PRINT: Rock Climb Chasing Shadows, Red Rocks

Chasing Shadows

5.9, Trad, 320 ft (97 m), 4 pitches,

Avg: 3.1 from 127 votes
FA: Marsh, Locatelli, 1990
Nevada > Southern Nevada > Red Rocks > Pine Creek Canyon > Mescalito > Dark Shadows 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

Chasing Shadows is a fun P3/4 variation to Dark Shadows that is worth doing if Dark Shadows is crowded or after rapping down. Head up and right from the P2 anchors on Dark Shadows into the right most of the two cracks. Follow a fun hand crack to a wide section with some poor/loose rock. Place your number 4 C4 and have a #3 ready. Face climb around the OW crack to a varnised wall above. A tiny cam protects the final runout moves to a two bolt rappel anchor. The second pitch heads up and then traverse out right past 3 bolts. Easier runout climbing leads to the two bolt anchor on Edge Dressing.

Location

Shares the first two pitches of Dark Shadows, and heads right for pitches 3 and 4.

Protection

Single rack to C4 #4

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Lots of feet and things to grab here just gotta look.

Climber on P3 of Chasing Shadows

8 year old Todd Wolfe climbing Chasing shadows final pitch

The top of the final section of chasing shadows

Fantastic technical climbing.

From the Dark Shadows belay ledge, Chasing Shadows moves right to the second crack.

Looking down P3, feel the exposure.

This is the Boulder that got ripped off on 09-08-2023
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From the ground it only looked like half the boulder was ripped off. I don't know how. The top section looks.

This is the Boulder that got ripped off on 09-08-2023 From the ground it only looked like half the boulder was ripped off. I don't know how. The top section looks.

P3 Chasing Shadows

Pitch 4

p3 chasing shadows

The wide crux section on Chasing Shadows...

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Chris Simmons-Solomon

5.10-

Chasing Shadows is a variation that makes Dark Shadows even more fun! Compared to other two-move 5.10s in Red Rocks, like Black Orpheus, Chasing Shadows probably clocks in more like 5.10- instead of 5.8+ (as listed in Handren's guide).

Linking pitches 1 & 2 is easy and logical. Make sure to use shoulder slings on the bolts protecting pitch 4. If you're climbing to the top of Mescalito (worth it!), a great gear belay ledge exists down about 20' down and immediately right of the normal 2-bolt anchor.

Gear: 1 set of stoppers #11-4, Single set of cams up to #4, double set 0.5-1. 8 shoulder slings, 4 quickdraws. Oct 11, 2009

BJ Sbarra
Carbondale, CO

5.9

Very fun. P2 had a good bit of hollow rock through the mid-section, solid pro wasn't super obvious at first. P3 is fantastic. Mar 30, 2014

sqwirll
Las Vegas

5.8+

This route goes into the shade around noon this time of year. 5.8+ seems fair to me, no where near 5.10. Jul 27, 2014

anthony509 Excelsior
Austin TX. formerly las ve…

5.8+

With 60m rope must rap from Edge Dressing anchor which is lower and left of the anchor directly above the finish of p4 (if not topping out and not linking p1&2). Perhaps I finished too far right, but know that our 60m did not reach the rap station below from the higher anchor. Mar 24, 2015

William Thiry
Las Vegas

5.9

Wow! A fabulous 2-pitch variation that is every bit as great as the standard Dark Shadows pitches. P3 is a classic crack that eats gear and goes at 5.8. If you bring 3 #3s and 3 #4s you'll find placements for them. Rock quality is good to great. No need to utilise off-width technique as there are plenty of holds outside the crack. The finish to the anchors is fantastic! P4 couldn't be any different - an almost complete sport climb that goes at 5.9- in my opinion. Extremely fun and exposed with bolts where you need them. The fun run-out scamper to the anchors is no big deal 5.4. Oct 23, 2018

Michelle Sea
Majestic Forest and Mountains

5.8

Climbed this route today. Brought up two people with an 80m rope (I was tied into the middle).
Rack included - totems from blue to Orange (~.3 to #2) and a set of friends from .4 to #3 with one #4.
Wide part isn't bad. You can bump and back clean your #4 to place higher until you find a nice #2 friend slot, or was it a #2 totem ?)
either - a #2 is nice to keep you safe until you back clean and place the #4 higher. Also using the face was nice.
Only used a single rack on different sections of entire climb including the run out section
( tiny gear would be nice to diminish the feel of spice (black or blue totem).
Can get down with a single 80m.
Enjoyable climb !!

