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NDKalltheway
Dec 7, 2009, 8:14 AM
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I'm in the early phases of planning a trip for 2 around all 50 states in a year. I've always wanted to take a serious road/camping/climbing/sightseeing trip and I'm finally taking the steps to get on the road. I started planning a route that took us to typical touristy destinations and I got nauseous.
So I'm looking for help finding some great "must sees" of the United States. What are some places that have great scenery, nice rocks, and terrific history? I'm not a great climber by any means but I can handle up to 5.10. I'm mostly looking for interesting places to see and experience, if I can also climb then that'd be a bonus.
Anyone have any suggestions?
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sungam
Dec 7, 2009, 9:05 AM
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Simply put the desert is fucking awesome.
Moab, St Geroge, Grand Canyon, Red Rock Canyon etc. are just amazing.
I wish I had seen black canyon of the gunnison.
In other news, did you know that most people over here believe there are 52 states? They think there were 50 then you got hawaii and alaska.
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cush
Dec 7, 2009, 2:17 PM
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you could probably get away with doing 45 or so states and skipping places like nebraska.
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chadnsc
Dec 7, 2009, 2:32 PM
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South Dakota - Needles / Black Hills
Wyoming - Devils Tower
Minnesota - North Shore, specifically Shovel Point or Palisade Head
Have a great trip and post up some pictures when you're done! On a side note if you'll be in Minnesota and want a local to show you around the North Shore I'd be happy to help you out.
Take care
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tapostrophemo
Dec 8, 2009, 6:27 AM
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I'd really love to 2nd the Devil's Tower suggestion, but it you have the time and want to spend the whole week in Wyo., I'd suggest you hit the Wind Rivers.
(And actually, you could probably squeeze in Devil's Tower with a trip to SD/Needles.)
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NDKalltheway
Dec 8, 2009, 7:17 AM
Post #8 of 27
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Thanks for the great stuff so far, I'm also considering buying a legit camera to take pictures of the journey so if anyone has any tips on how to manage a camera on the rocks feel free to share....
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kylekienitz
Dec 8, 2009, 8:20 AM
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I would recommend Glacier National Park when you get to Montana. I'm not sure about the rock climbing up there, but the scenery is absolutely beautiful.
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chadnsc
Dec 8, 2009, 2:29 PM
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NDKalltheway wrote: Thanks for the great stuff so far, I'm also considering buying a legit camera to take pictures of the journey so if anyone has any tips on how to manage a camera on the rocks feel free to share....
First off I am by no means a camera or climbing photography expert so take my recommendations with a grain of salt.
Personally if you’re going to climb with the camera then I suggest a point and shoot, it makes things a lot easier and cheaper! You can use a SLR camera but it’s going to harder to climb with and require a larger, more expensive padded carrying case to protect while on the rock.
Safety Cord
I attach the cameral to my harness with a length of accessory cord that is long enough for the cameral to reach my eyes. I attach one end of the cord to the camera via it’s wrist loop tie off point. The other end of the cord is clipped into one of my harnesses gear loops. This allows me to take pictures without having to worry about dropping the camera.
Carrying Case
The next thing you’ll need is a carrying case for your camera. Now you can use any type of camera pouch or extra chalk bag to hold your camera but just be certain that it attaches to your harness so it’s out of the way, securely holds your camera, and is easy to gain access to your camera. Personally I like to use the Digi Stowsby Osprey. This little pouch has a strong Velcro attachment system that wraps around my harness and stays in place. The size of the pouch is perfect and the zipper closure operates smoothly and stays shut. Obviously you will have to position the pouch where it will be out of your way for climbing yet still within reach. For me personally I like to place my camera just behind my left hip.
I hope this was helpful.
Here is a link to the Dig Stows:
http://www.ospreypacks.com/...reyAddOns/DigiStows/
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jcrew
Dec 8, 2009, 3:25 PM
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chadnsc wrote: NDKalltheway wrote: Thanks for the great stuff so far, I'm also considering buying a legit camera to take pictures of the journey so if anyone has any tips on how to manage a camera on the rocks feel free to share.... First off I am by no means a camera or climbing photography expert so take my recommendations with a grain of salt. Personally if you’re going to climb with the camera then I suggest a point and shoot, it makes things a lot easier and cheaper! You can use a SLR camera but it’s going to harder to climb with and require a larger, more expensive padded carrying case to protect while on the rock. Safety Cord I attach the cameral to my harness with a length of accessory cord that is long enough for the cameral to reach my eyes. I attach one end of the cord to the camera via it’s wrist loop tie off point. The other end of the cord is clipped into one of my harnesses gear loops. This allows me to take pictures without having to worry about dropping the camera. Carrying Case The next thing you’ll need is a carrying case for your camera. Now you can use any type of camera pouch or extra chalk bag to hold your camera but just be certain that it attaches to your harness so it’s out of the way, securely holds your camera, and is easy to gain access to your camera. Personally I like to use the Digi Stowsby Osprey. This little pouch has a strong Velcro attachment system that wraps around my harness and stays in place. The size of the pouch is perfect and the zipper closure operates smoothly and stays shut. Obviously you will have to position the pouch where it will be out of your way for climbing yet still within reach. For me personally I like to place my camera just behind my left hip. I hope this was helpful. Here is a link to the Dig Stows: http://www.ospreypacks.com/...reyAddOns/DigiStows/
fuckin gear nerd!!
