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Hiking Las Vegas Blog
If you have ever rock scrambled, you know how much fun it is. Red Rock Canyon is the Mecca for rock scrambling. Below are four tips that will help you become a better rock scrambler. If you want to hike to the peaks in Red Rock, you will need to be comfortable on class 3 and 4 rock. Gaining proficiency at rock scrambling is the best way. 1. Confidence This is the biggest key. You have to believe you can climb the obstacle facing you. Let me tell you a story that will help you understand. Several years ago Davis and I were looking for a new route to Bridge Point. The old route traveled deep into Fern Canyon. We thought we could find a route that left the wash much sooner. We found a route that departed the wash just after the seasonal waterfall. Our plan was to make a direct ascent for the gully that sits below the peak. Once out of the wash we headed NE toward an imposing wall. We soon found several ledges that traversed the wall. Many of the ledges were dead ends, but finally we found a ledge that went across. It was airy; a fall would be fatal. There was an awkward move to get off the ledge and onto safe ground that involved stepping onto a scrub oak tree. Shortly after the traverse, we met up with the original route and the rest was history. This new route saves almost 30 minutes compared to the original route! I was excited and wanted to show friends the new route. A few days later, Hiking Dave and Doyle met me at Red Rock. They had both hiked Bridge Point several times. As we approached the ledges, they looked at me like I was crazy. They decided to try and find another way and I took off to traverse the ledges. As I started the traverse, it seemed much more difficult than the other day with Davis. It was getting thin and I knew a fall would be deadly. I continued to traverse knowing that I could do it; I had just done it a few days earlier. As I was hugging the wall one of my handholds broke. Yikes! I wasn’t putting any weight on it, so I was okay. I kept creeping toward the end of the ledge where I knew the scrub oak tree would be my exit to safety. When I got to the end of the traverse, there was no scrub oak tree! I was on the wrong ledge! Looking back I should have fallen. That traverse was crazy, but I was so confident, because I had just done it the other day, even though I really hadn’t! Funny how my confidence was based on the wrong information, but that did not matter. This is what I mean when I write you have to believe you can do it. 2. The Right Stuff = The Right Shoes This tip will improve your rock scrambling by 25% immediately! You need to wear the correct shoes. What are the correct shoes? You got to have some sole! You want shoes that have sticky rubber soles. These type of shoes are often called approach shoes in catalogs and on websites. There are at least three types of sticky rubber soles: Stealth Rubber, Frixion, and Gryptonite. All are very good. Different manufactures favor one type over the other. You can’t go wrong with shoes made from these types of rubber. It’s really a personal preference and how they fit. You won’t believe how you will stick to the rock and that will give you more confidence. Currently (2015), most of us are wearing the Five-Ten brand of shoes. 3. Confidence Builders I call this technique: Practice without Consequences. Start doing very tricky moves only inches from the ground. If you fall, you will not get hurt. This is the best way to get good at traversing. Since traverses don’t ascend, choose a traverse that’s only inches from the ground. Most hikers find they need work when it comes to traversing. This is a great way of getting good. Many of the routes to the peaks involve traverses. You can try rock climbing gyms. I never really liked them, because I felt the holds did not feel real. I have never used chalk outdoors, but in the gyms I can’t stay on anything without chalk. A better idea is to do some top roping with an experienced rock climber. Top roping is much safer than traditional rock climbing and you get to climb a lot more. Once you are a 100 feet off the ground on small holds, 4th class rock will seem easy. This is how I became comfortable on class 4 rock. 4. It's All a Balancing Act Good balance can save your life. It has saved mine! You need to work on your balance. I use a Bosu at the gym. Most gyms have them. If not or if you don’t go to a gym, you can buy one. However, they are expensive ($100+). A Bosu ball has two sides. The blue side is soft and round; the black side is hard and flat. You can work with both sides. Here’s my routine (blue side up): First, I gently place one foot in the center of the ball and balance until I feel completely comfortable and hold for 15 seconds or longer. I then repeat with the other foot. Second, I walk toward the ball and jump on it with one foot. I am off balance at first and have to get my balance quickly or I will fall. I take it up a notch by jumping onto the ball from a brisk walk. Third, once on the ball and balanced, I hop onto my other foot. Hold for a few seconds and hop again. Now for the hard part: I take the ball and place it at the edge of Rainbow Wall... just kidding. Now I turn the ball over so the blue (round side) is down and the black side is up. Fourth: I gently place one foot in the center of the ball and balance until I feel completely comfortable and hold for 15 seconds or longer. I then repeat with the other foot. Note: I wear my scrambling shoes when I do this routine and so should you. Below is a video of this routine. This routine has really helped me regain my balance. Last winter (2009) I overstretched my hip flexor leaving my balance in question. Since doing this routine my balance has returned and has gotten better. I hope you find this article useful. If you are not a member of my website, please take a look at everything you get. See you in the mountains. |
AuthorBranch Whitney is the author of Hiking Las Vegas and creator of the 52 Peak Club where members hike to the best 52 Peaks around Las Vegas, NV Archives
October 2023
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