By divnamite Apr 21, 2008
| I have the Dick Williams' guide, but I can't seem to find some of the routes mentioned here and other sites. Routes such as: Layback, Gelsa, Yum Yum Yab Yum, Petey's Spare Rib, and Disneyland and ton of others. Any idea what they were renamed to? |  |
By saxfiend Administrator From Atlanta, GA Apr 21, 2008
| I don't know Petey's Spare Rib, but all the rest of the routes you mention haven't been renamed; they're in the Nears. If the Williams guide you have is "The Climber's Guide to the Shawangunks" (aka the Grey Dick), you won't find them because this guide covers only the Trapps. Williams has a separate guide -- black cover, I'm pretty sure -- that covers the Nears; you may also be able to get your hands on the out-of-print "Gunks Select," which has routes in the Trapps, Nears and even Sky Top.
Speaking from personal experience, by the way, Gelsa and Disneyland are "don't miss!" climbs in the Nears; Layback is okay; haven't led YYYY.
JL |  |
By Robbovius Apr 22, 2008
| Yes, let me add my vote to Gelsa being a nears must-do. the third pitch is a blast! though most dislike the Swain guide, it doesn have the NEars listed. tho some of the route descriptions and directions are unclear, and you can wind up offroute. |  |
By mobley From Haven, Ct Apr 22, 2008
| if you walk over to the near trapps most of those routes are near the road, I was just there on Sunday. good stuff, nice walkdowns. |  |
By asmith Apr 22, 2008
| Robbovius wrote: Yes, let me add my vote to Gelsa being a nears must-do. the third pitch is a blast! though most dislike the Swain guide, it doesn have the NEars listed. tho some of the route descriptions and directions are unclear, and you can wind up offroute.
robbovius-gelsa in 3 pitches- sweet jesus. it goes in 1 pitch awesome lead at that level.
my swain guide has the nears, heck it has millbrook and skytop as well. i like the swain, but then i like having the adventure of finding the route and maybe being off route.
i love layback- that was one of my first leads yellow ridge is one of the best at the grade alphonse and grand central le plie, birdland, and up yours grease gun groove is also nice. the list goes on. man i miss the nears |  |
By divnamite Apr 22, 2008
| saxfiend wrote: I don't know Petey's Spare Rib, but all the rest of the routes you mention haven't been renamed; they're in the Nears. If the Williams guide you have is "The Climber's Guide to the Shawangunks" (aka the Grey Dick), you won't find them because this guide covers only the Trapps. Williams has a separate guide -- black cover, I'm pretty sure -- that covers the Nears; you may also be able to get your hands on the out-of-print "Gunks Select," which has routes in the Trapps, Nears and even Sky Top. Speaking from personal experience, by the way, Gelsa and Disneyland are "don't miss!" climbs in the Nears; Layback is okay; haven't led YYYY. JL
heeheh, I can't help it, but so "Grey Dick" doesn't have the information, who has a "Black Dick"? I'll check the Swain guide. Thanks for the clarification. |  |
By George Best From Longmont Jun 13, 2008
| LayBack(P1)and Gelsa are worth the wait to do if there is a line. I never got on the second pitch of Layback and couldn't do the offwith/chimney start, but there is a nice crimpy/slabby start to the left that was a bit PG-13 if I recall correctly. |  |
By Jim Sweeney Jun 13, 2008
| div,
Mr. Williams is updating his guide to the Nears. Rumor has it as being released this year.
Jim |  |
By saxfiend Administrator From Atlanta, GA Jun 13, 2008
| George Best wrote: LayBack(P1)and Gelsa are worth the wait to do if there is a line. I never got on the second pitch of Layback and couldn't do the offwith/chimney start, but there is a nice crimpy/slabby start to the left that was a bit PG-13 if I recall correctly. George -- I hope you take another shot at Layback. P2 is the best part; the payoff for grunting your way through the start of P1!
JL |  |
By Brian Aitken From Hoboken, NJ Jun 13, 2008
| If you go on a weekend a really easy way to find any of these classics is by asking any one of the thousand climbers "Hey, you know where Gelsa is?"
I highly recomend Disneyland... as far as 5.6's go in the Nears it's at the top of the list.
On weekends there's typically a line for any of these routes.
BTW: I relocated to New York this month (not in Colorado anymore - great climbing with all of you folks though). So if anyone wants to hit up the Gunks let me know.
- Brian |  |
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