The Climbers Map to The United States

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Messages 1 - 106 of total 106 in this topic
Phantom Fugitive

Social climber
Misery
Topic Author's Original Post - Feb 16, 2014 - 10:45pm PT
Hello all.
Looking for a distraction from the Olympics?

I am building an art map of 100 destination climbing areas in the United States. Off the top of my head I came up with these below. They are not organized by location, just stream of thought. A couple are just over the US border.

Everyone is going to have their 10 local areas they want to add, but what I am looking for is the major oversights in my list. Am I missing anything?

Thanks for any input,
Jer Collins

Acadia NP
Adirondacks
Andromeda
Arches
Barn Bluff
Bishop Bouldering
Black Canyon
Black Wall/Mt Evans
Boat Rock, Georgia
bugaboos
Cannon Cliff
Canyonlands
Cape Ann
cascades
Castle Valley
Cathedral Ledge
Central Park
Cirque of Towers
City of rocks/Castle Rocks
Clear Creek/Table Mountain
Cliff Drive
Cochise Stronghold
Colorado National Monument
Cottonwood Canyons
Denali
Devils Lake
Devils Tower
Drapers Bluff
Eldorado Canyon
Elephant Rocks
Enchanted Rock
Enchanted Tower
Garden of The Gods
Holy Boulders
Horse Pens
Horsepens
Horseshoe Canyon Ranch
Horsetooth Reservoir
Hueco Tanks
Hyalite
Ibex Bouldering
Index Wall
Indian Creek
Jackson Falls
joshua tree
Leavenworth
Lincoln Woods
Looking Glass
Los Alamos & Vicinity
Mount Hooker
Mt Charleston
mt hood
Mt Magazine
mt rainier
Mt Woodson
Mt. Lemmon
Needles, South Dakota
New River Gorge
Obed/Clear Creek
Ouray Ice
owens river gorge
Palisades, dakota
Paradise Forks
Pawtuckaway
Peters Branch
Pictured Rock (iowa)
Potrero Chico
Quartz Mountain
Red River Gorge
Red Rocks
Reimers Ranch
Rifle
Rock City
Rocky Mountain Natl Park
Rumbling Bald
Rumney
Ruth Gorge
Sams Throne
Seneca Rocks
Shawngunks
Shelf Road
Sierra Alpine
smith rock
Socorro
South Platte
Squamish
Taqhuitz/Suicide
Ten Sleep
Tetons
The Needles
Truman Crags
Tuolomne Meadows
T-Wall
Vedauwoo
Virgin Canyon
Wichita Wildlife Reserve
Wild Iris/Sinks
Wind Rivers
Yosemite Valley
Zion National Park
tradmanclimbs

Ice climber
Pomfert VT
Feb 16, 2014 - 10:51pm PT
It would be much easier to visualize if it was alphabetical? Did i see Gunks and Adirondack park? Mt desert island?
Phantom Fugitive

Social climber
Misery
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 16, 2014 - 10:55pm PT
yeah, agreed. was looking at the help menu trying to figure that one out...
Capt.

climber
some eastside hovel
Feb 16, 2014 - 10:56pm PT
It looks like a list of everywhere I've been arrested. ;-)
Evel

Trad climber
Nedsterdam CO
Feb 16, 2014 - 10:58pm PT
What? No love for the Deep South? Whitesides, Looking Glass, Linville Gorge, Stone Mtn., Boone, Sandrock, Moores Wall...





Great idea! Sign me up for one when they're ready.
philo

Trad climber
Is that light the end of the tunnel or a train?
Feb 16, 2014 - 11:00pm PT
Poke O Moonshine?

Overlooking lovely lake Champlain home to Champy the American Loch Ness Monster.
Just in case you were interested.
Phantom Fugitive

Social climber
Misery
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 16, 2014 - 11:01pm PT
Evel, look again, speed reader.
tradmanclimbs

Ice climber
Pomfert VT
Feb 16, 2014 - 11:04pm PT
ya, you have to put the effort into getting them in alphabetical order. looks like a jumbled mess..
Evel

Trad climber
Nedsterdam CO
Feb 16, 2014 - 11:04pm PT
Ok ok so I missed Looking Glass on your list.
Ghost

climber
A long way from where I started
Feb 16, 2014 - 11:10pm PT
Thirty seconds of effort gives an alphabetical sort, but it would probably be more useful if it was arranged geographically.

