CA trip with diversion near Vegas.

Post by **Rain Man** » Fri Sep 05, 2003 1:16 pm

So I'm in the early stages of planning my vacation around the 2nd week of October. From the looks of it, I will be flying into SF, possibly from Chicago on Friday, the 10th (trade show in Chicago so thinking of just leaving from there). While in SF a friend has offered the use of his motorcycle (WOOHOO!!!

). From SF I will ride down the coast on Mon. or Tue. to visit other friends, ending up in LA for a day to visit my Sister. Here is where the climbing part comes in. From RC.com, I found someone willing to lead me up a multi-pitch climb (possibly 8-12 pitches...YES!!!!) in the Las Vegas area. This guy mentioned Red Rocks as a destination, but a search on Delorme Street Atlas on my computer shows several hills with the name of Red Rock(s), some hundreds of miles from Vegas. Is the "famed" Red Rocks the Red Rock Canyon State Park just west of Vegas? Unfortunately, I am unable to crash on said guy's floor, so I am trying to figure out my sleeping accomodations for the night before the climb (and possibly after, depending on how long it takes). Input is appreciated from people who know the area(s) in question.

I am so f*cking psyched about getting 800+ feet off the ground. This being my first multi-pitch climb, the guy is looking at 5.6-5.8 climbs as good "intro to multi-pitch climbs", which I think is reasonable for that length of climb to really enjoy it.

If anyone on the list happens to LIVE in vegas and would be willing to let me use a patch of their floor, that would be great, too.

Post by **Eric** » Fri Sep 05, 2003 1:20 pm

Red Rock Canyon State Park is the one, camping is permitted at some of the trailheads outside of the park and you can get by with camping any place in the desert that you can find away from the road.

Post by **Rain Man** » Fri Sep 05, 2003 1:48 pm

Cool, that's good news.

Post by **Steve** » Fri Sep 05, 2003 3:47 pm

You could get a cheap hotel room, it is Vegas afterall.

Post by **Spragwa** » Fri Sep 05, 2003 4:18 pm

And a cheap whore...it's legal!

Post by **Rain Man** » Fri Sep 05, 2003 4:58 pm

Spragwa wrote:And a cheap whore...it's legal!

Yeah, but, does anyone really WANT a cheap whore? It's kind of like buying a cheap car. Visually you get what you pay for and you never know what "problems" might pop up after you've purchased it.

Post by **Christian** » Fri Sep 05, 2003 5:09 pm

No,with a cheap whore you know exactly what problems will popup.

Post by **climbhigh** » Fri Sep 05, 2003 7:01 pm

be carefull camping in the desert around red rocks. While Merrick and I were there the rangers where cracking down on illegal camping. We didnt have any issues but heard of others having big problems. We usually just car camped in grocery store parking lots. The campground costs 10 bucks a night. If your are in town for just a couple nights get a room.

Depending on what grade you climb. I would recomend Prince of Darkness. Its a great 10+ multi pitch sport route. Great moves all the way and really challenging for the grade. hit it early to avoid crowds and wear good shoes. Cat In The Hat is a good trad route thats super easy but so much fun. The place is loaded with great multi pitch and single pitch trad and sport. try to go bouldering while you are there.

Post by **tomdarch** » Fri Sep 05, 2003 7:09 pm

Spragwa wrote:And a cheap whore...it's legal!

No, it isn't in the county that Las Vegas is in. The schlockumentaries that I've seen about varioius legal brothels in the boonies in Nevada haven't exactly sold me on the 'product' either. Then again, there are lots of billboards promoting "In Room Entertainment" Hmmmm..... Somehow I suspect that the person who would show up at your room might not look exactly like the augmented, 18 year-old Russian featured on the billboard.

Anyway - 8 to 12 pitch routes make for long, long days. I've done a few 5 to 6 pitch routes there and hiked out in the dark more than once. Oh, yeah, the guidebook is infamously bad about aproach/descent times. The "15 minute" descent from Tunnel Vision took us more like an hour. If your 'guide' knows the route well, things will go much more quickly. I got a small camelback+pack system that helped a lot. I kept hydrated and I could carry some 'food' (energy bars), a shell and carry my aproach/descent shoes. (If it's a rap off route, you can leave your shoes at the base, and check them for creepy crawlies before you put them back on.)

If 6/10b/10a/9/9/10c mostly bolted, slab ocean of crimps sounds like fun, get on Prince of Darkness!

Damn, I'm jealous!

Post by **climbhigh** » Fri Sep 05, 2003 7:20 pm

If 6/10b/10a/9/9/10c mostly bolted, slab ocean of crimps sounds like fun, get on Prince of Darkness!

Dude its not as bad as it sounds. Its a true classic. Its not overbolted at all. The 9 pitches actually make you pucker a lil. Teh moves are mostly crimpy slab, but are great moves if you like slabs. Its not really a ocean of holds at all. The holds that are around are the ones you have to use, and you have to think with every move. The first moves into the 10c final pitch are some of the coolest moves I have done on slab. If your short like Merrick it probally bumps it up a couple notches. Merrick and I shared a belay station with Boone Speed on it and he was super psyhed to be on the route. So that should say something about the quality of the route. Red Rocks is an amazing place if you can stay away from the crowds.