Gunks in the summer?
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Hey everyone, |
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Plenty of people climb all summer long, but it can be hot and humid. Not as bad as the South, but much worse than most of the West. To some extent it depends on how psyched you are to climb. |
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Mid July? Squamish!! |
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I know. I'm pushing for Squamish, but it's a harder sell since it's so far. Wife doesn't climb and we're bringing our daughter (will be 1.5 yrs by then), so we're looking for a place with easy access and a wide range of activities. I also grew up in upstate NY and have fond memories of New Paltz, although sadly this was before I was a climber... |
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If youve never been then yes, do it. With late starts like Rich said and an over abundance of gigantic holds on most routes the heat isnt that bad. Honestly the classic routes there are like no others I've climbed anywhere. I know people always say Indian Creek is really a sport climbing area with gear but IMO the Gunks are truly a sport climbing area with gear and much bigger roofs. |
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mnjsan wrote:IMO you'd be better off heading 3 hours further north to the Adirondacks. July is an amazing time in the high peaks and you'll find lots of climbing and lots of other activities. Gunks is def doable in July but as rgold already stated it can def get hot and humid. July seems to be the worst of the summer months in the Gunks and depending on how bad the humidity is it can really suck the life out of you.Plan for the Dacks and if you get some lucky days in the 80s, head down to the Gunks for a couple days. Cheaper camping too up north |
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Yeah, I climb at Devil's Lake all summer long and while there are days where I have to drop everything a number grade or two because my hands are sliming off the holds/out of cracks, it's still a good time. I'm just trying to avoid areas that are unclimbable (e.g: most of the south). |
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rgold's 2pm start beta is right on the money, you can have a very comfortable and full day of climbing by doing that. There is quite a bit to do around New Paltz and the Hudson River Valley but with a 1.5yo Hasbrouck Park and Moriello Pool will be key. Easy bus access to the city as well. So definitely doable, and the Daks advice is wise also, good way to add some variety. Lake Placid might be a good base up there with the kid. |
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what about acadia? its a great place to go in the middle of summer, nice cool temps, low humidity and if you go on an off week or during the week its pretty relaxed. we go up over the 4th and have a great time, we have a 6 and 4 yr old but have taken them up since 1 and always have a good time. |
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If you're rolling I really think the Gunks are about as family friendly as can be for a vacation. We have a 1.5 year old and get her out often. Lots of short scenic hikes, streams, and manicured beauty that's super accessible. |
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Cool, good to hear it! |
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Ted Pinson wrote:Cool, good to hear it! Ted (nice name btw ;) )Acadia looks beautiful, but isn't it somewhat remote? We're looking for somewhere with easy access and other activities + a town nearby. Acadia looks like a great place to camp & climb but I don't think the wife would be down for 2 weeks of camping with a toddler... Optimistic: yeah, if it were just me, I'd be in Squamish in a heartbeat, as psyched as I am to check out the Gunks. It's pretty amazing my wife is willing to do this at all, though, so I'm looking for a good compromise where she and the kid will have a good time as well and access is easy. If we hit Squamish, I'd be tempted to head up the Chief, which does not exactly make for a short or kid-friendly day...I think either way will be great, but just so you know Squamish is a pretty good sized town too, big aquatic center, playgrounds etc. It's not exactly roughing it! Tons of top roping at smoke bluffs. That said, there is most certainly MORE to do around here in the Hudson Valley for non-wilderness types, particularly if you add in NYC which can easily be done in a day round trip by bus if don't want to deal with city parking/driving (an acquired taste for sure). BTW in Acadia it'd be easy to stay in Bar Harbor or Southwest Harbor. No need to camp. Quite pricey at that time of year though. |
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Acadia is pretty cool. Bar Harbor is nice and touristy, and everything is on a small scale, with top-ropeable sea cliffs and some bigger inland crags. Lots of beautiful relatively short hikes and a beach (with cold ocean water). You don't have to camp, you can stay in a motel. Pick one outside of town and you won't necessarily pay an arm and a leg. |
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If you must be on the East Coast in July and are looking for non climber activities as well, consider a loop incorporating the White Mountains and the Maine seacoast. |
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I can already tell this thread is going to get long and stuffed with MANY options (and opinions). So here's my $0.02 Mind as well. |
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Hmm...I would have pegged Utah as too hot that time of year, unless you're not hitting the desert regions. I assume no Moab/Arches? We're not dead-set on the east, more against the south, but again with specific criteria. Squamish would be perfect (and is my #1 choice), but the Gunks are relatively easy to get to and New Paltz checks off a lot of boxes, weather of course being a check...minus? |
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Ted Pinson wrote:Hmm...I would have pegged Utah as too hot that time of year, unless you're not hitting the desert regions. I assume no Moab/Arches?We're heading north from Salt Lake. Doing some stuff at elevation and eventually Tetons. ;-) utah.com/salt-lake-city/can… |
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because of teacher calendar I climb for most of the summer. My daily was on the wall by 8, take a super long lunch break between 10/11 - 2. At 2 a good portion of the climbs can be climbed in the shade if you chase it and there are always places like the seasons that stay relatively shaded most of the time anyway. Maybe go swim, but always climb until pretty late when it's nice. |
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I know it is sacrilegious in the Gunks, but in the summer sometimes only do the first pitch to somewhat keep out of the sun. |
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I climb in July when it's below 90 or so. Keep meaning to try taking a break midday but never seems to happen and usually am wasted by 4pm but rarely regret getting out. Definitely have bailed/cursed up a storm on more balancy stuff. Aim for shady climbs a grade below your limit. |
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rgold wrote:Arcadia is pretty cool. Bar Harbor is nice and touristy, and everything is on a small scale, with top-ropeable sea cliffs and some bigger inland crags. Lots of beautiful relatively short hikes and a beach (with cold ocean water). You don't have to camp, you can stay in a motel. Pick one outside of town and you won't necessarily pay an arm and a leg. The worst part is the crowds, and in my limited experience being there during the week is no cure for that. In can be very hard to park in town in the evening, and very hard to find spaces in the limited-size turnouts for hikes and climbs. A major portion of the park road system is one-way, and if you keep getting skunked at turnouts you can be funneled into a full loop. The best idea is to get started really early, which may not be so easy with a small child. Or, there are loop busses, which I didn't use, but which might well be the answer. All in all, New Paltz is going to be hotter, arguably not as scenic, but a lot lower stress.Acadia (not Arcadia). will have a lot more diversity in options to do. Close to an infinite amount of beta available - don't need to reinvent the wheel describing it. |