Acadia NP
Adirondacks
Andromeda
Arches
Barn Bluff
Bishop Bouldering
Black Canyon
Black Wall/Mt Evans
Boat Rock, Georgia
bugaboos
Cannon Cliff
Canyonlands
Cape Ann
cascades
Castle Valley
Cathedral Ledge
Central Park
Cirque of Towers
City of rocks/Castle Rocks
Clear Creek/Table Mountain
Cliff Drive
Cochise Stronghold
Colorado National Monument
Cottonwood Canyons
Denali
Devils Lake
Devils Tower
Drapers Bluff
Eldorado Canyon
Elephant Rocks
Enchanted Rock
Enchanted Tower
Garden of The Gods
Grand Tetons
Holy Boulders
Horse Pens
Horsepens
Horseshoe Canyon Ranch
Horsetooth Reservoir
Hueco Tanks
Hyalite
Ibex Bouldering
Index Wall
Indian Creek
Jackson Falls
joshua tree
Leavenworth
Lincoln Woods
Looking Glass
Los Alamos & Vicinity
Mount Hooker
Mt Charleston
mt hood
Mt Magazine
mt rainier
Mt Woodson
Mt. Lemmon
Needles, South Dakota
New River Gorge
Obed/Clear Creek
Ouray Ice
owens river gorge
Palisades, dakota
Paradise Forks
Pawtuckaway
Peters Branch
Pictured Rock (iowa)
Potrero Chico
Quartz Mountain
Red River Gorge
Red Rocks
Reimers Ranch
Rifle
Rock City
Rocky Mountain Natl Park
Rumbling Bald
Rumney
Ruth Gorge
Sams Throne
Seneca Rocks
Shawngunks
Shelf Road
Sierra Alpine
smith rock
Socorro
South Platte
Squamish
Taqhuitz/Suicide
Ten Sleep
The Needles
Truman Crags
Tuolomne Meadows
T-Wall
Vedauwoo
Virgin Canyon
Wichita Wildlife Reserve
Wild Iris/Sinks
Wind Rivers
Yosemite Valley
Zion National Park
tuolumne_tradster

Trad climber
Leading Edge of North American Plate
Feb 16, 2014 - 11:12pm PT
Lovers Leap, Tahoe Area
adventurous one

Trad climber
Truckee Ca.
Feb 16, 2014 - 11:12pm PT
Tahoe (Lovers Leap, Sugar Loaf, Donner, etc, etc.) The third most popular climbing destination, after Yosemite and J Tree, in Cali.

Edit: Beat me to it.
Phantom Fugitive

Social climber
Misery
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 16, 2014 - 11:13pm PT
Thanks Ghost.

It brings up a good question-

My plans are a numbered map with a key.

In the key, would you prefer to see them in geographic order, say from 1. Denali to 100. Looking Glass, or would you rather see it alphabetical in the key and the numbers are just scattered on the map.
Phantom Fugitive

Social climber
Misery
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 16, 2014 - 11:13pm PT
Yes, Tahoe area was a huge oversight. Thanks.
tuolumne_tradster

Trad climber
Leading Edge of North American Plate
Feb 16, 2014 - 11:15pm PT
Pinnacles national monument

Shuteye Ridge

Calaveras Dome

Needles, California

Castle Crag
Ghost

climber
A long way from where I started
Feb 16, 2014 - 11:19pm PT
Couple of comments:

Your list is almost entirely rock-climbing (including alpine rock climbing) areas. Denali and the Ruth Gorge seem way out of place.

And if you're going to include Squamish and the Bugaboos, should you not include other major climbing venues in Canada? Surely there is something in the Canadian Rockies more worthy of inclusion than, say, The Garden of The Gods.

I like the idea of your climbers map, but it needs a bit more thought.
Phantom Fugitive

Social climber
Misery
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 16, 2014 - 11:21pm PT
Ghost. That's why Im here. Any other suggestions for Alaska?
Phantom Fugitive

Social climber
Misery
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 16, 2014 - 11:23pm PT
tuolomne trad- great additions. I have to be picky about california, because it could easily be "100 Climbing destinations of California". Needles is in my list already though.
adventurous one

Trad climber
Truckee Ca.
Feb 16, 2014 - 11:24pm PT
You might also want to ask opinions on which areas probably do not belong on the top 100 list. I believe you have 100 hundred listed and I can think of several others off the top of my head that are missing, but I'll let others post about the places missing in their neck of the woods.

Sounds like a cool project, good luck.
Phantom Fugitive

Social climber
Misery
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 16, 2014 - 11:25pm PT
Also, Ghost,
Bugaboos and Squamish are most what I hear from people road-tripping over the border. My map barely shows the edges of Canada and Mexico so I need to be picky.

In the end I may scrap the over-the-border stuff and just save it for a Canadian map.
Phantom Fugitive

Social climber
Misery
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 16, 2014 - 11:27pm PT
Adventurous- absolutely.

The ones that get scrapped will be a process of elimination. I need some less popular areas represented in the not-so-rock-friendly states so its not just all about the Coasts and Colorado.
john hansen

climber
Feb 16, 2014 - 11:27pm PT
Squamish is in Canada,,, right?

