Indian Creek in November

Hey I've never been to the creek and was hoping to make a trip out there for thanksgiving. How is the weather out there in the end of November? Camping ideas? And any suggestions for some easy cracks to practice my technique on?

Any help is greatly apreachiated! Mucho thanks.

Average highs are around 57 and cold nights but climbing is still good in the sun. Be prepared for snow any time. Camping is free and mostly unregulated. See Friends of Indian Creek website for a good map and some info on camping. As for easy cracks, there is not much for a beginner crack climber. There are some 5.9's but mostly 5.10 on up. Bloom's Guidebook has all the info you will need.

how early will you be there? I'm planning on the wknd of 21/22 so if you need a partner for anywhere around Moab and in IC I'm game ... drinking partner or climbing partner :) or both

And depending on if you are going solely for the creek, or if you're going to be in town, I'd recommend the Lazy Lizard Hostel in Moab - for camping, actually, it's $7 compared to $20 along some of the surrounding canyons, plus there are always awesome people there, etc, etc.
But if you're only in IC then nm.

days could be nice, nights will likely be friggin cold. Coldest car camping I've ever done was at IC for turkey day. 13 degrees at night. The nights are also looooong then. So it could be totally climbable, but its a long time to be cold and dark in camp.

Donnelly is your best bet for sunny, easy cracks. Optimator gets early sun and and has a couple fun moderates. Blue Gramma has a selection of sunny 9's and a good 10- finger crack. Other than that its pretty slim pickens for sunny easy cracks. They're there, just one or two to a cliff. Way Rambo has the best easy OW I've ever done. A great one to learn technique on- but PM sun only. You get the idea...

The best beginner wall in IC is called the Selfish Wall. I think there is a page or two in the new edition of the Bloom book. The wall is located between the Cliffs of Disappointment and Six Star Wall. There are plenty of moderates and a few routes to really challenge yourself on. Most routes have plaques. Good luck.

selfish wall is, indeed, a nice little wall. very warm, protected from the wind, and quite a few routes in the 9 to low 11 range.

shock and awe buttress and election wall both have good selections in the 10 range, as well as not too many people also.

two main weather issues at thanksgiving:

1) nights are long and cold. be prepared.
2) pretty much every year during thanksgiving week there will be 1 or 2 days with fairly heavy snow.

Hey guys thanks for all the beta. My plans are still up in the air but this is still one of my top choices for turkey day.

Leah thanks for the invite but im going to be in Red Rocks that weekend. However the drinking partner and climbing partner in one is very very tempting :)

Thanks again guys, Ill post again when time gets closer if I decide to go.

maybe we could morph this into "best sunny walls for thanksgiving"...

Mike Dudley wrote: Leah thanks for the invite but im going to be in Red Rocks that weekend. However the drinking partner and climbing partner in one is very very tempting :)