Another Winter in Vegas

Winter is nearly over, and I haven't written anything since the fall.  I've been busy and haven't had anything I really felt like sharing.  Since leaving Colorado, after finishing up work around the end of November, I made my way once more to Las Vegas.  My Mom lives in Vegas, but probably not for much longer, so it seemed like a good idea to spend another (perhaps last for a while) season climbing at Red Rocks.

Spending time in Vegas has given me a little extra time, which I have put to good use.  As some of you may know, I'm a software engineer, and I have started writing apps for mobile phones running android.  I just finished my first app, which is a weather app.  It's not exactly designed for climbers, but I was definitely trying to create the app that I would want as a climber.

When I look at the weather before going climbing, I like to use NOAA point forecasts like this to get the weather for Lincoln Lake (for example), not the weather for Idaho Springs, or Denver.  This is exactly how my weather app get its data.  With the app though, you don't have to scroll around the map looking for the remote area you want a forecast for, since smart phones can pull down your location from GPS, cell towers, or WiFi.  Also, you can load up the radar, and spot any nearby storms in the area before they come flying in over the ridge-line.  Beats the normal 3 seconds you get to gather pads and take shelter from the rain, hail, and lighting!  I wonder if you get cell service on Longs?

So that's my plug, if you have an android phone, check it out.  "Weather Here" on the Android Market.  There are free and paid versions.  https://market.android.com/developer?pub=N+Studio.  If you find it useful, please leave a high rating in the app store.  Sorry if you have an IPhone, maybe I'll be able to port it over at some point.

I should have some more material to post on Red Rocks soon, but for now I leave you with just a few photos from the last months.

Hiking with Karma back over the saddle at Kraft, after a day of looking for new boulders.

Alex Johnson climbing Fear of a Black Hat v9 at Kraft.

Josh Muller giving some good efforts on Clockwork Orange v12, Kraft.

Julia Smith climbing Porkchop v2, Kraft Wash.  Probably the best easy problem in Red Rocks.  PORKCHOP!

Alex Johnson crushing Leathal Designs v12.  She did it so fast I didn't have time to get my camera out for any of the low moves!

And check out Ben Spannuth with a very impressive near flash of the same problem!

PORKCHOP!