But a cool idea. I would like to see the map when it is done.
this just in

climber
north fork
Feb 16, 2014 - 11:29pm PT
Let's trade Florida and Texas for BC and Alberta.
Phantom Fugitive

Social climber
Misery
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 16, 2014 - 11:31pm PT
I guess I shouldn't have had Squamish at the top of my list. A bit distracting I guess.
Todd Gordon

Trad climber
Joshua Tree, Cal
Feb 16, 2014 - 11:36pm PT
take joshua tree off the list;...it's mostly just a bouldering area and a practice area at best......

Phantom Fugitive

Social climber
Misery
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 16, 2014 - 11:38pm PT
Todd, I put Jtree on the list BECAUSE its a bouldering area ;-)
jgill

Boulder climber
Colorado
Feb 16, 2014 - 11:47pm PT
Is your map to appear on a computer program (internet) so it can be revised easily? Seems hopeless to do on paper.
Evel

Trad climber
Nedsterdam CO
Feb 16, 2014 - 11:53pm PT
OK, Seriously Letting The Cat Out OF The Bag. Maybe.

My home state Pennsylvania has crap for roped climbing.

The Bouldering however is nothing shy of world class. If you can find it. Then get to it.

Gritstone. Better than England.

All over the place.
Phantom Fugitive

Social climber
Misery
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 16, 2014 - 11:53pm PT
john-
hand-drawn base map, edited/labelled on computer, presented as an old school fold out paper car map.
Phantom Fugitive

Social climber
Misery
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 16, 2014 - 11:54pm PT
Evel- I am seeing lots of "blue dots" on the mountain project map round there. whats teh most central/concentrated area?
mojede

Trad climber
Butte, America
Feb 16, 2014 - 11:58pm PT
You missed Montana--I'd start with Lake Koocanusa, Blodgett Canyon, Gallatin Canyon, and the Boulder Batholith...


...diverse geographically and geologically :-)
crunch

Social climber
CO
Feb 17, 2014 - 12:04am PT
Needles? Which ones? SD or CA? Both?

"Black Wall/Mt Evans"

but not the Diamond?

How about Elephant's Perch?

Yamnuska/Bow Valley?

AZ? Cochise? Granite Mt?



Ben909

Trad climber
toronto
Feb 17, 2014 - 12:05am PT
Donner summit and it's history would make great fodder for a doodle...
Ed Hartouni

Trad climber
Livermore, CA
Feb 17, 2014 - 12:05am PT
Tim Toula Rock 'n' Road

http://www.rocknroad.org/02.html
Evel

Trad climber
Nedsterdam CO
Feb 17, 2014 - 12:05am PT
Most of the rock that I know of isn't on the mp map. Mostly N Central and Western PA.
Go to synrock.com and ask Jim. He's been quietly picking plums for years.
Phantom Fugitive

Social climber
Misery
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 17, 2014 - 12:07am PT
Crunch- So many features in Estes, I just opted out with RMNP and Cochise is in there, as well as Paradise Forks, Mt Lemmon. Elephants, good call. Its on the stand by list.

Mojede- of your list would Gallatin be the most "destination" worthy?
As in, worth driving 1000 miles for.
Phantom Fugitive

Social climber
Misery
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 17, 2014 - 12:09am PT
Thanks Evel- not looking for obscure or comprehensive. Thats another project entirely.

Phantom Fugitive

Social climber
Misery
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 17, 2014 - 12:13am PT
Ed-
thanks, I hadn't thought of looking at Rock n Road.
Much more comprehensive than what I am doing.
rgold

Trad climber
Poughkeepsie, NY
Feb 17, 2014 - 12:51am PT
Random observations:

Shawngunks is spelled wrong, it is Shawangunks. The Grand Tetons should be the Tetons. If you are staying within US borders, then drop Portrero Chico. Horse Pens and Horsepens both appear. I'd drop Central Park as unworthy. You should add Whitehorse Ledge if you are going to have Cathedral Ledge.

You have a certain amount of double-listing, because you have specific destinations that are within listed regions. For example, you have the Wind Rivers, which includes the separately-listed Cirque of the Towers and Mt. Hooker. There are certainly other important destinations in the Wind Rivers not mentioned.

On the other side of the coin, you have Sierra Alpine without any of its many specific attractions (e.g. Incredible Hulk). The Adirondacks is also a vast region (bigger than any National Park) with many subregions of considerable interest.
Phantom Fugitive

Social climber
Misery
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 17, 2014 - 01:29am PT
Rgold-
There will be spelling and clarity to edit later, but thanks.

Great feedback.

Again, I could do 100 places just in California, so I need to limit what I Iabel there for my purposes. In fact a california map is not a bad idea.

Can you offer the two most worthy roadtrip destinations of the Adirondacks?

