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secretninja
Oct 30, 2009, 5:07 PM
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Alright, so here's my plan. I'm blowing off all my responsibilities, my job, and the degree which I really need to finish for a semester or so and am off to travel somewhere exotic for four hedonistic months of travel, climbing, and surfing. The problem is, I need a destination. I have no idea where to go. I'd like somewhere where I have relatively easy access to both breaks and crags. Both surf and rock climbing are important to me, and I'm having a hard time finding places with both. Political situations don't really phase me, and neither do distances or language barriers. If anything, I'd prefer something off the beaten path. If you have had any great trips and you don't mind sharing, I would really appreciate some suggestions.
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sidepull
Oct 30, 2009, 5:29 PM
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Thailand?
South Africa?
Virgin Gorda?
That place in the Indian Ocean with the really really old rock.
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SuperCow
Oct 30, 2009, 5:38 PM
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Ive been watching some movies, and the one placed that has marked me the most was Raleigh Bay in Thailand if im not mistaken.....
If not that New Zealand would be my choice.
Moo!
P.S. Good luck you lucky bastard. I hope you find what your looking for. I never got the chance ;[
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camhead
Oct 30, 2009, 6:00 PM
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Never been there, and I don't surf, but it seems as if Australia would be a good place for both.
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qtm
Oct 30, 2009, 6:11 PM
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sidepull wrote: That place in the Indian Ocean with the really really old rock.
Seychelles? I remember watching a clip of some bouldering there, looked pretty sweet.
Edited to add: Oh yeah, it was the Klem Loskot video/slide show he had at the mountain festival.
(This post was edited by qtm on Oct 30, 2009, 7:59 PM)
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ryanb
Oct 30, 2009, 6:15 PM
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BC, WA, OR, CA, Baja?
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kachoong
Oct 30, 2009, 6:48 PM
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secretninja wrote: Alright, so here's my plan. I'm blowing off all my responsibilities, my job, and the degree which I really need to finish for a semester or so and am off to travel somewhere exotic for four hedonistic months of travel, climbing, and surfing. The problem is, I need a destination. I have no idea where to go. I'd like somewhere where I have relatively easy access to both breaks and crags. Both surf and rock climbing are important to me, and I'm having a hard time finding places with both. Political situations don't really phase me, and neither do distances or language barriers. If anything, I'd prefer something off the beaten path. If you have had any great trips and you don't mind sharing, I would really appreciate some suggestions.
How can you go off the beaten path in a Honda Accord?
Sell the car and fly to Aus!
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sungam
Oct 30, 2009, 6:57 PM
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I'm just sayin'... but if I had 12 grand I would likely find myself in one of those "expensive" type places to find yourself. Baffin, Patagonia, Trango (Say hi to Majid), or some remote area of China (FA's every day!). 12 grand... that's a lot of money - option are endless! Hit somewhere unforgettable.
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steinmethod
Oct 30, 2009, 7:10 PM
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When you do you plan on leaving? Depending when that can help choose your destination.
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Arrogant_Bastard
Oct 30, 2009, 8:06 PM
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Given the season and the surf requirement I'd second (third) the Aussie idea. It's not really off the beaten path, but close enough to places that are. You could also go up to S.E. Asia, where you'll find plenty of off the beaten path, some stellar sport climbing, and surfing - although there's not much good surf by good climbing. On the plus side, you could easily come back with half your budget still in your pocket.
With 4 Months I'd hit Thailand - Northern, Greater Bangkok, and Krabi, then make the decision to head north or south.
South: Head through Malaysia. There's some great adventurous trad climbing in the northern and eastern regions, and a ton of limestone around KL. Check out Singapore and head into Indo for surf and sand. Get bored of that and head back into Asia to climb, if you're digging it than work your way up to the Philippians for when your Indo visa runs out. From there you can loop back around.
North: Hit up Chiang Mai in northern Thailand (good climbing but not great) and then hop over into Lao. There's some really fun climbing in the Veng Vieng area and a tiny bit north in Luang Prabang (worth seeing regardless). From there you can either cut back through Thailand to Cambodia, go through the Lao plains (way off the beaten path) to Cambodia, or skip it all together and head east to Vietnam. There's some deep water solo in the northern region around Ha Long Bay. From there I'd head north into China and check out Yangshou. If you ever convince yourself to leave there check out Hong Kong - killer city and a bit of decent climbing on the islands. If you still have time left check out So. Korea before heading back.
