I joined Betsy, her cousins Jacob and Josiah, and five friends for three days of climbing in Red Rock Canyon over Thanksgiving. We camped at Red Rock Canyon Campground, and Betsy and I slept in her van. Here is what we did each day.
Day 0 (Tuesday, November 25): Betsy and I drive 550 miles in her van from Oakland to Red Rock Canyon, where Betsy has reserved Campsite 3 for us.
Day 1 (Wednesday, November 26): I rent a car and pick up Jacob, Josiah, and Paige from the Las Vegas airport. We regroup with Betsy, buy groceries, and drive to Red Spring for lunch. After a short hike to Cannibal Crag, everyone but me climbs. I take photos and go for a hike in Calico Basin. Noah and Emma arrive at camp late in the evening.
Day 2 (Thursday, November 27): All seven of us shuttle to the second Calico Hills turnout and hike to the base of The Gallery. Everyone but me climbs, though I scramble to the base of the climbs and take lots of photos. I hike back to the turnout and get an extra workout biking 11 miles on Betsy’s heavy mountain bike. We regroup and shuttle back to camp for Thanksgiving dinner: pasta with veggie meat sauce, chopped veggie salad, and apple pie. It is delicious!
Day 3 (Friday, November 28): Everyone but Betsy and me shuttles to the first Calico Hills turnout and hikes to Panty Wall to start climbing. Betsy and I drive to Red Spring and wait for Cody and Lexi to meet us. The four of us, plus their dogs Anabelle and Bear, hike 2 miles to Panty Wall. Betsy and Cody join the other climbers, while Lexi, the dogs, and I relax. Eventually we all get back to camp, and I say goodbye to take the rental car back to the airport and fly home to San Diego. The others stay to climb another day at Cannibal Crag, which is not documented here.
Day 1: Wednesday, November 26. Morning dawns on Betsy’s van at Campsite 3 of Red Rock Canyon Campground. 
Jacob, Paige, Betsy, and Josiah are ready for the short hike from Red Spring to Cannibal Crag. 
This imposing rock is Cannibal Crag. Another climber is already on the rock to the right. 
The lower part of the rock has intricate banding. 
Betsy checks the routes in her climbing guide while Jacob and Josiah check them for real! 
By happenstance, Betsy’s Berkeley classmate Scout is also climbing Cannibal Crag! 
Jacob leads a climb while Paige belays. This is sport climbing, so Jacob follows a route marked by bolts to which he attaches a sling with carabiners for protection. 
Jacob climbs higher. 
Jacob reaches the top. 
Betsy leads a climb. 
Betsy looks for a way to go higher. 
Paige starts a climb with Scout to her left. 
Paige climbs higher 
Paige is very happy to have solved a puzzle! 
Josiah climbs. 
Josiah makes it to the top… 
and then gets lowered down. 
Jacob and Betsy climb two more routes side by side! 
They go higher… 
and reach the top! 
Betsy does a bonus climb. 
She makes it to the top… 
and gets lowered down. 
I decide to go for a hike in Calico Basin to the red rocks in the distance. 
I turn around at the end of the Calico Basin Trail. The tree with bright yellow-green leaves is velvet ash.
Day 2: Thursday, November 27. This beautiful panorama beckons us as we drive from camp to Red Rock Canyon. 
We park at the second Calico Hills turnout and arrive early enough to get two parking spots. 
This is our team: Noah, Emma, Josiah, Jacob, Paige, Betsy, and me. The climbing walls are behind us. 
We hike and scramble to The Gallery, which is just above the oblong rock in the center of this photo. 
Emma and Noah lead the way to the base of the climb, while Josiah and Betsy wait for me. 
The scramble gets interesting. 
I climb some natural stair steps. 
I love chimneys! 
I do the last part of the scramble. 
The oblong rock in the center is the end of the scramble at the base of The Gallery, where I relax and take photos. Other climbers are already on the wall. 
Paige and Jacob arrive soon afterward. 
Josiah leads a climb with a belay from Betsy. 
Josiah climbs higher. 
Josiah reaches the top! 
Betsy leads the same climb. 
Betsy climbs higher. 
Betsy reaches the top too! 
Betsy, Josiah, Jacob, and Paige prepare for another climb
Paige does the same climb at her graceful pace. 
Paige climbs higher. 
Paige climbs higher still. 
Paige reaches the top! 
I hike back to the turnout and get on Betsy’s big mountain bike for an extra workout. 
I have this beautiful view along the Scenic Loop Road. 
No tortoises are to be seen today at the Highpoint Overlook. 
This plaque at the overlook describes the Sandstone Story. 
Back and camp Jacob and Josiah cook Thanksgiving dinner while Noah and Emma eagerly watch!
Day 3: Friday, November 28. This is the start of the Calico Overlook Trail at Red Spring. 
Lexi, Cody, Betsy, Annabelle (white), and Bear (brown) are ready to go. 
This Joshua Tree is right next to the trail. 
We do a two-mile hike along the trail to Panty Wall. A touch of snow is on the distant ridge. 
Cody leads a climb up Panty Wall. 
Cody climbs higher. 
Cody nears the top of the climb. 
Betsy leads the same climb. 
Betsy climbs higher. 
Betsy climbs higher still. 
Betsy reaches the top of the climb! 
Betsy gets lowered down to wrap up the day’s climbing and another great adventure with me!