Again, I have Potrero, Bugaboos, and Squamish in my initial list only because they physically are within the range of my map and are popular and common inclusions in a north american road trip.
Plaidman

Trad climber
South Slope of Mt. Tabor, Portland, Oregon, USA
Feb 17, 2014 - 02:17am PT
Valdez Alaska ice climbing
http://www.alaskaiceclimbing.com/valdez.htm

Plaid
redrocker

climber
NV
Feb 17, 2014 - 02:33am PT
I think it's great that you included Mt Charleston. Can't tell you how much us locals appreciate that nearby option when it's 112 degrees out at Red Rock. Great limestone sport climbing and 30 degrees cooler than down in the valley.

That said, if you have to start dropping borderline destinations to make room for more worthy ones (eg. Lover's Leap) then perhaps Charleston could fall off the map. Pun intended.

Thumbs up for your idea and best of luck.


Edit:
Then again, I have met out-of-towners who came with Charleston as their destination. Also know many locals who prefer Charleston and the other local limestone crags over Red Rock. Maybe one label for Vegas that reads: Red Rock/Mt Charleston.
RyanD

climber
Squamish
Feb 17, 2014 - 02:40am PT
If u include Mexican & Canadian destinations maybe don't call it "climbers map to the United States" maybe "climbers map to North America" would be more accurate, albeit incomplete. Good luck.
Peter Haan

Trad climber
Santa Cruz, CA
Feb 17, 2014 - 03:19am PT
Wayno

Big Wall climber
Seattle, WA
Feb 17, 2014 - 04:05am PT
Somehow I think you are missing a whole shitload of Castle Rocks.
nature

climber
Boulder, CO
Feb 17, 2014 - 04:17am PT
Peter... that map needs a spot right about where the "S" is - Boulder: PrAna and Lululemon.


Shelf Road yet you have nothing in Northern Arizona? Sedona?


Edit: oh... I see the Forks. still.... thousands and thousands of climbs in NAZ.
John M

climber
Feb 17, 2014 - 04:24am PT
Maybe say its 100+ climbing destinations. Everyone likes a little extra.
jopay

climber
so.il
Feb 17, 2014 - 06:41am PT
Draper's Bluff is closed, but you should include Cedar Bluff which is next door to Draper's.
steveA

Trad climber
Wolfeboro, NH
Feb 17, 2014 - 07:56am PT
One of my favorites-- Turkey Rocks, South Platte,CO,

and for the rock starved Easterners--Ragged Mountain, Conn
Lanthade

climber
Feb 17, 2014 - 08:42am PT
I'd substitute the black hills of South Dakota for just the needles, so much great stuff encompassed in that area.

I was surprised to see barn bluff on the list. If you want a Minnesota area go with Palisade Head on the north shore of Lake Superior. It's so much better than barn bluff.
Phantom Fugitive

Social climber
Misery
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 17, 2014 - 08:46am PT
Super helpful everyone. Thank you.

SteveW

Trad climber
The state of confusion
Feb 17, 2014 - 09:59am PT
In Cowlowrado, add Boulder Canyon, Clear Creek Canyon,
Staunton State Park, Golden Cliffs (N. Table Mountain), South Platte,
Castlewood Canyon State Park, Rifle, Indian Peaks Wilderness, Pikes peak,
ice climbing areas like Silverton, Ouray, Vail, Telluride, --
There are soooo many other places too!!!
mojede

Trad climber
Butte, America
Feb 17, 2014 - 10:45am PT
Phantom--of the areas that I mentioned that would be worth driving 1000 miles for, they all qualify since they are on the way to something else, usually (Canada, or going from the Great Lakes area to Washington State, say).

Blodgett Canyon is probably the most recognizable, having been in Harlin's guide to the Rocky Mountains for over 30+ years.

Gallatin Canyon and the Boulder Batholith can be easily climbed in one trip and are VERY different types of traditional climbing...
crunch

Social climber
CO
Feb 17, 2014 - 11:02am PT
Again, I could do 100 places just in California, so I need to limit what I Iabel there for my purposes. In fact a california map is not a bad idea.

Sort of already been done.


The posters page for Toula's website:

http://www.rocknroad.org/03.html

Damn. CA has 300 climbing areas, poor Colorado only has 268....
Jaybro

Social climber
Wolf City, Wyoming
Feb 17, 2014 - 11:05am PT
Superstitions / queen creek Az McDowells?
City of Rocks New Mexico?
Needles; Rushmore and sylvan Lake, South Dakota?
philo

Trad climber
Is that light the end of the tunnel or a train?
Feb 17, 2014 - 11:07am PT
Granite Mountain near Prescot Az.
pyro

Big Wall climber
Calabasas
Feb 17, 2014 - 11:19am PT
don't forget stoney point!
Phantom Fugitive

Social climber
Misery
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 17, 2014 - 12:12pm PT
Crunch-

Re: Toulas california poster. Cool. My stuffs... a bit different. Less infographic, more piece of art with bonus information.

