Longview, WA

Any climbers in Longview, WA? Might be relocating because of work, so I was just looking for any good news about my situation.

Check out Index, Wa for great harder climbing. Leavenworth for moderate trad and alpine. Darrington for multipitch slab and exit 32/38 for easier sport. Longview is kinda far south, so you'll also be reasonably close to smith rock.

Lower Columbia College has a wall. They're just beginning a program.

We lived in Seattle for a while, really looking forward to getting back to the PNW. Just a little hesitant about the town itself. The info is appreciated.

Eesh. Longview is a black hole. Plan on driving down to Ozone, Beacon, and up to Seattle area crags. Closest gym is probably the one in Vancouver, WA.

I think there is a climbing gym in St. Helens called The Vault. I haven't been there, so can't say anything about it. Would probably be closer than Vancouver.

Nathan Scherneck wrote:Eesh. Longview is a black hole. Plan on driving down to Ozone, Beacon, and up to Seattle area crags. Closest gym is probably the one in Vancouver, WA.

Everything is going to be OK! 3.5 hours to Smith, Trout Creek, or Index, 2.5 hours to Tieton, closer to Ozone and other PDX crags. Good skiing. Close to the ocean. Solid climbing communities in Olympia, Tacoma, and Portland. Short/cheap plane flight to Red Rock or J Tree, Squamish is close enough for a long weekend in the summer.

It could be a helluva lot worse!

James Sledd wrote:Everything is going to be OK! 3.5 hours to Smith, Trout Creek, or Index, 2.5 hours to Tieton, closer to Ozone and other PDX crags. Good skiing. Close to the ocean. Solid climbing communities in Olympia, Tacoma, and Portland. Short/cheap plane flight to Red Rock or J Tree, Squamish is close enough for a long weekend in the summer. It could be a helluva lot worse!

Plus Longview actually has some good access to DNR and other public land for hiking and exploring, is close to St. Helens and relatively close to Mt. Adams for skiing and alpine climbing, and actually has some really good restaurants. I've spent a bunch of work weeks there over the past year and a half. Check out Sora Sushi and the Mill City Grill, you won't be disappointed with either.

Pinto Rock for something different.

Grim. Having grown up in Chehalis 30 miles to the north, good luck. PG PDX is killer though!

Thanks for the replies. I've got this faint hope that we show up and there's actually a small outdoor community there. The access has got to be good though, you're more or less at the base of 3 cascade volcanoes. It's also a relief to hear that there are some decent restaurants too. My faith has been restored.

I know this is an old thread. Just found out I'm moving to longview this summer for work. What was your experience with outdoor/climbing - opportunity/community? 

Longview is rough. I’m curious what kind of work do you do?
There are a couple of decent tap houses that have opened up but are really nothing I’d write home about.
Portland’s the closest gym, it’s 45-60 minutes which isn’t horrible but it gets old if you want to get in more than once or twice a week.
This is a good area for general recreation but decent outdoor climbing is a couple hours away except for a couple small crags in the gorge.
It’s a redneck town that acts like it wants to change but keeps failing. 

Oh joy. Guess I plan on getting out for the weekends. I'll be working for a private forest products company.

Are you still in the area?

mediocre wrote: Longview is rough. I’m curious what kind of work do you do?
There are a couple of decent tap houses that have opened up but are really nothing I’d write home about.
Portland’s the closest gym, it’s 45-60 minutes which isn’t horrible but it gets old if you want to get in more than once or twice a week.
This is a good area for general recreation but decent outdoor climbing is a couple hours away except for a couple small crags in the gorge.
It’s a redneck town that acts like it wants to change but keeps failing. 

They have a decent fogy-rock Station now, maybe you got them over the hump!

Drederek wrote:

They have a decent fogy-rock Station now, maybe you got them over the hump!

What’s fogy-rock? Are you talking about the Rocket?

Thomas Sypkens wrote: Oh joy. Guess I plan on getting out for the weekends. I'll be working for a private forest products company.

Are you still in the area?

We should be a little south in Kalama come summer. 

mediocre wrote:

What’s fogy-rock? Are you talking about the Rocket?

Yah, rock for old fogies!

Drederek wrote:

Yah, rock for old fogies!

Ah, thats downtown Castle Rock though.