Mountain Project Logo

Moving to Berkeley-Looking for housing

Original Post
jack s. · · Kamloops, BC · Joined Jan 2011 · Points: 10

Hey,

I will be moving to Berkeley to start grad school in engineering in August. I was wondering if any climbers in the North-Eastern Bay Area (preferrably Berkeley-but anywhere reasonably close and near a BART station works too) are looking for a roommate.

I am mostly an ice/alpine/trad climber although I will be mostly focusing on local crags during the school year. I realize SF is not an ice climbing destination, but I would like to find some climbing partners. Let me know if you are interested.

klk · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2007 · Points: 0

Well, yr going to be a long way from decent trad let alone ice, so make the most of the trail running, bouldering, and gym scene while yr in town.

Generally speaking, north of campus is quieter, has fewer rentals but more faculty and grad students. South of campus has many more rentals but also most of the undergrads, noise, crime, etc. Nice, outlying hoods w. BART access are at a premium. Pick yr. poison.

The best gym, Ironworks, is well south of campus. The best bouldering, Indian Rock, is a few miles north of campus. Trail running right behind campus, so you can stay in aerobic shape, or what passes for aerobic shape at sea level.

Just keep telling yourself, it's ok, Ueli spends 80% of his time climbing plastic and running hills.

thecornyman · · Oakland, CA · Joined May 2010 · Points: 140

I've found that Craigslist is one of the best resources for finding places to rent in the Bay area. When you're in town hit me up if you wanna try the local gym or go up to Indian Rock to boulder.

bergbryce · · California · Joined Aug 2009 · Points: 145

I'm leaving the east bay after less than two years. You've got a good reason to move there, glad it's not for climbing.

I found places on craigslist pretty easily, although the best place I found was by driving around in the neighborhood I wanted to live in. I think some owners are over the CL runaround and figure they can get tennants via other methods, i.e. posting a sign outside.

If you want some personal thoughts on where to live, be happy to tell ya, pm me. I lived in two very different Berkeley neighborhoods and in north Oakland. Oakland is considerably cheaper for much more space, and the bike commute is very doable year round and is a pleasant ~20 minutes.

You can climb ice but the best season is around Labor Day (late summer/fall). The ice cragging there is, is far away and pretty much sucks but the rock can make up for the lack of that.
Good luck.

jack s. · · Kamloops, BC · Joined Jan 2011 · Points: 10

Thanks everyone for the advice. I will check Craigslist a little closer to my move in time. Maybe I'll luck out with something good. Again, if anyone knows of climbers looking for a roommate, that is already one thing in common that I would have with them. I am sure something will work out though...

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Northern California
Post a Reply to "Moving to Berkeley-Looking for housing"

Log In to Reply

Join the Community

Create your FREE account today!
Already have an account? Login to close this notice.

Get Started.