Also- I came looking for you last week at your book signing, but just missed you. I resisted the urge to steal one of your books from the table. They are gorgeous.

Pyro- yes, thanks. Stoney Point is on my maybe list.
happiegrrrl

Trad climber
www.climbaddictdesigns.com
Feb 17, 2014 - 12:59pm PT
I may be a wanker for posting this but, you can see a vast number of US climbing destinations, with information linked, at http://climbingweather.com/map
philo

Trad climber
Is that light the end of the tunnel or a train?
Feb 17, 2014 - 01:06pm PT
No Wankifying Happie. Thanks for the link, I bookmarked the page. :-)
hagerty

Social climber
A Sandy Area South of a Salty Lake
Feb 17, 2014 - 01:09pm PT
"... 100 destination climbing areas in the United States."
Central Park? Destination? Seriously?

The Bugaboos are hardly "just over the border".
Sierra Ledge Rat

Mountain climber
Old and Broken Down in Appalachia
Feb 17, 2014 - 01:12pm PT
Castle Rock State Park, CA
Whitehorse Ledge, NH
Crow Hill, MA
Purgatory Chasm, MA
Sandia Mountains, NM
Cabezon Peak, NM
Organ Mtns, NM
Seneca Rocks, WV


Phantom Fugitive

Social climber
Misery
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 17, 2014 - 01:31pm PT
Hagerty-
touche' but just trying to show diversity and have labels all over the us, not just in the obvious spots. I doubt it will make the final list.

I got it, nobody wants anything mentioned in canada. moving on.

happieegrrl, cool link, thanks. I know that the information is out there in the world already as to where crags are. I don't make map art because people need it. I just enjoy it.
apogee

climber
Technically expert, safe belayer, can lead if easy
Feb 17, 2014 - 01:33pm PT
Fun idea.

P.S.: 'Tahquitz'
Phantom Fugitive

Social climber
Misery
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 17, 2014 - 01:33pm PT
Tami-
I started with "north america" then quickly realized that was a bit more than I wanted to deal with. I chose those three just because they are popular includes on big USA roadtrips. They have been struck from the list because people cant seem to see past that.

And yes, many slings and arrows. Send herbal remedies.
Rankin

Social climber
Greensboro, North Carolina
Feb 17, 2014 - 01:34pm PT

These are significant areas and worthy inclusions on a climber's map. There are many others in NC, and the bouldering in the areas around Boone and Grandfather Mtn. is also large. More info available on http://carolinaclimbers.org/.

Phantom Fugitive

Social climber
Misery
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 17, 2014 - 01:35pm PT
Sierra Ledge Rat- great, thanks. Some of those are in stand by list. Hadn't heard of purgatory chasm, but it sounds metaphorically metamorphic.
pyro

Big Wall climber
Calabasas
Feb 17, 2014 - 02:23pm PT
Pyro- yes, thanks. Stoney Point is on my maybe list.

what does it take to make the list?
limpingcrab

Trad climber
the middle of CA
Feb 17, 2014 - 02:33pm PT
Wait, why were Potrero and the Bugs in a map of the US!?!?! I don't understand because I didn't read the 10 separate posts where you explained it to people over and over again, drrrrrrr!!!

Kidding, but I think it's a great idea and look forward to the creation.

I love maps, especially when done by an artist
Phantom Fugitive

Social climber
Misery
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 17, 2014 - 02:45pm PT
pyro-
is one of these three things:
1. is a classic american destination
2. unique by description or location
3. fills a gap so that the locations are well distributed across the country

limpingcrab- thanks. The horse is drawing flies.

redrocker

climber
NV
Feb 17, 2014 - 02:51pm PT
Maybe one label for Las Vegas area that reads: Red Rock/Mt Charleston.



Topic Author's Reply - Feb 17, 2014 - 10:33am PT
Tami-
I started with "north america" then quickly realized that was a bit more than I wanted to deal with. I chose those three just because they are popular includes on big USA roadtrips. They have been struck from the list because people cant seem to see past that.

And yes, many slings and arrows. Send herbal remedies.

It's good that you've asked for input and I'm sure you anticipated some "constructive" criticism.
But....it's still your project/vision so don't lose sight by trying to appease too many.





Byran

climber
San Jose, CA
Feb 17, 2014 - 03:44pm PT
Try keeping a consistent logic with how areas are lumped together. It doesn't make sense to have "Cascades" on the list while also listing a number of individual volcanoes in the range. And if you're going to include a destination as large (400 miles long) as "Sierra Alpine" then it doesn't make sense have listings for both Bishop Bouldering and the ORG, since they're like a 10 min drive from each other and share the same campground. Likewise, South Platte is just one "area", but Yosemite Valley and Tuolumne are two?

