Thanks for all the replies so far folks.Rather the spend a day driving to the dessert we might spend most of our time in Red Rocks and finish our trip with White Punks on Dope at the Needles and S Face of Charlotte Dome. Anyone done these? Any beta or advice?Thanks,Tom
You get close to a Giant Sequoia plantation on the way, worth a stop for a look.
Sounds shit, how old are they?
I haven't been, but I remember some friends joining us in the valley in early October having left the Needles because it was getting too cold.
Tom, I thought you'd been to Red Rocks already? I've only spent a week there but Crimson Chrysalis (5.8 or HVS 4c) and Dream of Wild Turkeys (5.10a or E1/2) were both as good as the hype and Black Orpheus (5.10a HVS 5b - just the one move, otherwise mostly VS) was very enjoyable. I've not done Epinephrine but my sense is it'd be quite a big day out at the grades you're quoting. For longer VS/HVS routes it's hard to look past Red Rocks. You could easily spend two weeks here, the bureaucracy might start to grate a little with me. Perhaps plan for a week and see how you feel? No recommendations regarding accommodation, I was staying with a friend in Vegas. I have no direct knowledge of the camping but I've heard it described as "a bit ghetto".
Needles is a fair drive from RR, but the drive is beautiful. When i got there the road was still snowed in, so had to go elsewhere.