549CLIMB

We just started a new Central Oregon Climbing Club, and would like to invite you all to join us! Come check it out at http://www.meetup.com/110

The South approach is the closest until the road to Three Creeks Lake is open after May 1st. For a winter ascent, Dutchman Flat Snowpark is your closest parking. You can hire a snowcat from Elk Lake Lodge to get in pretty close, but it's spendy, and since it's only about 5-7 miles from Dutchman Flat, you'd be better off just bringing skins.

If you're moving from Lubbock, TX, you'll find it pretty wet. Especially the Portland area or anywhere in the Willamette valley. Central Oregon may be a little closer to what you're used to, with more mountains, rock and open space. If you get a chance to make it to Smith, definitely check it out. If you don't find a partner, cruise throught the bivouac area and meet fellow travelers, you can often find a partner or party with room or even need for one more. In the Portland area your rock climbing options are more limited. There are several great gyms, including a bouldering-only joint called "The Circuit". Stoneworks is a favorite, and Portland Rock Gym is right off the river, super close to downtown, a short walk from the light rail train and on a few major bus routes. As for outdoor climbing, Broughton Bluff in Troutdale is about 30 minutes from downtown, Rocky Butte is even closer, with more than 100 climbs and a great "urban" environment. Carver is a private area located Southeast of Portland about an hour's drive, with loads of potential and a nice escape from crowds and the urban sprawl feeling of Portland. Rooster Rock and Beacon Rock offer terrific trad climbing during the summer and early Fall, and Bulo and French's dome are a nice day trip from downtown, or great overnight destinations for a weekend away from the daily grind. Smith Rocks is about 2 hours away, and well worth the drive during the rainy season (all 9 months of it...), and being on the I-5 corridor, you can easily get up North to Washington or Squamish in a weekend, or head East on I-84 to City of Rocks in Idaho or down to Utah. If you're into climbing, it's not exactly paradise, but there are some excellent options to be had, including many I did not list here. But if you're just all-around into the outdoors, Portland is the city to live in. Surfing, snowboarding, skiing, windsurfing, kiteboarding, kayaking, climbing, rafting, canoeing, hiking, mountaineering, wakeboarding, fishing, and everything else you can imagine are all within a 90 minute drive from downtown. Sound like heaven? Good luck with the climbing this weekend!!

Hi Elaine- We live in Bend, climb Smith semi-weekly, and will be around for most of Spring Break. Monday, Wednesday and Friday are wide open, and Tuesday and Thursday afternoon/evening as well. I lead 5.9ish, we all climb 5.9 and are working into 5.10's, and we love to boulder. We have never trad climbed. Our car is broken down right now, hoping to have it fixed this week, but can't guarantee solid transport... If you don't find anyone to climb with, give us a call, and maybe we'll find a way to meet up and climb! Good luck! Brandon, Allie and Emily

Southwest Bend, off Brookswood, about 5 minutes from REI...

I need a partner just getting into, or just getting back into climbing. I grew up climbing at Smith Rocks and Sisters Boulders, took a 9 year hiatus, and have rediscovered my passion for climbing! I lead 5.9 sport, boulder whatever, have never placed gear, and really want to learn how, and I climb in the gym 3-5 nights a week. My goals include trad 5.10, sport 5.12, and bouldering anything and everything in sight, including man-made, not-for-climbing structures. I climb Smith Rocks, Meadow Camp, Widgi Boulders, Badlands, Sisters Boulders and anything and everything in between as often as possible... let me know if you're serious about climbing and want to have fun learning and eploring and progressing!