Aside from that, some destinations that I have driven quite a ways to visit are Trout Creek (OR), Darrington (WA), Sedona Spires (AZ), and Mt Shasta (CA). Other areas that I haven't been to but are famous enough that I've heard a lot about them include Maple Canyon, Whitesides, Stone Mnt, Linville Gorge, and Laurel Knob.

Areas which I would maybe strike from the list are Socorro Box, Mt Woodson, Central Park (famous, yes; climbing destination, no), Mt Charleston and possibly Garden of the Gods. There's also a whole bunch of areas that I've never heard of on the list and I suspect a number of them could be trimmed.
Phantom Fugitive

Social climber
Misery
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 17, 2014 - 04:43pm PT
Byran-
fair thoughts. Thank you.

Reasoning behind Sierras/Bishop Bouldering/ORG is the vast different styles. There may be some shaving and editing there.

I'm glad you haven't heard of many of these locations. My map will be perfect for you.

I agree, Central Park doesn't need to be on this map.

However much people like to diss on Garden of the Gods, I meet people everywhere who have it on their "must visit" list for some reason. It is what it is.

Mt Woodson, fair enough. I climb in san diego and would like to have something on there. may have to think on that one.

Trout creek was on my maybe list. Do people frequent the area? It has always come across as an "in-the-know" type crag. Is that not the case?

Macronut

Trad climber
Fresno, Ca
Feb 17, 2014 - 05:06pm PT
I'll second Rankin's Whitesides, NC.
stevep

Boulder climber
Salt Lake, UT
Feb 17, 2014 - 06:22pm PT
Let's see. Maple Canyon and American Fork in UT. Both pretty significant destinations with many routes.
I'd list Joes Valley for bouldering rather than Ibex. It is very much a destination. Ibex maybe if you combine both the bouldering and roped climbing as well as nearby climbing (Notch Peak).
lalamur

Trad climber
San Diego, CA
Feb 18, 2014 - 11:53am PT
The best, and biggest, climbing area in San Diego County: El Cajon mtn.
Please include in your list
crunch

Social climber
CO
Feb 18, 2014 - 12:26pm PT
more piece of art with bonus information

Yep, that sounds about right. A work of art first. Any information included does not detract from the artistic vision. Toula's work is the other way round: information driven.

Looking forward to seeing your finished map!

Sorry I missed you last Saturday. So many folks to catch up with, impossible to talk to everyone.

Next time.
MZiebell

Social climber
Prescott, AZ
Feb 18, 2014 - 12:33pm PT
Indian Head Mountain and Santa Elena Canyon in Big Bend National Park, TX. A destination area only because you better be ready to drive for hours/days from anywhere else...
philo

Trad climber
Is that light the end of the tunnel or a train?
Feb 18, 2014 - 01:31pm PT
Hey now I've made two great suggestions and haven't heard a response. Is this mike on? Testing, one two three testing...
tradjunkie

Trad climber
Rocky Mountain High
Feb 18, 2014 - 01:32pm PT
2 thoughts.

First, about 20 years ago I saw a "Hitchhiker's Guide to Gravity" map, western edition (the only version), covering the western US climbing areas. Haven't seen it since. Anybody know anything about it?

Second, maybe you could find an "objective" measure to include the 'top 100'. Maybe someone with some good engineering / math skills on the Taco (and I know there are lots) could collaborate with MountainProject to do something like take climbing area route data by area, and multiply the # of stars for a route with the route length? In other words, the more climbing there is (10 1-pitch climbs vs 1 10-pitch climb) and the better it is, the more it counts? Someone else could figure out details like how to rebalance scores for e.g. bouldering areas vs multipitch trad areas, maybe by picking the top x% of the areas in each category, or filling in missing data (10' standard height for boulder problems, and 100' standard pitches for climbs, without height data?).
MattF

Trad climber
Bend, Or
Feb 18, 2014 - 01:50pm PT
Trout creek was on my maybe list. Do people frequent the area? It has always come across as an "in-the-know" type crag. Is that not the case?

I would say it used to be 100% an in-the-know crag - there didn't use to be any directions on how to get there posted anywhere online or even in the guidebook (although about 10 minutes of looking at google earth was all you needed to find it). Plus the fact that its a fairly burly approach for single-pitch trad cragging, and its pretty stout makes it not appeal to a lot of climbers.

The past maybe 3-4 years its become more well known, however there are some access issues and it is now closed entirely for usually about half the year due to raptor nesting. It is a sweet crag, but I don't know if it would qualify as a "destination".
HighTraverse

Trad climber
Bay Area
Feb 18, 2014 - 01:51pm PT
Phantom,
A good list

But how do you define "destination area"?
For some weird reason, I've pondered what that means for some time.
To me it's something like:
1 - climbers from some other part of the country/continent/world have heard of it
2 - An are that an out of area climber is likely to want to visit.
3 - The out of area climber is willing to make a special effort to go and climb there when he's in the neighborhood.

