Red Rocks Long Weekends in November

Mountain Skills Climbing Guides (a guide service I work for in the Shawangunks) was awarded a Red Rocks permit for 2014. Doug Ferguson, the owner and manager has set the dates of the ten day permit for November 14-23. I was hoping to go for a long weekend or two.

Red Rocks is an amazing place to climb. It's a stone's throw from Las Vegas, and there's a lifetime worth of climbing there. The climbing style can vary dramatically, from sandstone splitter cracks to beautiful face climbing on solid brown varnished rock. Red Rocks also has a substantial collection of high quality long, moderate rock climbs ranging from 400-1600 feet in length.

There are many direct flights there from major northeastern airport, meaning a long weekend trip is very manageable. Car rentals and lodging are also pretty simple to set up because Vegas is popular tourist destination.

Please contact me if you're interested in a guided trip there with Mountain Skills, 802-779-7139, ryan@bigfootmountainguides.com. The base rate for 1 person for a full day will vary but most likely will be $400/day regardless of the objective. 2-people is a sweet spot, as the rate will likely only be $100/day more.

The Reminder

For three seasons I visited Red Rocks 1-2 times a year. I carefully catalogued approaches, route beta and descent information. I guided long moderates and climbed a lot of harder single pitch and multipitch lines. In April 2010, after spending 15 days in Las Vegas taking my AMGA Rock Guide Exam, I thought I might never go back to Red Rocks. I was disgusted by the opulence and excess of Las Vegas. I was sick of prickly, sharp objects getting stuck in my clothing. Most of all, I was tired of the climbing and the long approaches in and out of the canyons.

I don't generally get bored of climbing areas., However, after spending a part of each of the past five summers alpine guiding in the Washington Cascades and training for my AMGA Alpine Guide Exam, I've been feeling the same way about the Cascades. They've worn me out. They just feel old, or maybe they make me feel old.

Climbing in these special places tends to lose some of it's significance when we forget to see the beauty around us. It's wrong to populate your memory of a beautiful place solely with route information, gear beta, and details about a tricky descent or walk-off route. It happens though, especially if you're focused on particular objectives.

I just returned from Red Rocks, where I spent most of a week guiding a close friend up really fine climbs. With the exam monkey off my back I was able to enjoy the subtle beauties of Red Rocks. Warm sunny slabs below the Brownstone Wall, the calico-colored boulders in Oak Creek Canyon, and the quiet trickle of water in Pine Creek Canyon are a few of the subtle charms of Red Rocks.

Next time your head is down and your nose is to the grindstone, stop and look around. Remember why you choose to climb in the first place. I'm there because I love being outdoors as much as I love climbing. I bet you feel that way too. Let's just try not to forget it.

The climbing is beautiful there too! Here is a gallery of images from the trip.

Eagle Dance

Here's a shot of Leavitation from the last belay on Eagle Dance in Red Rocks. We're currently waiting for another party to leave the belay so we can rappel.