OB Button
5.10b,
Trad, 125 ft (38 m),
Avg: 3.1 from 10
votes
FA: Paul Obenheim, 1982
Nevada
> Southern Nevada
> Red Rocks
> (10) Pine Creek…
> Mescalito
> S Face
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
Classic crack climbing in a wilderness setting. Sound familiar? This route is a great example of why people climb in the desert in the first place. Generous amounts of fist jams, wavy hands through a steep bulge, a few feet of offwidth keeps it scrappy before busting some face moves, thin hands crux (ring locks for my paws-tight #1 C4s), with a roof directly above for some juggy, but sandy fun. Easier after the roof. Since the route is rarely done, it's a bit crunchy, but if you wanted stonker granite, you wouldn't be bushwhacking around the least climbed side of Mescalito, would you?
Location
Finding the route is the crux of the day-the best I can tell you is that there's two side-by-side cracks going through a roof, they look sexy as hell from the wash, and you should pass CITH, walk another 100 feet, and start looking for 4th class access trending up and right towards the chimney "sit start." The area is very brushy-wear a longsleeve and jeans for the scrub oak if not the fist sections. A helpful hint if you can locate Crack Rock's finishing headwall crack (overhanging chocolate thin crack waay up there)-these cracks are down and just left of that route. I saw a fixed rope hanging up there while that route was being worked, so that would be the landmark for me.
Protection
Standard rack would leave you high and dry on this one-I brought the creek rack, and used a lot of it my first time on the route. Placed one #10 stopper, a blue TCU above the roof, and the guts of the rack would be a .75, two or three (more if not used to desert sandstone) #1s, 2s, and 3s. You won't regret having a #4 as well for the burly fist start, but the big cams are more useful on the route directly to the right. UPDATE: there is a shared anchor that popped up a year or 2 ago which gets you down with a 70, looks like a good way to do these routes if you're not going higher than the splitters. If continuing past these chains, a second rope and some bail webbing and/or nuts are probably key.
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On a pesonal note, I revisited this route twice last year, and found a double rack suited me fine. Members of my party had varying thoughts on the grade, but everyone enjoyed the route. The second pitch anchor was funky, eroding nuts. Matter of fact, the first pitch anchor was funky, eroding nuts. There's now a shared anchor with chain between the two OB routes that allows rapping with a 70. If going higher than this anchor, bring double ropes and slings to replace them, this area gets a lot of sun. Dec 25, 2007
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