As Adam had to work on Sunday, I was keen to find something to do to entertain myself and what’s better than going rock climbing!
 
Given it was 105 degrees in Vegas, it was too hot to climb in red rocks, at least during the day so Josh proposed going to Mt. Charleston.
 
We picked me up around 8:30, and Brittany, Josh, Cranberry, and I headed about 45 minutes east of Las Vegas to the Spring Mountains.  While close to Vegas this forested area sits 7,500 feet above sea level and is about thirty degrees cooler than Red Rocks!

The area is less developed in terms of climbing and while the limestone is sharp, the routes are bolted making it a perfect summer destination for climbing.

 
We had a short 20 minute approach up to the Sonar Wall on Echo Cliff, which was mostly in the shade and filled with routes from 5.6 – 5.12.  We decided to start with a warm up on the 5.6 and work our way up in grades.
 
We climbed Listening for Silence, Chaotic Canine, Quieter Days and Click and Clack.  Some just once and some several times.  It was an awesome, chill, social day of climbing.
 

Once back in Vegas, I took a nap and then met up with Adam for dinner at Chica.
 
Red Rocks
 
While Red Rocks can be too hot for climbing, I had heard that getting up early and getting in some early morning climbing was a possibility.
 
So Josh and I decided to spend a day getting out at 5am and heading to Calico Basin.  After a quick approach, we climbed up Big Bad Wolf on the Riding Hood Wall.  The first two pitches were in the shade, so it only got hot once in the sun on pitch 3.  Pitch 4 was actually a 5.0 so I led it to get in some lead practice, and then we walked off.
 
Following that, we walked over to Ma and Pa in Kettle, a 5.7 sport lead, to have me practice leading outdoors.  I first followed the route with Josh leading it, and then slowly, one by one, I climbed the route with one bolt unclipped, then a second, then a third, etc.  By the end, I had climbed the route several times and actually led by first 5.7 outdoors!  It was great to practice falling, clipping, and gaining confidence of leading.

Eventually, the sun started to get too high to avoid and it was time to call it a day.  We had an awesome day out and I was beat.

I ended the day with fish tacos and an aperol spritz poolside.