You've got a VERY long list. I've heard of probably 90% of them. There are probably 25% that meet my definition of destination. (No I haven't actually read your entire list
You could put them all together in an online poll (I can't remember the website where you can set up a free poll) with 3 or 4 appropriate checkboxes and publish it on this thread.
Would only take 5 minutes for each of us to fill in the boxes.

Edit: An example. A few years ago at Donner Summit (CA) in June I met a young couple from Germany with a child. They shared our fire and company for the evening. They were very specifically boulderers. No interest in roped climbing on this trip. They had flown to Salt Lake, rented a camper van and driven straight away to Joe's Valley to boulder. Their planned next stop was to be Tuolumne and Yosemite Valley for bouldering. Then to Buttermilks (not "Bishop")Then Red Rocks as last bouldering destination. Followed by a non-bouldering stop at Moab, back to Salt Lake and home to Germany. As I recall their trip was 2 weeks. They hadn't come to Donner to boulder, but to see Lake Tahoe.
Their bouldering "destination" areas were Joe's Valley, Buttermilks, Yosemite, Tuolumne and Red Rocks.
Obviously trad climbers would have a different set of destinations.

Good luck with your project. The result will be interesting.
Elcapinyoazz

Social climber
Joshua Tree
Feb 18, 2014 - 02:06pm PT
Boat Rock? Nah. Substitute Rocktown, which is a much, much better bouldering area with some world class problems, probably 50times as many, and has great single pitch trad climbing on the same mtn top at the Lost Wall area. It (the mtn) is the Pigeon Mtn in PMI, the climbing/caving gear manufacturer.

That said, best climbing in GA is Tallulah Gorge, with multipitch bullet quartzite. Just not many routes there, so Rocktown/Lostwall should get the nod.

Also agree on Joe's Valley vs. Ibex. You could probably do 30 areas a piece in UT/CO/CA.

noriko nakagawa

Trad climber
the bubble, co
Feb 18, 2014 - 03:12pm PT
Contact the admin of climbingweather.com (Jon St John). He may share his list of areas.
Phantom Fugitive

Social climber
Misery
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 18, 2014 - 03:21pm PT
DUDE! this is all SUPER helpful stuff.

Thank you thank you guys!
Really buttoning up the southeast well.

And redefining the other areas too.

Philo, hush now. I went looking for you to chat on fartbook and didnt find you.
Evel

Trad climber
Nedsterdam CO
Feb 18, 2014 - 05:25pm PT
DMT have you climbed at Suck Creek Canyon? Let's keep Bee Rocks on the hush-hush...;)


golsen

Social climber
kennewick, wa
Feb 18, 2014 - 05:53pm PT
Crunch- So many features in Estes, I just opted out with RMNP and Cochise is in there, as well as Paradise Forks, Mt Lemmon. Elephants, good call. Its on the stand by list.

Mojede- of your list would Gallatin be the most "destination" worthy?
As in, worth driving 1000 miles for.

jer, is Cliff Drive worth 1000 miles? lol just pokling at you surely misery needs something. Hows about WA climbing.
Fall Guy

Mountain climber
Feb 18, 2014 - 06:45pm PT
Why does everyone refer to the Teton range as the Grand Tetons? The highest peak in the range is the Grand Teton and it's in Grand Teton National Park but it's the Teton Range.
ekrum

Trad climber
Washington
Feb 18, 2014 - 07:48pm PT
Cool idea, looking forward to seeing the finished product. But you might as well leave out Washington. Nothing good there and it's too wet.

Eric
Splater

climber
Grey Matter
Feb 18, 2014 - 07:53pm PT
Beyond El Cajon Mtn, it would be accurate to just list San Diego + some Riverside as one of the best general winter overall destinations. But that won't really spiff up your map.
This winter is atypical, but the weather has been perfect almost every day for the last 100.
Not just one crag - it's the sum of many. Woodson, Riverside Quarry, Rubidoux, El Cajon, Eagle Pk, Corte Madera, Mission Gorge, Santee, Culp + lots of other small crags.

Not too far away are High Desert areas like New Jack, Apple Valley, JTree, Punchbowl; or the LA area - Echo, Malibu, Stony Pt, Texas Cyn, which are up to 3 hours from San Diego.
Phantom Fugitive

Social climber
Misery
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 18, 2014 - 08:38pm PT
Splater and lalamur-
I was at El Cajon a month ago. Its easily the best San Diego has to offer. You are right, its added.

