It's wet in Red Rock(s)

My perspective from Lake Mead Buttress was that the storm developed from Willow Springs Area and pushed onto us then continued into Las Vegas in the direction of Charleston Blvd.

It lasted for about 25 minutes. When I got back to town I saw rushing water flows on the road sides. 

We got rained/snowed out of first pullout and it has been off and on here in Summerlin since then.

Jeffwrote:

I’m with a group driving up today, but we haven’t climbed in Red Rocks before. Assuming it stays dry after today, when would folks suggest it would be advisable to climb on say Solar Slab?

I'd give it at least two days if my experience in January was any indication, but others likely have better notes. Some great, easily accessible limestone around though (urban/suburban crag is super easy, heard gun club is similar). 

Just watch for cacti in the back of some holds. 

We were at Kraft when the sleet hail hit around 11 and made the decision to bail, highly doubt it would be okay to climb tomorrow at Kraft. Speculation incoming but things a few miles south of Kraft may be okay, it looked sunny when we left but no idea how that changed over the course of the day. Keyhole and things on the east side were dry today.

Does anyone know if it’s still wet/think it will be safe to climb by tomorrow morning? First time here and uncertain about judging the rock/sand myself

Just went to civ crag. The pullouts are soaked. We are bailing to limestone 

G Mwrote:

Does anyone know if it’s still wet/think it will be safe to climb by tomorrow morning? First time here and uncertain about judging the rock/sand myself

From the sounds of it - probably not.
That said - general things to look for:
1. Water - obvious, but is there pooled water anywhere on the route? Next to it? How fresh is it? If it seems reasonably fresh, avoid. 

2. Soil - find a non-wash (IE not a streambed) and dig down a few inches - is it wet? If so, no good.

Here's the details from SNCC on how to assess - https://www.southernnevadaclimberscoalition.org/rain

I will say you should also index on facing - if it's sunny and south facing, it will be ready before other items. 

It's almost definitely gonna be wet this weekend. I'm willing to put 99:1 odds on whippage, if anyone wants to take me up ;). All the forecasts on windy agree. Plan accordingly, and don't find yourself in red rocks getting tempted to push the sandstone. 

Seems like the pattern is people not being aware of the forecasts, and then being placed into a position where you are tempted to climb the sandstone. Some early warnings might be the way to break the disapointment and the temptation to violate your honor as a climber. Seems like wetrockpolice is an "after the fact" system, might be cool if it gave a "smokey the bear" fire risk warning that was proactive about future precipitation chance as well.

Redacted Redactbergwrote:

Seems like wetrockpolice is an "after the fact" system, might be cool if it gave a "smokey the bear" fire risk warning that was proactive about future precipitation chance as well.

That’s exactly what it is. It’s a resource to make your life easier.

A proactive way would be to use the forecast. NOAA, Windy, Wunderground, the Weather Channel…there are no shortage of options.

If you want a rain forecast amount, you can find it on the NOAA graph forecasts:

https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=36.1318&lon=-115.4648&unit=0&lg=english&FcstType=graphical

I have found the amounts forecasted are generally overpredictions.

Charlie Swrote:

That’s exactly what it is. It’s a resource to make your life easier.

A proactive way would be to use the forecast. NOAA, Windy, Wunderground, the Weather Channel…there are no shortage of options.

If you want a rain forecast amount, you can find it on the NOAA graph forecasts:

https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=36.1318&lon=-115.4648&unit=0&lg=english&FcstType=graphical

I have found the amounts forecasted are generally overpredictions.

Totally, i just figure if on on one page it was both “when did it last rain in red rocks” and “when will it rain next in red rocks.” if it even gave just some kind of alert, like instead of a smokey bear, it was a mermaid who simply says “looks like its gonna be great swimming in 5 days!” 

I think the reality is that newer climbers are less habituated to look at the models, and if the biggest grief with ppl climbing on wet rock comes from newer climbers, then it might be a good idea to tailor something to them. It might be goofy and redundant for those in the know, but it might do some positive good for those who are slipping (no pun intended).

Any reports from people on location today?

Scattered showers until 11:30 in Calico. Probably .05 - .1 inch in the last hour since and more in the canyons.

So if anyone remembers the Purblind Pillar rescue on the 8th... heard the climber who fell is paralyzed from the neck down.

There was precip the day or night before and while its impossible to know if it contributed to the accident... its an important reminder. We always say wet rock can contribute to holds breaking. I feel like so many just assume that we are only coming from the perspective of not damaging the rock itself... but its so much more than that.

Its raining right now in calico.

Desert Rock Sportswrote:

We always say wet rock can contribute to holds breaking. I feel like so many just assume that we are only coming from the perspective of not damaging the rock itself... but its so much more than that.

And cams can "railroad track"/slide out, nuts blow out cracks, and even loose bolts find their way out.

Guess I'll keep making these.  Totals from the last storm:

Desert Rock Sportswrote:

So if anyone remembers the Purblind Pillar rescue on the 8th... heard the climber who fell is paralyzed from the neck down.

There was precip the day or night before and while its impossible to know if it contributed to the accident... its an important reminder. We always say wet rock can contribute to holds breaking. I feel like so many just assume that we are only coming from the perspective of not damaging the rock itself... but its so much more than that.

I appreciate your mention of this. I remember reading about this incident, knowing it was the next day after significant rain. It is very sad to hear the outcome, regardless of it being from wet rock or not.  But it is a good reminder of the various reasons to not climb wet sandstone. 

Redacted Redactbergwrote:

Totally, i just figure if on on one page it was both “when did it last rain in red rocks” and “when will it rain next in red rocks.” if it even gave just some kind of alert, like instead of a smokey bear, it was a mermaid who simply says “looks like its gonna be great swimming in 5 days!” 

I think the reality is that newer climbers are less habituated to look at the models, and if the biggest grief with ppl climbing on wet rock comes from newer climbers, then it might be a good idea to tailor something to them. It might be goofy and redundant for those in the know, but it might do some positive good for those who are slipping (no pun intended).

If you or anyone you know is a programmer and feels strongly about adding forecasting I'm more than happy to welcome other contributors FWIW. I'd love for other people to get involved, the site is fully open source and hosted on my dime. WRP uses NOAA precipitation data, which is a rain gauge at the visitor center that reports hourly. It's not always accurate, especially when scattered showers might hit the canyon.

There's a lot of great ideas floating around like adding Windy precipitation data, forecasting, and user reports, I just unfortunately don't have the time like I used to. Nowadays I mainly just keep the lights on and the bills paid, but if anyone is reading this and wants to get involved DM me   

Unusually rainy this Spring but after this system it seems to be drying up. I hope. 

phylp phylpwrote:

Unusually rainy this Spring but after this system it seems to be drying up. I hope. 

That's rough. If it's any consolation New England is with you in spirit. So much rain and snow.