Just our luck, mid-week saw all-time record low temperatures for December in Las Vegas! Tuesday it was 18°C and overnight saw Wednesday’s temperature plummet to -2°C. We’ve been ice climbing in warmer temperatures than this! :freeze:
The weather people on the hotel TV couldn’t stop reporting how shocking it was: “Today we’ll hit 30°F, an all time record for December. But that record won’t last long, tomorrow it’ll be 28°F!”. After we’d translated °F in to more meaningful information we realised rock climbing was gonna be a challenge, and would certainly require us to be in full sun to catch every last bit of thermonuclear radiation on offer…
Wednesday
With the forecast we opted for a walk to Red Rocks’ “most significant geological feature”, the Keystone Thrust. The information signs were a bit unclear but I gather the basic idea is that a massive geological event deep in the Earth’s crust forced the limestone up over the sandstone, then only through erosion did the awesome sandstone climbing venue we have today reappear. At the Keystone Thrust site one can see the fault line and both rock types, with the older limestone on top of the sandstone.
Yes, that is snow on the ground! It may look warm with the sunshine, but it was -2°C !
Thursday
The thick cloud cover shown in the first picture above had cleared on Thursday, but it was still well below freezing. A climbing venue in full sun was required – we selected the Moderate Meca area in the Calico Basin…
Friday
Our final day – Friday – was only a little warmer, it was 1°C as we left the Pine Creek car parking area. But at least the sun was out again… We wanted to finish on a multi-pitch route (what Red Rocks is famous for), but with the frigid temperatures we opted for Geronimo and romp up four full rope lengths of steep juggy rock. A route we failed on at our last attempt – I dropped one of my rock shoes and we had to retreat! π³
Wildlife…
Who’d have thought that with the super cold weather we’d have the opportunity to see so many of Red Rocks wild creatures? Maybe because of the cold there were far fewer people out and that quiet gave way for the animals…
 Woodpecker |
 Dove |
 Deer |
And the animal star of the trip… While we were packing our sacks at the bottom of the route Laetitia heard a rustling sound under one of the massive boulders. We peered around, under, and through. Then we spotted a movement, and next we saw what we thought was a cat. Of course it isn’t a cat, it is in fact a relative of the racoon, the Ringtail Cat.
After that we left Red Rocks for the last time (for this trip).
Las Vegas
Of course one of the attractions of Red Rock is beyond the world-class rock climbing – it’s the fleshpot of Las Vegas! A truly unbelievable place! On our last visit we went to see the Blue Man Group, this time around we went to see the ultra blinged up circus acts of Cirque du Soleil at Mystere.
And on our final night we went to see Terry’s favourite diner and the famous Fremont Experience…
Well done for getting out, :clap: even in the cold!! :freeze: :freeze: The rock looks great!! π
Anna got well excited at the mention of a cat π , even if it isn’t really one!! π
Ok, so now you’ve answered my question
Incidentally, it got down to minus 35C in Banff