Mountain Project Logo

Climbing in the gunks

Original Post
Geoffrey Glinn · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2021 · Points: 0

Anyone know if it is too cold / snowy or icy to climb in the gunks right now? I’ll be on the east coast next week and am thinking of bringing my gear. 

Alan Rubin · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2015 · Points: 10

I live about 21/2 hours to the northeast from there. Up until recently we’ve had a pretty ‘blah’ winter—not much snow, not particularly cold but not really warm either ( and not much sun), so some marginally climbable days.However the past week we’ve had a lot of a messy mix of snow, rain, sleet—-so, again, not really good for much of anything outdoors. The long range forecast has another storm coming next week, then colder. Can’t say that the Gunks has exactly the same conditions, but likely close enough, so I would not anticipate decent climbing conditions for your visit—but, then, my friends consider me to be Goldilocks, so you might find the conditions to be fine!!!!

cubist A · · New York, NY · Joined May 2010 · Points: 10

Conditions are highly variable here during this time of year. The last week has seen some great climbing weather but also a lot of rain and snow - it changes from day to day. Very hard to predict what it will be like next week, but the Gunks dry out fairly quickly, so if you're ok with climbing in the cold you may luck out. 

Gunkiemike · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2009 · Points: 3,687

You can check the 10 day forecast for New Paltz or Poughkeepsie. The biggest limitation I see for next week (n.b. Mon and Tues look to be the best of the lot) is that none of the days are especially sunny. That's a big factor in how comfortable the cliffs are.

Dylan H · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2021 · Points: 0

If you find a couple days, I'm very free and would be stoked to climb in the gunks. 

Geoffrey Glinn · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2021 · Points: 0

Btw does anyone know if you can do the entire first pitch of high exposure with a 60m?

Tony Sartin · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2012 · Points: 476

You can do the first pitch of HE to GT with a 60 and have plenty to spare.

Dylan H · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Sep 2021 · Points: 0

I went last weekend and it was very nice at like 45 and sunny. There were some guys who said they had been climbing there every weekend of the winter. Lowest they said they climbed in was high 20s and sunny.

Chad Silva · · Napanoch, NY · Joined Oct 2018 · Points: 394
Geoffrey Glinn wrote:

Btw does anyone know if you can do the entire first pitch of high exposure with a 60m?

Just not right now -- it's closed for raptors.

Now till when nests are established, a very large section of the Trapps is closed. By spring, they'll shrink it down to area's with nests, and High E will likely be open.

B Y · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2021 · Points: 20
Chad Silva wrote:

Just not right now -- it's closed for raptors.

Now till when nests are established, a very large section of the Trapps is closed. By spring, they'll shrink it down to area's with nests, and High E will likely be open.

Good call. Also, anyone can visit the Gunks Climbers Coalition website to keep updated on the closures and see which areas begin to open up. 

https://gunksclimbers.org/

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

General Climbing
Post a Reply to "Climbing in the gunks"

Log In to Reply
Welcome

Join the Community! It's FREE

Already have an account? Login to close this notice.