12 months & $12k What Should I do?

kirra wrote:Deaun -have you ever stayed at a *bad* hostel ?

Kirra, not as bad as the one NSFOD describes!! I still have my Achilles tendons in one piece.

Have you got a good "bad" hostel story to share?

Time to solicit advise on a couple issues since as I mentioned in my earlier post, I too am embarking on a 1+ year trip in less than a month. This shouldn't be a hijack since the info should also be useful for '12 months'. I plan on spending the first six months traveling aroung NA (Bugs, Can. Rockies, Yosemite, etc) and then on Jan 1st begin the international leg (Jan 1st is when I get my air travel hookup). I'm in a better financial situation than '12 months' with 35K+ saved up and come Jan 1st I do not have to worry about air fares. Anyways, my questions:

-For those who have been, how easy was it for you to find partners in different places? I know it shouldn't be hard to find partners for cragging but how about for alpine objectives (I plan on staying multiple months in Nepal/Pakistan, Huaraz, and Chamonix)? Where is the best place to find such partners? Are there any major climbing areas I should not plan on being able to find a parnter easily?
-When you aren't in the alpine (but still in a foreign country), where do you store all your gear? Is it best to just rent a place for a couple months? While this is primarily a climbing trip, I also plan on doing plenty of touristy stuff as well and don't want to be hauling around 100lb of expedition gear everywhere I go.
-In places like Nepal and Pakistan where expeditions are the norm, how easy is it to join on with another expedition in Kathmandu, for instance? Or should I not go to these places without concrete plans/partners?

There is no question, travelling with rock, ice, or/and alpine gear is a pain in the ass. It can be done, but it gets old. Less is more. There is no question that "American" climbers bring more gear than they need, and more fancy gear than they need. Finding storage is not too bad. My preference though is to be fine with getting your stuff stolen, if it doesn't, bonus. So ebay it and buy a bunch of cheap used gear that you won't care too much about, but will still get the job done. Suddenly, you will have that many more options that you will feel comfortable with storing your gear.

My favorite thing to do is sell my gear when I am done climbing. Then I don't have to carry it anymore, plus, I have a little extra cash in hand. Not a hard thing to do.

Finding partners can be hit or miss. My experience is that if you are in a rush, with a tight schedule, you end up having a hard time finding people. But when you aren't rushed, and not too worried about it, partners show up everywhere. That just seems to be the nature of things, but sometimes you get lucky. There will be other people in your situation, you will bump into each other. Just be patient.

I didn't climb there so I can't say, but it seems there are a lot of climbers down near Fitz Roy hanging out waiting for good weather. I'm sure if you made it down there in prime climbing season there would be opportunities. However, you would need to be very flexible and really social in order to make it happen. Perhaps someones partner is sick or they won't mind a third for a shorter day on the smaller climbs. Or maybe in exchange for lugging gear some badass will take you up something. Most climbers like to share a beer and camp/hostel near other climbers...this makes it easy to find them. However, I would think that there so many of these places to go around. Places with a town or basecamp near the climbing. Obviously the sport crags are easier in this sense.

I totally agree about lugging the gear around. About 15 minutes into carrying your pack for the first time you will want to reduce half of it. Pack LIGHT!!! They do in fact have things in the rest of the world you can pick up along the way if need be. Other people do wear underwear and brush their teeth.

Once you start traveling you find a ton of stuff you can't really plan for and some of these are the best things that happen on your trip.

You have the rest of your life to see the US, go abroad.

I've never gone to the Cordilerra Blanca solo, but friends have had good luck finding partners. In Huaraz, it is real easy to meet people in town. 90% of the gringos are there either to trek or climb. After a few weeks you will definitely be seeing some familiar faces...especially if you frequent the Tambo. The guides office has a bulletin board where people leave notes looking for partners. For the easier climbs, you also could probably find a group to pair with at base camp - the ishinca and pisco basecamps are relatively busy places. All of the hostels I've stayed at in Huaraz were more then happy to store my excess stuff when I was in the mountains.

