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David C
Trad climber
UK
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Topic Author's Original Post - Nov 1, 2017 - 11:04am PT
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Hi,
Apart from Joshua Tree, is there much good climbing between LA and Vegas? We are a bunch of Brits visiting in March and wondering whether to fly to Vegas or LA (much cheaper).
Thanks
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j-tree
Big Wall climber
Typewriters and Ledges
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Taquitz and Suicide.
Other smaller crags as well
Riverside Quarry is good for sport climbing (and aid as well)
New Jack City as well for sport
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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If you are flying into LA it’s probably best to head right to RR. JT and Tahquitz/Sucicide are a bit out of the way. You can drive from LAX to RR in under five hours if you avoid LA rush hour traffic.
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John M
climber
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The distance isn't that great. At least not by American standards. I understand that Europeans aren't used to driving that far. ( At least according to my friends in Sweden ) But in America 5 hours of driving isn't that far. So it comes down to what you want, how long that you have, and whether you are renting an auto. And if you can spend part of two days doing the drive between LA and Las Vegas. Remembering that many companies won't rent to people under 25, or charge higher prices.
So what is your hoped for plan?
Flying in to LAX, or Burbank, renting a car, driving to Joshua tree and climbing a few days, then heading on to Red Rocks, climbing there, then driving back to LAX is not a bad plan.
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phylp
Trad climber
Upland, CA
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It depends on how precious the climbing time is to you vs spending the extra bucks.
While the driving time between LAX and Vegas isn't bad IF THERE IS NO TRAFFIC, the only good times for getting out of LAX and heading east would be from about 8PM, or at about 10 AM, due to commuting congestion.
Just last week my niece, who goes to school right near LAX, left her Campus at 4:40 PM and it took her 2 hr 40 minutes to get to my house 55 miles away, taking the same route you would be taking going from LAX to Vegas.
Add to this the massiveness and slowness of LAX, you could spend 2.5-3 hours deplaning, getting your bags and going thru customs. Vegas has a pretty small and efficient airport.
Figure on losing a whole day of climbing on each end of your trip if you fly into LAX.
It is cheap though. My friend Andy just visited from the UK and flew RT Heathrow-LAX for about $550. We drove to Red Rocks the next day. His conclusion was if there was any way to get tix directly into Vegas, that is what he would do next time.
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Jon Beck
Trad climber
Oceanside
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The back roads from LA to Vegas are much more interesting than the 15 Freeway, and goes through JTree.
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10b4me
Mountain climber
Retired
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If your priorities are climbing, I would say fly to Vegas, rent a car, and drive to Jtree. Spend a few days climbing, then drive back to Vegas, and climb in RR. The traffic between Jtree, and Vegas is virtually non existent.
If you want to sightsee, then best bet is to fly to LA.
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johntp
Trad climber
socal
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Todd Gordon has a lot of info on this. Maybe he will post up.
edit: my suggestion is to fly into Ontario or Vegas. LAX may be less expensive but is a huge pain in the arse. Phoenix may be another option. What are your main goals?
Rubidoux has some good bouldering. Big Rock has good slab climbing and a few cracks, mostly one pitch, but there are a couple of two pitch cliimbs. They are pretty greasy. There is a quarry near Rubidoux but I've never been there, so have no usefull information. As 10b4me said, if you want to see LA, LAX may be okay. I hate that airport though and don't understand why anyone would spend time in either LA or Vegas.
2nd edit: Vegas is a good party town and red rocks with stellar climbing is nearby.
3rd edit: the drive from SoCal to Vegas can be crazy nerve wracking from Thursday to Monday. It is basically one stupid conga line for 200 miles.
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Gary
Social climber
Desolation Basin, Calif.
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If you want to go someplace and have it all to yourself there's Christmas Tree Pass near Laughlin, Nevada. Old school run out slab climbing mostly. Some very challenging stuff there.
