UKC

My 21st birthday is coming up this year and I'm going to do something exciting. For reference I pretty much left school right after GCSE's then along side some minimal college ended up just working up until now with almost no breaks longer than a Christmas holiday... idea is before I end up inevitably becoming old and decaying (minor exaugurated description for your 20s) I'd like to go and do something.

Looking at changing jobs and leaving myself with a year in-between for said climbing/hiking activity. Only problem is I'm stumped for ideas on one hand could go and live amongst Yorkshire grit or north Wales for a year and climb like a madman in the UK, on the other could travel abroad and try some big ticket items.

Things I'm looking for is somewhere with reasonable supply of climbing partners, good real adventure and ideally a solid climbing scene. Or some top worldwide climbing travel destinations.

Anyone got any ideas home or away?

Cheers!

Go abroad. Look at the visa options for Australia and New Zealand. Climbing has become more limited at Arapiles lately but there's still plenty to do and living at the campground is cheap. NZ has some climbing and lots of walking. I'd imagine Asia offers lots of cheap options as well, I've no personal experience of these but I gather Thailand and China is good for climbing. 

I'd second going to NZ. It wasn't for climbing but I did a lot of walking and some caving in the mountains, mainly on the South Island. I got work picking apples in Motueka near Nelson and it was great. It was 40 years ago but things can't have changed too much, people still eat them and I had a fantastic time. Do something outstanding and it will stay with you all your life.

NZ looks good the Mount Cook area seems to be the place to go there for climbing etc... Think I might even know a couple of people living there distantly which would help. I'll have a look at visas now. 

Wonder how lengthy there tourist visa is and how likely it would be for me to be able to scab a little cash in hand job there to keep me up and running.

Apply for a working holiday visa and move to Canada. Climb to your heart's content in Squamish. Feel very sad at the horrendous cost of living in Vancouver. Never return.

I did this for a year just as I was turning 30 (but sadly did return - career back here etc). I would definitely recommend it though. Very big climbing scene, other things like MTB, kayaking, etc, around too, hiking obviously, beaches in the city, and everyone turns into skiers or snowboarders in winter. Whether you've got the confidence (and finances) to move abroad at 21 is your call, though the place is heaving with Brits who've already done that - working in bars and ski resorts as well as more boring jobs like me (but there is quite a big service industry, although my experiences are pre COVID so it may be harder now). 

Don't know enough about NZ to compare it, but having subsequently moved to climb in the Peak, while I've got a better career in Sheffield, the Canada year was the one I'll really remember. I can't say how much I miss my dismal January Mondays working in downtown, knowing that my mate was about to pick me up and take me nightskiing after work!! 

If you've got the money and time, some little solo trips or volunteering overseas in short bursts beforehand might help build up the confidence for the big move. I did a few months volunteering in India (not my favourite), a couple of weeks on a package group trekking in Nepal (great), a long weekend on a package climbing trip in Italy (ok, and I knew the organiser), and three weeks just walking about Patagonia on my own, before I moved overseas. Not cheap at all (apart from the India programme) but probably made me a bit more used to just getting on a plane myself and actually having to talk to strangers in hostels (I was a very shy child...).

But as someone whose health has subsequently been torn apart and can no longer do this stuff - do it. Also, us old folk don't qualify for those visas any more! 

That's the hope mate, fingers crossed!

Cheers for the reply I didn't even think of Canada but your right that would be a pretty cool idea. I'll definitely be looking into that. Part of that somewhat accidental 4 ish years of work I became an engineer which I've been told is pretty handy for wangling visas.

Never skied before but that does sound pretty brilliant.

I do luckily have the advantage (or possible disadvantage) of a large abundance of confidence so this time round will have to be the bigun I reckon.

It may well do. They are quite particular about qualifications etc being in your specific field, so I can't really advise on engineering, but friends in more sciencey fields (especially tech) did a lot better than I did as an artsy generalist. 

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/come-can...

You have a once in a lifetime opportunity, don't squander it dodging showers in Wales or even worse Yorkshire. Spread your wings.

Gave them a bit of a go assuming no groups and not much organisation and the old Canadians weren't too pleased I'm sure there would be different results if I could specify planning.

Still on the cards.

Clearly I've been brainwashed by the hit UKC film Statement of Youth. (good film to be fair) I do want to give going further afield a go. its very difficult to cram about 40 years worth of stuff into one single year. 

Agree with Spidermonkey. Your profile suggests you’ll be looking for low grade rock routes. I think there is no better place for easy routes of the highest quality than Arapiles/Djurrite.  Keep an eye on the threads on here to see if/when the access issue gets sorted. Beau Geste (9) is a great example.

A year off at your age brilliant, don’t squander it on “just” climbing, use it to enrich your experiences in other ways too

Ah, but if travelling is for you, it may just be the first chapter. 1 year quickly expands. 

