May 8, 2017
Las Vegas, NV
Epinepherine, Red Rocks
Just a few weeks prior, Laura and I were at the climbing gym getting in some rounds after work to stay in climbing shape. We happened to see my friend Brad there and he mentioned that he was going to red rocks in a few weeks and that we should go. Now
Brad knows that we are all about taking advantage of opportunities, so we went home and made a plan. The following day, we bought our plane tickets and were committed to going for a climb that would not only be the longest rock route either of us had
done, but also one of the most difficult.
We made it to Las Vegas and hung out with Laura’s sister, husband and mother for the day. The next day we went bowling and wondered what was in store for THE route everyone talks about.
2 am we left the house, met Brad and two others and headed for Red Rocks. Neither Laura or I had climbed there before but we knew it was one of the most amazing places in the country to climb. After an hike in, we geared up and by 6:45 we had started
climbing the first pitches of the 2,400’ route. The first pitch was easy face climbing to a ledge where you started the wide chimneys. Brad led the chimneys and his 2 partners followed. I led behind them and brought Laura up behind me.
The first two chimney pitches were like nothing I had ever climbed before but were a blast. Wide crack climbing with great places for protection. I tried to climb fast to keep up with Brad, who had been on the route 4 times before. The third chimney pitch was unprotectable except for 2 bolts that were widely spaced. I began climbing and clipped the first bolt but with the climbing at my limit in wide cracks and a potential 40' fall, I opted for a rope from above on this, the most difficult chimney pitch.
The first two chimney pitches were like nothing I had ever climbed before but were a blast. Wide crack climbing with great places for protection. I tried to climb fast to keep up with Brad, who had been on the route 4 times before. The third chimney pitch was unprotectable except for 2 bolts that were widely spaced. I began climbing and clipped the first bolt but with the climbing at my limit in wide cracks and a potential 40' fall, I opted for a rope from above on this, the most difficult chimney pitch.
Once we got above the chimneys, it was 10 pitches of amazing and varied face climbing. Brad led his group and I placed the gear for me and Laura. The route was wildly exposed, looking down over 1,500 feet with nothing below and a great experience. I described
the featured wall as something like our local Garden of the Gods Kindergarten rock with about 100 times more features.
Before we knew it, we had topped out of the most technical pitches and were simuclimbing the last few hundred feet. After a short summit celebration, we changed our shoes and started the hike down. Luckily we had the light of a full moon that night and
it made the descent fairly straight forward.
Making it back to the car, 17 hours round trip, we were greeted by a pile of beers left for us by some of Brad’s friends who were also climbing in the area that same day!
Making it back to the car, 17 hours round trip, we were greeted by a pile of beers left for us by some of Brad’s friends who were also climbing in the area that same day!
