The next day we decided to climb a route in the shade. Epinephrine is an 15-pitch Red Rocks classic known for its extensive chimney system and 2000 feet of fun moderate climbing (5.7-5.9).
The trailhead was located just as described in the Red Rocks guidebook (a few miles down a dirt road off HWY 160 just before mile marker 16). From here, it was a 45 minute walk through desert and then a creek bed to the base of the route clearly marked by the large chimney system above.
The first couple of pitches were fun face climbing. Then the chimneys started. Four hundred feet of chimneyliscious thrusting and grunting. Ross scored a nearly new #3 Camelot half way through. The great thing about the chimneys was the shade, although with the 100° heat, we were still dripping with sweat.
After the chimneys was about 1000 ft of steep juggy 5.7-5.8, which, although easy, was quality stuff and lots of fun. But were literally baking in the sun, and probably. (June is not the month to be climbing in Red Rocks, which we knew before we left for the trip, but had to assure ourselves of anyway.) We arrived at the top of Epinephrine 6.5 hours after we began the first pitch.
For the descent, we followed the instructions in the Red Rocks guidebook (traverse the ridge southeast over to Mt. Wilson, and descend the gully down to the creek bed at the base of Frogland). The descent was mostly hiking, with a bit of Class 3 scrambling, and one rappel from a tree. The descent back to our packs at the base of Epinephrine took 1.5 hours.
Epinephrine was a fun route, one I would definitely do again!
*Also see
Ross’s post on Cascade Climbers.com for more photos and commentary.
Update: Twelve years later, in March 2019, I climbed Epinephrine again on a Spring Break trip to Red Rocks. Just as fun the second time!
Click here to see that trip report.
