It is nearly the middle of December, which means I have spent roughly the past three months climbing and guiding near Las Vegas, NV, in the hills and canyons of Red Rock National Conservation Area. During these short three months, I have explored the plethora of rock that Red Rock has to offer, and have discovered a few things. The following photo essay outlines some of the personal discoveries I have made about this amazing place.
1. Red Rock has extremely ideal opportunities for teaching and learning how to build anchors - from sport climbing to trad.
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Bryan Winther setting up an anchor after leading his first sport climb on a 5.7 route on the Upper Hamlet Wall
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2. Red Rock has climbing for all ability and age levels!
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Mother and 8-year-old son working together as belayer and climber at the family friendly Lower Hamlet Crag
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3. Red Rock has some of the longest, most moderate multi-pitch lines I have come across.
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Dillon Chen climbing a 5.8 heavily featured corner on Epinephrine, with roughly 1000' of air below him
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4. Red Rock is a great place to climb with your partner.
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Jennifer and John are all smiles on the second pitch of Frogland, 5.8 - an area classic
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5. Red Rock is a great place to climb with your college buddy!
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| Nancy and Kim, college buddies of 20+ years, at the top of the first pitch on the 6 pitch classic - Cat in The Hat, 5.7 |
6. Red Rock has seemingly limitless rock, and opportunity for first-ascents abounds!
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Looking at pitch 3 and 4 of Frigid Air Buttress on the right, with endless beautiful rock and cracks on the left
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7. Red Rock is a great place to push your grade, and your limits.
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Doug Foust leading a crux 5.9+ finger crack through heavily varnished rock.
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8. Red Rock has some of the most beautiful rock I have ever seen.
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Christie Galitsky climbs through the third pitch of Armatron, on what seems like handmade bricks of perfectly patinaed sandstone
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9. Red Rock is unique in that on the same climb you can face climb on excellent edges, jam on stellar cracks, or a combination of both.
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Patrick Harris enjoying his first attempt at crack climbing, before transitioning onto the featured face of pitch three on Ginger Cracks, 5.9
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10. Red Rock climbing makes me happy!
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| Doug Foust, the author, and Walter Larkins enjoying a summit shot on top of Frigid Air Buttress |
All of these photos were taken in the past few months, with too many more to share. I feel so blessed and thankful to be working here through the Winter and Spring, and want to share this amazing place with as many people as I can. The weather has been beyond stellar, with many days this December forcing me to seek shade because it was a little too warm in the sun.
I know this blog gets readers from across the country and the world - so let me repeat that slowly and more clearly: There is sun and warmth in Red Rock, NV, even in the middle of winter. Perhaps I'm more astonished by this seeing as I spent my past few winters in the Pacific Northwest's winter, but I'm just excited to spend the next 5 months of my life in this wonderful playground of rock. Come join me!
-Andrew Yasso
Lead Rock Guide - Red Rock, NV
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