Frequently Asked Red Rock Questions with Links to the Answers

JSH wrote: In Case of Rain: Alternate Crags and Areas

Thanks! Added to the main list

I put together a short weather writeup and will be pasting this into any new posts that haven't already been addressed.  The weather info is kinda available above, but I don't think the average climber/layman understands how to use the information contained in the links.  I tried to outline the usefulness of each link.
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Red Rock weather links below.  The rain gauge is at the visitor's center area, so it's not measuring the actual weather in the canyons.  But it's the only gauge we have, and at least gives you some idea if you should even bother.  Takes at least a couple days after 0.10+" rain for all the rock to be dry.  Exposed areas that see a lot of sun perhaps less time.

Forecast: https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=36.0983&lon=-115.4675

Recent rainfall [also shows percent of sun and wind to help guestimate rate of drying]: https://www.wrh.noaa.gov/mesowest/getobext.php?wfo=vef&sid=RRKN2&num=3000&raw=0&dbn=m

A friend and I were having a discussion about necessary rope lengths for RR. I brought a 70. He said that was unnecessary; that a 60 was all you needed. I pointed out Birdland requires a 70 to rap (twins ropes, notwithstanding).  He asked me to name another. I don't know RR well enough to answer that.

Any other routes that you need a 70 to rappel, where a 60 won't work?  80 meter ropes and twin ropes don't count!

FrankPS wrote: A friend and I were having a discussion about necessary rope lengths for RR. I brought a 70. He said that was unnecessary; that a 60 was all you needed. I pointed out Birdland requires a 70 to rap (twins ropes, notwithstanding).  He asked me to name another. I don't know RR well enough to answer that.

Any other routes that you need a 70 to rappel, where a 60 won't work?  80 meter ropes and twin ropes don't count!

Think there's one at Romper Room, one of the 5.4 or 5.7 left of the main black wall. Peaches at Willow Springs?  Maybe Tonto at Ragged Edges?

We started bringing a (9.2 or 9.4) 70m on trips West, just to have the flexibility.  It's not that much more rope stretch and doesn't usually weigh much more than a beefier 10+mm 60m.  There's routes in places like Alabama Hills that need it (I think City of Rocks as well).  It's becoming more common.  70 may be the new 60 soon.  

Kevin Heckeler wrote:

Think there's one at Romper Room, one of the 5.4 or 5.7 left of the main black wall.

We started bringing a 70m on trips West, just to have the flexibility.  It's not that much more rope stretch and doesn't usually weigh much more than a beefier 60m.  There's routes in places like Alabama Hills that need it (I think City of Rocks as well).  It's becoming more common.  70 may be the new 60 soon.

Thanks, Kevin. Yeah, I think a 70 gives you more options, but not sure if it pays to bring one to RR. Just curious.

FrankPS wrote:

Yeah, I think a 70 gives you more options...

We bring/use our 70m more than our 60m, even now as locals for that exact reason.  The sport climbing here seems to be bolted and anchored for 60m ropes.

Hi!
I am playing a sport climbing trip to red rocks this January. I was curious what shoes I should get. I have a pair of La Sportiva skawama. But was looking at other shoes. Should I get something that’s let’s aggressive? 

Ethan Fletcher wrote: Hi!
I am playing a sport climbing trip to red rocks this January. I was curious what shoes I should get. I have a pair of La Sportiva skawama. But was looking at other shoes. Should I get something that’s let’s aggressive? 

This depends on how hard you're climbing and if you're doing multipitch.  You might want the skwama for limestone (harder routes).

What's the situation with the showers in Vegas? Went to the one in the climbing gym and can't recommend that one (low water pressure,  lukewarm). Campgrounds in town don't let you pay for just a shower. Tried a few rec centers,  but strangely they were closed, although google showed they should be open (this was around Halloween,  so maybe that affected the hours). One that was open, also had a lukewarm shower. 

Natalie M wrote: What's the situation with the showers in Vegas? Went to the one in the climbing gym and can't recommend that one (low water pressure,  lukewarm). Campgrounds in town don't let you pay for just a shower. Tried a few rec centers,  but strangely they were closed, although google showed they should be open (this was around Halloween,  so maybe that affected the hours). One that was open, also had a lukewarm shower. 

I’ve had success at some sort of rec center/public pool type place in northern summerlin. Maybe it was the Halloween thing? 

FrankPS wrote: A friend and I were having a discussion about necessary rope lengths for RR. I brought a 70. He said that was unnecessary; that a 60 was all you needed. I pointed out Birdland requires a 70 to rap (twins ropes, notwithstanding). He asked me to name another. I don't know RR well enough to answer that.

Any other routes that you need a 70 to rappel, where a 60 won't work?  80 meter ropes and twin ropes don't count!

Unimpeachable Groping is another that can be done with a single 70. This one is not to be missed. We also had a stair down with a big horn on the way back. Holy shit is that thing a professional animal. 

It's possible to rap Birdland with a 60 with a few shenanigans.

I am planning a trip from April-3-10. When is the reservation open for April? I was on the rec.gov today and the only reservation open is for the month of March. 

Black Belt wrote:

We also had a stair down with a big horn on the way back. Holy shit is that thing a professional animal. 

And equally adept at going up stairs.

travel143 wrote:

I am planning a trip from April-3-10. When is the reservation open for April? I was on the rec.gov today and the only reservation open is for the month of March. 

I just booked a single (non-group) site in April/early May- and there were still a few spots available, maybe they got snatched up that quickly? I remember seeing a lot of early April already being reserved...

Are any of the links working for anyone else? They all seem to lead to a 404-Page Not Found Error...

Braxton Francom wrote:

Are any of the links working for anyone else? They all seem to lead to a 404-Page Not Found Error...

If there are broken links for the forum, try replacing /v/nevada/ in the link with /forum/topic/ delete the worded description of the page and leave only the numbers at the end. 

So...

this: mountainproject.com/v/nevad…

Should become 

this: mountainproject.com/forum/t…

I would love for someone to fix this, as I don't have the time to go through and try to update all the links.  I would love to hand this page off to someone, but not sure how to make that happen. 

I updated the information, added more, and posted it into a new topic/thread. Hopefully someone can do us a solid by deleting this topic/thread and getting the other one pinned/sticky. I will commit to editing the new topic for as long as I remain a Vegas local.