Red Rock Canyon

About 20 miles west of Las Vegas is the Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area.  We went out there just to view the awesome red rock and cliffs. 

What we found was a very developed Rock Climbing area.  After scrambling around the rocks on our first trip we came back with climbing gear and a guidebook. 

This area is so diverse in its climbing that expert climbers would be challenged, but since we are basically beginners we found some routes that seemed to be tailor made for us. 

Our first climb was a little 5.3.  It was set up as an easy teaching climb for traditional lead instruction.  At the top is natural cracks that are ideal for setting up anchors for top rope belay. Here is Barbara with her anchor.  We used it as a back up anchor to mine and also as a tag rope anchor so I could set the other anchor further down the climb and reduce rope wear.

We then moved over to a 5.5 that was set up as a sport route.  It had 4 sport anchors on it.  Barbara chose to attempt a sport lead.  No top rope, if she falls it will be to the anchor below her, sometimes as much as 30 feet. 

Once at the top she quickly set up a top rope.

After rappelling down it was my turn to climb, I had the security of the top rope during my climb.

During my climb a Chuckwalla lizard made his appearance to check out the silly folks on the rock.

Our third climb was little tougher.  I walked around and set up a top rope from some anchors.  It was getting late so I belayed Barbara from the top and she climbed out of the canyon.  It's amazing how much harder it is to climb when you are hot and tired. 
We called it a day and wished we had more time.  I think we will go back to this place.  You can't beat fun and beautiful.

This last shot you can just barely make out Las Vegas in the background.