Would say its 5.8 Nov 4, 2020

Kristian And Marie

ROPE DRAG ON P4
Bolts 3, 4, 5 are almost at a 90 degree angle, see Handren book topo. To the right of B3 is a horizontal crack with a downward horn, where my rope was stuck. Rope drag was felt right after leaving B5, got heavy as I stepped on the ledge, and unbelievably heavy all the way to the anchor on easy but exposed traverse.
What would I have done differently? Before leaving B4, check if the rope is stuck on the downward horn next to B3. DO NOT EXTEND OR SKIP B4. You could hit the lip of the roof if you fall here. Dec 10, 2020

Harris Kashtan

5.9

Really fun alternative to P3/4 of Dark Shadows that maybe has one 5.9- move on P4 but mostly goes at 5.8 and protects well. All anchors are bolted and on rappel from P3, you can fairly easily get to the anchors for Slot Machine to set up a top rope with a 70m rope. May 14, 2023

William Elliot
Las Vegas, NV

As of 9/10/23 the initial Chasing Shadows pitch (3rd pitch equivalent on DS) is extremely loose from the heavy summer rains. If you choose to climb, exercise a great deal of caution with what you are pulling on and where you are protecting.

I saw a climber fall nearly 30ft while being lowered due to a TV-sized block being dislodged by their cam. It was exceptionally lucky that no one was injured. Sep 12, 2023

Josh Cannoles

Howdy y'all! My partner and I where climbing here this route on 09-10-23.

Wanted to let y'all know there was and still might be some choss on this route.

I was on the first pitch of Chasing Shadows and being lowered off some gear on the second portion of the crack section right before it turned into face climbing. The gear was bomber and ended up ripping a 45-50lb bolder off the wall and causing me to fall about 25ft. The boulder went cashing by the pond leaving a huge crater.

It was a miracle that no one was there on the floor other than another party on pitch two climbing Dark Shadows next to us on a Saturday morning. Sep 16, 2023

Matt Park

Can confirm the looseness on this route. I did not see the previous comments before climbing the route on 10/4/23, I climbed it 4 years ago and remember it being an awesome climb in good rock. As I got into the crack on Pitch 3 I noticed a lot of small loose rocks in the crack, as I got higher it got worse and worse and I was afraid of hitting one of the people on the ledge below. I think I got to the point where the big block came off and I had enough and down climbed back to the ledge. I then checked the comments on MP and found the most recent one about the rock fall. This route needs some special attention to clean it up since anything knocked loose will hit the 2nd pitch ledge and/or the very crowded base area. Oct 6, 2023

sandrock
Colorado Springs, CO

some loose rock in the crack but nothing of concern, felt perfectly safe. It must have cleaned up well since the rockfall. May 1, 2024

Roger Austin

Some hollow/fragile rock around the wide section but nothing actually loose. Don't even think about placing a cam behind the flake on the face. A #4 would have been very welcome and I also found the long easy run out at the top of P4 to be a bit nerve-racking and was glad to have a few long slings to drape over spikes. Overall, a worthy companion to Dark Shadows and very similar in difficulty. May 17, 2024

Jacob Ward
Seattle, WA

5.9+

Sweet route! I appreciated the 4 and 5 I brought, but probably not needed. P3 and the bolts of P4 are excellent, but the awkward runout route finding with poor pro at the end (climbed the right arete) was kinda meh. Still worth it! I didn't notice loose rock, but boy the varnish looks fragile.

At P4 bolt 3 there is a sea of confusing bolts above. Left is Edge Dressing. Continue up and right through the zig zag of bolts.

Don't try rapping from P3 to P1 on a 70m, the 10 foot down climb isn't worth it. Nov 13, 2025