On December 18, 2025, Bobbi Clemmer and I channeled our inner Teton spirit, raging up the 2000 foot mega-classic Solar Slab as our final climb of 2025. We climbed the full route and scenic "walk-off" to Oak Creek in a civilized nine hours car to car. We also climbed a few harder variations to the standard route.
Sneaky Sick – Refried Brains (5.9, 4 pitches, 600′) – Black Velvet Wall – Red Rocks NCA, NV (12.17.2025)
Refried Brains is a lesser known but highly acclaimed route on the left margin of the famous Black Velvet Wall. Unique for the wall, it caters to the crack enthusiast with three long pitches of sustained and steep crack climbing, and one penultimate bolted arete pitch.
Splitter Heaven – Triassic Sands (5.10, III, 700′) – Whiskey Peak – Red Rocks NCA, NV (12.15.2025)
Triassic Sands is a legendary crack climbing route in Red Rocks, home of few long and continuous cracks. The first four pitches follow an incredible crack system the entire way, logging some 600 feet of consistent jamming, with the second pitch's miraculous 45 meter hand crack being the standout.
Sleepy Ramble – Cookie Monster to Cat in the Hat (5.7, 3-5 pitches, II) – Mescalito Dome – Red Rocks NCA, NV (12.14.25)
Cookie Monster is a high quality 300 foot 5.7 on the East Face of Mescalito Dome that links seamlessly into the final and best two pitches of the Red Rocks easy classic Cat In The Hat (5.6, II).
Back on the Road – Fingertrip (5.7/5.8, 4p, 400′) – Tahquitz Rock – Idyllwild, CA (11.30.25)
On November 30th Bobbi and I dusted off the Thanksgiving rust with a quick lap on the Tahquitz moderate classic, Fingertrip.
Sick! – Edge Dressing via Chasing Shadows (5.10b/c, 4p, 350′) – Mescalito – Red Rocks NCA, NV (11.10.25)
On Tuesday November 10th, 2025, Bobbi Clemmer, Joy Seward and I climbed Edge Dressing via Chasing Shadows on Mescalito Dome. Woah - what a final pitch!
An Introductory Progression to Mixed Climbing & Drytooling in Hyalite Canyon (2025)
Montana's revered Hyalite Canyon is one of the best North American venues for learning mixed climbing and drytooling, two invaluable skills for serious winter climbers. Below are my five favorite beginner mixed routes in Hyalite, presented as a progression culminating with the "best single pitch mixed climb in the United States" - The Thrill Is Gone (M4+, WI4).
“A Route For Those Seeking Out A Journey” – Rock Warrior (5.10b R, 6p, 800′) – Black Velvet Wall, Red Rocks NCA, NV (11.08.25)
On Sunday November 8th I climbed my 2025 dream route, onsighting every pitch of Rock Warrior (5.10b, 6 pitches, 800') on the storied Black Velvet Wall of Red Rocks Canyon. I was joined by Bobbi Clemmer and Joy Seward, who both proudly flashed the route.
Worthy – Bourbon Street (5.8+, 6 pitches, 700′) via Raindance (5.10a) – Whiskey Peak – Red Rock NCA, NV (11.07.25)
Joy Seward joined the Alpine Peanut and I for a week of climbing in Red Rocks. On November 7th we kicked the trio trip off with Bourbon Street, a varied 700 foot route on the north face of Whiskey Peak, by way of the excellent 5.10a single pitch variation Raindance.
A Vertical Geology Lesson – Lotta Balls (5.8, II, 420′) – First Creek Canyon, Red Rocks NCA, NV (11.06.25)
On November 6th, 2025, Bobbi Clemmer and I scored a quick lap on the unique Lotta Balls in First Creek Canyon. The namesake pitch was perhaps the most bizarre I've climbed anywhere.