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Elevation: 6,600 ft
GPS: 38.8461, -104.8824
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 75,266 total · 350/month
Shared By: Anna Moore on Jul 15, 2006
Admins: Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC
Warning Access Issue: Reopened after flood damage! DetailsDrop down

Description Suggest change

The Whale is the long, humped fin on the west side of Red Rock Canyon between upper lake and the north side of the Quarry.

The trail from the south end (Quarry Wall) meets the crag just north of Big E.

This crag faces East, so it drops into the shade by 3pm or so.

Getting There Suggest change

Two trails access the wall. The first takes off from the west canyon trail and climbs to a notch with steps and a dirt bank and then up left and back right through scrub oak to the northern part of the face. The rail reaches the face just south of Aphrodite. The second ascends a bushy ramp system left (south) of Solar Slab to the right of Never Ever Slab, walk left along the top of the slab to reach the cliff-base trail. A path along the cliff base connects the two trails. Avoid bushwhacking and scrambling off the trails, so new social trails or not created. Also, watch for poison ivy. (All information is from Red Rock Canyon Open Space book by Stewart M. Green.)

L->R:

Suggest change
Never Ever Slab (down and left of the bulk of The Whale)
A. Happy Ending (formerly Top-Rope), 9, 1p, 70', bolts.
B-C. The Never Ever Slab, 0-4, 1p, 90', TR.

The Whale
D. Dreamtime, 6, 1p, 50', bolts.
ED. Aborigine, 7, 1p, 55', bolts.

F. Honeymoon Down Under, 7+ PG-13, 1p, 85', bolts.
G. Undulating Dingo, 8, 1p, 80', bolts.
H. Arapiles, 9 or 10, 1p, 80', bolts.
I. Big E, 5 PG-13, 1p, 80', bolts.
JI. Bound in Blood, 8, 1p, 80', bolts.
K. The Good Stuff, 7, 1p, bolts.
L. Esse Curve, 7, 1p, bolts.

M. Tough Guy, 10-, 1p, 65', bolts.
N. The Thin Line, 9, 1p, 60', bolts.
O. The Plunge, 10-, 1p, 70', bolts.
P. Just Happens, 9-, 1p, 60', bolts.
Q. Virgin Bolters, 9-, 1p, 70', bolts.

R. Tempest Toast, 7, 1p, 110', bolts.
S. Whale Rider, 6, 1p, 110', bolts.
T. Finnacle, 8-, 1p, 80', bolts.
U. The Captain, 9-, 1p, 75', bolts.
V. First Mate, 9, 1p, 50', bolts.

W? Gomers in Blue Shirts, 10-, 1p, 85', bolts.

X. Aphrodite, 9, 1p, 100', bolts.
Y. Arnold's Demise, 10, 1p, 105', bolts.
Z. Among the Stars, 10-, 1p, 110', bolts.
AA. Mister MIA, 9+, 1p, 100', bolts.
BBAA. Blow Tube Envy, 7+ PG-13, 1p, 105', bolts & gear.
BB1. HMS, 9+, 1p, 100', bolts.
BB2. Red Venus, 6 PG-13, 1p, 100', bolts.

29 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at The Whale

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 59
Tempest Toast
Sport
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 51
Aborigine
Sport
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 64
Whale Rider
Sport
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 46
Esse Curve
Sport
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 58
The Good Stuff
Sport
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 52
Blow Tube Envy
Sport
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 60
Finnacle
Sport
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 64
Bound in Blood
Sport
5.9- 5c 17 VI 16 HVS 4c
 53
The Captain
Sport
5.9- 5c 17 VI 16 HVS 4c
 31
Just Happens
Sport
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 53
Aphrodite
Sport
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 52
Mister MIA
Sport
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 50
Among the Stars
Sport
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 35
Gomers in Blue Shirts
Sport
5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 26
Arnold's Demise
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Tempest Toast
 59
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Sport
Aborigine
 51
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Sport
Whale Rider
 64
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Sport
Esse Curve
 46
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Sport
The Good Stuff
 58
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Sport
Blow Tube Envy
 52
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Sport
Finnacle
 60
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport
Bound in Blood
 64
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport
The Captain
 53
5.9- 5c 17 VI 16 HVS 4c Sport
Just Happens
 31
5.9- 5c 17 VI 16 HVS 4c Sport
Aphrodite
 53
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Sport
Mister MIA
 52
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Sport
Among the Stars
 50
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport
Gomers in Blue Shirts
 35
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport
Arnold's Demise
 26
5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport
More Classic Climbs in The Whale »

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