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josephgdawson
May 5, 2009, 6:37 PM
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Can someone who has climbed trad routes at the Kentucky River Gorge and the New River Gorge share with me which place has better trad routes?
I am trying to narrow down my choices for business school.
Thanks.
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justroberto
May 5, 2009, 10:38 PM
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josephgdawson wrote: Can someone who has climbed trad routes at the Kentucky River Gorge and the New River Gorge share with me which place has better trad routes? I am trying to narrow down my choices for business school. Thanks.
Seriously? Narrow down your choice based on the school. FWIW, people may argue about which is better, but the truth is that they're pretty equivalent.
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mr8615
May 5, 2009, 11:31 PM
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In my opinion, the new has more/better trad routes. There are some classics at the red, don't get me wrong, but when I go to the red it's to clip bolts, when I go to the new, more often than not, I'm placing gear.
That said, pick a school based on what program you're interested in and what's academically a good fit. Plus, if you go to school too close to either of these areas, your scholastic endeavors will undoubtedly suffer. I went to Virginia Tech, but spent most of my time at the New or Looking Glass or one of the many other nearby areas, not that I'm complaining, but my grades were awful and it's a wonder I finished at all.
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btg
May 5, 2009, 11:46 PM
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I have climbed more at the Red so I am partial to it over the New. But they only four hours apart. Move in between and enjoy one or the other every weekend. I live eight hours away from the Red and every (well almost) weekend trip is worth it.
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granite_grrl
May 6, 2009, 3:04 AM
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They're both good, but I think the rock at the New is a little more solid in terms of gear placements.
Not that that really matters. As most other people have said, pick based on the school. The two areas are pertty close to each other anyway. Pretty easy to drive from one to the other.
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hyhuu
May 6, 2009, 3:36 AM
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Like other said, rocks at the New are generally more solid for gear placement and nicer to the skin on your hands. What the New lacks is the easy to moderate trad routes and offwidth. They tend to start at 5.10s while the Red has great route at just about any grades, including wide stuffs.
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rtwilli4
May 6, 2009, 3:42 AM
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First I'll say... you're crazy to spend money on a school based on rock climbing... especially in this day and age where MBA's are a dime a dozen and a much bigger investment than you might think.
It doesn't appear that you are picking schools based on residency so let me suggest the business schools at Charlotte, NC State, UNC, and Duke. Basically just as close to the New and the Red and also close to the climbing in NC. Not to mention much cooler cities than Blacksburg or Charlottesville.
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josephgdawson
May 6, 2009, 6:53 AM
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I got into two excellent programs and I am having a tough time deciding between the two, otherwise, proximity to good climbing would be less of a factor. The ranking and reputation of each school is similar. I know I will not be happy if there is no good climbing near wherever I end up. I am doing full due diligence as any good analyst would :)
From what people have written so far it sounds like the New and the Red have decent trad climbing, therefore I do not have to factor that into the decision.
Thanks for the responses so far.
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munky
May 6, 2009, 10:10 PM
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One thing to think about is that the New is closer to the big cliffs (Looking Glass, Whitesides. Laurel Knob, Linville, Moores, etc.) whereas the Red is further away. My suggestion is to live closer to the New so that you can access the great cliffs of NC
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camhead
May 6, 2009, 10:21 PM
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munky wrote: One thing to think about is that the New is closer to the big cliffs (Looking Glass, Whitesides. Laurel Knob, Linville, Moores, etc.) whereas the Red is further away. My suggestion is to live closer to the New so that you can access the great cliffs of NC
Yeah, but isn't the Red closer to all the Tennessee crags (Obed, T-wall, etc.)?
The Red tends to have more splitter cracks, but if you are set on just climbing splitter cracks, it's still not the best place to be. The New's trad tends to be a bit more "climb the face, protect the crack."
All in all, though, I would go with everybody else in saying that the New has more, higher quality, and more diverse gear lines.
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heidt410
May 7, 2009, 3:24 PM
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Business school in KY and WV... liar :D
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suilenroc
May 7, 2009, 3:58 PM
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justroberto wrote: josephgdawson wrote: Can someone who has climbed trad routes at the Kentucky River Gorge and the New River Gorge share with me which place has better trad routes? I am trying to narrow down my choices for business school. Thanks. Seriously? Narrow down your choice based on the school. FWIW, people may argue about which is better, but the truth is that they're pretty equivalent.
