Comments on: Paying to Climb Outdoors

By: Happiegrrrl

Happiegrrrl — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 19:32:33 +0000

The Gunks is privately held land, as opposed to state or federal land. For some reason, it doesn’t bother me a bit to support the Mohonk Preserve, whereas I do chafe at the bit about paying more than a nominal fee to get into government parks.

FYI – The Mohonk Preserve does offer a free membership(the $35 hiker’s version) for volunteers who donate something like 40 hours of work.

One good thing for poor climbers is that Camp Slime is free, and right next to the cliffs. That can be a savings for someone, if they are used to paying for camping, which can offset the day use fee.

I wish the Gunks had an “in-between” sort of thing for visiting climbers, though. It’s a yearly pass or a day pass, and that sucks for people who might make an annual pilgrimage of 4-5 days.

Still – it costs me what – $10/night to camp in Jtree plus the 7-day park pass. I go there twice a year for 2-week trips each visit. It’s about the same cost as camp/climbing at the Gunks and a National park! True, a much nicer camp….but I would be just as happy with more primitive situation.

And finally, as was mentioned above – Where there’s a will, there’s a way….But I don’t think it’s a good idea to publicize those “ways.”

By: Paying to Climb Outdoors Follow-up | Climbing Narcissist

Paying to Climb Outdoors Follow-up | Climbing Narcissist — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 16:18:36 +0000

[...] 2008 at 10:18 am by Climbing Narcissist | Post a comment digg_window = ‘new’; Last month I ran a poll asking people how they felt about paying to access climbing areas. After receiving 72 votes [...]

By: Isaac Tait

Isaac Tait — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 23:25:53 +0000

You have to pay $15 to climb in Jtree and $10 a night to camp! Total bummer, however you got to pay for those nice new roads somehow.

By: Brett

Brett — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 16:53:11 +0000

It seems to me that charging extra for climbing versus other activities is just a way to jump on the climbing bandwagon. The sport has grown from an isolated community of hard-core climbers (long, long ago) to readily accessible (thru your local gym) activity.

I’m not sure if the increased cost is intended to keep the pressure in some areas down? (i.e gov’t taxes the heck out of cigarettes in order to discourage use, and they make money from the diehards who just on’t quit) Or if it the perception that climbing results in so many more injuries that they are trying to recoup some additional ‘cost’ in allowing people to scale a vertical trail versus a horizontal one?

Good topic though….

By: Climbing Narcissist

Climbing Narcissist — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 19:34:24 +0000

Yeah, we went to the Nears but our understanding was that you had to pay there as well. Oh well, money well spent either way. The climbing at the nears was very adventurous to say the least. Rather crowded though but we were lucky to not have to wait much.

By: Luke

Luke — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 19:11:37 +0000

From the parking lot at the overlook, right before the overpass, you just walk 100 feet up on the left side of the road and then take a left when the guard rail ends to go to the nears. No rangers. It can be busy but there are so many routes its generally not a problem.

The yearly pass is $85 for the first person and $50 for another adult in the same household. http://www.mohonkpreserve.org/index.php?individual
Notice that it is a $35 premium to be a rock climbing over a hiker.

By: Climbing Narcissist

Climbing Narcissist — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 14:14:03 +0000

Wasn’t aware when were there that you could climb at the nears for free. How much is the season pass??

By: Luke

Luke — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 17:17:28 +0000

The do have a season pass at the Gunks which is not very expensive. This is similar to the National Parks Pass which is also quite affordable. Also the gunks provides free camping which offsets the cost of having to pay to climb.

Additionally at the Gunks you can still climb for free if you go to the Nears. It may not have as much bouldering as the carriage road but the routes are all still fun. If you were to look at the alternative, which could be a closure such as Torrent Falls, it would seem that paying is the least we can do.

As most people have said there are still plenty of places where you do not have to pay. But if you want to go do High-E then you will have to pay just like you pay to get into Eldo, Yosemite, Joshua Tree and many other climbing areas.

By: Climbing Narcissist

Climbing Narcissist — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 12:36:55 +0000

Yeah, I’m pretty sure they have some sort of season pass at the Gunks as well.

By: colorado rock climbing

colorado rock climbing — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 03:17:04 +0000

In the Black you register for the climb you are going to do, but any number of people can sign up for the same climb. Most just don’t because they don’t want to get stuck behind slower folks, but it’s not unusual to see multiple parties on Comic Relief or Escape Artist.

Paying for climbing seems to go against a lot of what people like about it, ie the freedom and all. I used to climb at the Gunks every weekend, but now that I hardly ever pay for climbing, it would tweak me a little. It all depends on what you get back in return, in terms of facilities and what not.

Also, usually at pay to play places you can get a season pass, which drastically reduces the cost. That’s the case at national parks, rifle, etc.