I have finally checked out a place where the views are spectacular and the climbing supberb. And all very close to one of the US’s biggest metropolitan areas. Yes, just a few hours upstate from New York City is a famous rock climbing Mecca called the Shawangunk Mountains, or Gunks. This National Geographic photo essay takes you there, with some decent photos of Gunks guide Ivan Greene and others as they scale the rock faces of the area. It’s not the best photo essay I’ve seen, only few of the photos are worth the clicks, but I was happy to see a local climbing spot like the Gunks get some much-dserved attention.