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TLP
climber
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Another piece of relevant information is to consider the weather. In the UK or the continent, you just climb in bad weather if you want to climb. But desert sandstone, including Red Rocks, is softened when wet and for a day or two afterwards (or longer, depending on sun exposure). Consequently holds break and climbs get damaged. So if it's sketchy weather, stick to J Tree or other out of the way non-sandstone climbing. Have fun! And it is no longer true that all beer in the U.S. is piss beer. There is a lot of good beer of every variety nowadays, albeit a huge excess of IPAs.
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AP
Trad climber
Calgary
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It is better to fly into Vegas. Car rental is cheaper. Getting out of town is easy.
Climb at both Red Rocks and J Tree. The back road drive is amazing. Stop and hike at Kelso dunes.
Driving around LA is no fun.
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Don’t rent a car at any airport if you can avoid it, but LAX is expensive.
Just do what most Angelenos do - steal one.
I thought flights to Vegas from Olde Blighty were cheap?
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phylp
Trad climber
Upland, CA
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D2R2 I pretty much agree with you.
From my house to Vegas is 3.5 hours when I go, on my retiree schedule. New Jack is directly on route but I certainly wouldn't stop there as a destination. I love it as a day trip crag, but Not a destination crag. J tree is a worthy destination but it's not on route unless you are on the scenic tour leisure plan.
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justthemaid
climber
Jim Henson's Basement
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Serious question:
How much "cheaper" to LAX???
Driving LA to Vegas really sucks if you don't know the ins and outs.
The gas might cost you the difference.
Might be better to fly to Vegas and just stay there. There's only like... 3000 great routes.
How long will you be here?
New Jack City is the only semi- decent climbing that is sort of in between the two cities without having to drive too far out of the way. Joshua Tree could be a side trip from either city. Taquitz/Suicide would probably eat up too much time in transit and weather will be ???.
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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If you climb just at RR you’ll be fine.
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AP
Trad climber
Calgary
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Have you been to the general area before?
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johntp
Trad climber
socal
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Suicide and Tahquitz in March are pretty iffy. I threw out Rubidoux and Big Rock as possibilities. Both are a short drive off the 60 FWY. I don't consider them destinations, but if you want to kill a few hours they are worth the detour.
edit: D2R2- if you don't have anything constructive to add, STFU.
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David C
Trad climber
UK
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Topic Author's Reply - Nov 2, 2017 - 07:17am PT
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Thanks everyone.
Re car rental, I'm well over 25 :(
I have climbed at RR, but the rest of the team have not. The only other place in CA I have climbed is Yosemite. Hence I felt in would be cool to visit JTree and any other places of that quality.
The flight cost difference is $320 each, so not massive I guess
We are a mixed team, and I'm not sure all are up for 14 days of climbing, so I thought it might be worth breaking it up a bit, if the cost balanced out and the venues worth getting in the car.
My preference would be Vegas then RR then Zion and in an act of madness The Black ('cos I have always wanted to climb there - not sure why, just looks my kind of place)
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johntp
Trad climber
socal
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Hence I felt in would be cool to visit JTree
JT is well worth your time. In March be prepared for strong winds and possible cold weather. It has become a popular park. Make reservations well ahead of time, whether camping or hoteling it.
edit: There are some rentals available near the park entrance. Contact Russ Walling.
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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David...I am the “older climber,”a designation that R2D2 seems to think disqualiifies me from giving advice. I do, however, still climb quite a bit and the Black is one of my favorite venues.
It’s a bit late in the season and quite a long drive from Vegas. Put it on your calendar for your next visit.
The Black Canyon is one of the three or four best areas in the US. It combines breath taking scenery, mellow camping and worldclass multi pitch climbing. A trip there can be combined with Indian Creek and the desert towers of SE Utah. The “Scenic Cruise” is my favorite climb of it’s grade in the States. I climb there a lot and can give you good beta.
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