Routes

  • Rained Out of Red Rock

    Rained Out of Red Rock

    Another trip to Red Rock that almost didn’t happen. Of course rain was involved, but we were also dealing with car issues at the last minute too. But we weren’t going to let the prospect of some awesome sandstone go. We rented a car, shifted our plans forward, and charged…

  • Great Red Book

    Great Red Book

    After driving to Vegas, pushing up our plans, and cramming a full adventure into the day before, we were moving pretty slow. Luckily we bought a timed entry reservation before we left home, just in case. Today we were going to need it. We were still in a hurry to…

  • Waterboys

    Waterboys

    What an epic and awesome introduction to Red Rock for Emma. We’d originally planned an early start Saturday for heading into Icebox Canyon, and a long and leisurely approach and chill session all day in the canyon with hammocks and snacks and cold drinks. But the impending rain forced our…

  • MysterZ -> Armatron

    MysterZ -> Armatron

    This was the trip to Red Rock that almost didn’t happen. With so much variability in the forecast and then in planning, I ended up packing without even knowing the final destination. Would it be Mojave sport or long multis in Red Rock? After the weather finally settled, and a…

  • High Strung

    High Strung

    The next morning was a hard call to make. We’d been super excited to climb High Strung for months, having scoped it out twice so far, but I was hesitant to climb a finger crack with my injury. But desire and excitement won out, and we headed into the Wonderland.…

  • Mental Physics

    Mental Physics

    We met Jack and Ellen in the Wall Street Mill parking lot back in May, when we got to chatting about all sorts of everything. We talked about hikes, our experience with owning an EV, favorite J-Tree campsites, and Yeti backpacks. Apparently Jack had been lugging coolers into the backcountry…

  • Dappled Mare

    Dappled Mare

    This was a hard one to get started on. After a short walk from the car, finding the start wasn’t so easy. I think I misread Blitzo’s topo photo in the glare of the sun, and made a determined attempt up a crack that just wouldn’t go. Not sure if…

  • El Camino Real

    El Camino Real

    When I finally catch a glimpse of my cams passing by, the rope is still loose. Which means I’ve got plenty more falling to do. This is all to be expected though, as I definitely signed up for this. The rope finally pulls tight, which means now I’ve just got…

  • Open Book

    Open Book

    More like ‘Open-Can-of-Whup-Ass’. I think we were both expecting this to be easier. This would be the third 5.9 route that Luke and I were to attempt at Tahquitz, and if it was anything like the first two (Whodunnit, Dave’s), it should be cruiser. At least that’s what we thought…

  • The Bastille Crack

    The Bastille Crack

    Dragging your mom to the crag can definitely be a little awkward. Things can take longer than expected, and then she’s just hanging out waiting. But I suppose she’s used to it by now. I started climbing before I could drive, and as our ride, she’d often end up waiting…