Just when I thought the climbing season was over, I found myself in Las Vegas for a banking conference in mid-November with some spare time on my last day there. So instead of losing my money to the casino, I decided to get in some of the best rock climbing in the world.
Unbeknownst to most, 20 minutes outside of Las Vegas is Red Rocks, which is one of the top rock climbing meccas in the world with hundreds of walls and thousands of routes, including some of the most technical routes in the world, ranging from 50 to 2,500 feet and up to 5.14+ on the Yosemite scale.
With a little coordination before flying out to Vegas, I made plans with a guide, and before I knew it, I was hiking through Calico Basin to climb “All that Jazz,” a 5.8 multi-pitch climb.
It had been a few months since my summit of Mt. Whitney, and I was looking for some redemption after second-guessing myself on the most technical part of the climb. I knew I had the skill and strength, but I needed to prove to myself that I could do a clean send of a technical route without hesitation. There’s no better way to do so than at Red Rocks on a multi-pitch climb that’d leave me hanging hundreds feet off the ground!
Amazingly, I felt great! In fact, I knocked out the first pitch in what felt like only 10 minutes, cleaning up the pro (protection) on the fly as I quickly ascended the wall.
The second pitch was the crux of the climb with a tricky crack that led you into a hanging belay, which is always interesting and never comfortable, especially in the unseasonably cold air and wind that was blasting us on the exposed ledge. But I sent it with no issues, feeling strong, with only a little pump to my arms, as I worked my way up the vertical crack, holding on by my fingertips. My confidence was back! I was feeling good and loving this climb!
Less than an hour later we were running out the third pitch, where we were greeted at the top with warm sunshine and crystal clear views of the Mars-like landscape of Red Rocks.
I was pretty fortunate to close out the year with such a great climb and in such a cool and unique place as Red Rocks. Climbing on the sandstone was completely different and way better than the granite that I typically climb, which got me excited about getting out there to test my limits on the grippy rock again.
Red Rocks was a great excuse to escape the craziness of the casinos (and the people who are even crazier), get some fresh air, and rock climb in one of the most epic spots in the world. I’m pretty pumped that my last-minute plans turned into a great day on the rock!
This climb was a great overall experience and an even greater way to close out the climbing season, giving me the confidence and contentment I needed to officially close out the year.
Check out my Gallery for more cool photos of my climb at Red Rocks.
Climb on!