Hot weather climbing in Red Rocks?

Some day I plan on moving to Vegas, how's summer climbing? I thought I saw a high over 100 today?

Maybe some night climbing?

It's totally doable, even in August. Red Rock is generally 10 degrees cooler than whatever the temp is in town. You can start hiking in really early like 4am-6am (outside the loop, so you won't have to wait till the loop opens at 6:00 am- hike early into Calico Basin/ Red Springs, First Creek, Oak Creek, Black Velvet Canyon, Illusion Crags, Chocolate Rocks, or Windy Canyon and try, and be done by 10am-ish) Or you can start your summer outing in the late afternoon; there are plenty of shady routes that are managable in the late afternoon till night in Red Rock for cragging; the hike in can be hot, but if you are accustomed to heat, it's not too bad. Bring lots, and lots of electrolytes enhanced fluids, leave an ice chest full of cold drinks in your car for the drive out, and don't forget sunscreen, and a good sun protection hat.

Or you can be cool up at Mt. Charleston , if you are into hard, limestone sport; about 30- 45 minute drive from Vegas, and about 30 degrees cooler: it'll be more crowded than Red Rock though, in the summer months. You'll have Red Rock pretty much all to yourself in the summer. Woohoo!! : )

Ah shit! Just saw on you personal page that you're coming from Wisconsin! Red Rock in the summer may take awhile for a non- desert rats to get used to; maybe a summer or two in desert conditions under ones belt. : )

But on second thought: your interests on your PP are triathlons, Scotch, general mayhem and chainsaws- you'll do just fine in extreme desert heat conditions!

My last solo visit in Aug. to climb in Red Rocks resulted in zero climbers seen from 6AM up to 11AM each day. No locals, nobody at first or second turnout. Wasted 4 good climbing days in low 100's trying to find anybody. I'm guessing that it's not very busy in the summer except back in the deep cool trad' canyons.

I was out climbing 3 days a week all last summer. On an overcast day last July, we were out at Ultraman wall until after 3 in the afternoon.

"but if you are accustomed to heat, it's not too bad"

.....at least that is what we keep telling ourselves...and don't forget, It's a dry heat ;)

Doug Foust wrote:"but if you are accustomed to heat, it's not too bad" .....at least that is what we keep telling ourselves...and don't forget, It's a dry heat ;)

I grew up in west texas so dry heat is in my bones but. . .

I have regularly climbed at Red Rocks when temps in vegas were in the 110+ range. Granted, I was not pulling down 5.12 or anything but then again climbing isn't always about that, is it? The canyons are much cooler and in the shade I always found climbing tolerable. The predawn starts were kind of mandatory however and it was not uncommon for me to be hiking in 6-8 liters of water. I would occasionally stash water up in the canyons too. Most of those days started at around 4:30-5am and we were hiking out by noon.

The first few pullouts will likely be pretty empty in the hotter temp days. Those climbs are not really the jewels of red rocks anyway (opinion inserted). I found exploring the canyons, learning their secrets, and experiencing climbing adventure they provide as one of the greatest experiences of my life. The heat is merely a filter to weed out the undesiring.

There is a plus side to summer climbing in the heat -
No crowds,
buzzed on 1 beer at the car,
siphon off the weak and feable partners for future endeavors,
gain the reputation of a bush-wacking idiot,
being able to spray like me on MP.com,
learning that dehydration can be worse than childbirth,
and for me getting used to the scorching temps I am to endure in the afterlife.

. . . And you meet interesting people in the desert

Awesome. Sounds like my kinda shit show!

How about yesterday, high of 110, anyone get out there?

I will be in Vegas on the 19th and 20th with a friend but could use someone to show us around. Anyone willing to hang out on the rocks with two girls? I can lead 8s and both of us can follow 10s.

Hello all!

I will be traveling to Vegas from July 6-10 and I would like to find someone to climb with in the heat :) Will any climbers be around and want to do a couple pitches or hit up some bouldering? Mt Charleston also seems like a viable option as it is much cooler there. 

I'm going to be in RR July 12-14. Anyone else planning on being around? We won't have a car and would love to share a campsite/ride with anyone who's crazy enough to brave the heat.

Campsite is closed for summer

JF1 wrote:

Campsite is closed for summer

Just saw that! Hotels it is...