Mountain Gear Announces New Friday Clinics at 2012 Red Rock Rendezvous Event in Las Vegas

The ninth annual Mountain Gear Presents: Red Rock Rendezvous (RRR) rock climbing festival, title sponsored by The North Face with support from the American Alpine Institute, will return to the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area near Las Vegas on March 30 through April 1, 2012. Registration started Monday, Nov. 1, and is limited to the first 1,000 registrants. For the 2012 RRR, Mountain Gear is adding Special Friday Clinics to the three-day event that include a range of outdoor activities and classes.

“We are excited to announce changes to Friday’s clinics for the 2012 Red Rock Rendezvous,” said Phil Bridgers, RRR event coordinator. “We will now be hosting intensive training clinics on Friday. These clinics are a great way to kick off the three-day event while focusing on gaining climbing, biking and wilderness skills in a fun and educational manner.”

Special Friday Clinics include:

• Multiple pitch climbing for intermediate climbers 
• Wilderness first aid – an eight-hour course to earn certification card
• Warrior’s Way with author and climber Arno Ilgner
• Map and compass class
• Self-rescue rock rescue class
• Intensive trail running
• Half-day mountain biking clinic
• UClimb’s Learn to Climb clinic for less experienced climbers and those who have never attempted the difficulty levels of the Red Rock Canyon. UClimb is designed to teach all ages how to rock climb in small-group settings with other amateur climbers. The full-day introduction clinics will teach climbing fundamentals to succeed at Red Rocks and other outdoor settings. 

The clinics will take place in an intimate clinic setting by professional guides who are also some of the world’s most accomplished climbers. UClimb participants will then be able to enjoy one full day and one half day throughout the weekend. There will also be an optional gear package that will include harness, helmet, shoes, belay device, carabineer, chalk bag and a membership to the Access Fund.

The festival also will offer clinics for advanced and intermediate climbers on Saturday and Sunday. Registration is $99 per person for the Saturday and Sunday events, and $179 per person for the Friday Learn to Climb clinic and Saturday and Sunday clinic combo (without the gear package). For $188, participants can have access to events for all three days.

For a complete list of registration packages and prices, visit www.RedRockRendezvous.com. 

Registration includes the Friday night opening celebration, a dinner buffet on Saturday night, demos, comps and mini-seminars by event sponsors, slideshow and movie on Friday night, a blow-out party on Saturday night, pancake breakfast Sunday morning and service projects to assist in the environmental conservation of the Red Rock Canyon and Spring Mountain. 

All of the festival activities, outside of the climbing clinics, will take place at Spring Mountain Ranch State Park located about 10 minutes from the entrance to the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. This year’s Red Rock Rendezvous participant camping will be at Spring Mountain Ranch. The festival will be running a shuttle bus between the campground and the festival locations throughout the event.

Event proceeds will benefit the Access Fund, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to keeping climbing areas open and conserving the climbing environment.  Other benefiting organizations include the American Safe Climbing Association, the American Alpine Club, Friends of Red Rocks and the Las Vegas Climbers Liaison Council.

For more information, call (800) 829-2009 or visit www.RedRockRendezvous.com.