Start date 20220310
End date 20220315
Posted on

Overview

  • Thu, Mar 10 – Flight lands 9:26 AM
  • Fri, Mar 11 – Climb Crimson, 5.8+ first thing when park opens
  • Sat, Mar 12 – Climb Dark Shadows Full, 5.8, first thing when park opens
  • Sun, Mar 13 – ?? Cragging?
  • Mon, Mar 14 – Climb Ephinepherine 5.9, 13 pitches if we’re feeling good and if weather is looking warm enough (outside of park so can start as early as we want)
  • Tue, Mar 15 – Fly back 7:30 AM

Key points

  • The time changes on March 13th, moves back an hour
    • Sunrise @ 5:55 AM on March 12th (sunset 5:45 PM)
    • Sunrise @ 6:55 AM on March 13th (sunset 6:45 PM)
  • The scenic drive hours are 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM for all of March
    • Timed entry permits start at 8 AM.

Arriving (Thu, Mar 10)

  • 5:30 PM – At airport
  • 7:20 PM – Flight departs
  • 9:46 PM – Flight lands
  • 10:30 PM – Rental car, drive to AirBnB (25 min drive)
  • 11:00 PM – Arrive at AirBnB
  • 11:30 PM – Sleep

Crimson itinerary (Fri, Mar 11)

Most likely we get a late start since we’re arriving late and it’s coldest Friday… dawn @ 5:32, sunrise @ 5:58, sunset @ 5:43, dusk @ 6:09

  • 6:40 AM – Wake up
  • 7:20 AM – Drive to Red Rocks gate (25 min)
  • 7:50 AM – Drive scenic loop to Oak Creek Trailhead (30 min, timed entry permits start at 8 AM)
  • 8:20 AM – Arrive at trailhead (sunrise was 5:55 AM)
  • 8:45 AM – Hike in (1 hr, 41 degrees)
  • 9:45 AM – Base (45 degrees)
  • 10:00 AM – Climbing (47 degrees)
  • 2:00 PM – Top (52 degrees)
  • 3:00 PM – Back at base (56 degrees)
  • 3:30 PM – Hike back
  • 4:30 PM – Back at car (54 degrees)
  • 4:45 PM – Out of park (sunset at 5:45 PM, park closes at 7pm)

Old schedule if we started at gate opening… Too cold! Plus too early!

  • 4:50 AM – Wake up
  • 5:30 AM – Drive to Red Rocks gate (25 min)
  • 6:00 AM – Drive scenic loop to Oak Creek Trailhead (30 min, gate opens at 6am)
  • 6:30 AM – Arrive at trailhead (sunrise was 5:55 AM)
  • 6:45 AM – Hike in (1 hr, 34 degrees)
  • 7:45 AM – Base (37 degrees)
  • 8:00 AM – Climbing (38 degrees)
  • 12:00 PM – Top (52 degrees)
  • 1:00 PM – Back at base (54 degrees)
  • 1:30 PM – Hike back
  • 2:30 PM – Back at car (55 degrees)
  • 2:45 PM – Out of park (sunset at 5:45 PM, park closes at 7pm)

Dark Shadows itinerary (Sat, Mar 12)

  • 4:50 AM – Wake up
  • 5:30 AM – Drive to Red Rocks gate (25 min)
  • 6:00 AM – Drive scenic loop to Pine Creek Trailhead (25 min, gate opens at 6am)
  • 6:25 AM – Arrive at trailhead
  • 6:40 AM – Hike in (1 hr, 1.5 miles, 700 ft gain, 41 degrees)
  • 7:40 AM – Base (45 degrees)
  • 8:00 AM – Climbing (10 pitches, 30 min/pitch, 5 hours, 46 degrees)
  • 10:00 AM – 51 degrees
  • 1:00 PM – Top (58 degrees)
  • 1:20 PM – Descending north route
  • 3:20 PM – Back at base, hike back (58 degrees)
  • 4:20 PM – Back at car (57 degrees)
  • 4:30 PM – Out of park (sunset at 5:45 PM, park closes at 7pm)

Ephinepherine itinerary (Mon, Mar 14)

Dawn is 6:27 AM, sunrise is 6:52 AM and sunset is 6:47 PM, dusk is 7:12 PM on March 14th

  • 4:05 AM – Wake up
  • 4:45 AM – Drive to Black Velvet Canyon Parking (55 min drive)
  • 5:40 AM – Arrive at Black Velvet Canyon Parking
  • 5:50 AM – Hike in (1.2 miles, 560 ft gain, 1 hr)
  • 6:50 AM – Base
  • 7:10 AM – Climbing (13 pitches, 9 hours – Steph was like 7 hours, most ppl like 10 hrs)
  • 4:10 PM – Top (2hr descent)
  • 6:40 PM – Back at car (sunset 6:47)
  • 7:40 PM – Back at AirBnB