Climbing "between" NYC and Montreal in April
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Gaby wrote: These three areas have a lot of dry rock to offer in the Spring, even in light rain, plus the crowds are generally far less than Rumney. The dirt roads to Shagg and Shell can get pretty rutted out, though mostly manageable. |
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Nolan Nolan wrote: April is falcon closure for much of Poko. |
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Chris Duca wrote: Even with a week, I think that those areas, especially Shagg and Shell, are pretty far out of the way between NYC and Montreal ( several hours east of Rumney, which itself is pretty far east of the best routes north) -would require much of a day of driving in both directions, so would cut significantly into their available climbing time. |
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Thanks all for those amazing answers! |
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Hey Gaby, |
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Thanks Rory, I will be on vacation with wife and kids, who are not much into trad. I wish I could make a stop at the Gunks. I have a good old book from Edlinger with nice pics from the Gunks ;-) But I am going to think about it twice! |
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Gaby wrote: If you are heading straight north on the Interstate 87 ( New York Thruway in that stretch of road) you will pass right by the Gunks ( exit 18--New Paltz and Poughkeepsie) just a few minutes west of the highway, so it would be worth a brief detour to at least see the area and take a walk along the Carriage Road at the base ( literally for a few of the climbs) of the Trapps section of the crag. Maybe do some bouldering as well. (You will have to pay a day use fee--not cheap, but goes to a good cause). And while passing through the town of New Paltz on the way to the cliff, stop at Rock and Snow ( right adjacent to the road on the left near the west end of town)--one of the best climbing stores in the US. Rock Games by Edlinger? Good book, excellent photos, great climber, so sad that he had such a tragic end to his life. |
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If you want to visit the Gunks, but trad climbing isn't logistically viable while with the family, then bouldering at the Gunks is also a good option. Gunks bouldering is a classic destination in its own right, and the logistics/access is incredibly easy with many of the boulders right along the carriage road. I think the shop in New Paltz (Rock and Snow) has crash pad rentals available. Otherwise, I'd say go to Rumney. |
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There's also decent top-roping in the Gunks. Peterskill is a very family-friendly place to set up a few top ropes for the kids. |