A friend of mine and I will be climbing at Red Rock Canyon May 22nd and 23rd (Thursday and Friday before Memorial Day). Neither of us has climbed there before. We would like to stick to some easier routes (5.6 multi-pitch trad, maybe a little harder if good sport climbing). Any suggestions on good routes? Necessary info on approaches? Etc....

Thanks!


-Eric

It's going to be pretty hot that time of year, but will be decent in the shade. Most of the 5.6 classics like Solar Slab and Cat in the Hat will be too hot. Geronimo faces east, so that would be climbable once the sun is off of it. Same with the Angel Food wall, but most climbing there is 5.7 and up. There are a bunch of new routes on the First Creek Slabs that are pretty mellow and would be shady. Be warned that none of these routes have fixed anchors/protection and may be runout on the easier terrain, so retreat would be difficult. Otherwise, get a guidebook and figure out what routes are north facing.

I would suggest watching the weather forecast for the Vegas area in the weeks prior to your planned visit. Some years it is hot during memorial day weekend and other years it is smokin hot. My first year in Vegas on Memorial days weekend it was 112 in Vegas. Red Rock Canyon is cooler than Vegas, but only by 8 to 10 degrees at that time of the year.

Thanks for the responses. I just want to get out there and have some fun! I'm sure I'll try to get back at a time when it's not quite so hot.