Get the fuck out of here. Seriously. You won't regret it.
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boymeetsrock
Oct 30, 2009, 8:37 PM
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My fiance and I traveled around the US for three months in my 98 Saturn SL2 on less than half your budget. In that time we traveled through 28 states, 12 national parks, every climate the USofA has to offer and covered over 14K miles.
Not sure if you really wanted to stay in the US, but given your budget and amount of time off, you could do all the activities you want to and not be pressed for time doing any of them. And serious scratch could be saved on travel expenses.
Just saying.
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sungam
Oct 30, 2009, 8:48 PM
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boymeetsrock wrote: My fiance and I traveled around the US for three months in my 98 Saturn SL2 on less than half your budget. In that time we traveled through 28 states, 12 national parks, every climate the USofA has to offer and covered over 14K miles. Not sure if you really wanted to stay in the US, but given your budget and amount of time off, you could do all the activities you want to and not be pressed for time doing any of them. And serious scratch could be saved on travel expenses. Just saying.
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boymeetsrock
Oct 30, 2009, 8:53 PM
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sungam wrote: boymeetsrock wrote: My fiance and I traveled around the US for three months in my 98 Saturn SL2 on less than half your budget. In that time we traveled through 28 states, 12 national parks, every climate the USofA has to offer and covered over 14K miles. Not sure if you really wanted to stay in the US, but given your budget and amount of time off, you could do all the activities you want to and not be pressed for time doing any of them. And serious scratch could be saved on travel expenses. Just saying. I pulled a year on around 3.5-4 grand and I spent WAAYYYYY too much money in some places.
If you're willing to dirt bag it a fair amount it really is not hard to travel in the US on a small budget. West of the great plains is even easier due to national parks/forests. But that ^^^ budget is pretty sick!
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healyje
Oct 30, 2009, 10:37 PM
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Put the Accord in storage and put three grand in the bank for when you get back - you now have $8500. Buy a round the world ticket for $2500 and dirtbag five or six of the great climbing areas around the globe. Actually, on six grand you can live pretty friggin' good if you work it.
Otherwise, given the economy, I'd say finish school.
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agdavis
Oct 30, 2009, 11:40 PM
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camhead wrote: Never been there, and I don't surf, but it seems as if Australia would be a good place for both.
If you want to get eaten by sharks.
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potreroed
Oct 31, 2009, 1:03 AM
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MEXICO--GREAT CLIMBING, GREAT SURFING, CHEAP LIVING, CHEAP BEER!!
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rtwilli4
Nov 1, 2009, 1:09 PM
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Jesus Christ 4 months on 12 GRAND! I haven't spent that much money in the past two years I don't think, and I've spent nearly 2000 on flights!
If I were you I'd dirt bag the US and Mexico. You could make that money last AT LEAST two years.
As has already been said, SE Asia has some amazing climbing but you'll have to travel with a partner if you want to climb off the beaten path. On the path however, is still pretty cool and easy to find partners.
If you decide to head this way, shoot me an email and I'll show you some of the best limestone that you've never heard about.
ryan.tyler.williams@gmail.com or catsclimbingshop@gmail.com
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sungam
Nov 1, 2009, 1:30 PM
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rtwilli4 wrote: Jesus Christ 4 months on 12 GRAND! I haven't spent that much money in the past two years I don't think, and I've spent nearly 2000 on flights! If I were you I'd dirt bag the US and Mexico. You could make that money last AT LEAST two years. As has already been said, SE Asia has some amazing climbing but you'll have to travel with a partner if you want to climb off the beaten path. On the path however, is still pretty cool and easy to find partners. If you decide to head this way, shoot me an email and I'll show you some of the best limestone that you've never heard about. ryan.tyler.williams@gmail.com or catsclimbingshop@gmail.com
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johnwesely
Nov 1, 2009, 1:56 PM
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I stayed at the Red for an entire month and it cost me less than 300$ including gas. 12,000 dollars is a ton of money.
