RRC Archives

Could somebody please do something about this rain? I need to get back into shape after my ankle surgery last winter...but sliding out of these holds isn't much of a workout! Is anything dry in the Gorge?

The only thing dry at the Red is Powell County. And that ain't necessarily a GOOD thing!

The benches inside Miguels

My rope is still wet.

I thought I was 'stuck' chauffering my grandmother to a family get-together on Sunday. Luckily it was a lot of fun, so I didn't sit around stewing about not being at the Red. Sounds like skipping this weekend was a good bet!

Oh wait - I should have asked: Is everything SEEPING, or is it just that everything is wet from rain? (The forecast is for some more rain this week with a maybe for clear skies for next weekend (June 21/22)) If everything is seeping, then it may still suck next weekend...

Around 2pm Saturday I got to see exactly how overhanging rock gets soaked. Everything seemed fine until the rain got to a certain intensity and all of a sudden all the air was filled with this visible cloud of mist that floated right over to the wall and soaked everything. Sunday I went bolt to bolt on a soaking wet Fuzzy Undercling to see if it was dry anywhere. It was wet all the way to the anchors.

Some localized areas can have water "seeping" through cracks and such but it's not like the enterior of the whole rock face is full of water seeping out everywhere. For routes like the ones on the "gung ho" wall to get wet the air has to be full of mist. That's my theory anyway. Anyone know any different?

Can anyone remember in recent history when it has rain this consistently?I mean, it's all the time.

Danny,
the humidity in the air does play a part, but the sheer amount of rain is also a factor. Sandstone is porous and water will actually permeate the spaces between the grains and "seep" its way down the face (assisted by gravity) from the top. If it's just a little rain it doesn't have time to "soak in", but when it rains as much as it has lately the rock turns into a big sponge. Terry advised against climbing on the rock when it's like that because it becomes really soft and holds break with more frequency.

Mj

I have seen routes soaked due to just high humidity. even those just mentioned, and it had not rained for days.this past weekend there were dry routes to climb. they may had some greasy spots but still climbable. after driving 4 hours to get down to the red i will climb something , damp or not.