This is a totally non-scientific and subjective survey:
Where is the best place to be from Oct-April for class III-IV kayaking?

This place has to be in the U.S. because I will have to work. Don't care about good skiing but trad climbing area a plus if things get dry.

-Nora

Anyone?

I've heard the Ozarks can be good February thru April,,only what I've heard,,hvent been down there in the spring

Come to NorCal. We have plenty of rain fed winter runs.
And bring more women.

Please attach a photo with a request like this. We always could use more women in Tahoe however I do not want to be responsilble for lowering the standards. -Azul Palota

Eugene. OR

The pacific northwest (Washington, Oregon) are in full swing from about November through April. Tons of rainfed drainages and high quality at that.

Azul- next time please attach photo of yourself so that I can make an informed decision if I want to read your stuff.
Everyone else...thanks.

It seems the general consensus is "get your hiney west of those Rockies, and don't stop until your feet are wet." Me I'm pretty much a NorCal homer and I'll leave it at that.

I don't care, if you don't have teeth...

Guys, I understand that Northern Cal, Oregon and Washington are the general area. This is exactly where my question ties in:
Which towns?
Would appreciate more feedback. Thanks.

The Sacramento, Auburn, Placerville areas are all good places to stage out of. Stay close to the valley so you can utilize our beautiful uncongested freeway systems.*
If you don't mind the weather the north coast has access to some stuff that runs with rain. Klamath drainage....


"Sacramento is centrally loacated between every place you'd rather be."

*all driving reviews based on traffic flows between hours of 2 and 6 a.m.

The area around Eureka and Arcata, Calif., has the Trinity River just 1 1/2 hours to the east, minimum dam release means it's never to low. SF and NF Trinity, New, Cal Salmon, Smith, Klamath are all within a couple hours drive from the mellow coastal towns.

*** Check out http://creekin.net/ when it is back online -- it has nice descriptions, season/flow/links, photos and a great clickable map of CA river runs.

Seattle.

Class III-IV winter runs within an hour or so from downtown: Skykomish, North Fork Skykomish, Snoqualmie, Green River, Sauk etc. Add another dozen classic runs with a three hour drive.

Awesome granite trad routes at Index, also an hour from town (but often wet and cold in the winter. Some trad and sport climbing at Vantage, usually dry, can be warm enough to climb in January.

Mt Shasta has a decent amount of runs Nov-April, with a local class IV run about 4 miles out of town. If its really dry there is climbing nearby at Castle Crags. Decent driving acess to a lot of runs, unfortunatley not a lot of jobs in the area. Ashland, Or is also very popular, and has better access to the Smith drainage, which is very rain fed.

Nora, darling, bupeka, as I sit listening to Carly Simon on NPR I can't help but ask what the hell is trad climbing? And have you decided where to stay? I'm sure I'm not the only one who isn't holding their breathe in mild anticipation. Shall it be our wet miserable red headed step child of a neighbor WA? You wanna know why they get so pale?
Perhaps Oregon, about the same as WA only with guns.

Or perhaps you've come to your senses and realized that you do not have to give up civilization, or sunshine. The Sacramento valley baby.
Now don't get that look on your face. The Sac., and foothills area have plenty to offer. Plenty of rain, just not all at once. Snow, creeks, rivers, and lots of people. Nobodys perfect.

As for "trad climbing"; I'm sure whatever it is, we've got it.

So Sugar and spice what's your poison?

For California runs/ info/ map:

http://cacreeks.com/


(formerly creekin.net)

Nora...the obvious choice is the Sierra Nevada.

We have the best damned creeking on the planet, with plenty of class 3-4 to go around.

And....as for Trad Climbing, you may have heard of this little place called Yosemite valley, or Tuolumne meadows, or Whitney region, or Donner Summit, or Lover's leap, or the Palisades........ In short, although some whankers from other regions might have the audacity to dismiss the "best creeking on the planet" statement, they cannot even begin to refute this statement: The Sierra Nevada has the best goddamned granite in the solar system.

And it all belongs to ME Bwah hah hah hah hah haha........

But I'll let you climb in my range as long as you behave yourself and don't start any forest fires. And buy me a guinness.