Looks like I'm moving to Chicago

If you don't want 'city', then avoid Hyde Park and get down to Flossmore. Better, go west 10 minutes more if you can, and find great affordable housing in some nice community in Mokena, Frankfort, Tinley Park too. All right on the Metra train line to the city.
BUT for a lifestyle, yeah face it, yer' fuk'd down here. Most real climbing interest seems to center on the northwest suburban are. I've lived on far south side for my whole life and have begged for outdoor interest here, where there is none. Gym in Homewood is nice, new gym in Monee is unique design. Most fun sports in Illinois are forbidden because our DNR here still has no idea what free living people in Colorado are capable of, so expect limits or closures to simple thinks like where to ride a bike or float a kayak. At least the U of C is a great place, and where you might find like minded outdoorsy people too.

Good South Side Towns for you. Homewood*, Flossemor*, Tinley Park*, Orland Park, Mokena*, Frankfort, Oak lawn, Alsip*, Evergreen Park, Crestwood*, Midlothian*, Palos, Hickory Hills, Homer Glen, Worth, New Lenox*..

the star* towns have near by train stations with service to UofC

Indiana Town close to the border cheaper cost of living.. Munster, Highland, Griffith, Merrilville.

Check out Metrarail.com for Train Maps if you plan on taking the train to work. The Metra Electric District has a stop at UofC. And i think the Rock Island has a Transfer to the Metra Electric Distict in Blue Island, Check the map though.

Devils Lake has some great climbing its quartzite rock which is kinda slick... Really makes you work your foot work... I don't think of it as world class, but as the big climbing area in the northern midwest area.

Also just think of Wisconsin as Illinois largest State Park.

Thanks for the updates on places to live, I think we'll fly out and check them out.
What's DNR?

DNR: Department of Natural Resources.

In the midwest they mostly specialize in the controlling/regulating of middle aged men walking around in the woods (mostly drunk) wearing orange, while taking their guns for a walk and being harassed by deer. Happens every thanksgiving...

slim wrote:is there something other than devil's lake up there?

Wisconsin also has a belt of quality sandstone outcrops, very similar to Eldorado sandstone. And there's also a bit of limestone; the Nigara escarpment, that they rave about up in Ontario, goes under the Great Lakes and makes an appearance in several spots in Wisconsin. It's not tall but it's steep and a good pump is guaranteed.

As far as Devil's Lake goes, most climbers are not aware that there are 1800 routes there and 500 boulder problems, all in a beautiful, hilly, heavily wooded setting.

EMT wrote:DNR: Department of Natural Resources. In the midwest they mostly specialize in the controlling/regulating of middle aged men walking around in the woods (mostly drunk) wearing orange, while taking their guns for a walk and being harassed by deer. Happens every thanksgiving...

I wouldn't make fun of hunting or those who practice it. Every year they harvest 500,000 deer in Wisconsin which is what is necessary to keep the herd viable and healthy. You definitely want to wear something bright orange if you're walking around in the woods during the hunting season.

Ed Wright wrote: I wouldn't make fun of hunting or those who practice it. Every year they harvest 500,000 deer in Wisconsin which is what is necessary to keep the herd viable and healthy. You definitely want to wear something bright orange if you're walking around in the woods during the hunting season.

Sorry I forgot to put in something to let you'll know that was tongue and cheek! I'm from wisco and deer hunt! Our family gets about 12 a year. This year only 1 buck :') a 4 pointer.
cheers

EMT wrote:DNR: Department of Natural Resources. In the midwest they mostly specialize in the controlling/regulating of middle aged men walking around in the woods (mostly drunk) wearing orange, while taking their guns for a walk and being harassed by deer. Happens every thanksgiving...

Thanks, makes sense.

Merlin wrote:and I hate cities. What is there in terms of hiking, climbing, kayaking, diving, birding, skiing, etc?

Biking, rock and ice climbing, x-c skiing are all good- you just have to get in a car and drive. Sailing, windsurfing are on your doorstep.

Buildering is all around you- some of it good (can't comment on legality/tolerance as it's been a while).

I lived in Chicago for a number of years and got my fill of outdoors activities. No argument that Boulder is a better starting point but there's plenty places to go from Chicago if you're willing to do the driving. Some very unique- there's a reason Devil's Lake has devoted fans.

Enjoy!

.and Leo's the man to check with about DL when you get here. Hope you will have a car when here at U of C. A must to get out to the climbs, unless you plan to catch a north bound freight to Wisconsin on the Northwestern rail lines, then transfer to one of the rock quarry railroad cars that go through the park.

