Top 10 Climbing Towns

Post by **pigsteak** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 7:52 am

Shamis wrote:
pigsteak wrote:ain't no way it is 20 minutes to a vegas crag. we stayed at the red rocks inn, which is as far east as the hotels go. by the time you get out there, pay, pull off, walk to any crag, it is easy 45 minutes. easy.
So we're including hiking time now?

In any case, you guys are all morons.

From DOWNTOWN las vegas, Right on the strip, it is 19.7 miles to the red rocks entrence. Its even closer to calico basin.

From downtown lexington, just to slade, its 54 miles.

So I don't wanna hear any more of this bullshit about the red being as close to lex as Red rocks is to vegas, because its retarded.

we didn't say lexington was as close as vegas. we said closer.

Post by **SCIN** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 8:52 am

Shamis wrote:
pigsteak wrote:ain't no way it is 20 minutes to a vegas crag. we stayed at the red rocks inn, which is as far east as the hotels go. by the time you get out there, pay, pull off, walk to any crag, it is easy 45 minutes. easy.
So we're including hiking time now?

In any case, you guys are all morons.

From DOWNTOWN las vegas, Right on the strip, it is 19.7 miles to the red rocks entrence. Its even closer to calico basin.

From downtown lexington, just to slade, its 54 miles.

So I don't wanna hear any more of this bullshit about the red being as close to lex as Red rocks is to vegas, because its retarded.

Dude, who are you trying to fool? It has *never* taken me 20 minutes to reach Red Rocks in the evening because there is sooo much damn traffic and so many stop lights in Vegas at rush hour. Rush hour in Lexington is next to nothing since the city is so small so it doesn't affect the evening after work climbing sessions.

Why shouldn't hiking time be included? Because the hikes in Red Rocks can be horrendous, that's why.

Also, the climbing in Red Rocks can't touch what we have at the Red. And when comparing climbing towns doesn't cost of living mean anything? I can't imagine what our house would cost if it were in Vegas. And what's this about no climbing gym in Lex? Every time I look out of my kitchen window I see a pretty nice climbing gym.

Post by **Ascentionist** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 10:50 am

KD wrote:how 'bout 10 worst climbing towns?

1. Cleveland OH
2. Miami FL
3. Detroit MI
4. Chicago IL
5. indianapolis, IN
6. Louisville, KY
7. Covington, KY
8. Newport, RI
9. Memphis, TN
10. LEXINGTON

I'm not bashing the Red Ray, just Lexington. I have only climbed once since I've been in Colorado other than peak bagging and I could care less how the climbing out here compares to the Red. MY point is that Lexington is so far from the climbing you can't even see it from town. I would think to be a great and classic climbing town you should at least be able to see climbing from town, or have rock that's not crushed in town or maybe even that the common average citizen in town knows all about the climbing because of the proximity.

That is not Lexington at all. All Lexington has going for it are climbers, not climbing. In fact, it couldn't even keep a commercial gym for very long. What should that tell you about the climbing culture in Lexington? I would think that if Lexington were such a big climbing town, an hour away from the rock that a climbing gym would be in high enough demand that a big one or two or three could stay open. But that just isn't the case. ANd is there a specialized climbing shop anywhere? Nope, just outdoor sports department stores like Galls and J&H. Look at Seneca Rocks, BFE West Virginia and they have competing climbing shops and guide services. Where are the guide services for the Red based?

Face it, Lexington is not a "climbing town". And why should Lexington get credit and not (as I mentioned before) Winchester, Mount Sterling or Morehead? There are climbers living in all those towns and you can even see the Plateau from Mount Sterling and Morehead.

Lexington is too far away with no climbing culture to speak of.

Look at town like New Paltz. It's a small town, but the Gunks tower over it.

Boone is surrounded by climbing and there is bouldering all over around town.

Even Boulder, though everyone seems to think it is overhyped, you can jog from your dorm to the Flatirons, solo a few thousand feet and go home to hit your bong and that's a pretty common occurrence. And if that isn't your cup of tea you can bike up Boulder Canyon to sport, trad or bouldering.

And even though the long drive from Vegas makes it questionable (which Central Kentucky city does this sound like?) you can at least see the rock from Vegas.

No, Lexington should not be one of the top climbing towns in the US. There are far too many better and more apt towns out there that deserve that title and Lexington doesn't compare.

Post by **SCIN** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 11:07 am

But shouldn't livability be included in what makes a climbing town? Maybe I'm confusing the qualifications. I would think that a good climbing town has plenty of opportunities for careers, a good college, affordable housing, decent places to eat, good music, in addition to being close to climbing. If being close to climbing is the only qualifier then sure Lex is probably too far away. But for someone like me who likes all the good perks in life in addition to being able to climb at one of the best sport climbing cliffs in the country (the Lode) after work I can't imagine a better "climbing town". Hmmm....the slabs of the Flatirons or the monstrous overhanging Lode after work? No question.

Post by **Saxman** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 11:29 am

I don't see how anyone would call Seneca Rocks a good climbing town. What difference does it make that it has 2 guide services? What the hell else is there? Nothing.

Post by **ReachHigh** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 12:24 pm

KD wrote:how 'bout 10 worst climbing towns?

1. Cleveland OH
2. Miami FL
3. Detroit MI
4. Chicago IL
5. indianapolis, IN
6. Louisville, KY
7. Covington, KY
8. Newport, RI
9. Memphis, TN
10. ?

Ashland, KY?

its not to bad I guess, 2hr to the new 2hr red, seneca 3.5hr, morehead 45 min and ohio bouldering 5 min

Post by **phlsphr** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 12:45 pm

KD wrote:how 'bout 10 worst climbing towns?

1. Cleveland OH...

Are you forgetting about NE Ohio's TWO major climbing destinations: Whipps Ledges and Logtown? I mean, come on dude, between the two we've got like 20 routes and/or boulder problems up here!

Post by **rhunt** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 1:05 pm

Logtown?? I'm from Aurora (living in Cbus now for 18 years) never heard of Logtown?

Post by **MacGyver** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 1:13 pm

The whole ranking towns is subjective and vague.
First are you talking about trad, sport, or bouldering?
Second are you going to dirtbag it, or do you want a real job?
Third how close are the hookers, and your drug of choice?...And so on.

Post by **rhunt** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 1:17 pm

There really is no way to rate what makes the "best" climbing town. It's all subjected to what's important to the individual. When I was looking/hoping to move closer to climbing, being an hour away(lexington) wasn't enough. I also wanted year round climbing without freezing my ass off or passing out from heat exhaustion. Plus being an average 5.12 sport climber (at least 5 years ago) meant living near a place that had those kinda routes. So what it came down to for me was Las Vegas. All the climbing there is a "day-trip" from what ever part of the city you live, you can climb there year round and not freeze your ass of or pass out from heat exhaustion and it has plenty of sport climbing in the 5.12 range. As an added bonus is being able mixing it up between desert sandstone and high elevation limestone and being within a reasonable weekend drive to all kinds of other great climbing areas.