A Leisurely Day at Red Rocks

A couple of weeks ago the family headed over to Red Rocks, which is only a few miles from our house, both by car and running trail, for a little sandstone love. They call the rock the solar slab and it has a pretty gentle slope (the routes are between 5.6 and 5.7+). The trickiest part is that the technique used to climb this particular spot is called smearing, which means there are very few hand or footholds, you just have to trust your climbing shoes to stick to the rock. Easier said than done for some of us. While both Hunter and Emmett are competent climbers, their difference in style becomes obvious in this situation. Whereas Hunter carefully examines the options for her hands and feet, Emmett jets up as fast as he can, scurrying like a squirrel. His technique serves him well when there are no true hand and foot holds, but when you actually need to place your body strategically, Hunter's close attention to the rock's detail pays off. What fun it is to watch them grow! Hunter is working on trusting the gear and that Dad or I are keeping her safe, Emmett is learning to tone down his raw adrenaline and focus on each moment.