Maryland?!?

OK, the job offer is in Maryland, and it's a sweet one. But let's get one thing straight: I MUST find a solid place to climb. What can be told of the Baltimore area? Within 3 hours drive? Gyms??

Thanks to all who respond.

Try these links for more information:

Title: Climbing in the Baltimore, Maryland Area URL: http://www.dtek.chalmers.se/Climbing/Guidebooks/ NorthAmerica/Baltimore/

Phone: None Listed Category: Guides Location: Maryland Description: Suburbs of Baltimore: Rock State Park Woodstock Rock Patapsco State Park. Ilchester Friction Wall Dam Rock Short drive: Maryland Heights (1.5 hours) Annapolis Rock (1.5 hours) Carder Rock/Great Falls (By DC)

Title: Edward Mistarka - Climbing Photo SIte URL: http://www.nobeta.com/

Phone: None Listed Category: Individuals Location: Maryland Description: Rock climbing photography ( professional quality ) is the main thing here. Image optimizing, photo gallery, dual celeron updates, climbing guides (Md. and Pa. USA), T-shirts, prints, rock climbing photography tutorials, and favorite links are the other sections at this web site. Click on any thumbnail to see a larger version.

Title: INDY'S UNDERGROUND CLIMBER'S GUIDE TO SUGARLOAF MOUNTAIN URL: http://www.bcpl.net/~indy/climbing/guide.html

Phone: None Listed Category: Individuals Location: Maryland Description: .... he had collected together to climb with. From there, over the years, this simple little file of notes, which started at Sugarloaf Mtn, grew into what you now have before you: The Underground Climber's Guide to Sugarloaf Mtn and Vicinity!

Title: PATC Climbing (Pete Grant) URL: http://kaleviinc.com/climbing/hermitage9907/ hermitage.htm

Phone: (703) 960-6033 Category: Clubs/Organizations Location: Maryland Description: Routes of varying grades, from 5.2 to about 5.12 have been established offering something for beginners as well as experts. All routes are top-ropeable. It is really not worthwhile to attempt to lead any of the routes as the protection is less than ideal. First timers: You are not required to bring anything in the way of climbing gear; however, shoes and a harness will be very useful. If you have a rope and anchor materials, bring them.

Title: Earth Treks Climbing Center URL: http://www.earthtreksclimbing.com

Phone: (800)CLIMB-UP Category: Gyms Location: Maryland Description: Earth Treks Inc. is owned, guided, and inspired by Chris Warner. Our instructors are experienced climbers with an average of 13 years of climbing and 9 years teaching experience. They have climbed on six continents, from big walls to Mount Everest, made first ascents in the Himalayas, are certified in first aid and CPR, and are trained in vertical rescue. They teach from the heart, not the ego.

Title: Sport Rock URL: http://www.sportrock.com/

Phone: 301-ROCK-111 Category: Gyms Location: Maryland Description: The flagship motherlode of Sportrock Climbing Centers, SRI opened its doors in April 1994. Located in Rockville, MD, SRI has 30 foot walls with several thousand square feet of varied climbing wall terrain, including a highly featured bouldering area complete with roofs and arches.

Or you could compromise. Live closer to Virginia or better yet in Virginia and commute to work in Baltimore.

There's a pretty good gym - Sportrock in Alexandria - and you will be closer to better crags.

Alot of good 'discovery' climbing out in the Blue Ridge - I could tell ya but then I'd have to kill ya........

Also, you will be much closer to Seneca, New River Gorge, Carolina (if you don't know, you don't know!)

kk153

Before you buy.

No. Forget that idea. If you think you're going to traverse the beltway and I-95 twice a day and still have any time in your schedule for climbing then you're crazy.

I live in Germantown, MD...about 23 miles NW of DC. The country here is surprisingly hilly (but not exactly mountainous!) Sugarloaf Mtn. is pretty fun but not tall. Annapolis Rocks would be closer to Baltimore, as would Maryland Heights or Scaeffer Rocks, PA.

Seneca in WV is probably 3 hours from Baltimore.

You might want to check http://patc.net/chapters/mtn_sect/schedule.html for some ideas.

three years ago, i accepted a sweet job offer in MD. i moved from colorado springs. major bummer in terms of access to rock! i decided to minimize my commute and live within 10-20 min of work. i should have moved in some place west of the i-95 corridor off i-70.

my recommendation is live as far west on 70 as you can stand. if you commute off hour (like go to work before 6am) things fly. then you get out early and go climbing. this will cut your drive time to the better climbing areas west of MD like seneca or cooper rock. both are the places to climb. columbia, MD to seneca is about 3:30 and i push it. it's 3:00 to cooper rock. :30 minutes west on 70 would cut these times by that 1/2 hour. it might make it harder to get to great falls/carderock, but . . . if i could do it all over and rewrite the last 3 years i'd be somewhere on i-70 between frederick and baltimore, probably at Mt Airy.

good luck, i'm leaving for dryer pastures, tucson and mt lemmon to be exact.

That's funny...I moved out here with a job offer 2 years ago from CoSprings. Do I miss it? Heck yeah!

Don't do it!

Thanks to all who have replied. I'm in fact going there tomorrow and will obviously make the trek to the local climbing gym. Gotta check it out!!

As for 'Don't do it!', hmmmm......can you find me a biotechnology-computational job in Colorado? I've been trying!!