Top 25 Climbing Blogs of 2021

Hawaii Girl Adventures Blog has been selected as the Top 25 Climbing Blogs of 2021 by The Adventure Junkies! Thank you TAJ and congratulations to the other climbing blogs that made the list!

Buffalo Corral - Rock Climbing

 

Top of Stampede (5.8)

Met up with Nuno at the Buffalo Corral in Rumney, NH for some crag climbing! What a great morning - a bit chilly but it warmed up nicely as the day went on. Worked our way from right to left of the Slab Wall and finished off at the Book Of Sins on the Small Wall. 

Looking down from the top of Ghost Pine (5.6)

Nuno at the top of Bison Burger (5.7)

Nuno at the top of Stampede (5.8)

Our last leads at the Corral was on the Book Of Sins, 5.5 (below). Fun leading this way-too-short route. And today it wasn't as dirty, wet, and mossy like it was back in July 2019!

Sunny Slab Left - Rock Climbing

Leading Sunny Slab Left

Today Nuno and I checked out the climbing crag at the Burns McIntire Forest area in Marlow, NH. There were only two other climbers when we got there and they were super helpful with the local beta. I hadn't climbed here in years but the place pretty much is the same as I remembered it. 

I lead the Sunny Slab Left (5.7) first with no problems, then it was Nuno's turn. Everything was fine until he got above the last clip and placed his hand in the small horizontal crack. Long story short - our climbing was cut short by some pretty aggressive locals!!

Thank you, Nuno, for your photos and your help and support for my "Turning 60 and Climbing About It" project!  With today’s climbing, I’m at  29 leads of 76 pitches! Enjoy some photos taken of our day.

Nuno leading Sunny Slab Left

Memorial Day Weekend 2019 Rock Climbing

Rattlesnakes. 

That's the theme for this Memorial Day rock climbing, but it wasn't intentional. Spent Saturday hiking and climbing Rattlesnake Rocks at Rattlesnake Hill with Iskuhi. And on Monday Jackie, Andy and I climbed at the Meadows and the Main Cliff of Rumney Rocks on the south face of Rattlesnake Mountain. What fun climbing with great company!  ♥

And thanks, Iskuhi, Jackie & Andy for the photos and your help and support for my "Turning 60 and Climbing About It" project! 


Meadows & Main Cliff - Rumney Rocks
Rattlesnake Mountain
Rumney, NH

Deceptively hard. So we were on our way to the Main Cliff from Meadows when at the top of the trail we spotted Magic Helmet. Jackie wondered out loud what grade it was and Andy quickly answered, "a 5.3." We stopped to look at and I decided to lead it. Then Jackie looked it up on MP and said it was a 5.10b. *laughs all around* I got on it to lead anyways. Don't know why, but I find slab starts highly attractive. This slab start to the first bolt was a bit slick. And finding those double jugs to side pull up onto a sloping ledge was super cool! But clipping the 4th bolt from that sloping ledge was insane! After clipping the 4th bolt, I still couldn't figure out the sequence to get around the arete so I lowered and Andy and Jackie gave it a go. I still didn't get it after a second chance so I'll be back - after getting more beta and on it as a first climb of the day. It was frustrating not being able to finish, but I did get to lead Supersize Me. Jackie did a great job of leading Rose Garden (5.7). And we ended the day on Supersize Me (5.6) and Fat Man (5.7). 

Jackie leading Rose Garden

Along the trail

Ship's Prow - Rattlesnake Rocks
Blue Hills Reservation
Quincy, MA

Iskuhi and I spent the day hiking and climbing Rattlesnake Rocks in the Blue Hills Reservation. I had winter-hiked there a couple of years ago hoping to find the climbing crags but never did find them. Today we found the crags and also found a closer area to park and hike from. There is off-road parking where the Skyline Trail crosses Wampatuck Road, which shortens the hike from the trailhead of the ice rink. There is a gate but it's locked for access only to emergency vehicles and shouldn't be blocked. But if you travel (southwest) along Wampatuck Road (slightly uphill), you will come to another gate, where no parking is allowed. This is mentioned in the guidebook, but what's not mentioned is the large off-road parking between these two gates. There is a trailhead from this parking area and this is easier access to the crags. Use the sidewalk on the other side of the street.

Anyways, like the Deer Leap climbing a couple of weeks ago, this was a recon to find the crags. We also got in several climbs and rappels - Ship's Prow (5.7), Ship's Prow Starboard (5.4) and the ramp section of Hot Shot - White Face. And there was only one other group of two climbing - they did two routes and left. I didn't find any mention in MP or the guidebook, but if you do any top rope setups, bring a long static line. There are no bolted anchors and some of the solid trees are set back a little ways. So with that, enjoy some photos of our day at Rattlesnake Rocks. 

At the top of The Overlook

The Ship's Prow

From the top of Ship's Prow

Jams of Joy

Lay Back Further & Relax A Bit More

Iskuhi checking out The Shield

Burger Boulder

Dog Wall - Rock Climbing

Peanut gallery on the upper trail from the 1st pullout parking lot

Spent the morning at the Dog Wall crag in Red Rock Canyon. Yup, the rock was dry enough! The climbs here were overhanging and I only attempted one climb, Pleasure Dog (5.10) but quit when I couldn't get to a hold (too reachy for me). After that I just sat out and belayed. It was amazing to watch Linda and Tim leading the overhanging routes! And it was good to get out - I got to spend time with my climbing buddy who was visiting from Colorado for the weekend! 

