marc_leclerc Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 Some of my best rock climbing days ever have been in Squamish in the winter. It doesn't happen to often, but when the sun comes out and the bluffs dry up conditions are just perfect for all the intricate friction dependent climbing the granite has to offer. In my opinion, winter is THE season for sending the hard routes in The Smoke Bluffs, same goes for bouldering. I pity all the boulderers shredding their skin to peices while greasing off crystally slopers on problems all Summer. People sometimes say that Squamish bouldering grades are stiff when really they are just graded for dry winter conditions Not the calendar winter technically, these are both from the second week of December, but this is winter cragging! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jens Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 (edited) In my 5 years of living in Western Washington I have learned to take what the weather gives you and let that guide your winter recreation. For example, Sunday was supposed to be Sunny but very warm. That led me to go rock climbing at index (50 degrees) than hit some ice, the alpine, or ski mush. Index was wet (surprise! but we still had fun. Amen. On any given weekend in a year in Seattle you could be sport climbing, ice climbing, in the climbing gym, skiing, or alpine. The Gunks are a pile of crap. I've climbed their with locals. If the Trapps were in Yos, it would not have any routes on it. Tvash, Fossil has one long aid route To have good sport climbing, you must have small micro features and overhanging walls. Fossil has these. Edited January 14, 2012 by Jens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slab_master Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 Fossil has one long aid route and lots of secret sport climbing in the woods. To have good sport climbing, you must have small micro features and overhanging walls. Fossil has these and almost nowhere else in WA does (I have not been to China Bend or Marcus). i've talked to peeps who have climbed there, and tried to find it myself: no luck. is it decent and how many routes in the 11 12 and 13 range? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivan Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 Tvash, Fossil has one long aid route and lots of secret sport climbing in the woods. interesting - wouldn't have though that - got any beta on it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-spotter Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 On any given weekend in a year in Seattle you could be ...ice climbing, . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boadman Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 In my 5 years of living in Western Washington I have learned to take what the weather gives you and let that guide your winter recreation. For example, Sunday was supposed to be Sunny but very warm. That led me to go rock climbing at index (50 degrees) than hit some ice, the alpine, or ski mush. Index was wet (surprise! but we still had fun. Amen. On any given weekend in a year in Seattle you could be sport climbing, ice climbing, in the climbing gym, skiing, or alpine. The Gunks are a pile of crap. I've climbed their a ton with locals. If the Trapps were in Yos, it would not have any routes on it. As for the east coast chestbeating, the 11s and 12s are way softer than out west. Tvash, Fossil has one long aid route and lots of secret sport climbing in the woods. To have good sport climbing, you must have small micro features and overhanging walls. Fossil has these and almost nowhere else in WA does (I have not been to China Bend or Marcus). It's hard to take you seriously when you say that the gunks are a pile of crap. I don't think there are many places that can compare if you like steep trad climbing. It's especially good in the moderate grades. The pictures I've seen of fossil make it look pretty uninspiring compared to little si. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mmeyers Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 sex kills. go to Rensselaer and live forever. (sorry, couldn't resist) Does the outdoor club still climb some? they used to. also, it's not rock climbing, but i learned how to ski with the outdoor club while at RPI. the snow sucks, but it sure is cheap. but you probably already know this stuff. cheers! Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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