I have also traveled to Cham solo to ski. It was relatively easy to find people to go off piste or ski tour. The guides office in Cham at the time also had a book where you could leave an email or phone number if you were looking for a partner.

A couple volunteer opps that don't require a fee, that I'm aware of:

Worldwide opportunities on organic farms
wwoof.org/

VaughanTown (speaking English to Spanish speakers)
vaughantown.com/EnglishNew/…

Another possibility is US Servas (an intn'l organization aimed at promoting peace; a host/travel network in which you can stay - for free - with others abroad and register your home for others to stay with you later)
usservas.org/traveler.html

I've been thinking a lot about doing some volunteer travel. Most do require some fee. But there are some great environmental opps that would also seem to provide some adventure.

Enjoy whatever you do - it's all good.

Go get your shots/series of shots now! Visas can take some time, too. . . John from Salt Lake is right in being flexible on airfare. Maybe get your there and back, but wait on purchasing Asian airfare. Once there, you can zip all over for dirt cheap (by our standards). Flights from India to places throughout Asia/Southeast Asia, etc., can easily be found for $80 to $100. Some agents there can hook you up with travel at "local" prices - which are far less than what you pay if you walk up to a window yourself. If you will be venturing near Darjeeling/Sikkim to enter the Himalayas, e-mail me and I'll get you contact info. with a guy who "knows everyone", and is beyond fair.

From my travel, there are always friendly Euros who are happy to trek around for companionship, safety, and expense sharing. You can easily find dirt cheap guides throughout India - friends report the same in Nepal - but you never know just how qualified they are. Many are perfectly willing to take big gambles as just living is on a knife edge of desperation for much of the population.

The following is a link to the blog kept (the entire 2nd half is missing at this time) in India. There are some bouldering pictures, and a bit of description from what it was like to be in various places. Hampi had the best bouldering of the places we visited - and is a gem of town - especially across the river. Too hot this time of year. If you drink a Bong Lassi anywhere - make sure you in a safe and comfortable place for about 2 days. :)

stilllifemovingfast.blogspo…

Dude head over to thailand and live for cheap and travel around. i hear its epic climbing over the thur.

Which ever way you go, be sure to come back and fill us in. We like photos!

Thailand is the way to go...maybe I'm just saying that because I need someone to belay my ass and I can't find anyone with the (insert lame excuse here).

Actually first you must decide what it is exactly you want to climb (read: style) Because with that kind of cash (assuming you already have your gear) a tent can get you a long way in any country, yes including this one. So what do you really want to do? Alpine, Big Wall, Trad, Sport, Boulder, Deep Water Solo (Fun in Thailand or Spain)....

Personally I have 10K and plan on making it 2 years...

Thailand and Loas (climb), Nepal (climb, trek), India (climb, well boulder, just be), and back again with perhaps a stop in Tibet (if China lets me), and maybe even some surfing in Bali.

Live with people, eat what they do, and experience everything...cheeper and more fun that way...

As for Volunteer options...it can be easier on the ground than from over here...if not try The Peace Corps, or teaching english in Taiwan if you happen to have a degree (they pay you).

If you feel Asia calling let me know...I'll be there from August until...well really when the cash runs out or my passport does, whichever comes last!

Well my situation has changed a bit. I was accepted to a graduate program for the fall. If I decide not to go to school then my plan is:
Egypt, Nepal, Thailand, Mexico, Home. That trip should take around 7-9 months.

I haven't visited this thread in a while. But, did anyone say "save it for retirement" yet?

If not...save it for retirement.

No matter where you go - put cash away for a safe return...it will ease the transition back into society...Nothing is worse than coming home flat busted.

If you save it for retirement you'll be too old to do the things you put aside the money for in the first place...assuming you live that long...

Go have fun...who knows what will happen tomorrow

And jumping the cube for a study hall, while not bad (and what I plan to do upon return) isn't that kinda what you were trying to get away from in the first place...monotony?

Nothing worse? Really?

I can think of a few...

HoseBeats wrote:Some people have a dim view of living out of a van.

Unless it's a "van down by the river" then it's totally sweet.