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zwillia1
Sep 17, 2007, 3:17 PM
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So, I go to college up in Ithaca, NY, at Ithaca College. I've been hiking and surfing for years, but being sheltered down in Western NY, away from high mountains of rock and water is tough. So climbing has become my way of release. I've climbed before, kind of, haha, in random gyms few and far between. Now here is my question- In Ithaca, even though there are a multitude of gorges and waterfalls and whatnot, there is apparently a lack of a climbing scene, mainly because (I believe) much of the rock around here is layered slate, which makes for shitty climbing. So that leaves me with a dilemma- start making trips to Northern PA (within an hour), become a resident of the small wall we have on campus in our gym ($$), or keep climbing shitty slate walls in my trail running shoes for a couple weeks. I guess I ask this in preparation for buying my first pair of shoes. Thanks mucho.
Zach
~Without Love, We Perish~
(This post was edited by zwillia1 on Sep 17, 2007, 3:24 PM)
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LostinMaine
Sep 17, 2007, 4:43 PM
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zwillia1 wrote: So, I go to college up in Ithaca, NY, at Ithaca College. I've been hiking and surfing for years, but being sheltered down in Western NY, away from high mountains of rock and water is tough. So climbing has become my way of release. I've climbed before, kind of, haha, in random gyms few and far between. Now here is my question- In Ithaca, even though there are a multitude of gorges and waterfalls and whatnot, there is apparently a lack of a climbing scene, mainly because (I believe) much of the rock around here is layered slate, which makes for shitty climbing. So that leaves me with a dilemma- start making trips to Northern PA (within an hour), become a resident of the small wall we have on campus in our gym ($$), or keep climbing shitty slate walls in my trail running shoes for a couple weeks. I guess I ask this in preparation for buying my first pair of shoes. Thanks mucho. Zach ~Without Love, We Perish~
You'll be OK. I lived in Syracuse for 6 years or so. You're right about climbing locally.. it's crap. All choss piles that are sketchy. However, central new york is all about the long day trips or weekend trips. The gunks are three hours to the southeast while the 'dacks are 3-4 hours to the northeast. You get to choose between miles of overhanging routes of all grades at the city circus (gunks) or long slabs, steep cracks, and bugs with fewer people ('dacks). Both are fantastic places to climb if you're into trad.
Take a drive just past Utica for short TR climbs along the canal at Little Falls. Some good stuff here on surprisingly good rock. This might be an hour and a half from you and worth the occasional trip.
If you are into sport climbing, the limestone ridge running NW-SE in southern Ontario is worth the drive for a weekend trip. Great smaller crags all over this region for the limestone lover.
If you drive the same amount of time to PA for climbing instead of going to these places, you should be smacked 
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freedan
Sep 17, 2007, 5:00 PM
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Moss Island and the cliffs on the N. side of tracks are 2 hrs from you.
Good Luck Cliffs, Panther Mtn (Echo Cliffs) in the S. Adks are about 2.5 hrs from you.
Many other places in the S. Adks within 1 hr of Utica that are not in Mellor's book but a map, a compass, good familarity with the area and a willingness to give blood bushwacking are required.
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truello
Sep 17, 2007, 5:18 PM
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Were you at Blue Run Rocks over labor day weekend by chance?
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zwillia1
Sep 17, 2007, 5:38 PM
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hmm, can't say i know exactly what you are talking about- haha, so nope. is that a PA spot?
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truello
Sep 17, 2007, 5:41 PM
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Yes. In Northern PA near Sabinsville.
I came across a group of 15 or so students from Ithaca college. They were mostly sport climbing but I believe a few were climbing on gear as well.
Perhaps if you don't know them it'd be a good way to get on some longer trips.
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zwillia1
Sep 18, 2007, 3:03 AM
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hmm, thanks for the tip. i'll keep a lookout for this crew in the gym.
by the way- anyone ever been to Cornell's rock gym? i've heard its epic....
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ottabox
Sep 18, 2007, 1:41 PM
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zwillia1, Now might be a good time to take up ice climbing. There are a lot of great vertical waterfalls in the area. You could probably find someone local who has some of the gear needed. You can fill in the gaps with cheaper 2nd hand gear. Anyway... something to consider.
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lonequail
Sep 18, 2007, 2:51 PM
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Check out the other college in town. There is some buildering at the Cornell Campus and I believe they have a climbing wall on campus. The Cornell Outing Club is (or was) quite active, although I don't know their current status. Also, there is good ice climbing in the winter, especially in some gorges south of town.
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BenC
Sep 18, 2007, 3:38 PM
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Check out the Cornell Outing Club ( meetings are on tuesdays at Japes Lodge by Bebe lake at 7:30 pm) there is usually someone going climbing every weekend. Outing club trips usually just cost gas and your own food plus they have gear you can check out for free. Cornell has two climbing walls, niether is anything special but if you don't do ice thats all there is in the winter.
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zwillia1
Sep 18, 2007, 5:13 PM
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that sounds like a good plan. i hope they don't get pissed that an IC kid is going to their club meetings though... thanks to the small amount of assholes from both sides of the hill, cornell guys and ithaca guys "aren't supposed" to like each other. but i guess nature brings everyone together, so f--- tradition.
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truello
Sep 18, 2007, 5:28 PM
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What do you mean an "IC kid"?
You go to Cornell, duh
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zwillia1
Sep 18, 2007, 11:27 PM
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true true true my friend...
are you in the club?
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notch
Sep 19, 2007, 12:32 AM
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I heard about some decent climbing over near New Paltz...
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truello
Sep 19, 2007, 12:45 AM
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Nope I live in Pittsburgh. I just posted in this thread because I thought maybe you were one of the people I met at Blue Run Rocks.
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zwillia1
Sep 21, 2007, 5:23 PM
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so, I went out and bought my shoes, I've been in the gym bouldering the wall there, and this weekend is my first real trip. Me and my friend are headed to Blue run Rocks to do some more bouldering stuff. We don't have any of the gear yet necessary for lead or TR, so my plan is to keep bouldering all winter long in my gym, take these trips until the fall season ends, and get some potentially on sale stuff over the winter months and learn lead and TR in the spring...
Anyone going to be at BRR this saturday? let me know...
zach
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ltj999
Nov 1, 2007, 8:58 PM
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shut up zack..you work at the wall now. btw...im going to the gunks sooon
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zwillia1
Nov 2, 2007, 5:03 AM
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haha, who was that?
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grinspoon
Nov 2, 2007, 5:53 AM
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You'll be 0k dude, Ithaca is pretty sweet..I lived there for 2 summers. Cornell has 2 gyms now, Lindseth and a new bouldering wall at the Noyes building on the west side of campus. Lindseth sucks and will get old really quick, but you can meet some good people there. Rock season is just about done with, too bad ice climbing is illegal in Ithaca. If you ask around, somebody might know of a secret spot. I'm sure you can find something to do this winter. The culture in Ithaca makes up for its lack of climbing.
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ltj999
Nov 2, 2007, 6:21 AM
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its mike lol
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zwillia1
Nov 2, 2007, 1:22 PM
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i figured you ass. haha, let me know when we travel to the gunks. im itchingggg
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