Red Rocks in June

My most recent adventure found me in Red Rocks, right outside Las Vegas, NV. In June. The temperature was above 105 degrees and Erik, Mandy, and I found ourselves weighted down with water and gear, trekking through the desert on the hour long approach into an ominous and beautiful canyon. The walls towered over us and the hot sun baked our skin and minds. Some people said we were crazy. I thought the timing was just right.

Erik, Mandy, and I before the night climb

Okay... maybe we are a little bit crazy. It just happened to work out that my aunt was getting married in Vegas that week and Erik was passing through on his way home to Phoenix. It is not easy to pass up a climbing adventure. Our destination was Black Velvet Canyon, "the crown jewel of Red Rocks". The 2,000 foot walls offered little protection from the sun as we approached, but we pushed on until we found ourselves huddled in shade, preparing below the cliffs.

The approach and view

Multi-pitch Trad climbs are pretty straight forward. Climb and place your own gear (nuts and cams). Build an anchor before you run out of rope. Belay your climbing partner from above. This process continues until you have reached the top. Easy Right. Mentally and physically, these climbs are most difficult and intimidating. It requires planning, determination, tenacity, route-finding, and a tolerance for spending most of the day in your harness hundreds of feet off the ground, in which retreat is often impossible. It takes everything you have. Not only are you pulling yourself up the wall, one hand jam at a time, but you must also carry enough water and gear to reach the top. Then you have to get down somehow, which is a challenge within itself. 

Mandy tackling the crux

Black Widow sighting

For 3 days in a row we awoke in the back of our vehicles at 4:00am in order to beat the heat and sun. After finishing our climbs, we would retreat to the Monte Carlo for poolside refreshments. Our last day of climbing, we tackled an 800' route that would consume all of our energy, most of the day, and almost all of our water. Back on the ground, via an interesting and somewhat scary descent, we packed out our gear and headed for the strip, where we would spend the next 3 days participating in wedding celebrations. The climbing was amazing although it was incredibly hot. I am looking forward to a cooler visit next time and already scoped out some classics to attempt for when I do return.