The Nightcrawler.In April of 2008, we did a quick in-and-out weekend trip to Red Rocks. On Saturday, we climbed the beautiful, if a bit hard for me, Nightcrawler (5.10, 4P) on the Brownstone Wall. On Sunday, we climbed the short but almost as pretty Black Magic (5.8, 4P) on Lotta Balls Wall…because if I recall, we got our asses kicked on some other route that very morning. For the life of me, right now (2021) I cannot recall which route that was.
Photos
Starting the approach hike to The Brownstone Wall (April 2008).The classic views of the Red Rocks formations (April 2008).Crimson Chrysalis and Cloud Tower (right) routes as seen from the hike up to Brownstone Wall (April 2008).The Rainbow Wall from the hike up to Brownstone Wall (April 2008).Brownstone Wall (April 2008).The central portion of The Brownstone Wall with The Nightcrawler being the right facing dihedral just right of photo’s center (April 2008).Near the base of Brownstone Wall (April 2008).Looking up at The Nightcrawler – the obvious right facing dihedral in the photo (April 2008).Leading pitch 1 of The Nightcrawler (April 2008).Closer look at pitch 1 (April 2008).Nearing the first belay (April 2008).Shirley on the first pitch of The Nightcrawler (April 2008).Shirley nearing the top of pitch 1 of The Nightcrawler on Brownstone Wall belayed by yours truly (Apr. 2008).Shirley arriving at the first belay (April 2008).Shirley starting the lead of pitch 2 of The Nightcrawler (April 2008).Shirley starting the lead of P2 of The Nightcrawler on Bronwstone Wall. The line follows the shady, right-facing dihedral to the top of the pillar (Apr. 2008).And into the enjoyable chimney section (April 2008).And into the nice finishing crack of pitch 2 (April 2008).Starting up pitch 2 of The Nightcrawler (April 2008).Following pitch 2 of The Nightcrawler (April 2008).Rainbow Wall as seen from The Nightcrawler (April 2008).Starting up pitch 3 of The Nightcrawler (April 2008).Pitch 3 (April 2008).Views back towards the road (April 2008).Crimson Chrysalis, with two climbers on it, as seen from The Nightcrawler (April 2008).More of Crimson Chrysalis (April 2008).Making progress on pitch 3 (April 2008).Shirley starting up pitch 3 of The Nightcrawler (April 2008).Shirley on pitch 3 (April 2008).Two more climbers in profile on Crimson Chrysalis (April 2008).Shirley topping out on pitch 3 (April 2008).Leading the crux pitch 4 of The Nightcrawler (April 2008).Shirley nearing the fourth and final belay on The Nightcrawler (April 2008).Back at the base (April 2008).Shirley at the base of Brownstone Wall with Rainbow Wall in the background (April 2008).Starting the hike down (April 2008).Shirley with The Nightcrawler route on the Brownstone Wall visible (April 2008).The beautiful desert of Red Rocks (April 2008).Almost back at car (April 2008).Shirley on the hike in to First Creek Canyon (April 2008).Lotta Balls Wall. There’s a climbers starting up the namesake route as well as a party atop pitch 1 of Black Magic (April 2008).A wider angle view of the Lotta Balls Wall in First Creek Canyon (April 2008).Shirley starting up Black Magic (April 2008).Higher on pitch 1 (April 2008).More of Shirley leading pitch 1 (April 2008).Pitch 1 of Black Magic (April 2008).Shirley at the first belay on Black Magic (April 2008).Arriving at the first belay (April 2008).Leading pitch 2 (April 2008).Pitch 2 (April 2008).Shirley on pitch 2 (April 2008).Arriving at the second belay on Black Magic (April 2008).Shirley starting up pitch 3 of Black Magic (April 2008).P3 of Black Magic (April 2008).Crux of P3 perhaps (April 2008).Pitch 3 (April 2008).Higher on pitch 3 (April 2008).Following pitch 3 (April 2008).Shirley atop pitch 3 (April 2008).Shirley topping out on the scrambly pitch 4 (April 2008).
