Jacqueline and I got away for a week from 10/23 to 10/30/10 without Caleb to refresh prior to arrival of little bundle of joy #2 in February. We used airline miles and an unused timeshare week to take advantage of the wonderful Fall weather in Nevada and stayed in Las Vegas. We both got burned out after about 2 days of doing Vegas stuff, and were ready to venture out to nearby Red Rocks. This place is a climbing playground, with perfect weather, ample rock, varied routes from short sport routes to super-long mellow trad routes, and short approaches. Since Jac was 6 months pregnant, we took it easy. We climbed 2 days, and hiked around another day. I was allowed to lead stuff where I could guarantee I wouldn't fall, and Jac climbed like a champ but wanted to stick to stuff she knew she could do, as she didn't love the fit and feel of her harness.
The first day we checked out this mellow crag called the Panty Wall.
It had about 4 bolted sport routes: a 5.5, 5.7, and two 5.8's, and options for toproping. We hit them all, and then toproped a fun 5.10 face route.
My cute adventurous pregnant wife and cherry weather:
Jacqueline follows the 5.7, called Silk Panties.
Jacqueline raps:
Me rapping at the Panty Wall:
First Pullout area:
We then finished off the day by climbing a second pitch with 2 bolts up easy climbing from the Panty Wall, then scrambling up a few hundred feet to gain views down toward Vegas. Highly worth it.
Looking back from the First Pullout area:
The next day we returned to Red Rocks, but did not intend to climb. Instead, we drove to the Second Pullout, hiked to the Sandstone Quarry area, and then did a mellow hike to the Calico Tanks.
Goofing around in a big hueco:
Oh yeah, we had a pretty sweet rental car while we were there. It was fine to get up to Red Rocks, but was a little sketchy for the 2.5-hour trip to Zion! Second pullout area:
The following day we drove to Zion, where we did the coolest day hike of my life, called Angel's Landing. Highly recommended, but not for those who struggle with exposure. We returned to Red Rocks for our last full day in Nevada, and did another short outing cragging. This time we did the short approach to a crag called the Magic Bus from the Second Pullout. Again, mellow bolted 1-pitch routes, with three 5.8's and a 5.9+. We did them all.
Jac prepares to clean Electric Koolaid, 5.9+
Red Rocks is rad. There is a ton there to do. Next time I need to bring a trad rack and tackle some of the big routes. How about Tunnel Vision, 6 pitches, 5.7, or Epinephrine, 18+ pitches, 5.9? The options are endless.
No comments:
Post a Comment