Phantom Fugitive

Social climber
Misery
Topic Author's Reply - Feb 18, 2014 - 08:54pm PT
golsen- cliff drive isnt worth a 10 mile drive.
squishy

Mountain climber
Feb 18, 2014 - 09:07pm PT
Please leave all of the Lake Tahoe locations off the map. That place sucks now and it's overrun by bay area hippy's and some weird polish demographic from Texas that likes cocaine and jib... STEER CLEAR!!!
looks easy from here

climber
Ben Lomond, CA
Feb 18, 2014 - 09:46pm PT
1. is a classic american destination
2. unique by description or location
3. fills a gap so that the locations are well distributed across the country

Pinnacles National Monu...err, Park

1. 80+ years of technical climbing history, including the first bolted climb in the U.S. (general source of some disdain by some climbers, but few of those who have been to this particular location).
2. Google sez...yep, only one.
3. Hey, it's not my fault there's so much awesome climbing here on the Best Coast.
Scalparm

Trad climber
Berkeley
Feb 18, 2014 - 11:12pm PT
Lover's Leap, Needles(CA), The Incredible Hulk (or any number of classic High Sierra). There's plenty more, these are some pretty major ones.
Yoni

Trad climber
Mountain View, CA
Feb 19, 2014 - 03:48pm PT
There are a couple of other sites in New Mexico:
The biggest area is the Sandia Mountains near Albuquerque. There are several excellent granite climbs there.
Another is Los Brazos Cliffs in Rio Arriba County. I use to climb with the Los Alamos Mountain club on the private land. It is a big Quartzite climbing area. The rock is solid.
The last site is Questa Dome near Taos.
Gorgeous George

Trad climber
Los Angeles, California
Feb 19, 2014 - 04:30pm PT
Some of my favorites that I didn't see:

Alabama Hills, California

Courtright Reservoir, California

Turkey Rocks, Colorado

Lumpy Ridge, Colorado
Nate D

climber
San Francisco
Feb 20, 2014 - 01:54am PT
This is ambitious. Bold move to take this on and I really look forward to seeing the final product, no matter what you exclude, Jer!
The Leinosaur

Trad climber
Moyers, OK
Feb 20, 2014 - 06:14am PT
Sweet, Jer!
Having seen several of your excellent map-works, in magazine pieces and daily on my office wall (dreaming of Horseshoe), I imagine that within the larger-named areas (Sierras, Adirondacks) you might include a few noted peaks, walls or concentrations?

I especially appreciate your considering great-but-less-spectacular areas that are easy to fit into a road trip. I am proud to see Quartz Mt, OK on the list, and Mt Magazine; these are both great areas that would enrich a cross-country trip with both beauty and some old-school runout adrenaline!

That said, I would second the inclusion of Sedona towers, as, like those above, it is unique and easily accessed from I-40. My favorite trips have followed a drive-a-day, climb-a-day-or-two pattern.

I would also second Seneca Rocks, WV for its uniqueness, history and geography. Not so easy to get to but evena rock-starved visitor to DC could make a long day trip to the 'wall of a thousand pItons' and sandbagged trad fun on whIte rock lIke I haven't seen elsewheret. On the other hand Ragged Mountain CT would only belong if you felt compelled to include something from every state - it's about the size of Lower Mt Scott in the Wichitas, or maybe the Confederate Cracks at the 'Shoe. Fun but far from a destination for any but starved locals.

Assuming the '100' number is a general idea rather than hard and fast. Artistic License.

Look forward to it especially as I am about to move to NH and will be exploring that side of things. Hope never to miss a Hell, though, as the Creed always keeps me stoked for another year.
kaholatingtong

Trad climber
Nevada City
Feb 20, 2014 - 12:09pm PT
Let me first say I think this is a great idea, especially if it stays more on the art side. That being said having pertiment, accurate information is always good too. My only significant critique would be to make sure to add Lovers Leap for the lake Tahoe area, just too special of a place with too much history to be left out, in my opinion.
DWB

climber
Madison
Feb 20, 2014 - 12:41pm PT
Custer State Park
Rushmore
Spearfish

North Shore of Lake Superior (specifically Palisaid Head and Shovel Point)
Radish

Trad climber
SeKi, California
Feb 20, 2014 - 02:43pm PT
We're used to being overlooked and that's okay....Sequoia, Kings Canyon
MisterClean

Ice climber
Northern Eastside Malibu
Feb 20, 2014 - 11:16pm PT
Stoney point.... Thats hilarious.

Dont get me wrong. fun place to climb and lots of history but definitely not a 100 top destination for the states.

MAybe top 10 california but.....

pyro is biased.
MisterClean

Ice climber
Northern Eastside Malibu
Feb 20, 2014 - 11:17pm PT
definitely tahoe area!!!
MisterClean

Ice climber
Northern Eastside Malibu
Feb 20, 2014 - 11:21pm PT
...... A lot of these areas that people deem cool for this list are just absurd and more of a biased opinion of a local crag kind of thing. not trying to sound like an a hole...


California has a lot of world class climbing that should be included, it also has a lot of great local areas that should not be included
Mick Ryan

Trad climber
The Peaks
Feb 25, 2014 - 02:15pm PT
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