[jwi]

Isn't it a bit cold in Indian Creek in December? Or has global warming fixed that? Fifteen years ago we got a lot of snow in beginning of November over there.

[duncan]

I've pondered on where to go in December for most of my climbing career. The following is from a chuffing perspective, it would be much easier if I was sufficiently into bouldering to consider it a justification for an intercontinental trip.

Indian Creek and the desert towers will be cold. Joshua Tree will probably be cold. You might be lucky, particularly with JT, but it would be a gamble to have them as a primary destination in my view. Red Rock will be cold in some of the canyons but the sunlit faces should be very good. I enjoyed the adventure-lite routes in Red Rock but this was before the latest round of bureaucratic idiocy.

Cochise Stronghold and Mt. Lemmon (Arizona) are supposed to be good; I've not been.

You can of course fly to Las Vegas and have all these places and much of the bouldering Coops mentions within a day's drive (a long day to southern Arizona but probably less tiring than, say, Hastings to Malham).

Keen US climbers seem to head for El Potrero Chico, the standard international sport venues, or go bouldering.

Arapiles was getting hot in December 40 years ago. We relocated to Mt. Buffalo (10C cooler but not somewhere you'd fly around the world for); others went to Tassie or alpine climbing in New Zealand. The potential disadvantage of those places is the weather: it rains as much in Hobart as London in December and that's in the east coast rainshadow. I decided I hadn't travelled around the world to experience British-style climbing with British weather!

[Ged]

Yeah you're probably right about Utah.

Other option is Thailand, Laos and Vietnam.

[seankenny]

Other option is Thailand, Laos and Vietnam.

A few years ago I did a couple of days' climbing in Thailand and I did not rate it. Hot sweaty crags, it was quite rainy and humid and a bit despoiled. I perhaps got there too late, both in my life and its development as a tourist destination, but I know other people love it so perhaps I'm just picky.

Anyhow that visit was part of a longer trip for both work and fun in which I had perhaps the most pleasant climbing conditions I've ever found in December: very hot but super dry, perfectly climbable in the shade, just in shorts and a lovely cooling wind higher up. But that was on a big granite dome outside of Juba and no one is going to South Sudan on holiday quite yet. This did get me thinking that December would be a good time for climbing in those sorts of places - Dahab/Sinai (UKC did an article on it just this week), Hampi, Oman, etc.

Clearly lots of opportunity for pretty adventurous climbing: http://publications.americanalpineclub.org/articles/13201214669/South-Sinai-New-Routes

Quite different to a US south west bouldering tour...

[Ged]

 We had a great time in Thailand. But we were with a mate who guides out there, so got shown around some great places without going to tonsai, which sounds like it might be a bit of a circus these days.

I mean it's definitely going to be hot and sweaty, but has lots going for it as a fun destination.

[seankenny]

Going to Tonsai was my mistake, yes. Also I am allergic to Bob Marley songs.

[Steve R]

Don't think Turkey's been mentioned yet? Not adventurous or imaginative but looks ideal for rocking up solo, getting partners easily straight away and just doing loads of climbing.  Similar to Chorro in that 'Sports Soccer' sort of bracket of climbing destinations?     

[Yossarian]

Going to Tonsai was my mistake, yes. Also I am allergic to Bob Marley songs.

If at all possible I would like to completely avoid having to climb with any gap year kids in enormously baggy 3/4 length trousers.

I'm not averse to the idea of Asian options but, considering some of the options in the Americas, it would have to somewhere fairly adventurous and spectacular...

[dunnyg]

Jordan might be good for an adventure, probably requires a partner lined up though.

[Ged]

Going to Tonsai was my mistake, yes. Also I am allergic to Bob Marley songs.

If at all possible I would like to completely avoid having to climb with any gap year kids in enormously baggy 3/4 length trousers.

I'm not averse to the idea of Asian options but, considering some of the options in the Americas, it would have to somewhere fairly adventurous and spectacular...

Yeah forget Thailand then.

All the locals we met in Utah raved about cochise stronghold and Mount lemon.

[duncan]

Jordan might be good for an adventure, probably requires a partner lined up though.

Amazing place, needs a pre-arranged partner. UKC has suspiciously few ascents logged in December, Steve Long (not a softie) described it as "extremely cold". We had mostly good temperatures in mid-March.

Oman would be interesting.

[dunnyg]

Jebel Misht always looked incredible.

[Adam Lincoln]

Don't think Turkey's been mentioned yet?

I think Turkey looks crap. And from friends going a few times they confirm this. Good
If you want an all inclusive holiday in a 5 star hotel in Antalya.

Weather been bad there this year and it
Isn't un common at that time of year.

I really rated Thailand. Though i did go in 2006. Yes was a bit sweaty but climbing was great.

Been to hueco at xmas/ny a few times and its never disappinted. Same with Bishop and also Joes valley.

[dunnyg]

Saw some pictures of stuff on the Datca peninsular on the other channel that looks good in Turkey.
Can recommend the all inclusive hotels in Antalya for topping up your beach tan...

[Duma]

As someone who has actually been to Turkey, I can say it is absolutely not crap.

[Steve R]

Don't think Turkey's been mentioned yet?

I think Turkey looks crap. And from friends going a few times they confirm this. Good
If you want an all inclusive holiday in a 5 star hotel in Antalya.

Oh, that's good to know as been tempted to go. Why did it it take them more than one visit to decide it's crap though?
Thought it was a crusty run campsite sort of scene there rather than all inclusive hell.

[Yossarian]

Guy I know has been at Geyikbayiri on and off since the autumn and it does look pretty good (though they did have some bad weather). A bit like El Chorro, I wonder if it's the sort of place that would work fine for a week or two though, and maybe feel a bit like missing out on the opportunity to do something more hardcore...

A few months back I think I would've been pretty much sold on Spanish sport (plus some bouldering) and that might remain the backup - just pack the car, drive a long way and not come back until I've done some 8as.

But I think a semi-open-ended road trip through some deserts or getting to the top of a granite thing called cerro something are currently tied as the top option.

[Adam Lincoln]

Don't think Turkey's been mentioned yet?

I think Turkey looks crap. And from friends going a few times they confirm this. Good
If you want an all inclusive holiday in a 5 star hotel in Antalya.

Oh, that's good to know as been tempted to go. Why did it it take them more than one visit to decide it's crap though?
Thought it was a crusty run campsite sort of scene there rather than all inclusive hell.

Yeah crusty if you stay at the camping/shacks. They stayed for one night there and left because of the raw sewage running around everywhere.

[Adam Lincoln]

As someone who has actually been to Turkey, I can say it is absolutely not crap.

I trust my friends judgement enough to have crossed it off my list. Each to their own.

[Yossarian]

Three videos from Tyler Karow earlier this month seem to suggest Frey looks like an extremely fun destination...

[Fultonius]

Cochamo in Patagonia?  January is better IIRC, but I think December works.

[Yossarian]

I think that was mentioned further up the thread, but then dismissed as being not so straightforward esp the chances of picking up a partner.

[Fultonius]

I think that was mentioned further up the thread, but then dismissed as being not so straightforward esp the chances of picking up a partner.

Woops, searched this page but not the first. 

I should know in the next month or so what my work situation is...could be tempted by Frey!

[Yossarian]

Mine has slightly been turned upside down this month, but I'm still aiming to be out there from around 8/9 Dec until after new year. If you do get even vaguely tempted give me a shout...