Sherri Posted February 24, 2008 Share Posted February 24, 2008 Question: what is wrong with this picture? Answer: IT IS THE FIRST DAY OF MY CLIMBING TRIP! Despite the "sunny, 68 degrees" which was forecast when we booked this trip, this is what we got: wet rock. And sleet. And snow. And thunder. And hail. I musta had some baaad climbing karma banked up. In an apparently futile attempt to turn back the bad-karma tide, we sloshed around Calico Basin doing a little crag clean-up. (If I had a dollar for every trail-side poop bag we picked up, I'd be able afford to Billcoe's rack.) Today we got a reprieve from Mother Nature's Wrath and found a couple dry routes to climb at Moderate Mecca, but tomorrow looks like more fire and brimstone coming our way, starting with 60mph wind gusts forecast for tonight... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
denalidave Posted February 24, 2008 Share Posted February 24, 2008 Sounds like I hear the casinos a calling, nice and dry and free drinks too. Sorry it's wet but hopefully it will dry out soon. At least your on vacation! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murraysovereign Posted February 24, 2008 Share Posted February 24, 2008 Should'a come to Squamish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sherri Posted February 24, 2008 Author Share Posted February 24, 2008 I couldn't stomach the casino vibe, but we did seek shelter at the Red Rocks Casino cinema after our crag cleanup. "Step Up 2 The Streets." Made me want to learn to break dance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chirp Posted February 24, 2008 Share Posted February 24, 2008 There was an answer right there...looming in the background! Turtle Head is always a cool hike! But a little rain really brings out the scent of the earth and the creosote bush! I miss those smells immensely! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lancegranite Posted February 24, 2008 Share Posted February 24, 2008 (edited) Ha! I'm with Chirp here, you were so lucky to have shitty weather! The Limestone ridge on the N. side of Gateway (sunny n steep) canyon is my wet weather ridge of choice. One may link it up with Turtle Head for full value. Side note: There is a technical rock climb up the very prow of Turtle Head, 5.9+ R gear to 4". The best position in all of Red Rocks for sure. Edited February 24, 2008 by lancegranite Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old 5.9 Posted February 24, 2008 Share Posted February 24, 2008 The Elwha has numerous dry routes temps in the 50's perhaps you shoulda stayed home ha-ha. Hope things improve for you and Kel down there, now go tackle some knarly chimney and get back to us will ya. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
111 Posted February 24, 2008 Share Posted February 24, 2008 we've gotten 6 inches of snow there once. My advice, head to Jtree. not much further and usually better weather. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sherri Posted February 24, 2008 Author Share Posted February 24, 2008 Ha! I'm with Chirp here, you were so lucky to have shitty weather! The Limestone ridge on the N. side of Gateway (sunny n steep) canyon is my wet weather ridge of choice. I must admit that it is kinda cool to see the desert in this light, even though it's a long way to come for soggy scenery. Indeed, beautiful places are beautiful in any weather. There is some strange ju-ju around though. Yesterday was bizarre. We chatted up a group of Canuck's who were climbing next to us at Moderate Mecca and insisted that they get off of that chossy crag and head over to do the much nicer 2-pitch Physical Graffiti. Later when we wandered over there to do something on it ourselves, we discovered that they botched the descent route and got themselves stranded up top. Ooops. Soon afterward, the folks we were climbing next to at Cannibal Crag lost their dog, "Granite". It was dusk and they were needing to leave to head back to Idaho that night, so we assisted in the search, driving around the Calico Basin neighborhood looking for it. Instead of finding "Granite," we were waved down by a French guy wandering the streets. He was lost and asked us for a lift to the visitor center to rendevous with his party; he had been hiking in the canyon since 10 that morning and got on the wrong side of the Calico Hills. When it rains, it pours. So to speak. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sherri Posted February 24, 2008 Author Share Posted February 24, 2008 (edited) The Elwha has numerous dry routes temps in the 50's perhaps you shoulda stayed home ha-ha. Hope things improve for you and Kel down there, now go tackle some knarly chimney and get back to us will ya. I figured you'd get a chuckle out of the irony of it all. I thrashed up a couple 5.7's yesterday that would have made you proud. Edited February 24, 2008 by Sherri Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hemp22 Posted February 24, 2008 Share Posted February 24, 2008 (edited) Ah, don't feel too bad about the weather. One of the recent times when I flew down to vegas to climb in the sun, I was greeted with snow on the Strip. The rangers very strongly advised against going up the turtle back hike, so we did a mellow one up in the White rock springs area I believe. We ran into a guy on XC skis going the other way. We bailed and went hiking in Zion instead. You're right - it can definitely be beautiful to see the desert like that.... Edited February 24, 2008 by hemp22 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevbone Posted February 24, 2008 Share Posted February 24, 2008 Sorry you got rained out. J tree is only 4 hours a way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sherri Posted February 24, 2008 Author Share Posted February 24, 2008 Awesome shots, Hemp! We're heading out right now to soak up some more snow and scenery... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catbirdseat Posted February 25, 2008 Share Posted February 25, 2008 I was at JTree on Saturday and it was partly cloudy. A few rain drops spit at us in the afternoon. If I had to guess, I am sure it rained a little Saturday night and Sunday morning. Your clean up work will bound to reap rewards of good karma. You will have many fine climbing days in your future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
layton Posted February 25, 2008 Share Posted February 25, 2008 I was wondering why it rained here, now I know! A bunch of PNW'ers brought it with them! The rock gym was dry and full of prana tops today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-spotter Posted February 25, 2008 Share Posted February 25, 2008 Red Rocks to J Tree = 2 hours via Cima/Kelso/Amboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevbone Posted February 25, 2008 Share Posted February 25, 2008 Red Rocks to J Tree = 2 hours via Cima/Kelso/Amboy Maybe is you are doing 100. I have gone that way. It was solid 3 to 4 hours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason_Martin Posted February 25, 2008 Share Posted February 25, 2008 Red Rocks to J Tree = 2 hours via Cima/Kelso/Amboy Maybe is you are doing 100. I have gone that way. It was solid 3 to 4 hours. I've gone that way a number of times from Vegas. It usually takes me almost three hours on the button from the city of Las Vegas to 29 Palms...a little longer to get into the park. Jason Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-spotter Posted February 25, 2008 Share Posted February 25, 2008 I've done it 6 or 7 times between 1995 and 2004 and it took us 2 hours on average from Hidden Valley to Oak Creek. Longest spell was two and a half hours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bug Posted February 25, 2008 Share Posted February 25, 2008 Your legs must be longer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-spotter Posted February 25, 2008 Share Posted February 25, 2008 "If you ride in the front seat you get there faster." - Flaming Carrot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TREETOAD Posted February 26, 2008 Share Posted February 26, 2008 those are metric hours Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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