Jeff Arliss pulling the first roof on Feast of Foo...
Description
The Gunks (short for Shawangunks) is one of the premier climbing areas in the country. Located near New Paltz, NY, the Gunks is about 85 miles from the NYC metropolitan area, making it a popular weekend destination. The rock is quartz conglomerate, solid rock with horizontal rather than vertical cracks. Climbing at the Gunks is characterized by roofs, jugs, traverses, big air, and "sporty" pro. The Gunks is famous for great one-to-three-pitch climbs of all levels of difficulty. You'll find some of the best easy and moderate trad climbs in the country at the Gunks. There are a few bolted climbs at the Gunks, but no sport climbs.
The ratings at the Gunks are stiff; beware of a climb with a "+" at the end of its rating. Climbs like Thin Slabs Direct (5.7+), Something Interesting (5.7+), Modern Times (5.8+), Broken Sling (5.8+), Le Teton (5.9+), and Coexistence (5.10+) will seem like sandbags to many climbers. Climbing overhanging rock, even with jugs, requires endurance and commitment. Most climbers new to the Gunks drop down a few grades in their first leads to get a feel for the rock, the ratings, and to learn how to place pro in the horizontal cracks.
The best time to climb at the Gunks is during the fall: September and October are the prime climbing season. Mid-October brings the fall colors to the area, and climbers will have to vie with "leaf peepers" for restaurants and places to stay in New Paltz. Climbing in the spring is also popular, but tends to be wetter and more buggy. Summer is hot and humid, and winter offers few climbable days. New Paltz weather forecast
The Gunks is one of the oldest climbing areas in the country. Fritz Wiessner first climbed at the Gunks in 1935, and he and Hans Kraus put up many classic routes in the 1940s. High Exposure, established in 1941, remains one of the most exposed and exciting 5.6 routes any climber will ever do, and should be on every visiting climber's tick list.
Most of the Gunks is part of the Mohonk Preserve, a land trust dedicated to preserving and protecting the northern Shawangunk Ridge. Climbers must pay a $15 daily fee (up from $10 last year) to climb at the Gunks, or else buy an annual pass for $85. Stop at the Visitor's Center, on Rt. 44/55 on the way to the Gunks, for more information.
The Cliffs
The main cliffs at the Gunks are The Trapps and The Near Trapps. The Trapps is several miles long, and ranges in height from 30' to over 250'. A convenient gravel carriage road traverses under the cliff for its entire length, and designated access trails climb from the carriage road through the talus to the cliff. Access to most climbs at the Trapps involves hiking along the carriage road for 5 minutes to an hour, followed by a short hike up to the rock. Some of the climbs on the left end of the Trapps start right off the carriage road.
The Near Trapps is also a popular destination, with climbs ranging in height from 30' to 200'. While not as extensive as The Trapps, the Nears offers many excellent routes with short approaches. The near (north) end is most popular, but there are good climbs farther down the cliff as well.
Millbrook is more remote and offers adventurous climbing for those wanting to get off the beaten path. This area is frequented more by Gunks locals than first-time visiting climbers.
Sky Top has many classic routes, but unfortunately is officially closed to climbing, since it is on property owned by the Mohonk Mountain House, an exclusive and expensive resort. Needless to say, few climbers stay here! UPDATE: As of April 1, 2007 (yes, but it's not a prank), there will be LEGAL climbing at Sky Top once again - IF, and only if, you are an overnight guest of the Mountain House AND you climb with their appointed guide service, Alpine Endeavors. It's Mohonk's property, and they make the rules; right now, that's the way it stands. Regardless, it's a huge step forward for climbing legally at Sky Top; there's never been commercial guiding allowed at Sky Top until now, and Sky Top itself has been closed for over ten years.
Peterskill, in Minnewaska State Park, is another popular Gunks climbing destination, offering single-pitch climbs, top-roping, and bouldering. Follow directions to The Trapps and continue on Rt. 44/55 for about a mile past the steel bridge to get to the park entrance. A separate admission fee is charged.
Two other Gunks climbing areas, Lost City and Bonticou, are undocumented by local tradition. Climbing here is by word of mouth; go with a Gunks local or perhaps get information at Rock & Snow, the local climbing shop in New Paltz.
