Stop 10: Moab/Rifle

I fell somewhere between disbelief and confusion when I saw the familiar red truck roll into the campsite a full two days earlier than I had initially expected. But somehow my (still awake) brother stepped out of the vehicle after having driven effectively 18 hours straight from Seattle! He came mostly for the mountain biking and ongoing 'Jeep Week', but I managed to persuade him to give climbing a go and I don't think it disappointed. A sunset rope swing at the Looking Glass Arch kicked off the fun, which was followed by some Indian Creek crack and tower climbing. I am keeping my fingers crossed that this kickstarted a new passion!

Like Indian Creek, Rifle is one of those places that you would drive right pass without knowing that there was a climbing mecca a stones throw away- this time for world-renowned limestone faces. Although definitely not my style, these overhanging walls split by a beautiful river are just being begged to climb. I quickly made some friends who showed me the ropes and let me tag along with them for the next few days as I flailed about on the slippery and steep walls. At the very least, being around water and trees certainly re-energized me and reminded me how much I missed the mountains.

I was admittedly quite hesitant to venture back to California after having a slightly bitter taste from my previous drive-through, but was convinced to go by the prospect of getting some granite alpine climbing in as well as being a logical path back up to Seattle. I crept my way that direction, swinging by some hot springs and saying hi to Stu in Zion. My climbing partner and I agreed that a pit-stop in Las Vegas to try a mega-classic climb (Epinephrine; 1,600 ft and ~14 pitches of 5.9 fun) would be a worthy endeavor so we geared up and pulled into Sin City on an obscure Wednesday with high hopes.

Confident that with an early start and being mid-week we could avoid the crowds we set our alarms for a reasonable 4:45am and awoke with eager anticipation for the adventure to come. We pulled into the aptly named 'Late Night Parking Lot'* and hustled along our prep before making our way to the trailhead. But just as the sun was breaking the horizon another car pulled in, scooting right by the parking lot and driving straight to the start. Damn. There was effectively no other reason to get there that early so we resigned that we would probably not be the first party on the wall that day. An awkward stare down at the trailhead was broken by a mutual laugh and we let them take the first lead with the comfort that there was still plenty of day left. We made the hike up with them and crested the boulders to see the beautiful wall being lit up by the morning sun. As we got closer to the start there was a confusing lack of silence to the canyon....somehow there was a party of two already on the route before the sun even rose!! With two parties already in front of us we reluctantly turned around. Sometimes things are just not meant to be - plus next time I'm sure we will be going all out with a moonlight, 2am start!

*This route is infamous for late-night descents - so much so there is emergency food/water/sleeping supplies at the top. Not to be undone though, Alex Honnold free-soloed all 1,600 feet of this route in 34 minutes in 2020.