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What do you desert people do when it gets hot?

Original Post
Kevin Heckeler · · Las Vegas, NV · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 1,616

When it gets 100+F during the summer months, what are the alternate options out of Vegas? Or is it merely finding shady climbs and early starts at Red Rock?

FrankPS · · Atascadero, CA · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 276

They go to higher elevations. I don't live there, but I think the eastern Sierra and Mt. Charleston are on the list.

Eric LaRoche · · West Swanzey, NH · Joined Aug 2011 · Points: 25

climb at night?

Xtine · · Mammoth Lakes, CA · Joined May 2008 · Points: 1,921

I've climbed through many summers here and love it. Not all days in summer hit 100F and some days there is cloud coverage. I've never felt overheated on a route in the shade. At times there is even a slight breeze and my partner and I always talk about how perfect it feels. I'm sure everyone's tolerance is different - I do poorly in colder temps. The canyons are empty and serene. The approach is heinous because you can't avoid sun unless you want to start hiking ridiculously early. Hike out toward evening. I usually bring at least 2.5-3L of water though. Climbing at night is also awesome in the summers...have climbed the chimney pitches of Epinephrine or gone sport cragging, temps are great - but I'd suggest always bringing a thin layer at least.

Michael Brady · · Wenatchee, WA · Joined Jul 2014 · Points: 1,316

Higher elevation. I have climbed Josh year round by climbing at night. The temps still are not that great but you have the place to yourself and climbing at night is pretty fun.

W L · · NEVADASTAN · Joined Mar 2010 · Points: 851

What do you mean..."you people?!" LOL!

The nice thing about the desert is low humidity and elevation options.

Low humidity means that even if temps are fairly scorching in town, the shade can be pleasant. Add a few thousand vert to that and in the canyons it can be downright comfortable. That being said, the approaches are quite awful and Xtine is dead on as far as water suggestions.

With respect to elevation options, if it is fully Africa Hot down here, go to higher elevations and seek shade, or drive a few hours and go even higher. Vegas is fairly centrally located and many places are weekend trip distance away. Mt Charleston on summer evenings can be serene and uncrowded - yet close enough to town that you can reasonably head up after work and go cragging, hiking, or cycling and be pretty psyched.

Night climbing can be a fun adventure as well. Still warm, but climbed Johnny Vegas a few years ago in mid-July by headlamp...that was classic.

Kevin Heckeler · · Las Vegas, NV · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 1,616
Weston L wrote:What do you mean..."you people?!" LOL!
You know, you "Westerners"... :p

Thanks for the replies all. Conversation that was struck up last night entailed comparing our winters back East to the summers of the Southwest, and realizing there are probably more opportunities in those Summer months (even with the excessive heat) than there are in the colder/wetter months here. Even during the summer here, if it gets 85+F with high humidity it can be unbearable (especially in the sun). It's rare we get much above 85F without also having a humid southerly wind flow. Dry/low humidity and warm are atypical in the Northeast.

As was said, could always do a weekend trip north or 'up'.
Hoff Mann · · Knoxville, TN · Joined May 2008 · Points: 50

There are really only a handful of weeks each year that reach really hot temps, 110+. Maybe I'm acclimatized (it's dry heat!), but anything up to 105 or so seems doable in terms of outdoor stuff when you have some shade and keep yourself plenty hydrated and lathered up in sunscreen.

That said, the Spring Mountains are amazing in the summertime, with temps generally in the 70s-80s and elevations over 8-9000 feet easily accessible. There's route climbing and bouldering (not nearly the selection as RRCNCA, but decent), stellar mountain biking, and hiking. We spend a lot of weekends up there with the kids during the warmer months, can't beat it!

Kevin Heckeler · · Las Vegas, NV · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 1,616
Hoff wrote:That said, the Spring Mountains are amazing in the summertime, with temps generally in the 70s-80s and elevations over 8-9000 feet easily accessible. There's route climbing and bouldering (not nearly the selection as RRCNCA, but decent), stellar mountain biking, and hiking. We spend a lot of weekends up there with the kids during the warmer months, can't beat it!
Sounds like our kind of place! :)

The routes at Charleston look generally pretty stout (read somewhere it's limestone, so mostly sport?). We tend to like longer, easier stuff as a rule of thumb and usually only tackle anything above 5.9 on a crag day. Are there longer routes or route potential for longer stuff in the sub 5.10 grades up there? One thing that attracts us to red Rocks is the plethora of easier multi pitch.
Arin F · · Las Vegas · Joined Oct 2011 · Points: 64

Yup, I simply climb in the shade.

Thomas Beck · · Las Vegas, Nevada · Joined Feb 2006 · Points: 1,025

Kevin,

There are a few routes at Charleston at the grades you specified. With the south side closed (Griffith Peak and South Loop trail) for fire not as many as you might wish for. Some are stellar, compact blue limestone. Some you have to be willing to accept a bit of choss - depending on your definition of choss). It's true many are bolt protected. Some are mixed gear and bolts.

If you are coming here for a road trip you might look at combining destinations with the eastern Sierra near Mammoth

Kevin Heckeler · · Las Vegas, NV · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 1,616
Thomas Beck wrote:Kevin, There are a few routes at Charleston at the grades you specified. With the south side closed (Griffith Peak and South Loop trail) for fire not as many as you might wish for. Some are stellar, compact blue limestone. Some you have to be willing to accept a bit of choss - depending on your definition of choss). It's true many are bolt protected. Some are mixed gear and bolts. If you are coming here for a road trip you might look at combining destinations with the eastern Sierra near Mammoth
Our trip this time around is just for a week and will be focusing on Red Rocks only. [we've been out to the Sierra, though only a little taste]

These questions have a much greater implication than a mere 1 week vaca. ;)
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Nevada
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