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Where to retire early as a climber?

Original Post
SteveF · · Fort Collins, CO · Joined Aug 2007 · Points: 32

The thread on best jobs for climbers got me thinking about retirement. In particular, where could you retire early and stretch out your nest egg that also has a lot of climbing?

Seems like a lot of expats live out their days in Central America or the Caribbean on the cheap, but there isn't a lot of climbing there that I'm aware of. Where do all the expat climbers go?

Jon H · · PC, UT · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 118

Vegas would be a great option. VERY cheap living out in the desert. Same thing with Wyoming or the rural southeast. Even living out on the Western Slope of CO can be quite affordable in the right areas, e.g. near Gunnison.

Internationally, I would look at Ecuador. They are on the US Dollar standard which will make banking very easy. No chance of local hyperinflation devaluing your life savings. Inexpensive. Good, but not amazing climbing. Great if you're into alpine climbing and volcanoes though. And Peru, Bolivia, and the rest of the Andes are around the corner. Very cheap flights if/when you gain SA citizenship.

simplyput . · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2013 · Points: 60

Depends on how much loot has been squirreled away. In a perfect world, Southern Spain. Climbing, weather, food...
Realistically? The desert; cheap, rocks and either a bunch of other weirdos to be retired with or no one else at all.

SteveF · · Fort Collins, CO · Joined Aug 2007 · Points: 32

Skimming expat blogs I saw Spain and Portugal mentioned a few times which surprised me because I always thought anywhere in western Europe would be too expensive.

Also, alpine climbing is all I ever hear about for South America. Are there any good South or Central American cragging destinations that are also near good cheap places to live?

Anonymous · · Unknown Hometown · Joined unknown · Points: 0

Smitten upon the side of a mountain....

Tolkien

mountainhick · · Black Hawk, CO · Joined Mar 2009 · Points: 120

Retiring at 32?

Way to go!

jackkelly00 · · Chocorua, NH · Joined Apr 2009 · Points: 325

Thailand. Cheap eats, cheap housing, beach living. Doesn't get any better.

SteveF · · Fort Collins, CO · Joined Aug 2007 · Points: 32
mountainhick wrote:Retiring at 32? Way to go!
No. Still a long ways away for me. Just starting long term planning... and also day dreaming.
Tylerpratt · · Litchfield, Connecticut · Joined Feb 2016 · Points: 40

Thailand is too tooo hot! Lets not forget it also has a monsoon season...

My vote is for Cuba. I also have to put one in for NRG.

Chris Watkins · · Jackson, Ohio · Joined Feb 2014 · Points: 5

New River Gorge and Summersville Lake area in the summer. Vegas in the winter.

SteveF · · Fort Collins, CO · Joined Aug 2007 · Points: 32
Tylerpratt wrote:My vote is for Cuba.
The MP for Cuba indicates that access to a lot of the climbing areas are banned right now. Not to mention that some Cubans risk their lives on tiny rafts just to get out of Cuba, but I imagine that won't happen much longer considering the recent policy changes in both the US and Cuba.
Tylerpratt · · Litchfield, Connecticut · Joined Feb 2016 · Points: 40

Yes, they just legalized small business there. This is for retirement so I would assume said person already has the funds to live in retirement.

The banned crags in Cuba have this really really high fine of $5 USD a day...if they come and catch you there...

J. Broussard · · CordryCorner · Joined Feb 2011 · Points: 50
Tylerpratt wrote:The banned crags in Cuba have this really really high fine of $5 USD a day...if they come and catch you there...
I wonder what the annual goes for?
Henry Holub · · Altus, OK · Joined Nov 2015 · Points: 705

You could go full-nomad and RV it depending on how much you've had to save and how well you've done it. In my dream world, thats what I do.

I would think St. George would be a decent place to retire. Housing seems tolerable, 4-season climbing within easy distance. I don't know how their hospitals are (important in retirement), but I would be they're solid.

Nathan Self · · Louisiana · Joined Mar 2012 · Points: 90

Fort Collins.

Rick Blair · · Denver · Joined Oct 2007 · Points: 266

Personally, I don't plan on retiring from climbing anytime, anywhere.

fromtheestuary · · North Carolina · Joined Sep 2014 · Points: 60

How about Asheville, NC. Small city, good climbing close, and better climbing near by.

Mike Lane · · AnCapistan · Joined Jan 2006 · Points: 880

I'd say on your private yacht with a helicopter would be ideal

Brie Abram · · Celo, NC · Joined Oct 2007 · Points: 493

The mountains between Asheville and Boone, NC are pretty cheap. You can buy a decent house for under 100k. People talk shit about the weather, but it's truly not as bad as it's made out to be. There are plenty of very, very good crags that you only really go to once it gets warm (Ship Rock, Hawksbill, Looking Glass North, Cedar Rock North). And the cooler months and "cold" winters are the only time you really want to head to Rumbling Bald, Whiteside, Laurel Knob, or Stone Mountain. There is more sport climbing than most folks realize, but regardless NRG is 4 hours away and RRG is 5. If you are into bouldering, the high country toward Boone is outstanding. We have the tallest easy ice routes in the Eastern US in the Black Mountains.

Joe Crawford · · Truckee, CA · Joined Jan 2014 · Points: 105

Sierra Eastside. Close thread.

Brian Paden · · Goleta CA · Joined Apr 2010 · Points: 55

Vegas is a good option. Red Rocks has a lifetime of climbing and countless long moderate climbs for an "old" person. Its one of my favorite destinations, even over yosemite and JT since theres so many multipitch routes under 5.10 and over 5 pitches.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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