PRINT: Rock Climb Cat Scratch Fever, Red Rocks

Cat Scratch Fever

5.8, Trad, 700 ft (212 m), 6 pitches, Grade III,

Avg: 3 from 25 votes
FA: Joanne & George Urioste, John Rosholt
Nevada > Southern Nevada > Red Rocks > (11) Juniper Ca… > Brownstone Wall

Access Issue: Red Rock RAIN AND WET ROCK: The sandstone is fragile and is very easily damaged when wet. Details

Holds rip off and climbs have been and will continue to be permanently damaged due to climbers not respecting this phenomenon. After a heavy storm, the rock will remain wet, sometimes for several days. PLEASE DO NOT CLIMB IN RED ROCKS during or after rain. A good rule of thumb is that if the ground near your climb is at all damp (and not powdery dry sand), then do not climb. There are many alternatives (limestone, granite, basalt, and plastic) nearby.

HUMAN WASTE Human waste is one of the major issues plaguing Red Rocks. The Las Vegas Climbers Liaison Council and the AAC provides free "wag bags" in several locations (Black Velvet, First Pullout, Kraft Mtn/Bouldering, The Gallery, and The Black Corridor). These bags are designed so that you can pack your waste out - consider bringing one to be part of your kit (just like your rope and shoes and lunch) no matter where you go. Once used, please dispose of them properly (do not throw them in the toilets at the parking area).

Description

The broad reddish face to the right of Black Dagger is split by an obvious crack. Climb up and right to the right side of a prominent overhang. The second pitch starts by the far right edge of the roof at a crack. Climb up until an easy traverse left leads to the main crack system. Follow this for a few pitches to slabs at the top of the wall. The upper overhangs pose no serious difficulties. Descend by walking south (left) and scrambing down through the Gunsight Notch.

Routefinding note: on the second pitch there is a bolt some distance above the roof. It is probably easier to skip this bolt and make the leftward traverse a bit lower on good face holds.

Protection

Standard rack.

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Cat Scratch Fever on the Brownstone Wall. The shadowed corner to the left is Black Dagger.

The upper overhangs on Cat Scratch Fever.

Looking down the pleasant crack on pitch 2 of Cat Scratch Fever.

Cat Scratch Fever pitch 1

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Greg Barnes

Anthony Anagnostou and I replaced the first pitch anchor on 3/24/06. The new bolts are both stainless 5-pieces, one 1/2" x 2.75" and one 3/8" x 2.25". We didn't replace the bolt on pitch 2, since one friend had done the route and not even seen it, and Larry said the bolt was off-route as far as the easiest line. Greg Apr 10, 2006

Anthony Anagnostou
nyc

Climbed CSF today. The first pitch is nifty, although a little serious feeling through the crux. The second pitch is great. The Urioste guide says to belay at 150', but there is a plush horizontal with a great stance at around 175'. Don't stop early!

I never saw the bolt on p2.

For some reason (i didnt do my online research and we mindlessly and likely incorrectly followed the red book beta..) we thought we had to traverse right on the easier slabby climbing under the upper headwall, and ended up with a belay anchor under an improbable-looking crack that looked burly. so we tried even further right.. (we didn't look at the route from the ground).

Anyways, on the right side of the headwall is a 4th (?) class gully with a varnished chimney entrance. And the 'route' that steps left onto the face/crack there is an unimpressive 5.6ish thing that i wish i hadn't done.

The route eats nuts. I'd bring a single set of cams and a double set of nuts and tons of runners. I appreciated the #4 C4 at the beginning of p2, (old #3.5 camalot would be fine too). Apr 18, 2006

Dirty Gri Gri, or is it GiGi?
Vegas

Thanks for the beta Anthony. C.S.F. is on my to do list. Apr 18, 2006

Tom Fralich
Fort Collins, CO

Nice climb up a continuous feature, and certainly easier than Black Dagger. Only downside is that you have to do the Gunsight descent, which always seems to have snow when I do it. Apr 12, 2011

Sherri Lewis
Sequim, WA

5.8

Amazing that the Handren guidebook let this route go without putting at least one star beside it! It is a gem. We found every pitch enjoyable and interesting and good rock.

We roped up to get to the base of the crack system.

The crux of the 5.7 pitch(P1) can feel a bit heady for the grade but it's all there with good pro; same goes for the crux pitch(P2).

The Handren guide is a little confusing about splitting P3 and P4. It makes the most sense to combine the 50' of "4th class scramble"(which felt more like easy 5th class to us) of P4 with P3. In other words, just aim to belay below the 5.6 roof which is the start of P5. Also after P5, most parties will want to stay roped for the last 100ft to the summit.

We did this climb on a partly sunny, windy day(southwest wind, 30mph gusts) and were quite comfortable. Its aspect protected us from the worst of the wind, warmed us with a little sun, and doing the Gunsight descent meant no nasty rope-eating rappels. Apr 18, 2011

Ben Townsend

High quality climb, airy and exposed. The second pitch crux stays steep for longer than you might expect from a typical 5.8, but once you get to the left crack it is pure fun all the way to the nice belay ledge. Apr 17, 2016

Leslie H
Keystone

Really cruise, and more of a 2 move wonder than its neighbor. Great rock for the most part. Easy routefinding make this an enjoyable and easy climb for the grade. Never saw the bolt on p2 and both crux moves on p1 and p2 are well protected. Apr 21, 2018

Arch Richardson
Grand Junction

5.8+

Really enjoyed this route. Took 11 hrs c/c, spent only 4-1/2 on the climb. A few loose holds. The descent was the crux. Great day out and no one else on the route. Nov 20, 2018

carla rosa
CA

I thought this was a great route! Well protected, solid rock, mellow climbing, I had a blast. Plenty of gear placements throughout. A #4 was useful. Top of first pitch has a 2 bolt anchor, then all gear belays thereafter. I linked 3/4 into one long pitch and I'd recommend doing this, just extend as you traverse right and build a belay just under P5 roof. Pitch lengths seem a little off. P2 is about ~150', if you link P3/4 it's about ~110'. Because you traverse left when starting P6 I'd recommend moving the belay over. P6 has some loose rock so take care. Descending Gunsight is straightforward - there was a new rap station on the way down which was welcomed. The rest of it I would call *maybe* 3rd class. Top out was amazing. Nov 29, 2021