LVRAY
05-08-2013, 01:05 AM
String of Pearls is another of the very nice canyons in the Red Rock Conservation Area outside just outside Las Vegas. It gets its name from the series of potholes in the upper section of the canyon. A group of 5 of us started the day off early by setting the car shuttle and then making the somewhat long, but very scenic, approach to the canyon. The potholes in the upper section still contained a fair amount of water, but not enough to jump into, so we ended up doing a lot of meat anchors and partner assisted downclimbs. This section of the canyon is quite fun. After the potholes, the character of the canyon changes dramatically as the canyon opens wide for a series of fairly long raps (150 to 200 feet) that really have an "open air" feel to them. Two of these raps are incredibly beautiful. The view down to the valley floor with Vegas in the distance (and still a few thousand feet below) is fantastic. A brushy boulder-hopping section with many downclimbs follows before the technical part of the canyon concudes with another series of nice raps, including a very nice one of 200'. But the fun then quickly ends and the only real drawback to the canyon remains - the long exit hike out. Car to car, it took the 5 of us approximately 11.5 hours.
Beta for the canyon can be found on Bluugnome. However, the middle and bottom sections of this canyon (starting with the series of longer "big air" raps) have now been bolted. A few bolted and constructed anchors have also been added to the downclimbs in the middle section.
Part of the approach.
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The final part of the approach - through the "park".
65829
The start of pothole series at the top of the canyon.
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The canyon begins to open up.
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One of the longer raps in the "open air" section of the canyon.
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Beta for the canyon can be found on Bluugnome. However, the middle and bottom sections of this canyon (starting with the series of longer "big air" raps) have now been bolted. A few bolted and constructed anchors have also been added to the downclimbs in the middle section.
Part of the approach.
65826
65827
65828
The final part of the approach - through the "park".
65829
The start of pothole series at the top of the canyon.
65830
65831
65832
65833
65834
65835
The canyon begins to open up.
65836
65837
One of the longer raps in the "open air" section of the canyon.
65838
65839
65840
65841
65846
65842
65843
65844
65845