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Gmburns2000
Dec 8, 2009, 3:26 PM
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try to hit New England in Oct, starting with Maine and heading south as the leaves change. It might be too cool to climb that time of year (depends on whether winter is setting in early or not), but if you catch peak foliage then you'll be in for a treat.
Maine - Acadia National Park
NH - Just drive through the White Mountains; Franconia Notch is nice, too
MA - Boston is a pretty cool city and it is easy to see a lot of the historical sites in a day. The Berkshires are nice to drive through, too, on your way to the 'Gunks, but there are sites to see in Western MA (and yes, to anyone living in MA who may read this, there is, in fact, a Western MA).
VT - I'll let one of them give you sites
RI - Newport. Definitely touristy, but the drive around the mansions is pretty damn sweet. Plus it has a surprisingly nice night life. Plus, if you're a tennis junkie like me then it is a must stop.
CT - Meh.
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chadnsc
Dec 8, 2009, 3:37 PM
Post #13 of 27
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Registered: Nov 24, 2003
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jcrew wrote: fuckin gear nerd!!
The OP asked a serious question, I gave a serious answer based on my experience. Unlike you most of us can't be impotent, low brow idiots all the time. We try but we can't.
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dynosore
Dec 8, 2009, 4:04 PM
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I've been to all 50 most more than once, and the most scenic/awesome places, in order, are:
Alaska-the whole friggin state! Kenai fjords-PWS, Denali, wilderness rafting, Wrangell-St. Elias if you're up for it.....not that much good cragging though. Anyone who puts anything but this state at the top hasn't been there....or has only seen it from the deck of a cruise ship.
Kauai-tropical paradise, minus the crowds on the main islands (bouldering only)...if you're willing to dig around the net, there's some great bouldering in certain canyons where people canyoneer hint hint. Great hiking too.
Moab/Grand Canyon-go in fall, after school starts
Yellowstone-lousy climbing though
Glacier NP-if you don't make it to Alaska, go here. If you go to Alaska first, you'll find this quite boring.
Sequoia-Kings Canyon (better than Yosemite IMHO)
Note: I hate crowds.
Wind Rivers, Wyoming
Needles/Rushmore, S. Dakota-beautiful in a subtle way. Bring change of pants.
Only thing east of the Miss. worth seeing is Duluth area and N. Shore of Superior, amazing in summer.
Anyone who disagrees is a travelling NOOB.
(This post was edited by dynosore on Dec 8, 2009, 4:04 PM)
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donald949
Dec 8, 2009, 4:57 PM
Post #16 of 27
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Registered: May 24, 2007
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dynosore wrote: I've been to all 50 most more than once, and the most scenic/awesome places, in order, are: Alaska-the whole friggin state! Kenai fjords-PWS, Denali, wilderness rafting, Wrangell-St. Elias if you're up for it.....not that much good cragging though. Anyone who puts anything but this state at the top hasn't been there....or has only seen it from the deck of a cruise ship. Kauai-tropical paradise, minus the crowds on the main islands (bouldering only)...if you're willing to dig around the net, there's some great bouldering in certain canyons where people canyoneer hint hint. Great hiking too. Moab/Grand Canyon-go in fall, after school starts Yellowstone-lousy climbing though Glacier NP-if you don't make it to Alaska, go here. If you go to Alaska first, you'll find this quite boring. Sequoia-Kings Canyon (better than Yosemite IMHO) Note: I hate crowds. Wind Rivers, Wyoming Needles/Rushmore, S. Dakota-beautiful in a subtle way. Bring change of pants. Only thing east of the Miss. worth seeing is Duluth area and N. Shore of Superior, amazing in summer. Anyone who disagrees is a travelling NOOB.
Well, I must say I like both KC and Yos. Yos is much prettier IMO, but, KC is much much much less crowded. So go to both. The whole seirras from top to bottom are awsome.
While you're doing the Glacier yellowstone, thing, you need to do the Grand Tetons. Absolutely.
Re cameras. I have a slim Canon Dig that I slide into my cargo pocket while climbing.
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photoguy190
Dec 8, 2009, 5:05 PM
Post #17 of 27
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I would suggest just doing the pan handle of Nebraska see chimney rock and get out. get to do on you way to the black hills ect.