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tslater
Nov 1, 2009, 3:02 PM
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If indeed you're talking about a road trip with your car, and taking into account that you don't need to blow 12k to have a killer trip, and that winter is now hear and the swells are going to be mental down in California this winter, head on down. World class surfing and climbing (yosemite, tahoe, lower elevation Sierra crags, and then places like Rincon, Steamers Lane, Ocean Beach, Mavericks, California Street, Malibu, and all the excellent smaller uncrowded spots) with an abundance of hotels, excellent highways, great weather (it's supposed to be 80 degrees today in Pismo and fall, early winter are the best months with little rain), and the Sierra rock is never more than 3 hours from the coast, not to mention all the other stuff along the coast. At least that is where I'd start. Then I'd park my car at LAX after I surfed and climbed my way down, then I'd fly to Hawaii and catch the best surf in the world during its best months.
Having money left over just leaves you options. I've never been bummed that I didn't blow all my cash in one trip. Pick a trip and make your goal climbing and surfing not spending 12k and you'll be stoked man!
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airscape
Nov 2, 2009, 10:47 AM
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Southern hemisphere = SUMMER TIMMMEEEE!!
WHen are you planning on going? Right now this instant?
Btw: If someone could be so kind as to pm me a link with some info on Seychelles climbing, that would be awesome. I did not know it was an RC destination, and google does not show it to be.
(This post was edited by airscape on Nov 2, 2009, 10:51 AM)
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Arrogant_Bastard
Nov 2, 2009, 4:36 PM
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tslater wrote: ...the swells are going to be mental down in California this winter, head on down. World class surfing and climbing (yosemite, tahoe, lower elevation Sierra crags, and then places like Rincon, Steamers Lane, Ocean Beach, Mavericks, California Street, Malibu, and all the excellent smaller uncrowded spots)
I think you're overstating California's surfing on a world scale quite a bit.
In reply to: and the Sierra rock is never more than 3 hours from the coast
Unless you live on the coast from LA to San Diego, where half of the 36 million Californians live.
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tslater
Nov 2, 2009, 5:11 PM
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I have surfed exotic locations in far off lands (been surfing for 26 years) and they always seem better because you had to take a plane, boat, or a 4x4 truck to get there. But hit epic Rincon, Malibu, Steamers, C-Street, Hazard Canyon, Big Sur, THE RANCH (which is where I reside) you will learn that the waves in Cali (especially the off the beaten path line ups) are as good as anywhere if you're good enough to separate yourself from the pack. And from hwy 101/hwy 1 the Sierra is never farther than 3 hours east.
Check out Evan Slater's article in Surfer 2009 "Table for One". He just did the road trip down the coast. Great read and visuals.
And they say it's gonna be an el nino year (but they say that often). We'll see. '98 and '82/83 were pretty darn good, so I'm all for it.
(This post was edited by tslater on Nov 2, 2009, 7:38 PM)
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Arrogant_Bastard
Nov 3, 2009, 7:02 PM
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tslater wrote: I have surfed exotic locations in far off lands (been surfing for 26 years) and they always seem better because you had to take a plane, boat, or a 4x4 truck to get there. But hit epic Rincon, Malibu, Steamers, C-Street, Hazard Canyon, Big Sur, THE RANCH (which is where I reside) you will learn that the waves in Cali (especially the off the beaten path line ups) are as good as anywhere if you're good enough to separate yourself from the pack. And from hwy 101/hwy 1 the Sierra is never farther than 3 hours east.
Well, I factor consistency in with "World Class Status", and SoCal doesn't have it. I'll give it to the big breaks north of Point Concepcion, and yes of course Rincon when it's on. Malibu? Please, the only reason why it's on the map is because it's warm in the winter (and also in the shadow for north swells) and there's 10 million people in the county so naturally it's packed. Breaks like Trestles or Blacks will show it up 99 times out of 100.
The exotic-ness certainly factors in, be it surfing or climbing, but there is some fantastic breaks out there that pound year round; much better than Cali. Costa Rica certainly isn't the most beautiful, but there's almost always something coming through if not head+, not to mention 80 degree water. It may not have the appeal of Hawaii, but it doesn't have the crowds either. In my book, more "World Class" than the islands.
Obviously you're from NorCal and I'm from SoCal, so we see this differently. SoCal surf isn't World Class for the most part and we're more like 5 hours from the Sierras. However, you guys go off in the winter, and you're not going to be getting on much Sierra rock then, unless axes and crampons are your style.
And for the record, if you live on The Ranch then your vote doesn't count - you get better, uncrowded surf than the rest of Cali combined. That's kickass.
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