Due to the abundance of horizontal cracks and the limited number of vertical cracks, most Gunks routes have "PG" protection: adequate but not great. Take pro where you can get it. The horizontal cracks are great for small Tricams: the pink and red are especially useful. Small-to-medium cams with flexible shafts also work well. The green, yellow, gray, and red Aliens are staples of a Gunks climber's rack. Additional cams, up to a #2 or #3 Camalot, are usually carried. Climbs rarely need pro larger than 3". Hexes are not often carried, but sometimes work well. Fixed pro is sometimes available, but some of the pins are "old and rusted and shouldn't be trusted". Bring a screamer or two for the questionable pin or bolt.
A "Standard Rack" for the Gunks:
a set of micronuts (RPs, HB offsets, BD micro stoppers) - may not need these on the easier routes
a set of wired nuts (#3-#13 BD Stoppers or equivalent)
pink, red, and brown Tricams (some climbers double up on the red)
blue, green, yellow, gray, and red Aliens (or equivalent)
#.75, #1, #2, and #3 Camalots (or equivalent)
10-12 extendable runners (24" sewn slings)
1 or 2 long runners (48" sewn slings or rabbit runners)
A Yates Screamer
Additional gear that is useful on some climbs:
extra cams in the .5" to 2" range - very useful for new Gunks leaders
a very small cam (black Alien or equivalent)
a large cam (#4 Camalot or equivalent)
a set of Trango Ball Nutz (#1, #2, #3)
larger Tricams (purple #2, black #2.5)
medium-sized hexes (BD #6-#8)
The amount of gear that you carry will depend on the climb, your experience, ability, and familiarity with the route and with the Gunks. If you're new to the Gunks, err on the side of taking a little more gear rather than a little less.
Most routes can be climbed and rappelled with a single 60m rope. Double ropes can be handy, however, with the many traverses, wandering pro, and roofs encountered on the typical Gunks climb. Some experienced climbers like to use a 70m rope and run pitches together; be careful to prevent rope drag if you do this. If climbing with one rope, be sure to bring many extendable runners.
Many popular routes have bolted rap stations, but sometimes trees are used for rap anchors. Bring some webbing along in case you need to beef up a sling anchor on a tree.
Two-way radios can be useful for communicating past the big roofs often encountered on Gunks climbs. High Exposure and Disneyland are two routes where radios can be used in lieu of shouting.
Visit Rock & Snow, the local climbing shop, at 44 Main St. in New Paltz, for all your gear and beta needs.
Stewart International Airport is the closest commercial airport to the Gunks. The airport is a quiet regional hub; you rarely have to wait in line, and you can arrive at the airport less than an hour before your flight. Connections to and from here may be limited, however.
Take the New York State Thruway (Interstate 87) to exit 18 (New Paltz/Poughkeepsie). Pass the toll booth and go to the first traffic light. Turn left at the light onto Rt. 299 West. Follow 299 several miles into New Paltz, where it becomes Main St.
To get to the Gunks from New Paltz:
Stay on Rt. 299 for 7 miles until it intersects with Rt. 44/55. Turn right and continue about 1.5 miles up the hill to reach the Mohonk Preserve Visitor's Center. Stop here for maps, information, and to buy daily or annual passes. The Warwarsing parking area, which provides convenient access for climbs on the right side of the Trapps, lies just beyond the Visitor's Center. The West Trapps parking area, used to access the left side of the Trapps and the Near Trapps, lies up the hill, beyond the big hairpin turn, just past a steel bridge. There are also parking areas at the hairpin turn, and at the top of the hill just before the steel bridge, but these are posted as 30-minute parking only (not enforced by the local or state police).
By Bus
Trailways has a bus terminal in New Paltz, right next to the New Paltz Hostel, but it's most convenient to have a car to get to the cliffs.
Trailways Bus Terminal 139 Main St. New Paltz, NY 12561 800-776-7548
Where to Stay
HOSTELS and MOTELS
New Paltz Hostel 145 Main Street New Paltz, NY 12561 845-255-6676
The hostel is located near downtown and right next to the bus station. A variety of accommodations are available for $25/person. Free internet access and a shared kitchen are part of the amenities. Reservations recommended for weekends. Off-street parking is available.
87 Motel 403 Main Street New Paltz, NY 12561 Local - 845-255-9220 Toll free - 800-879-8787
This is the cheapest motel in New Paltz. Older, on the edge of town, it is suitable for the budget-minded climber.
This area is located on Route 299 just a half-mile from Rt 44/55 in Gardiner. Camping is free, but there are no amenities or reservations. Get here early during the busy season. For more info, contact
DEC Regional Office South Putt Corners Road New Paltz, NY 12561 845-256-3024
Located in the Mohonk Preserve near the steel bridge. It's a bare-bones site in the woods with a depressing quality; recommended only to climbers on a severely limited budget. Contact the Mohonk Preserve for more info.
