Best place to live near Fort Drum

Hey guys,

I'm moving to Fort Drum this summer and depending how much free time I have, being the new guy at the unit, I'd love to get some climbing in at the Adirondacks and the Gunks. What's the best place to live that's reasonably close to post and also has easy access to the outdoors and climbing.

You pretty much want to get as far east as possible. Your looking at around 45 minutes to climbing from Fort Drum. Carthage maybe?

NickG's suggestion about looking on the east side of Watertown is a good point. Carthage, Copenhagen, Natural Bridge (small town) are all close to Route 3 (access to Dacks High Peaks region) and Route 12 (access to SW Dacks and gets you on the Thruway towards the Gunks.) But even so, the Gunks are 4 hours away and Lake Placid region, Poke-O-Moonshine and the crags around Keene Valley are 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours. You'll get used to alpine starts.

Never been myself, but there is supposedly a good crag at Eagle Falls, and if you don't mind a paddle as part of your approach, Cat Mountain on the south side of Cranberry Lake. Both are an hourish from Fort Drum. The Route 3 corridor is where you want to be for better access.

Thanks for the tips guys. alpine starts > army starts. I've never been that far upstate before. What's the scene like? Are there other climbers around?

This sounds like a joke question.

My dad was Post Engineer in 80 and 81. We Lived in Black River 5 minutes from the Post. Every summer I hitchhiked to the Gunks for a month. It only took a day but it was a long day. I also soloed a short cliff north of the post as I had no partners. Got to the dacks with my brother once and with some gunkies another time. Not a good place to be a climber. Build yourself a wall. Or go to the Community Colllege in Watertown and do some buildering and hit the peg board in the weight room.