Trip Report
10 Days in Red Rocks - Nevada
Monday March 31, 2014 9:48pm
Due to a pile of recent injuries I had hardly climbed at all in the last two months. School, school, and more school piled on top of random bits of work. None of it was at all satisfying so when it looked like I could escape for spring break I jumped on the opportunity. I headed south with my friend Nick, who happened to be in much better shape then I was. His friend Patrick also came down and is relatively new to climbing. Nick had some big plans, but unfortunately they would have to wait as I gained back some strength and Patrick learned his way around the rock. But we still got plenty of climbing in.

I left Anchorage at 9:30pm after spending most of the day working on my midterm exam and then playing a flag football game. I got on the plane exhausted but still wasn't able to sleep. In an attempt at bringing down the cost of the ticket I had to overnight in Seattle, where I laid awake on the floor until my flight left that next morning. I arrived in Vegas at noon, sleep was the first thing on my mind. However, that's not really how Nick works. He picked me up, along with Patrick who had a few measly hours of sleep, and we drove into the park. We groggily packed our bags and headed toward Mescalito by 1pm. We climbed the enjoyable, and easy, Cat in the Hat (5.7). A route that, at this point, I can hardly remember. Nick was happy to be back on the rock.

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We scrambled the easy upper sections even though a part of me wondered if I'd fall asleep reaching for a hold.


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Others were climbing on steeper objectives.

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Aww the summit. Wheres the bed? Oh...we have to go back down? Dang.

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Well we headed down and got our ropes stuck in the process. It was getting dark and we were all smart enough to leave our headlamps in the car, so we left them and went back for them in the morning. Cat in the Hat goes up the left side of Mescalito.

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There were other amazing views from the parking area. Such as the Rainbow Wall. As we were heading in here one day Alex Honnold was heading along the same path. I'm assuming he split this way though and we went off to do something much easier.

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Mt. Wilson. We ended up climbing the first pitch of Pink Tornado, which goes up the pillar in the middle-left of the lower wall. But it got dark on us once again as we got started late and there was already a party on the route. I heard we got the best pitch anyway.

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We switched over to some sport climbing, which usually means easy pictures! Yak Crack.

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The ever so popular Gallery.

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Pat jumps on Yak Crack for his first lead of the trip!

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Erik Pallister gaining some air.

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Then we went over to Fear and Loathing (5.12a) so that Nick could try and tire himself out a bit. It didn't really work but he looked like a beast climbing it. Did I say climbing? I meant crushing.

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Oh and in case you are wondering that is a mullet he's sporting.

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After climbing some sport we decided to head over to Birdland so Pat and I could climb it. Nick just ran around and climbed everything else. Some flowers. Anyone know what type?

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There was a line on the way in so we hopped on some 5.8 ahead of time.

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And, since I never miss an opportunity to catch some wildlife...

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Climbing in corners.

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Climbers on Cat in the Hat.

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We finally got on Birdland and had a great time.

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As usual with the classics in Red Rocks there's always someone on your heels. Sometimes they were on ours, sometimes we were on theirs.

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Well unfortunately that's the extent of my photos. We did some other great climbs like Olive Oil, and the megaclassic Epinephrine, but I left the camera at home for the chimneys. I'm really jazzed to be back in Alaska and to be back climbing! I've climbed nearly every day since returning, but the cameras still sitting in the bag. It's hard to take pictures when there's climbing to be had!

Thanks for reading.


Kelsey


Photo for the TR PIC:
top left corner top right corner
Nick on Fear and Loathing (5.12a)
Nick on Fear and Loathing (5.12a)
Credit: Prezwoodz
bottom left corner bottom right corner

  Trip Report Views: 3,134
Prezwoodz
About the Author
Prezwoodz is a climber of all types from Alaska

Comments
neebee

Social climber
calif/texas
  Mar 31, 2014 - 09:54pm PT
hey there say, prezwoodz... wow, this is great... very very nice! the pics are nicely colored and crisp... very special it all looked...

loved the wildlife too!
thanks for sharing... :)
10b4me

Social climber
Lida Junction
  Mar 31, 2014 - 09:58pm PT
Bump
thebravecowboy

climber
The Good Places
  Mar 31, 2014 - 10:02pm PT
nice pics!

i concur on the globe mallow
William Finley

Social climber
Anchorage
  Mar 31, 2014 - 10:16pm PT
Great pix Kelsey. Your photography talents never cease to amaze me!
clinker

Trad climber
Santa Cruz, California
  Mar 31, 2014 - 10:23pm PT
Nice!
Kalimon

Social climber
Ridgway, CO
  Mar 31, 2014 - 10:53pm PT
Sweet! Thanks very much.
Roxy

Trad climber
CA Central Coast
  Mar 31, 2014 - 11:05pm PT
great climbing pics, as always.

but damn man!!!

that sheep shot was most fantastic.
moacman

Trad climber
Montuckyian Via Canada Eh!
  Mar 31, 2014 - 11:30pm PT
Looks like a great trip and great pics too....Thanx for sharing.....

Stevo
climbski2

Mountain climber
The Ocean
  Apr 1, 2014 - 12:14am PT
Now thats some great climbing content!

Sweet trip, great pics

Thanks!
Elcapinyoazz

Social climber
Joshua Tree
  Apr 1, 2014 - 12:33am PT
Nice shots. Headed there in a couple weeks myself.

The orange flowers are desert mallow aka globe mallow aka apricot mallow - Sphaeralcea ambigua, one of the things that makes April in the canyons over there a special time. Hedgehog cactus are usually starting to pop at the same time, along with beavertails too.

RyanD

climber
  Apr 1, 2014 - 01:00am PT
Killer stuff Prezwoodz always love your photo style. Nice to have long days there, good job.
Ezra Ellis

Trad climber
North wet, and Da souf
  Apr 1, 2014 - 07:09am PT
Nice Kelsey, I love that place!!!
Mullets galore!!!!!!!
lucaskrajnik

Trad climber
Anchorage, AK
  Apr 1, 2014 - 01:17pm PT
Nice TR Prez! I hope you're ready for summer!
Prezwoodz

climber
Anchorage
Author's Reply  Apr 1, 2014 - 02:02pm PT
Thanks everyone for the awesome comments! It is much appreciated.

WML - I think that was our Cat in the Hat day so it would have been the 10th.

Lucas, I'm definitely ready for summer!
le_bruce

climber
Oakland, CA
  Apr 1, 2014 - 02:10pm PT
Good stuff, PW. Thank you.
Prezwoodz

climber
Anchorage
Author's Reply  Apr 1, 2014 - 06:04pm PT
Kos - Thanks! That is a huge compliment to hear!

WML - I shoot with a Canon 7D. I was using a 18-135mm lens for most of the shots except the sport shots. Which I made with my new/used 10-22mm.
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