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holdeddie
Jul 15, 2006, 6:07 PM
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Hey guys, im not a noob per say. But, my family is vacationing to las vegas, and the hotel we are gonna be at provides transportation to red rock canyon. Then they hook you up with a guide, and you climb for awhile.
So, will I look like a gumby if I climb with a guide at red rocks???
I would love to go alone, but i will not bring the gear on the plane, or partners. So, a guide seems like a good alternative.
Thoughts???--- and is it worth the cash???. (This will be my first time lcimbing out west)
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carolinakinight
Jul 15, 2006, 6:11 PM
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hmm.....methinks any question that starts will I be a gumby if..... Is written by a gumb
either way, who tf cares if you'll look like a gumby
maybe a better question is, will I have fun - if so then go
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secretagent
Jul 15, 2006, 6:16 PM
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Who Cares if you look like a gumby, its about climbing not a DAMN popularity contest. :roll:
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nevenneve
Jul 15, 2006, 6:16 PM
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Try to get in contact with the guide for the hotel. Even if they take the unitiated to magic schoolbus and insist on tying you in etc., they may take you out for some less inhibited climbing.
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pylonhead
Jul 15, 2006, 6:19 PM
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Climbing with a guide doesn't make you look gumby.
True, if the guide has set up two topropes next to one another, and is belaying up people from a group of 12, you're going to look like a gumby. As caro says, you shouldn't worry about it.
Find out what the day is going to be like, figure out if it will be fun, then decide to do it or not.
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climbsomething
Jul 15, 2006, 9:36 PM
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If you go in July, you'll just look hot. Not hott or hawt. Hot like... suffering.
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craftedpacket
Jul 15, 2006, 11:18 PM
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never been to red rocks, but have been to Vegas in August...damn I couldn't imagine climbing in that weather and I am from west Texas.
In the past I have done some private classes with a guide on building anchors and what not. Unless everyone at the crag knows the guide they would never know the difference any way. I am sure he/her wont be wearing "I am a gumby guide" t-shirt or something. Going with a guide is not a bad idea for your first time to the area. You tell them your skill level and they will be able to maximize your time on the routes best suited to your ability. Since you dont live in the red rocks area...even if someone thought you were a "gumby" who the F*ck cares...you will most likely never see them again anyway.
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johnnybird
Jul 15, 2006, 11:52 PM
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well im not sure (or even care) what a "gumby" is that you speak of but we were in vegas just about 3 weeks ago and me and my buddies went to red rock canyon. we didnt ever rope up, but we did go out and do some scrambling/bouldering/hiking and we were drooling at the mouth. partialy because of the heat and partly because of the kick ass looking routes we saw that we regretably missed out on. go. it is one of the most beautiful places i have seen and i cant wait to go back with a rope and some draws.
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gunkiemike
Jul 16, 2006, 12:19 AM
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Go for it. If you can follow 5.5-5.6, you might just have the best climbing experience of your life.
Or you could collapse of heat exhaustion... :(
If money's an issue, find a way to get in touch with the guide ahead of time and ask if they can pair you up with another client. That'll save significant bux. If this isn't possible, consider making your own arrangements for a guide (incl. a ride out from the hotel); it might be cheaper than going through the hotel.
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justthemaid
Jul 17, 2006, 4:25 PM
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Hooking up with a guide isn't such a bad idea if your time is limited, and you're not familiar with the area.
Red Rocks is huge, and a guide will know where to go to hide from the sun if it's hot, and how to maximize your climbing time.
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dingus
Jul 17, 2006, 4:43 PM
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Now I'm not the guide hiring type. I'd sooner crawl from the strip to RR on my hands and knees in August (I did that once too - Steck Salathe, lol!) than get on the bus with a hotel-provided guide. I have to wonder what that's all about.
Do they farm you out to a real guide outfit? Which one? Or are the hotel rock guides akin to the 'scuba instructors' at an island resort? Will you be climbing, or taking laps in the kiddie pool TR?
Yeah, I'd wanna talk to the guide first I think.
DMT
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j_ung
Jul 17, 2006, 5:15 PM
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Ditto all that. Find out what the guided program entails. If it's pony rides on whatever 5.2 is closest to the parking lot, hell no.
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jt512
Jul 17, 2006, 5:17 PM
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In reply to: So, will I look like a gumby if I climb with a guide at red rocks???
If you are thinking of climbing in RR in the middle of the summer, instead of Mt. Charleston, then you are a gumby.
Jay
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sloclimber
Jul 20, 2006, 9:33 PM
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If you can survive the heat DO IT.
Red Rocks is awesome!
PS: HTF cares if you look gumby, your're at Red Rocks! If someone calls you a gumby, tell em to STFU.
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jslanger
Jul 24, 2006, 5:15 PM
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Check out Jackson Hole Mountain Guides. They recently got my father (61yrs old, never been in a harness before) and I (6-7 days total of TR'ing at a Chicago climbing wall) up the Grand Teton and back down safely. The company is one of the best in the country. And all the guides I met on the trip (including a few from the Vegas branch) were high quality people.
/jim
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srwings
Jul 24, 2006, 6:50 PM
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Registered: Jun 27, 2004
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I climbed with a Jay Foley a while back when I was in Las Vegas visiting. Enjoyed it so much that I booked him for 3 days.
My climbing partner just got back from Vegas. He climbed at Pine Canyon with a guide by the name of Mike Ward. Said he was good.
Check out Jay Foley, owner of www.climbingschoolusa.com.
Not sure if you are an east coast climber or not but if you can climb in 85 degrees temp with 90% humidity you'll find the hotter but dryer climes of the west coast pretty darn sweet provided you are not climbing in direct sun. In which case, the rock is too hot to even touch let alone climb.
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colotopian
Jul 24, 2006, 8:07 PM
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Just go, be social, meet people, climb with them. (sheet its going to be hot over there.) You might not get as much climbing in as you would like the first time -but- you will have met people who climb and you can make plans to climb with them again at red or elsewhere. Think of it as an investment of time in climbing. A little now matures in to a bigger return later.
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dub365
Jul 24, 2006, 8:19 PM
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Registered: Jun 5, 2005
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I'll take you out , when you gonna be here? how hard can u climb?
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azenari
Jul 24, 2006, 8:20 PM
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Registered: Nov 29, 2005
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Red Rocks is awesome. GO!!! Just make sure your guide is reputable because it is easy to get lost. Even though it is probably hotter than Hades there now, there are some places at RR that are in the shade and cooler.
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chouca
Jul 24, 2006, 9:15 PM
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Registered: Feb 12, 2003
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If ya have to ask...
I got schooled by an experienced climber just like most people. Not everybody knows someone that will spend a weekend showing them the ropes, so get a guide and learn how to do anchors and rappels the right way.
Marc B.
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