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Introducing wife to climbing Red Rocks

Original Post
James Bellamy · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2012 · Points: 10

Hello all who are familiar with Red Rock!

I will be taking my wife on a trip to your neck of the woods in the beginning of July.

I know this is the off season due to the heat, but this is what we could fit in vacation wise - without our children.

My plan is to introduce the wife to climbing - she is already excited so that is half the battle.

Where can I take her that will stay relatively cool, on some easy/moderate grades - that has a lot of top roping? Sport routs with bolted anchors are fine. I have a full trad rack and 70m rope but I would prefer to just stick to sport (have her belay me, rappel, then top rope her) if you get the idea.

Any suggestions ?

Thanks for your help.

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

Black Corridor might be one solid spot. Some easy 5.9's and a smattering of other grades. Gets shade other than when sun is at its highest angle.

BSheriden · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2013 · Points: 0

Is red rocks the ONLY option? So many spots in the country that have much more enjoyable climbing that time of year... Not a great idea to take someone out in 110 heat their first time climbing, even if they like the climbing she probably wont have much fun.

James Bellamy · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2012 · Points: 10

Yes, Vegas is the spot. We don't want to venture "too" far.

I did specify that we are looking for somewhere "cool", if its possible to find some top rope areas in the shade. Black cooridor sounds good but the grades seem stiff for a beginner.

Thanks again.

Ken Noyce · · Layton, UT · Joined Aug 2010 · Points: 2,648
James Bellamy wrote:Yes, Vegas is the spot. We don't want to venture "too" far. I did specify that we are looking for somewhere "cool", if its possible to find some top rope areas in the shade. Black cooridor sounds good but the grades seem stiff for a beginner. Thanks again.
For Vegas in the summer, you pretty much have to head up to Mt. charlston. Unfortunately, I don't think there is much in the way of TRs or beginner climbs, but you might check out the database and see what you find.
W L · · NEVADASTAN · Joined Mar 2010 · Points: 851

The grades in the corridor aren't stiff at all - a perfect beginner climb there is Bonaire. Mellow, maaaaybe a 5.9 move on the thing, and very intuitive and straight forward. Avoid the 5.7 in there, not a very fun climb even for one at the grade. The other beginner sport crags like the Cut Your Teeth Crag typically get sun all day, but I'm also not much of a sport climber and thus am not totally aware of the best options. I do know that the Black Corridor is prime in the late afternoon...

S. Eppes · · Bend , OR · Joined Oct 2008 · Points: 35

Not sport, but I took some newer climbers here:
mountainproject.com/v/rompe…

It was July and triple digits but once you get across the frying pan and up to the climbs it was pretty shady and rather nice. Start early and bring lots of water. On the plus side we didn't see another human all day and we were fortunate enough to see some big horn sheep battling it out on the other side of the canyon. Have fun!

Doug Foust · · Oroville, WA · Joined Sep 2008 · Points: 165

Hit the Hamlet wall early in the morning, you'll have shade until about 10:30am and it is quite comfortable. The lower hamlet has four toprope routes and the upper hamlet has a really mellow, 5.3ish, bolted route and a couple of really fun 5.7's.

Cheers,

Doug

frankstoneline · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Apr 2009 · Points: 30

Have done the black corridor in summer without too much trouble, also nice because there will likely be no one there. Temps stayed manageable and you can climb a load of good moderate sport routes.

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Nevada
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