Avoiding the Rendezvous?

With no intent whatsoever to be part of this gala, I booked tickets to be at RR right through the festival.

Is it possible to avoid it? I won't be camping at the main campground so that should help.

What about on the routes? Will the crowds be unbearable? I'm thinking of the mid 11 to mid 12 multipitch affairs.

I'm completely bummed but my schedule wouldn't allow for a different time.

Are you trolling? Yes, you will be fine on those affairs. Most of the rendezvous is targeted toward beginner to beginner-intermediate climbers...

Not trolling, just not interested in humping the leg of people who should probably get a job.

I've never been to the rendezvous. I didn't know if it just occupied some corner or was all encompassing.

mountainproject.com/v/red-r…

Most Rendesvous climbers will be climbing the 5.8-5.10. You should be fine.

Do multipitch 5.12s ever get crowded? Any classic 5.10 or lower will be slammed but the rest should be fine.

nicelegs wrote:Not trolling, just not interested in humping the leg of people who should probably get a job.

Nice description of pro climbing.

Why do people go to those sorts of events anyway? What's the appeal? Just curious; I'm confused by the whole affair.

I'm in the same boat--an unfortunate bystander who booked tix for the same weekend. I'm planning on walking through the festival to score some cheap gear, but am otherwise avoiding it. Unfortunately, I'll be fighting the other intermediate climbers for those classics--I'm hoping everyone gets so wasted that no one will be getting up early to hit the big multipitches.

RRR posted the location of their clinics online--calico hills 1st pullout, 2nd pullout, sandstone quarry and willow spring. Basically everything greater than page 260 in the handren guidebook. But they may change it so I'd double check before choosing your routes.

You're not just competing with RRR. Most colleges/universities have spring break around the same time. But yeah, 5.11/12... I think you're fine.

JCM wrote: Nice description of pro climbing. Why do people go to those sorts of events anyway? What's the appeal? Just curious; I'm confused by the whole affair.

I went to RRR when I was starting out, and it was a great experience for a new climber. I met people, collected a few partners in different corners of the US which I have climbed with since then when visiting their area, got some good instruction, drank much of the unlimited beer (still use my RRR souvenir pint glass among much other free shwag obtained there), and all for much less than the cost of a single guided climb with an average guide.

Instructions for avoiding crowds at the Rendezvous.

Step 1: Go somewhere else. Yup, suck it up, pay the $200 change fee and fly to Chattanooga instead.

I really don't think being in RR around the time of the fest is really that big of a deal especially if you're climbing long routes at that grade. I think Velvet Tongue saw 3-4 ascents within the week of the Rendezvous. I find climbing festivals pretty fun- meet some people, drink some beer, talk shit, maybe win some free gear... doesn't seem that bad to me. If you're looking for a wilderness experience I think RR is the wrong place to be looking. It's curious to me that so many people want to avoid crowds yet still insist on going to RR...

I go to RR every year in the early Spring usually plan it to avoid the Rendezvous. Last year my trip overlapped the event and it didn't affect me at all. If you climb in the canyons you will have no problem. Just stay out of Calico Basin that weekend. That is where the clinics take place.

John Wilder wrote:Anfarwal, a heads in about getting into the festival. It's $50 just to walk in, and the only place participants can buy gear is in Mountain gears on site retail shop.

Thanks for the advice--do you think it's even worth it to pay the $50 to just go at night? Chances are that I'll probably be getting off these climbs in the dark anyway

Just bring, or rent a mountain bike if it's too busy for you! I always bring my bike to Vegas! Boulder City, Black Velvet and the Cowboy Trails are super high quality, and you hardly see anyone on them! I wish climbing was as much fun as mountain biking. . .

Also I'll be down there this weekend, planning on biking and climbing.