for Christmas break from Dec 27th-Jan 8th
friends at both
cheaper by far to fly to Bishop
please only vote if you've been to both and can judge...and state reason below...
Hueco or Bishop
I have lived at both areas for extended periods of time(multiple months). Your asking a tricky question.
In my opinion I would say Bishop for the given dates.
This is why, Hueco is likely to have better weather and I personally prefer the bouldering style there. However, Hueco will be very crowded during that time period. You will be dealing with reservations and over crowding. If you schedule changes and you want to climb on a day you don't have a reservation you are going to have to try to beat everyone else to the office, which if you stay at robs is pratically impossible. The alternative is to pay a guide. It is just a hassle to climb there during the busy periods.
February is a great Hueco month. The weather is near perfect for bouldering and there are no crowds.
Bishop has erratic weather around Christmas and storms are not uncommon. However the weather can be great too. It is rare for the Happy's and Sad's to get snow, though it is possible to get snowed out of the milks and other higher areas.
It can be cold as well.
However, Bishop can handle the crowds with ease. Camping is virtually free, the climbing is free, and the living is really good. The pit is as fun as Robs. Overall Bishop is much cheaper than Hueco.
The variety of styles of climbing can make up for the slight difference in quality between the two areas. If you haven't spent a lot of time in Bishop ask around to find the best problems and they are on par with Hueco.
The town of Bishop is much cooler than El Paso. El Paso is a sh#thole in my opinon. Bishop, a town of 3,000, literally has more coffee shops than all of El Paso. The surrounding area of Bishop is much more beautiful as well, especially with snow on Mt. Tom.
Anyway, i could probably ramble on but that should give you my two cents.
In my opinion I would say Bishop for the given dates.
This is why, Hueco is likely to have better weather and I personally prefer the bouldering style there. However, Hueco will be very crowded during that time period. You will be dealing with reservations and over crowding. If you schedule changes and you want to climb on a day you don't have a reservation you are going to have to try to beat everyone else to the office, which if you stay at robs is pratically impossible. The alternative is to pay a guide. It is just a hassle to climb there during the busy periods.
February is a great Hueco month. The weather is near perfect for bouldering and there are no crowds.
Bishop has erratic weather around Christmas and storms are not uncommon. However the weather can be great too. It is rare for the Happy's and Sad's to get snow, though it is possible to get snowed out of the milks and other higher areas.
It can be cold as well.
However, Bishop can handle the crowds with ease. Camping is virtually free, the climbing is free, and the living is really good. The pit is as fun as Robs. Overall Bishop is much cheaper than Hueco.
The variety of styles of climbing can make up for the slight difference in quality between the two areas. If you haven't spent a lot of time in Bishop ask around to find the best problems and they are on par with Hueco.
The town of Bishop is much cooler than El Paso. El Paso is a sh#thole in my opinon. Bishop, a town of 3,000, literally has more coffee shops than all of El Paso. The surrounding area of Bishop is much more beautiful as well, especially with snow on Mt. Tom.
Anyway, i could probably ramble on but that should give you my two cents.
Back from the Dead!
I have a similar dilemma, I have a friend moving to Hueco (he's a guide) and my brother lives in Mammoth (near Bishop). I loved Bishop because of all the easier problems, and felt Hueco was a bit too hard for me but that was a few years ago so I think I might give Hueco another chance. However I have some others putting ideas of Rocktown in my head...spragwa... 
excellent point mia....you are correct. ~ Pigsteak
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longlegsrule
- Posts: 1799
- Joined: Sat Jan 25, 2003 7:21 pm
I have yet to go to Hueco...but I lived in Bishop for 3 wks...in a tent in Sept
there just something about the whole 'having to sign up' thing that just doesn't interest me in Hueco for that time of year...if I had a month to live there...and could be less picky about which days I wanted to climb it would be one thing...just wondered if it was 'that much better' than Bishop
tickets to TX are friggin' expensive...but we would have to rent a car in Reno and drive to Bishop...I'm hoping (with gas then) it will be a lot cheaper to rent a car...plus we may have a warm place to sleep some nights if we go to Bishop...the whole cold thing isn't really good for me...health wise
Mia you are more than welcome to try and travel with us whichever we end up doing...
and...I friggin' love the library and Kava for days off in Bishop...and eating at the Bishop Grill for breakfast...and sitting in the foyer to the Galen Rowell Gallery playing Boggle...sigh...why didn't I move there when I had the chance...
there just something about the whole 'having to sign up' thing that just doesn't interest me in Hueco for that time of year...if I had a month to live there...and could be less picky about which days I wanted to climb it would be one thing...just wondered if it was 'that much better' than Bishop
tickets to TX are friggin' expensive...but we would have to rent a car in Reno and drive to Bishop...I'm hoping (with gas then) it will be a lot cheaper to rent a car...plus we may have a warm place to sleep some nights if we go to Bishop...the whole cold thing isn't really good for me...health wise
Mia you are more than welcome to try and travel with us whichever we end up doing...
and...I friggin' love the library and Kava for days off in Bishop...and eating at the Bishop Grill for breakfast...and sitting in the foyer to the Galen Rowell Gallery playing Boggle...sigh...why didn't I move there when I had the chance...
From Kentucky ;o)
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usccabum1985
- Posts: 111
- Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2004 9:46 pm