If youre reasonably confident & a little street wise, then stopping in Thailand/vietnam or similar cheaper country thats on the "easier" side for backpacking on the way somewhere more exotic or expensive is a good call. Though Id suggest leaving the airport city (eg Bangkok) immediately & maybe go Krabi or similar destination with climbing to get into the swing of the country. Bangkok (eg) like most larger cities is fine & fun, but maybe leave the bigger cities and all the scams, traps, silly bars, high rent etc etc for when you're a little less green.

It may not be the finest venue - its only your first..!, however it is a gentle introduction to travelling, reasonably cheap (though quite expensive by Thailand standards) & finding a belay partner is easy enough. Especially if you have some gear and skills.

Youll get used to being a little frugal with your money and the money you have should go far enough that a few mistakes and drunken nights wont cost your fortune. 

You also get used to how the "traveller" world works and making friends etc. 

Outside of the regular climbing venues, unless youre a wad, finding partners will probably take more effort. More expensive first destinations can quickly sap your savings & obviously are better places to work if youre short on money after a while. The first month or so often people are in party mode & can spend big. 

Pick your passion, dont get stuck on the treadmill. 

Enjoy. 

Looks pretty ace thanks for the suggestion mate, I'll keep my eyes peeled for any updates about the access. Seems like Aus. is a really popular suggestion I'm going to have a look at visa options definitely on the short list.

Cheers mate, good advice clearly a few learnt lessons in there... I think the general consensus as well as yours is right need to be sure that as well as climbing I'm also out somewhere exciting doing exciting things. 

Krabi is a good suggestion had a look through UKC crag finder for around that area and its pretty climbing dense, very cool.

And its true you never know I may just end up wondering around running out visas having a grand old time.

Cheers again!

thanks mate I'll give it a good go and make the most as I'm painfully aware of the rarity.

Hi!
Awesome to hear you have the opportunity for some travel. We have a blog where we’ve written about various different places we’ve climbed over the years. Hopefully you can find some ideas in there! 
thecragjournal.com 

Thanks Nina I'll check it out...

University? Use those savings to sign up for a course and join the Mountaineering Club.

I thought this was a typo or misspelling for exaggerated, but a search says it's a word. https://www.thefreedictionary.com/Exaugurate

Do it while you can.

Make sure anyone you buddy up with understands how you intend getting back to the ground.

Get an international driving permit from your local post office.

Keep a written journal.

Look with your eyes, not your phone, you do not need 20000 photos.

Enjoy, it's all about the journey.

Weird advice, you can both look with your eyes and take plenty photos to look back on in years to come. 

Thats a weird or could I say rude way of saying, "that's an unusual perspective".

I did not say not to take any photos. After a trip, print some photos and put in an album, and really I should start labeling the photos. Where, when, who with, how was I feeling.

But, being in the moment and just looking, has IMO, much to offer. It is particularly noticeable in Art galleries, people zip to a work of art, take a photo, and zip off, never stopping to appreciate the work of art. Now that seems weird to me.

A friend of mine went to NZ and worked through several jobs, most notably on a drop zone - would tick off another "extreme" sport while you're at it!

Sounds a lot like you are projecting to me, although of course there is a balance to be struck. Nothing wrong with taking some pictures, and your original post came across as if that was the advice. Obviously enjoying moments is one of the fundamental reasons for traveling, but nothing wrong with documenting them either. It doesn't need to be influencer-level phone use or nothing, there is a middle ground! 

When I went around the world for 19 months, it was in what would become the last days of film supremacy.  I would have approx 6 slide films per continent. Thus at most about 216 photos for 3-4 months, thus averaging around 2-3 photos per day. 
 

The things I probably treasure the most.

An A6 log of the logistics and costs of every day, exchange rates, bus journey durations, where I stayed, costs etc.

My A5 free form diary that captured emotions, and impressions and experience at the time.

The world changes; at the time you are documenting your travels, you don’t consider this, but when you read them from time to time, you realise you are reading of a different time as well as place.  A historical account for your own pleasure.

That sounds great. I have met a few people with the old disposable cameras, and some with film cameras. Oddly the people with cameras of any type seem to take less photos, it's many people with phones, just constantly at it. Sunsets are a case in point, so desperate to get the best photo for instafaceittertok, they are not just enjoying the moment. I saw one idiot nearly fall off a a cliff in pie in Thailand trying to get a selfish of the sunset.

I am 62 and just starting my third year of travel, and wish I had done it when I was younger. Travel just changes all your perspectives.

The OP has a great opportunity.

Don't forget the weather.  Southern Europe in summer is too hot as will be South America in the opposite months. 

Yeah I have no patience for someone who is trying to take a zillion shots for their social media profile.  I’ll patiently wait for one or two photos by each person etc, but if they continue to hog a famous place / viewpoint, I will walk into their photos and be damned. They can edit me out with AI if it bothers them.

Exactly so!