Not true!  Both are unique and are quite different!
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rtwilli4
May 7, 2009, 6:33 PM
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suilenroc wrote: justroberto wrote: josephgdawson wrote: Can someone who has climbed trad routes at the Kentucky River Gorge and the New River Gorge share with me which place has better trad routes? I am trying to narrow down my choices for business school. Thanks. Seriously? Narrow down your choice based on the school. FWIW, people may argue about which is better, but the truth is that they're pretty equivalent.Not true! Both are unique and are quite different!
They are both very different in terms of climbing style, as well as the crowds that hang out there. If you a haven't been, you need to check them both out before you decide. If you plan to spend any amount of time there it will matter. I know people who think the Red is the best place in the world and I know people who hate it. Hell, I know SPORT climbers who hate it.
Personally, there is a bit too much of a scene for me and a lot of ego at the Red. A lot of people seem to take themselves very seriously there. I prefer the New. Lot's of cool people who know that there is more to climbing than sending at "The Load" and more importantly, they know that there is a lot more to life than climbing.
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justroberto
May 7, 2009, 7:11 PM
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suilenroc wrote: justroberto wrote: josephgdawson wrote: Can someone who has climbed trad routes at the Kentucky River Gorge and the New River Gorge share with me which place has better trad routes? I am trying to narrow down my choices for business school. Thanks. Seriously? Narrow down your choice based on the school. FWIW, people may argue about which is better, but the truth is that they're pretty equivalent.Not true! Both are unique and are quite different!
You don't travel much, do you?
The Red's advantage: miles of yet-undiscovered cliffline & some classic splitters. The New's advantage: more varied climbing style, less Ohio gymbos, better scene.
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rtwilli4
May 7, 2009, 7:13 PM
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justroberto wrote: suilenroc wrote: justroberto wrote: josephgdawson wrote: Can someone who has climbed trad routes at the Kentucky River Gorge and the New River Gorge share with me which place has better trad routes? I am trying to narrow down my choices for business school. Thanks. Seriously? Narrow down your choice based on the school. FWIW, people may argue about which is better, but the truth is that they're pretty equivalent.Not true! Both are unique and are quite different! You don't travel much, do you? The Red's advantage: miles of yet-undiscovered cliffline & some classic splitters. The New's advantage: more varied climbing style, less Ohio gymbos, better scene.
Nuff said.
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suilenroc
May 7, 2009, 8:43 PM
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justroberto wrote: suilenroc wrote: justroberto wrote: josephgdawson wrote: Can someone who has climbed trad routes at the Kentucky River Gorge and the New River Gorge share with me which place has better trad routes? I am trying to narrow down my choices for business school. Thanks. Seriously? Narrow down your choice based on the school. FWIW, people may argue about which is better, but the truth is that they're pretty equivalent.Not true! Both are unique and are quite different! You don't travel much, do you? The Red's advantage: miles of yet-undiscovered cliffline & some classic splitters. The New's advantage: more varied climbing style, less Ohio gymbos, better scene.
No need to get your panties in a bunch. Your original statement was quite misleading. Just pointing that out.
You yourself just described how the places are not equal.
And to answer your question... travel much? Sure.
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MikeSaint
May 7, 2009, 10:33 PM
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I've only been to the Red River. I'm told it owns the New River. To all those to pick school based off of academics you should be ashamed of yourself.
Any self respecting college student picks applies to schools based off of demographics. And by demographics I mean drinking beers and the attractiveness of the people who attend.
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suilenroc
May 7, 2009, 10:34 PM
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MikeSaint wrote: I've only been to the Red River. I'm told it owns the New River. To all those to pick school based off of academics you should be ashamed of yourself. Any self respecting college student picks applies to schools based off of demographics. And by demographics I mean drinking beers and the attractiveness of the people who attend.
Agreed! 
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wes_allen
May 7, 2009, 11:21 PM
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Also, it kinda depends on what grade you are climbing - once you are solidly into the 5.10s, the red runs out of trad routes pretty quickly. The new generally has a much better trad route density as well, where at the red you might have to hit up two or even three crags to get a full day for high star routes. That said, they aren't that far apart, distance wise.
(This post was edited by wes_allen on May 7, 2009, 11:21 PM)
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rtwilli4
May 8, 2009, 12:13 AM
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i was gonna say the same thing. if you climb 5.10 trad you can climb at the new forever. if you climb lower grades, the red may be better.
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