looking glass is unreal (2 hours from charlotte). that said, moving from the northeast to the south (even charlotte) is an adjustment. if you're coaching lacrosse, look up mecklenburg youth lacrosse - great program!
Awesome, thanks for all the help guys, and should've clarified, I assistant coach Rock Climbing for our Youth team at the gym
shannon stegg · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2013 · Points: 0

As far as hubs go, Atlanta has more reachable climbing destinations in a two to three hour drive than any of the cities mentioned in previous posts. I was an EMT and Firefighter for eighteen years in Hotlanta and my biggest problem was deciding were to climb on my two days off! If you like steep sandstone, Alabama and Tennessee. Granite, N.C. and S.C. Oh yea, there is a little bit of climbing in Georgia too. If you like all types of stone then Atlanta is the better place for variety in your climbing diet. Also not as much of a culture shock, and the traffic is close to what you are used to and your chance at a job are probably much better!

Sam Latone · · Chattanooga, TN · Joined Dec 2012 · Points: 45

I cant believe nobody has mentioned living in Chattanooga yet. I work as a paramedic for the county service doing 24/48. Having two days off and INCREDIBLE trad, sport, and bouldering 25 minutes away from town is pretty spectacular. I'm from Atlanta...the traffic is miserable. You are central to lots of good climbing, but every area is 2 hr away. I dont want to drive that far to climb. Instead I sleep in until noon to recover from shift and drive 25 min to badass climbing.

I live in north chattanooga and am 25-30 minutes, depending on crag from

the Tennessee wall(trad)

little rock city(bouldering)

deep creek(sport)

These three areas alone make living here worth while bu there are countless other areas and countless secret locals spots.

Please look in to these climbing areas, if you like trad...you want to live 25 min from the Tennessee Wall. PM me for more info if you want.

Sam

Sam Latone · · Chattanooga, TN · Joined Dec 2012 · Points: 45

I also forgot to mention...there are 9 EDs, including the closest Level 1 trauma center within 2 hrs located around Chattanooga. What that translates to is lots of EMT jobs. There are 4 private companies and the county service providing 911 coverage to the area. I know you ultimately want to work fire but its really really easy to get an EMT job here while you're going through the motions of getting on with a department.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Southern States
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