Alternate July climbing destination?

My wife and I have a week in late July to climb. We have done Tuolumne Meadows a bunch, and are already going to Squamish in August.

Anyone have any ideas for alternate destinations that aren't roasting in the heat? Having lived in Jackson Hole for a decade, we are over the alpine thing... and thus just looking for rock.

We can go anywhere in the West...?

What says the group?

Flagstaff. Don't tell anyone. A+ trad and B+ sport in the pines. Great town great camping. Room to breathe.

Or ten sleep lander tower voo if you have the time. Wyoming is perfect. Don't tell anyone this either.

I second Tensleep, if you're into the leisurely sport thing. Maple is fun, too.

Have you been to the California Needles?

Black hills of south Dakota. 700 + limestone sport routes, 2000 + granite routes. No crowds and lots of shade. Check out blackhillsclimbingguide.com for the new limestone guide.

The Sierra eastside is chockful of cragging (single and multi-pitch). For eastside climbing, there is Whitney Portal, Pine Creek and Cardinal Pinnacle. All at altitude and with the Sierra as a backdrop. The Needles might be a tad too warm.

Here are the guidebooks:

amazon.com/Bishop-Area-Clim…

amazon.com/Mammoth-Climbs-E…

Edit: I've climbed Whitney Portal (El Segundo and Premier Buttresses) in the summer, with an early morning start. Done by noon or 1 PM, great temps.

Despite the bad advice on this topic that pops up regularly, the Owens is not a summer destination. Yes it is climbable, but it is very non-ideal. Portal can be hot too, due to southerly exposure. Pine Creek is nice in the summer, though, as is some of the Mammoth area cragging.

I'd give a +1 to Tensleep as one of the nicest summer destinations. Maple is great too (thats where I am now, and the weather has been perfect here).

Leavenworth!

Little Cottonwood Canyon. There are plenty of routes on the south side of the canyon in the shade to occupy a week.

Skaha? I haven't been there, but it might fit the bill.

You might want to check this place out.
Uinta Mountains
Summer time crags to be sure.

kBobby wrote:Leavenworth! Little Cottonwood Canyon. There are plenty of routes on the south side of the canyon in the shade to occupy a week. Skaha? I haven't been there, but it might fit the bill.

Three stellar options, which have all previously been mentioned, come to mind:

Ten Sleep Canyon, WY
The Needles, CA
The Uintas, UT

Each have their own merits depending on what type of climbing you want to do.

Personally, I think the UINTAS are one of the best kept secrets for amazing Summer cragging: A wealth of moderate sport routes, easy approaches, beautiful alpine scenery, high elevation, lakes, wildflowers, nice camping, etc.

mountainproject.com/v/uinta…

wyoming is great weather in july. wild iris is perfect. though, lots of other options exist

Aquarius Plateau, Utah - beta on MP! Fun trad, and sport, cool temps at it's elevation, beautiful terrain, lake, and fishing nearby, not crowded, good campIng, lots of wildlife sightings, etc..

Mikel Cronin wrote:Black hills of south Dakota. 700 + limestone sport routes, 2000 + granite routes. No crowds and lots of shade. Check out blackhillsclimbingguide.com for the new limestone guide.

Tahquitz and Suicide Rocks.

+1 for WY for fun, not ridiculously hot climbing.