Chicago's not bad...
- lots of nice hiking within a 2-3 hour drive
- good diving...lots of wrecks and a pretty hardcore community
- open water kayaking is world class on Lake Michigan
- Surfing too...(not just wind or kite) see thirdcoastsurfshop.com
- If you're willing to drive you'll have access to the best sport climbing in the country (RRG). So Ill is OK too.
Get out & join a gym...lots to choose from. VE in Warrenville (30 - 45 minutes west of the loop)probably has the largest group of regular climbers...A lot of people there are regular "weekend warriors" a good training/bouldering gym is Hidden Peak (5 minutes northwest of the loop)...
Good luck

Do you really go birding???

I've been stuck here for the past 3 weeks. I hate to use the word "stuck", but that's how I feel when everyday has been ridiculously cold, rainy, snowy, and I'm constantly stuck in traffic. I have to keep driving to different sites and I don't have the time, or patience to figure out the public transit. The city is nice and there is a ton of stuff to do for "city life." There is also the best burger joint in all of Chicago called Kuma's Corner. Check out kumascorner.com for a list of their menu and make sure you get the Iron Maiden, or Slayer burger if you check it out.

After work I've been checking out all of the different climbing gyms. In my opinion they aren't that good when compared to anything in Colorado and Boulder, but the bouldering gyms Hidden Wall and North Wall have really good problems and the nicest climbers I've ever met. They are super friendly, and quickly run over to give you a spot when your bouldering. For climbing routes I've been driving all the way to Wisconsin to Adventure Rocks because Vertical Endeavors isn't really that good, but it's the only option for decent toproping and lead climbing.

JamesW wrote:Chicago's not bad... - lots of nice hiking within a 2-3 hour drive - good diving...lots of wrecks and a pretty hardcore community - open water kayaking is world class on Lake Michigan - Surfing too...(not just wind or kite) see thirdcoastsurfshop.com - If you're willing to drive you'll have access to the best sport climbing in the country (RRG). So Ill is OK too. Get out & join a gym...lots to choose from. VE in Warrenville (30 - 45 minutes west of the loop)probably has the largest group of regular climbers...A lot of people there are regular "weekend warriors" a good training/bouldering gym is Hidden Peak (5 minutes northwest of the loop)... Good luck Do you really go birding???

Thanks, I forgot about diving, I've got the gear minus the gloves and boots for rec diving, I figured I might get into tech diving.

Birding, yup, occasionally. I'll substitute anything outdoors for the indoors.

So closer by
Diving
kayaking
windsurfing
surfing
gyms
Mt. Biking

Farther
Hiking
Cross Country
Skiing

Its better sounding than Philly and after three years I'll be greatfull for less crowded again.

About Kuma's,,,,forewarned it's not quite a climbers budget with $10.00 burgers and and outlandish 3 bucks for one can of local midwest PBR!!

Woodchuck ATC wrote:About Kuma's,,,,forewarned it's not quite a climbers budget with $10.00 burgers and and outlandish 3 bucks for one can of local midwest PBR!!

Someone planning on dirtbagging in Chicago, because everything is out of league here for a climbers budget. I will admit I have the luxury of not having a per diem for work and spending all my companies money on fatty delicious foods like Kuma's.

Woodchuck ATC wrote:.and Leo's the man to check with about DL when you get here. Hope you will have a car when here at U of C. A must to get out to the climbs, unless you plan to catch a north bound freight to Wisconsin on the Northwestern rail lines, then transfer to one of the rock quarry railroad cars that go through the park.

Has anyone every done that? Bechler and I once hopped a freight train down at the DL south shore but rode it for only a couple hundred yards- we forgot to take the beer with us so we jumped off as soon as we could.

Ha! Well at least you didn't spill any of the beer or ya'd been out of the club for 3 days. My dad told me about hopping the link up of trains when he was a kid. How they knew where they all went is a mystery to me without the internet back in 1938. I'm guessing they checked trains schedules everywhere just like we do for airline flights.

Pat Ament hobo'd it on the freight trains from Boulder to Yosemite back in the mid 60's.

Corey Rich did a photo essay on riding the freights for one of the climbing rags a few years ago.

And BTW, I know a number of climbers who are also avid birders.

They're actually some great xc skiing trails just west of the city in Palos...the fp district there also hosts some pretty good mt bike trails...nothing like out west but some pretty techie single track and lots of horse paths

Merlin
You might want to think about a trip down to Bloomington on a weekend. Upperlimits has 65 foot indoor climbs tr or lead.