UKC

Anyone know if it'll be too hot to climb in july, or too cold/snowy to climb in Oct. Have weeks off at those times, but not sure they'll fit with the weather. Thoughts anyone?

In reply to thomas the cat: if i had to choose between the two i would risk october. Closer you get to august the worse it is, both for number of people and unbearable heat.. good storms though.

In reply to thomas the cat: I agree with alpkid, July is likely to be scorching. We were there last May and it was hot on some days even then. You could always go North, but again expect crowds at that time of year.

In reply to thomas the cat: There are shadey crags. There is always a wind, katabatic, coming up from the sea and bottom end of the lake towards Arco. The main cmapsite crag is shadey PM. Just do an early start, siesta and evening climb.

If you want I'll check the guide and tell you whic crags are shadey. There are vipers at the foot of the less frequented crags. Campsite Zoo is cheaper than the well setup one with the huge pool and indoor wall outside.

Nick

In reply to thomas the cat: I went to Arco in high summer a couple of years ago and I found it OK. It was hot, but bearable I thought. I don't tolerate heat all that well - get burnt very easily and prickly heat and so on.

In reply to thomas the cat:

You're yanking our chain right? Its only about 200m above sealevel! You can climb there in December if your fingers can withstand the cold air and rock!

In reply to thomas the cat:

i went to arco once, couldn't wait to get away from the place. the camp site was a pig sty and full of rowdy youths revving their mtx bikes in front of their ugly birds. the guidebook price was extortionate and the local towns full of tourists.

and, before you say it, i've nothing against germans per se!

In reply to thomas the cat:

Hi - I live just up the road from Arco. We climb down there ("down" because the lake is at just 70 m above sea level) from late September to about now (end of April) and it is wonderful - warm sunshine, olive groves, and almost no tourists. May is a bit sweaty.

In June, July and August it becomes a reserve for mad dogs and roasting Germans (and the odd Brit that took a wrong turn on the way to the Dolomites).
However, coming up towards where I live (altitude 500 m), and especially following the river Sarca up and westwards, there are some excellent cooler crags. You want to see the new lush guidebook in German and Italian editions.
Worth noting also that the same guidebook is causing an even more enthusiastic rush of Tutonic migration and the crags were already busy at Easter. (Fortunately there are plenty of undocumented crags ... I have a few mini crags of my own. Infinite scope for development.)

So I recommend October for Arco itself. July you would be better off higher up, perhaps falling back on Arco in the case of bad weather.

In reply to Gavin Taylor: Also, don't the campsites close just a little before november?

In reply to jambojim:

Just called Zoo camping - they close mid November to mid February

In reply to thomas the cat:
Did a week there in July a few years ago. Very hot, we'd go to one crag in the morning, have a long lunch, head to another crag (usually Massone) in the late afternoon. Bit of a faff, always managed to find shade but polished routes are even less fun when polished. A few big thunderstorms. Stayed in wooden bungalows on the camp site - bit like saunas really.

I've not been there in Oct, but I'd imagine it would be nicer. If Arco's cold, try Marciaga, near Garda town - south facing and very pleasant

In reply to Chris the Tall: sounds like arco's off in july then, it might have to be oct! Am looking at the possibility of these swiss slabs assuming they might be a bit higher...