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Mt. Charleston Development Opens Year Round Bouldering Season

posted by dpm on 08/25/2010

submitted by Maxwell Moore

Las Vegas and summer bouldering are two words mutually exclusive in the local scene, and never show up together in a sentence without a complaint nearby.  Typically boulderers too proud (or poor) for the gym suck it up and slide their legs into a harness, secretly shamed, as the temperature rises in the valley. This summer is anything but typical. With the development of a new cave at Mt. Charleston boulderers are getting a taste of something few areas boast: a year round season.

Craig Berman attempting Delirious V11/12. Courtese of Maxwell Moore's blog

Local Craig Berman found the cave last year during a hike to exercise and strengthen an injured hamstring. He made a mental note, and commented that the cave would be moderate, yielding nothing harder than V8. The area went untouched until earlier this spring when Berman began bringing strong locals such as Pete Lowe, Bill McLemore, and Andrew Spencer up for second ascents and opinions. As it turned out the cave had been severely misjudged.

As word spread of the cave’s steep power-endurance climbing, unique holds and quality movement more climbers turned an ear to what they had dismissed earlier as another chossy cave.  The hybrid nature of the problems, usually close to twenty moves,  attracted route climbers like Mike Doyle as well who helped shape a consensus on the area.  The majority of problems saw a first ascent by Berman, however Pete Lowe and Andrew Spencer also contributed new lines.

Andrew Spencer on the top out of Sideburn V9. Photo courtesy of Maxwell Moore's blog

 Pete Lowe’s recent first ascent of Delirious V11/12, the last hard project in the cave, marks the end of the development boom. In complete contradiction to Berman’s initial impression the area is now home to over twelve problems V8 or harder, including four V10 or higher. These numbers weigh in as the hardest collection of concentrated bouldering in Las Vegas.

Watch a video of Craig Bergman attempting Delirous HERE