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LostinMaine
Dec 8, 2009, 5:17 PM
Post #18 of 27
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Registered: May 8, 2007
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Gmburns2000 wrote: try to hit New England in Oct, starting with Maine and heading south as the leaves change. It might be too cool to climb that time of year (depends on whether winter is setting in early or not), but if you catch peak foliage then you'll be in for a treat. Maine - Acadia National Park NH - Just drive through the White Mountains; Franconia Notch is nice, too MA - Boston is a pretty cool city and it is easy to see a lot of the historical sites in a day. The Berkshires are nice to drive through, too, on your way to the 'Gunks, but there are sites to see in Western MA (and yes, to anyone living in MA who may read this, there is, in fact, a Western MA). VT - I'll let one of them give you sites RI - Newport. Definitely touristy, but the drive around the mansions is pretty damn sweet. Plus it has a surprisingly nice night life. Plus, if you're a tennis junkie like me then it is a must stop. CT - Meh.
If the OP must climb in VT, I'd recommend Deer Leap outside of Rutland. Single pitch climbing on excellent rock. It has probably my favorite single pitch 5.8 route that I can think of.
But, it is not a destination crag by any means.
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acorneau
Dec 8, 2009, 5:18 PM
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For Texas my recommendations would be:
Enchanted Rock SNA: granite domes in central Texas, best during fall-spring, summers can be 100+.
Guadalupe Mountains National Park: tallest peak in the state, beautiful west Texas.
Hueco Tanks: bouldering mecca (if you're in to that sort of thing ;-P)
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subantz
Dec 8, 2009, 5:49 PM
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I am going to need some info first.
Do you plan on bouldering, Sport climbing or Trad.
I live in the Southeast. Let me warn you if you come down here to climb you may never want to leave.
KY Red river Gorge nuff said
TN Sport-Obed- Trad T-Wall,- Bouldering LRC
GA. Trad Tallulah Gorge- Bouldering Rocktown.
AL. Bouldering Horse Pens 40, Trad lots.
NC. someone anyone
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milesenoell
Dec 8, 2009, 6:26 PM
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Gotta throw out Smith Rock here in Oregon. Utah has some great stuff. When I went to see the Grand Canyon I saw a lot of other stuff that I liked even better going to and from, although much of it is hiking, backpacking and sight seeing rather than climbing. Bryce Canyon, Goblin Valley, Red Rocks, Joshua Tree, almost any slot canyon, Zion, the Tetons, Arches, etc.
Are you thinking of doing any mountain biking? That's a whole 'nother list.
Damn. now I want to go.
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milesenoell
Dec 8, 2009, 6:35 PM
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I don't know if it would work the same for climbing, but a buddy of mine and I have done a few trips where we pulled out all the mountain bike magazines we could find and wrote down the names of the places that the best looking pictures were taken at and then figured out how to connect them into workable road trip.
Oh, and one tip. Those big TA truck stops (Travel Center of America, I think) have good showers.
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nilcarborundum
Dec 8, 2009, 6:40 PM
Post #23 of 27
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Just drive straight through most of the midwest on your way to the good spots and call it good. If you have to stay in Iowa, Kansas, etc, pick college towns.
Mass Ave. in Lawrence, KS is a great area...good restaurants, bars, etc. Also 19th and Vine in Kansas City (that could be the wrong intersection, its been awhile) is the hub of KC jazz and has some great clubs.
Likewise with Old Market in Omaha, NE.
Plan your trip to hit the National Parks in the off season. Its amazing how few people venture into the Tetons after Labor Day, and we did some great climbing this year in late Sept/early Oct.
As much as it pains me, I'll agree with everyone who said the Wind Rivers, WY are great.
Regarding Idaho, if you want to climb, the City of Rocks is good. For sightseeing, the Sawtooths are hard to beat. Of course, if you come in the winter, the skiing is decent. there is nothing but potato fields as far as the eye can see.
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donald949
Dec 8, 2009, 10:18 PM
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subantz wrote: I am going to need some info first. Do you plan on bouldering, Sport climbing or Trad. I live in the Southeast. Let me warn you if you come down here to climb you may never want to leave. KY Red river Gorge nuff said TN Sport-Obed- Trad T-Wall,- Bouldering LRC GA. Trad Tallulah Gorge- Bouldering Rocktown. AL. Bouldering Horse Pens 40, Trad lots. NC. someone anyone
NC Looking Glass
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subantz
Dec 8, 2009, 10:45 PM
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WV new river gorge
NV red rocks
WI devils lake
Looking glass is cool
WA hike Mount rainer to Muir camp
I liked Devils tower also
I will come up with more later.
Florida HAHA there is no climbing in florida.
Also Foster falls in Tennessee for sport
There is basicly no sport climbing in GA.
The sport climbing in AL is sandrock stay away its a horrible place.
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