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FORNIA For the last half century, Yosemite Valley has arguably been the most impor tant rock climbing destination in the world. It is the proving ground for climbers of all levels. Whether pushing new limits or following in historical footprints, climbers include this place on their tick-lists. No area on Earth pro such a diverse array of climbs on one rock type-the Valley's impeccable Yosemite is to climbers what Hawaii is to surfers: big, unforgiving and an unwritten credo, "You're not one of the world's elite until you can it here." speaking of all types of climbing than the answer is easy: Yosemite! I say more?"-Three-time X Games champion Hans Florine nation all on its own. The climbing is unique, requiring an array of subtle techniques that often give the uninitiated trouble. Being "bouted," as it's called, can be a frustrating experience and leads many climbers to dismiss the area as "a pile." It is also often acknowledged that of the 5,000 routes in the Joshua Tree guidebook, fewer than 1,000 are really any good. But despite all the slander, Josh is more popular now than ever. "The clean desert air and immense solitude will not only challenge the body but calm the mind. Having traveled the world over, Joshua Tree, to me, stands alone as the greatest climbing area on Earth. "-Scott Cosgrove, all around climber PEAK DISTRICT, ENGLAND sandstone towers that surround the multi-sport town of Moab set the for some of the most unique climbing on the planet. But climbing the o sandstone is not for everyone. The cracks here are what climbers to as "perfect splitters," meaning perfectly parallel. These rocks may test climbers' perseverance as the climbing consists of repeating the same over and over again, demanding extreme endurance and a fairly high of pain. The beauty of the area, however, ensures that no trip will wasted-particularly if you enjoy mountain biking and the other numer ble activities that claim fame in Moab. For those who have climbed there, the desert is a special world in which to space and silence. Many feel it is a place where climbs should be ferreted where one ought to earn the climb by enduring the rigors inherent in the land."-Eric Bjornstad from the book Desert Rock HE FRONT RANGE, COLORADO Front Range is a region near Boulder where there are 20 historically sig climbing areas within a two-hour radius. During climbing's Golden the '60s and early '70s, it was the Front Range climbers who battled 'V,,,a�"·o hardmen for supremacy. Weaned on the rocks of Eldorado Canyon walls like the Diamond, Colorado's elite would venture west in attempts usurp Valley gems from under the noses of the locals. Of course, Valley mbers did the same and both ended up pushing standards on each other's turf. The Front Range has enough climbing variety to suit just about any preferences: cracks, overhangs, boulders and big walls. SMITH ROCI{S STATE PARK, OREGON ng near the trendy little town of Bend, Smith Rocks State Park has some of e most controversial history in American climbing. Smith was the subject of numerous slander wars (and a couple of fist fights) in the '80s and early '90s as it was the first area to embrace "sport climbing," the bolting of routes on rap pel for safety to allow increasingly difficult and dangerous ascents. "Smith will always be special to me because when I was coming up, it was the measuring stick. It had the hardest route in America for more than a decade ... if you wanted to be the best, you went to Smith."-Joe Brooks, sport climber has climbed more than 20 5.14s The rock may be suspect or "scruffy," as they say in Britain, but no one can deny the importance the area between Sheffield and Manchester has had on world-class climbing. The Peak has a great tradition of climbing that includes a ragingly fun and competitive scene. England is also privy to rock found nowhere else on Earth: gritstone. Peak District cliffs are not very tall but climbers find that scaling grit is a unique experience. The varied and interesting movements needed to succeed can become addicting, and a sub-sport called "head pointing" has grown increasingly popular in recent years. This practice consists of rehears ing (by use of a very safe top-rope), then attempting to lead hard climbs. The catch is that no bolts are allowed on grit and the climbs tend to lack much, if any, natural protection. "You could probably dump all of the rock in England into Yosemite and you'd barely notice it. It's maximum adventure for minimum resource.· -Kevin Thaw, climber and North Face Extreme Team member FONTAINEBLEAU, FRANCE Fontainebleau's climbing history dates back as far as Yosemite's but here you can drive right by without even noticing the famous boulders that lie hidden under this forest on the outskirts of Paris. The Bleau is where boul- " dering, the art of climbing unroped routes relatively close to the ground, began. Most climbers go through a bouldering stage and when they do, purity of movement, not a summit, becomes their objective. And the Bleau becomes their Mecca. PH RA NANG, THAILAN D Historically, mountaineers returning from Himalayan expeditions would stop in Thailand to recover on beaches in the South. Some of them noticed the limestone walls but few bothered to climb them. As mountaineering standards started to rise, so did interest in technical climbing. Soon climbers realized that Thailand had a plethora of perfect, virgin limestone. A flurry of routes went up in the late '80s and early '90s and soon people were skip ping the Himalayas altogether. "Where else can you climb a route, lower-off into the ocean, then have someb ody bring you a fresh papaya?-Karen T'Kint, Five-Ten sales manager and climber never-ending sea of Joshua trees and quartz monzonite "eggs" has for years climbers from around the globe to Josh. It started as a place where from the Valley went when it got too cold. They went to train for season on the big walls. Soon, however, Josh became a desti- VERDON GORGE, FRANCE France's Verdon Gorge is a 2,OOO-foot cleft of perfect limestone that offers some of the most dramatic sport climbing around. It is often called the "Grand Canyon of France" but unlike its American cousin, the rock is better suited to modern free climbing than traditional big wall climbing. This means you can complete fast ascents with minimal gear, a superb perk for climbers on the road. Unlike many locations, most of the climbing leads off at the canyon rim. You rappel to the beginning of the routes, which often start out of hanging jardins (small forested areas on the cl iffside). Rappelling off the lip is a breathtaking experience, and the exposure is unnerving. "Verdon would be on anyb Guides and climber ody's list."-Mick Ryan, publisher, RockFax COSTA DEL SOL, SPAIN It's long been thought that the south of France was the world's foremost sport climbing destination. But inflated prices and a frustratingly high crime rate have caused some climbers to look elsewhere. The Spanish Costa Del 501 now has nearly as many limestone routes and areas to choose from as France, with a laid-back, low-cost lifestyle that seems to lag about 20 years behind its neighbor to the north. What it lacks in climbing history is made up for with culture. The most notable areas are: Siurana, Costa Blanca and the island paradise of Mallorca. Mallorca, in fact, has similarities to both France and Thailand. Since weather conditions are better for hard climbing than in Thailand, it has become the vacation destination for more serious climbers. "It's not as expensive as France and you do French."-Mick Ryan n't have to deal with the •