Red Rocks, March 23-30, 2002

I spent my spring break at Red Rocks with Charles. Except for one rainy day, the weather was mostly great, and we had a fun time doing multipitch trad routes. I got a little more experience leading trad on some pitches of Frogland, Lotta Balls, Olive Oil, Tunnel Vision, and Varnishing Point. We also went to the Winter Heat Wall for some single pitch trad.

Day 1: Saturday, March 23

Day 3: Monday, March 25

Monday was the first of five sunny days. We headed out to do "Olive Oil," an easy 6 pitch route. Unfortunately, it was a little crowded; we decided to wait and climb it anyway since there weren't too many other climbs nearby. My final impression of "Olive Oil" was that it was fun, but not worth the wait!


Charles as we hike out to climb "Olive Oil."


Charles on the last pitch of "Olive Oil."


Charles atop "Olive Oil."


Charles beginning the descent.

Day 4: Tuesday, March 26

We took it easy on Tuesday, slept in, and did a fun little 3-pitch route called "Lotta Balls" in First Creek Canyon.


Charles hiking out to the Lotta Balls Wall.


Charles gesturing towards the rocks in First Creek Canyon.


Amy leading the first pitch of Lotta Balls.


Amy.


The route is called "Lotta Balls" because of the weird "marbles" protruding from the white sandstone. The second pitch, the one Charles led, involves carefully climbing up a slab covered in these balls. It's pretty cool. Here I am showing off a ball.

Day 5: Wednesday, March 27

On Wednesday we went to Black Velvet Canyon and did Frogland. I think this was my favorite climb of the trip...it was really, really fun.


Charles.


Amy.


Charles.


Amy and Charles at the pleasant summit of Frogland.

Day 6: Thursday, March 28

On Thursday, at Lynsey's recommendation, we hiked out to Calico Basin and the Winter Heat Wall. This trip was worth it just for the beautiful formations one encounters on the hike out there. We had a fun day doing single-pitch trad routes.


Amy sitting in a little cave in the soft, colorful sandstone on the hike out to the Winter Heat Wall.


Amy on "Couldn't be Schmooter," with Charles' nuts in the lower righthand corner.


Charles at the top of "Couldn't be Schmooter."


Charles after the finger crack crux of "High Class Hoe."


Charles on the beautiful upper part of "High Class Hoe."


Charles rapping.

Day 7: Friday, March 29

For our last climb in Red Rocks, we chose "Tunnel Vision," a 6-pitcher with a funky tunnel through the rock.


Amy leading the second pitch of "Tunnel Vision."


Amy at the entrance to the tunnel.


Amy near the top of Tunnel Vision.

Day 8: Saturday, March 30

After leaving Red Rocks, we drove down to my parents' house in Southern CA for Passover. A longstanding tradition is for me to make chocolate-dipped strawberries for 40 people (2 apiece).


Amy showing off some dipped strawberries.