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.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigu69ZePSGpqRsN04AWnXEdCfMucM04sQ_ERJx0S0Gh2ztrq6enb4aHgpnqW4IWFfMWVVivJVCH0-BIUOPJA4trtMm89COGzAd4Ox5dpbu5b3kg4T51C1ioIxwNCy4-Y32dcWJH_2UGtpx/s320/DSC05764.JPG) |
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!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWCPQp9SbszHa4PxgjSJjcu34_oeYPg4hutEGUaV8EgVALBbvKazTqjl5vmze0a9YBf-dKy4hS2-wcAd9O3WBg-uBIFa9hmcy02MJmcWYuIXoWR63yS8Pn4sb9oTSlvsp1hKx2zuqnmIGC/s320/DSC06000.JPG) |
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.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDEFt1MeCTXLzWSyYSR4ctaIIXu0KzL320HJB9DDK-eZumn9SAjoA4EAOq1wtB0nocmvMkcc30QyrFLM3Hnsd5d_69dXRzskxEnh5aiAMSUbswU73KeF81MhnQNFx4SePKzgHXeV3_ZqXM/s320/IMG_0344.JPG) |
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.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ_rVpIKOooUP94oXTHSLQ5o2i6CTx2_hQEeb5rpESKnQnsRzzUxRkUOpFD0NpsK1PDWRCljkWg9zQr3euyEAR4WnkJuCHJMLlx_pCqZl4Ebf3qBtLh_47SHUXq4PV6QB6cw9zgFXc0cGI/s320/DSC05589.JPG) |
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!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUf7ceNaGbHZ0iFoqC6nXhu9R_x3XtXyLbkfx1BEa_L4NXrXknMnWP-xiVgGtXvlK7DOPWNil_gm0oiZMtEdOHbaJVfBmDCiA79YrQS_shRchOEThpa28AUUcOQNAHf429GVtMadMyT4qT/s320/DSC05701.JPG) |
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!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4bgym2SZb8Tyat3BDRCtg_7bod1XrJrlTR3n8aavmP0IVUUGh1JnyTkTnELAomc1_qTIg1flc1Gr1y4y4wj2WIPFawktszoj3nk9nH5fMSFsdMliq3u3LP5wouxSDB9QgCjE8dfm08wpp/s320/DSC06013.JPG) |
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.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhur15r0e1V7nVeSYxwcUJHGKY1wNvPg_-gws-33ebT1cRXaz3tZUaFUMe2J89uQPHYlmxg-NihfeaNq30ZeVQJPYLlG3xRV1KQQKdRoj5jOKzPIsP6D_qAf-pMXzzduR18rAeL-B_UyBuy/s320/DSC06033.JPG) |
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.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqsR6p98S3p-CNVFZGnn72sflSR6eEzFVb6phwRVNDNgtvoFp7rBiDor8G8DodkFlJUAkNm4ijR1cjDjRrQQLC8joNE3HwyuHlC6fdPwMfhnFB8r3cVog5jwJibNYGbgon7AY8uJazKTKg/s320/DSC06134.JPG) |
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.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDlm4x2WxOqjtWcm4AFg2o4t2WpSMaSaM955fZ4DeYgZ337F-adCOYqgZfLJEwvst9MAVMOWWxiebaHxbCgwNhddRAOesF_Pgr8cjGav3W7A1DgfIoy7irlWHAfk8SoEiT-_BJ5jfWIA5h/s320/DSC06081.JPG) |
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!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibJ3ik1U5PfPr4ClE3WuSRtbBsT559ryilvSGZRyNcUEXWrgzxBcmvEOS91Skbv32k29C4CtPxxegaNYGXBM0xBQuKzt4l9oQPHS7W7HGkhq6ErfutQ1_N5O0oEmGceeH3ccBvvyUQJ4m7/s320/DSC06050.JPG) |
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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