'Merica

[dm]

So I'm considering doing an extended North American roadtrip later this year and have a few questions. Maybe you can help. I plan to do a marathon in Canada in August/September, then head off from Vancouver. My questions are:
-what's the latest I'm likely to be able to climb in Yosemite (bouldering and/or big walls)
-what's the latest I'll be able to climb at Bishop?
-when is Flag good?
-Arizona to Arkansas to Alabama to Hueco. Totally fucking ridiculous?
-Austin during SXSW. Is it just a massive shit fight, or worth checking out?

Where else should I go? I'm thinking August/September to March. Possibly hitting up El Potrero Chico. Worth it?

Hit me with your thoughts.

[ipoach]

-Arizona to Arkansas to Alabama to Hueco. Totally fucking ridiculous?

yes.

this should be your route Squamish>Leavenworth>Yosemite>Bishop>Flag>Hueco>SXSW>AK>Alabama

El potrero is choss, if you want spurt climbing down there go to El Salto.

[Ikefromla]

pretty sure you meant AR, unless you think he should really go that far out of his way.

The poach's plan is sound, but I personally would also recommend hitting Black Mt if you're in california before the first snow or after the road opens back up in spring.

[600#gorilla]

when i was in Hueco, several people there told me that they thought Joe's Valley was the best bouldering in America.

plus, if you're gonna hit up Black Mountain, then you might as well consider Little Cottonwood Canyon.

lol.

[Ikefromla]

Strong argument for Joe's. Obviously recommendable if he can fit it in his travels.

Hate on Black all you want, but to compare it to LCC is a joke. But then again, maybe loads of (hard) granite highballs strewn across a beautiful mountain ridge isn't everyone's cup of tea.

Realistically visiting it between Bishop and Hueco doesn't make sense, as they are both winter destinations ... but I'm just saying if he's in california anyway, and the road is still open, i can only recommend checking out Black. it is worth driving out of your way for, which is more than can be said for LCC. For that matter, it's not even out of the way. It's right off of the I-10 which will take you straight through to El Paso in one 12 hour push.


Edit: after the first snow fall it probably makes more sense to do Bishop > Red Rocks > Flag > Hueco.

[600#gorilla]

Hahahaha.

Ike, I've been to Black Mtn and it's fabulous. But, don't bag on LCC.

[Ikefromla]

too late. to be fair i have never visited for any more than 1 day at a time and only during the warmer months ... so fail on my part for that.
well i guess I've been to LCC in the winter, but only to ski Alta. so good.

[600#gorilla]

yeah, to fully experience the joys of LCC, one must go there during the peak season - which in all fairness, is often about four or five weeks total in fall and spring.

[Ikefromla]

-what's the latest I'm likely to be able to climb in Yosemite (bouldering and/or big walls)
-what's the latest I'll be able to climb at Bishop?
-when is Flag good?

-Yosemite realistically till late October or early November.
-Bishop you'll be good all the way through the winter, but when the snow hits hard, the buttermilks become unaccessible, and they're the stuff worth visiting there, so visit in November or December.
-Flag is good most of the time, unless there is snow. see a recurring pattern?
There won't be snow in Hueco, so if any of those places get fucked, just head there. simple solution.

[skav]

You can chase shade up near Bishop if it's hot or sun if it's warm without much hassle. Don't let lox scare you off with tales of choss. It's there, but it makes things interesting.

[skav]

Flag is always good for those pure of heart.

[malachi]

after the first snow fall it probably makes more sense to do Bishop > Red Rocks > Flag > Hueco.

If the starting point is Yosemite, realize that the drive from Yosemite to Bishop after the pass has closed is a serious PITA. At that point, it would probably make more sense to skip Bishop and drive from Yosemite down through Flagstaff to Hueco.

[Ikefromla]

I was assuming that in an ideal world he'd have headed to Bishop before the pass closed.

[actionhero]

The only true destination area in the US - Rock City Kansas.

[evil temptress]

You better come visit me so we can take a bus somewhere to climb.

[Tronic]

http://0friction.com/image.php?image_id=11070
Another Mecca dude. Schralp it.

[dm]

Good knowledge, thanks.

LCC is near Salt Lake City, right? Based on ipoach's suggestion, it looks like the best plan would be to go from Leavenworth to Utah, then back west to Yosemite/Bishop.

Man, North America is pretty big.

[600#gorilla]

LCC is as near as about 15mins from anywhere in SLC.

season exists for a few weeks before it snows to an even fewer few weeks after.

i would really not reccomend planning on LCC unless you timed it right.

which is doable, but.........

[Lox]

Dm... I would do leavenworth and utah and then head south to flagstaff. You can hit up the sick roooooooooooooooooooooooofs and decide where to go from there. Or why leave Flagstaff? Because Hueco gets so goooood when the snow flies. Not to mention, the drive through the north rim country and southern utah is spectacular.

[slim]

IKE, LCC is fucking amazing... I don't really know what the fuck you are thinking!!