Continue with onX Maps
Continue with Facebook
Routes in Labyrinth Wall
|
Celtic Cracks T 5.10a/b 6a+ 19 VI+ 19 E2 5b R |
|
Contrail T 5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b C1 |
|
|
Jet Stream T 5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a R |
|
|
Minotaur, The T 5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a R |
|
|
Tiers of the Setting Sun T 5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c R |
|
|
Worried Wives Club T 5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b |
| Type: | Trad, 1000 ft (303 m), 8 pitches, Grade III |
| FA: | Karsten Duncan, Andrew Gomoll -Nov 10, 2007 |
| Page Views: | 2,152 total · 11/month |
| Shared By: | Karsten Duncan on Mar 26, 2008 · Updates |
| Admins: | Luke EF, Larry DeAngelo, Aaron Mc, Justin Johnsen |
Access Issue: Red Rock RAIN AND WET ROCK: The sandstone is fragile and is very easily damaged when wet.
Details
HUMAN WASTE Human waste is one of the major issues plaguing Red Rocks. The Las Vegas Climbers Liaison Council and the AAC provides free "wag bags" in several locations (Black Velvet, First Pullout, Kraft Mtn/Bouldering, The Gallery, and The Black Corridor). These bags are designed so that you can pack your waste out - consider bringing one to be part of your kit (just like your rope and shoes and lunch) no matter where you go. Once used, please dispose of them properly (do not throw them in the toilets at the parking area).
Description
The Minotaur is a relatively moderate climb in a spectacular position. You get great views of Wilson, the Strip, and all the First Creek Slabs below. The climbing isn't that bad either but does have a few runout places. Be careful on the 7th pitch. It is easy climbing but pro is sparse. Combining this with any of the lower slab routes would make for a big grade IV day.
There are no bolts on this climb but belays are generally good and easy to get. This is probably the easiest way to get up the labyrinth wall. As with any new route however, be aware that all holds may not be bomber. I give the route 3 stars because of its position, length, and a few really neat pitches. That being said, it has some sections of mediocre rock, is runout on some easy terrain, and would be better compared to a Resolution Arete style of climbing. In short, its a moderate level adventure that if combined with the lower slab routes provides for 2000+ft of climbing.
Pitch 1: 5.10a/b 180ft
Start up a right angling crack that turns vertical. Continue up the thin crack and face and make a delicate traverse right 10 ft to gain the upper thin crack. Belay at a bush.
Pitch 2: 5.9 205ft
Climb up 15ft and traverse left into the right facing dihedral. Climb the dihedral to a ledge.
Pitch 3: 3rd Class 50ft
Scramble back and up 3rd class terrain to the right.
Pitch 4: 5.9 165ft
Climb up a right-facing corner passing a short 6 offwidth section and up a groove. Where the groove dead-ends into a steep blank wall traverse left and climb up onto a short step and belay.
Pitch 5: 3rd Class 40ft
Step left and through a short corridor to another wall.
Pitch 6: 5.9 215ft
Climb the handcrack up 40ft, traverse right to another crack and take it up and through a roof. Belay where the crack bends left and makes a small ledge.
Pitch 7: 5.7 R 185ft
From the belay first traverse right on the face for 15ft. Place gear and move up and generally trend left on face holds and almost no protection to a ledge with stacked blocks around the left corner.
Pitch 8: 5.9 R 95ft Move up and then left from the belay and follow a large crack on poor rock. Continue up a white rock chimney to another ledge spaced 2 feet across a gap from the yellow headwall.
Location
Climb any of the many routes on the lower angle first creek slabs to the ledge system. The route starts up the first available crack on the face to the right of the Guinness Book dihedral.
Descent: 2-3 single rope rappels, 1 double rope rappel
See the description and pic for the descent on the main Labyrinth Wall page.
Traverse to the back of the ledge and climb down (south) until you reach a somewhat narrow gulley. Scramble and walk down the gulley (heading east) doing 1-2 single rope rappels. Once at the bottom of the gulley take the SECOND gulley to your left (to the north). Move down this slot eventually downclimbing and squeezing under a huge chockstone. Rappel or downclimb an easy offwidth just below the chockstone to get to big ledge system. Traverse this ledge system west (skiers left) until it is no longer possible and do one double rope rappel to the original ledge system atop the first creek slab routes. (It may be possible to do multiple other rappels of this ledge system) From there continue west on this ledge system to just below the Celtic Cracks route and take the standard first creek slabs descent on orange webbing.
1 Comment