Beta for solar slab

I was wondering if it is possible to climb solar slab via the Johny vegas approach and then get to the summit of rainbow mountain and hike down instead of rappelling down?

Johnny Vegas and Solar Slab is a great combination, but I don't know about the hike down. I'm not a big fan of long walk-offs, so we rapped when we did it.

JL

HUGE day that would be (no Yoda voice intended). From the top of SS the most direct route might be to hit up LPB and start climbing again on Eagle wall. Otherwise I think JV/SS is just a big detour on the regular, up-the-canyon hike. Correct me if I'm wrong I'd like to know too!

I walked off SS a few days ago w/ one 70 and it took us four hours. Granted it was slow going due to darkness falling and water freezing on the slabs. Last spring it took four hours to get all the way down from Rainbow Mtn. But there are some spots that will definitely require improv if the slabs ice up. Looking down into Juniper is really cool and totally worth it. Also... some good bivy spots on top of RM. Good slackline spots too if your still there for a sunrise session.

I'd walk up that descent first. Or haul enough to stay warm overnight.

Mike

thanks for th replies. I like Mikes idea to climb up rainbow mountain first and stash stuff and bivy there. The only reason i think hiking / bivying might be a good ideas is because the daylight hours are less in this season and I do not want to be rappelling in pitch dark in below freezing weather. That sounds like unnecessary risk.

If you have not been there, so you understand how fast the climbing can be....I have soloed these routes together in 1.5 hrs. I am not the only one who does this by the way, it is not a big deal and has become somewhat of a popular solo route because it gets so much traffic and is considered reasonably clean. So I do not have to carry a rope, I prefer to walk off which is actually quite scenic. Just head way back towards a tower we call George Washington and circumvent it on the right side and enjoy the beautiful canyon walk off. There is plenty of water in the canyon this time of year. Enjoy.

Johns advice is good. Get Jerry Handgrens guide book if you dont already have it. Theres a nice glossy photo of the descent route. Commit this to memory. I did solar slab via ss gully with my girlfriend a couple of years ago around thanksgiving. I would have liked to do Johnny Vegas but there was simply not enough daylight. We had a 70m rope and did three raps into lower painted bowl. We got back to our packs stashed in the wash below the route just in time for total darkness(3 hrs). Then we hiked out to the highway to meet our friends. Get a late exit permit! In my opinion the hardest part of this decent was the wash with its huge boulders. If you went to the top of Rainbow Mtn. that would mean a whole lot of boulder hopping in the dark.

Thanks every one for the beta.
Thanks for the advice on the time John i will definitely stick to those time lines.