Comments on: Worth The Wait

By: Narc

Narc — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:23:52 +0000

Sounds like an excellent plan then. Enjoy!

By: Caleb

Caleb — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:19:53 +0000

I don’t know where the tours are going. Honestly, I was happy to get spots on tours with this late notice on thanksgiving weekend. And being my first trip, I figured there would be plenty to do for two days just about anywhere.

By: Narc

Narc — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:05:30 +0000

Do you know where the tours are going? In general if it’s your first trip you can’t go wrong just trying to
do the 3 & 4 star lines from the book.

By: Caleb

Caleb — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 23:38:24 +0000

Hey narc…i decided, last minute, to make a trip down to hueco this weekend. I checked on commercial tours and got my spots reserved. Are there any problems you would recommend as can’t miss in two days of climbing? I’m not in the best shape, but do think I still should be able to climb in the V4-6 range.

By: Isaac

Isaac — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:09:05 +0000

Hueco is SO SO SO worth the “hassle.” I’ve been going for about a month for the last three seasons and am so psyched for my trip this Feb, the first time I haven’t had a planned return date. There are many incredibly classic problems on North Mt, but it is true that the back country holds innumerable treasures. lots of Hueco images in the archives of my blog (january or march of the last three years) if you’re interested.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 01:13:53 +0000

It isnt bad, just get up before anyone else and wait. Being at the gate by 6:15-30 am, park, sleep. Works everytime.

I do plan my trips out now, haven’t always done it. Whenever I get up early I am always the first there. Bring your cooking gear, a sleeping bag, rest in front of the gate. Be nice to the rangers, and it will all work out.

Cheers!

By: Matt

Matt — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:11:29 +0000

So I am going to Hueco from Dec 16 to Jan 10th. As said previously we didn’t do the proper planning. I don’t mind going on tours nearly everyday but I would like to spend a few days on North. How hard is it to get a reservation in the morning?? The website says its cake but is that just advertisement? Bottom line if you climb five days a week and take a tour each day it’s still only a $100/week… not too bad if you ask me….

By: Narc

Narc — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:16:43 +0000

Not yet, soon!

By: Drew Thach

Drew Thach — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 01:09:02 +0000

Have you awarded the holiday prive packs yet? Just curious

By: Narc

Narc — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:26:15 +0000

Yeah, that thought crossed my mind quite a bit. It certainly is a nice silver lining that the place isn’t a total shit show.

By: Narc

Narc — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:25:02 +0000

Did Dragon Fly and Fight or Flight. I tried Jingus Bells once but couldn’t man up on the last move.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:14:06 +0000

Seriously I think the problem for most climbers and hueco is that people just don’t plan their trip well enough.

A lot climbers, do not necessarily plan out a trip 6 months in advance. Nevertheless, I sit in my cube drooling, planning every moment of a hueco trip. I know what days I want to rest on, and plan around that.

The tours are the best, I love North but have had my eyes opened to East and West. Do yourself a favor, take a tour, and tell your guide to take you on all of the hidden classics. How many of you have been to the top of East Mountain? Some great moderate rock climbs up there, for instance Winged Victory.

Hueco tanks, fear me, I have been planning my trips for Jan & Feb for quite some time.

Finally Narc tell me you did, Dragon Fly, Jingus Bells, or Fight or Flight? If not, you need to get back ASAP.

By: Crafty

Crafty — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:09:22 +0000

Another point: think of how crowded some popular areas on N. Mtn can get with the 70 people (70, right?) allowed in that region of the park. Now think about what that was like before the restrictions, with 250 people there.

I can’t imagine how busy the warm up boulders and the gymnasium would be if it were still completely free range. Even with all the backcountry being open as well. The place would still feel like a zoo.

Honestly, it’s worth jumping through the hoops. I was in the same boat until last year, Narc. I had been bouldering for 8 years and never been there before. I didn’t want to deal with the hassle. But now that I’ve gone, I can’t wait to get back.

By: Narc

Narc — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:30:55 +0000

haha, no doubt. Like I said, I don’t mind paying but I’m not sure how people afford to stay there for months on end (other than becoming indentured servants to the ranch).

By: casting

casting — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:27:41 +0000

“Coupled with the relatively high rate of $5 a day per person to camp…”

haha wait till you hit Europe

By: The REAL campus man

The REAL campus man — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:11:10 +0000

WTFFFFFFF? can we please see some cris s video?

By: Narc

Narc — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:38:17 +0000

I might have to make some follow up trips to get more pictures…

By: peter

peter — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:24:46 +0000

I second eddie’s comment. Dig it.

By: eddie

eddie — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:41:48 +0000

in the words of boone speed: that is so cool man, that is sooooo cool.

more pictures please!

By: Narc

Narc — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:19:46 +0000

We approached several people to go on tours with us and they were psyched until we mentioned it was commercial. They then vomited in their mouths.

I personally didn’t mind paying because I’m not going to sit chained to a desk 40 hours a week to be cheap the few chances I have to climb in a place like Hueco. That said, I could see how $5-20 a day could be off putting for the more jobless amongst us.

Also, going when it is 80 degrees out is a great way to avoid crowds and frankly most of the problems were in the shade anyhow. Of course I nearly threw a fit the times I greased off the top of a few problems.

By: sock hands

sock hands — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:11:46 +0000

it’s funny to me that folks jump through hoops to get tee times and will pay $50 or more a head… or, will be subservient to chair lift operations and pay $98 a day… but hueco is oppressive.

certainly, there is much more infrastructure to pay for in golf and skiing… but i’ve heard some folks go crazy loco on the restrictions at hueco like they bleed the soul dry.

hueco restrictions do not. full time jobs do.

mixed tours can either be great or horrible, but my personal wishlist for north mountain has about 50 lines on it.

hueco is so good.

i’m glad you got a chance to enjoy it, narc.

By: Brian Solano

Brian Solano — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:02:21 +0000

Hell yea!

By: Cady

Cady — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:54:58 +0000

Nice post and Great pictures. I too will make my way to Hueco someday!