Liz leads Catwalk

Trad routes on the left of the Dog Wall
Unknown Dihedral, Doggy Style and Wok The Dog

You can spot a climber on The Slab

Tammy on Pleasure Dog

Linda leading Cujo

Unknown Dihedral - Trad

The Gun Club - Rock Climbing

Limestone Tingle: numbness in fingers and hands from climbing sharp limestone

Did some cragging at The Gun Club. Located in the La Madre range, it's a small canyon with a short and easy approach. But don't go letting this canyon fool ya! Its limestone walls may be short, but da buggah is super, super sharp! It was fun, very warm, and practically all the Vegas climbers were out there. This nicely bolted sport crag is a good alternative while waiting for the sandstone at Red Rock Canyon to dry out. We climbed in the section with climbs in the 5.6 to 5.10 range. I got an easy lead in on Mini-Gun (5.6), and TR'd the rest of the day. Enjoy a few photos taken of my day climbing the Right (North) Wall of The Gun Club!

On the easy approach to the right wall

Several Barrel Cacti on the wall

Lotsa folks are out enjoying the warm temps and dry rock!

(even Sock Monkey!)

The Left (South) Wall as seen from the Right Wall

Looking up the canyon

Beginner's Route - Rock Climbing

At the anchor of Beginner's Route

Well, I sure didn't expect to lead a trad route here at Rumney, but there's always a first time! We headed up to the Parking Lot wall first and Jackie and I both warmed up leading A Week With Pete (5.3). Then Jackie lead the route to the left of it, Shealyn's Way (5.7). 

Photo right: Jackie at the anchor of Shealyn's Way.

Looking down from the Beginner's Route anchor

We headed to the Meadows and was looking at Bolt Line (5.8) when I spotted Beginner's Route (5.5). So I ran down to my truck and grabbed my trad rack. Part way up the route I thought I may not have enough pro and quickdraws....from here I had to manage placing pro to make certain I had two quickdraws left for the anchor. And at the ledge just before the anchors, there was sooooo much rope drag. I realized then I should've brought my alpine draws along to use. I asked Jackie what I should do and she said to take up some rope and carry it up to the anchor. I was sketched out at first, but the footholds were all solid, so I did what she said and finished the climb. Whew! Definitely an onsight!

Afterwards we headed up the the Crow's Nest where I didn't feel like leading Pee Wee's Big Adventure (another trad route), but Jackie crushed Scuttlebutt (5.6).

Photo right: Jackie at the anchor of Scuttlebutt.

Red Rock Canyon - Rock Climbing

Shaka selfie from the top of

"Sweets To The Sweet" - Hamlet Wall

Spent a couple of hours this morning climbing with Marissa and Tammy at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Park! Got a few climbs in on the Hamlet Wall off of the first pullout on Scenic Loop - Sweets To The Sweet (5.7), Frailty Thy Name Is Sandstone (5.7), and To Grunt & Sweat (5.8). Being in Red Rock Canyon was surreal...the rock is so red and has a gritty feel to it. I was so stoked to be finally climbing me some red rock! What an amazing day - I sure will miss  Marissa and Tammy, but hope to be back to climb with them soon. Enjoy some photos taken of our day.

On 'Frailty, Thy Name is Sandstone' with Tammy (in blue) on my belay

Tammy leading 'Frailty, Thy Name is Sandstone'

Marissa leading 'To Grunt to Sweat'

Climbing some red rock! 'To Grunt To Sweat'

Pano from the anchor of 'Sweets To The Sweet'

Got a nice crowd of climbers even on a weekday

This trip to Las Vegas was part of a week vacation with my husband. We got a great deal on a Stay-and-Play (hotel/golf) package! Accommodations at the Suncoast Hotel & Casino plus a round of golf (including cart) for the both of us at Highland Falls (my personal fave!), Eagle Crest and Palm Valley golf courses in Summerlin. We also played a twilight round at the Mountain Course of Angel Park Golf Course, which our hotel overlooks.

Pano view from our hotel room

Staying in Summerlin put us 5 & 10 minutes to the golf courses, and 20 minutes to Red Rock Canyon. Desert golfing with a bit of desert rock climbing - a fantastic week gone by way too quickly. 

Pano - 14th hole at 3070 feet - Highland Falls Golf Course 

There are a lot of places to choose from to eat out in Las Vegas. A few spots we ate at; Kona Grill, Mimi's Cafe (breakfast), Aloha Kitchen (twice!). And at the Suncoast Hotel & Casino we ate at The Game, St. Tropez Buffet, Peng Zu, and Du-par's (breakfast). And I don't have a photo of it, but Aloha Kitchen does have Spam Musubi! I ordered one to-go so I can have one to snack on while golfing.

In case you didn't know, Las Vegas, Nevada is considered the "9th Island". One of the reason it's referenced as the 9th Island is because there are many "Hawaiian transplants" to the desert city. Many have transferred from the islands and now live and work in Vegas. While there we met a lot of former Hawaii residents. As you can see from my photos above, there are several places to eat Hawaiian food and foods local to the island. But you can also purchase Hawaii snacks, foods, and souvenirs at CVS. We were lucky that the CVS closest to our hotel was the one that has a "Hawaiian aisle" as not all CVS carry products from Hawaii. In addition to da rubbah slippahs, chocolate macadamia nuts, Aloha Shoyu, Jade crack seed, mochi crunch, Kona coffee and Hawaiian Sun drinks, they also have a frozen section with Laulau!

CVS #8791

8580 West Charleston Blvd

Las Vegas, NV 89117