Partner Needed - Red Rock: Solar Slab (Tue. 8-6-13)

West Coast virgin, heading to Vegas for a wedding in early Aug. I have one free day to climb (Tue. the 6th) and would like to climb Solar Slab at Red Rock. Please help a east coast guy out! I have a full trad rack and rope.

Thanks!

Solar slab in August??

Yeah . .. bad idea. I'll climb in RR in the summer no matter the heat - but not a south facing wall. You'll fry.

Is there a hotter climb in the U.S. than Solar in the summer ? Seriously , Jtree ? Arizona ? Iraq ? Where is hotter ...

So,any suggestions?

The pool at Mandalay Bay , or perhaps Mt. Charleston ?

Don't be a pussy. If u got ur heart set on it start early. It goes quickly. Link Johny Vegas into SS. Not getting your ropes stuck rapping will be the crux, or the gully decent.

That said there are tons of mega classics in that range. Cat in the hat, olive oil, bird land, frog land the list goes on. Forget the exposure on those routes but look it up. Ur the one climbing out there in August lol.

Ryan Kempf wrote:Don't be a pussy. If u got ur heart set on it start early. It goes quickly. Link Johny Vegas into SS. Not getting your ropes stuck rapping will be the crux, or the gully decent. That said there are tons of mega classics in that range. Cat in the hat, olive oil, bird land, frog land the list goes on. Forget the exposure on those routes but look it up. Ur the one climbing out there in August lol.

Halljt3 wrote: What this guy said! Any takers (heat is not a issue for me)? But seriously, if anyone is down to climb please let me know. I would like to stay above 4 pitches as that's about all there is around me. Thanks in advanced

Alright, I'll bite.

YER GONNA DIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Go climb the thing at night if you are so compelled to climb it. That way you avoid the convection oven known as Solar Slab in Summer. You can park off 159 and not get hassled to access Oak Creek. Bring adequate water, whatever that may be to you, and leave alive - provided this isn't just some troll.

I hate to add to the nay-saying, but Solar Slab is nasty in the heat... I've been out there on hot days when it was supposed to be cooler climates and it was brutal. Maybe a climb in the shade like Crimson Chrysalis. Otherwise, flights to Vegas aren't that bad, book early and go in the winter!

WEST COAST VIRGIN LOOKIN TO GET ON SOLAR SLAB IN 100 DGREEZ?

ain't gonna be a virgin no mo'

I had this same idea a number of years ago. I got part way up Solar Slab Gully but had to turn back, but not for the reasons I would have thought. I made the unfortunate mistake of having a partner who told some other friends who promptly invited themselves. We went from a party of 2 to 5, noobs all. When we got there, a pair started up, but bailed off the first pitch, cuz one of them was over heating big time (not hydrated enough.) My partner bonked before even starting up due to lack of breakfast. Thankfully, I had the alternate 5th wheel to climb with, who did well, but insisted on going back because of the over heated partner. I was bummed out, because it felt a bit cooler with the elevation and i wanted to continue. What I discovered on this aborted trip is that my feet felt kind of hot because of the black rubber, but I could tolerate it. The higher I got, the less intense the heat. However, from a subsequent trip, I found that sunglasses are an important piece of gear, as the brilliance of the sunshine bouncing off the light colored rock can really mess with your eyes and make you feel kind of sick, even when it isn't hot. Don't even think of taking your shirt off (even in the shade.) Obviously, hydration is of prime importance, do go overboard with that... Solar Slab's light rock absorbs somewhat less heat than, say, Straight Shooter, which is like a hot skillet in Summer for most of the day. Nevertheless, climbing south facing walls in Red Rock in summer is a rather iffy proposition, though I have had the experience of successfully climbing Olive Oil in mid July, mid day (no overcast either.) You will be hot. Please don't die.

Sounds like no one is available to climb. So any hiking suggestions?