The Bakery, 13A North Front St.: another great breakfast place.
The Bistro Mountain Store AKA The Bistro: Great inexpensive breakfast foods and a climber's hangout. They do not have tap water to fill up your bottles, however. At the junction of Rt. 299 and Rt. 44/55.
Gilded Otter, 3 Main St.: a great brew-pub for after-climbing drinks and dinner.
Snooky's is a lovely face climb up the obvious thin seam between Beginner's Delight and Minty. The good news is that the climbing is continuous and fun. The bad news is that it's directly in the rappel line for both Beginner's and Minty - it's not uncommon for new leaders, with little experience in rappelling etiquette, to send ropes and pebbles down without warning. The less-climbed second pitch goes up a shallow left-facing corner above the ...[more]
Rock and Snow, across from the Post Office on Main Street: Climbing gear and other beta.
The Bistro Mountain Store AKA The Bistro: Great inexpensive breakfast foods and a climber's hangout. They do not have tap water to fill up your bottles, however. At the junction of Rt. 299 and Rt. 44/55.
There are some great swimming holes near the cliffs to cool off in mid day. Split Rock, about two miles down Clove Road, which is just past the bridge and West Trapps parking area, is a popular one.
There's also a decent farmer's market halfway between the cliffs and town on the south side of Rt. 299 that has a good selection of fresh produce and goodies.
...and one other thing that all Gunks climbers should keep an eye out for are copperheads. They generally won't strike unless they're provoked, but they are everywhere and hard to see -- especially once the leaves start to fall.
I am from NY and used to climb @ the Gunks all the time. How crazy is it now? Before I left NY they had started enforcing all kinds of rules it was also insanely busy; like being @ a gym. I saw many a squabble over who was next on line for certain classics like High E, but sure do miss the climbing there.
I think the scene has calmed down a little. Been climbing there for 11 years. The parking is way better now (remember the Hairpin lined with cars????) There's a real toilet (NPS style) near the Uberfall, there are a bunch of shiny bolts now for anchors and rap stations (can you believe that??). The crowds are still there on the weekends for sure. I'm seeing more and more people on the weekdays now too. Very rarely do I run into an individual or party who is bent on ruining my day, most climbers there now are pretty casual. What I enjoy about the area is seeing familiar faces, meeting new people, sharing a belay ledge, working together to make a rappel quicker/easier for the whole group. That's part of the experience for me. Come on back, you'll be glad you did!
That's good to hear. I do miss lunch on the GT ledge. Can't believe they rap anchors and bolts there. Did they put anchors on the rap from Madame G's? If I remember that was a free hanging rap. That was a blast!! (Although it doesn't surprise me. I used to teach climbing in a gym and would be scared to see people I taught how to tie in and belay a week or so later there w/ shiny new gear!!!) I miss the Gunks grease after a day of climbing there. One of these days I'll make it back there and back up to NH to climb again on Whitehorse and Cathedral.
Madam G's, Snookys, Frogshead, Classic, High E, Arrow, etc. all of these and more high-traffic routes have bolted rap stations. (Check out gunks.com or rockandsnow.com for the bolt locator page for a full list). As well as a few newer protection bolts placed here and there. Still way TRAD though, just safer and easier on the trees.
OK, does anyone else think that the fee they (gunks preserve) charge is insane? A friend of mine I work with just got back from a gunks trip and told me what the fee is up to. I remember climbing at the gunks only a few years ago and the fee was something like half of the going rate. In comparison, its cheaper to go to freakin Yellowstone at $20 per average axle car, regardless of how many passengers you have packed in the car. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the place is a "preserve" or something like that is privately owned. Climbers should say F*&K those A-holes and lobby for the access fund to buy the place and charge half price and make a profit. Sorry about all the emotion, but thats one of the places where I learned to lead trad and it left quite an impact on me. I haven't even climbed there since but still feel for all of the peolpe who climb there regulary and don't have some six figure plus job working in nyc. -gunks climbers unite
I've only climbed here a few times, but I just spent a day there, and my overall impression was: practice mantling before you come here. Most of the routes have several mantle moves, and often a mantle move is the crux. Must be due to all the horizontal breaks.
Also, bring lots of slings. Many routes can be done in one mega pitch if you mind the rope drag.
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