Will Mayo Climbs Desert Gold (5.13a)
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Will Mayo climbs the Stefan Glowacz masterpiece Desert Gold (5.13a), Red Rock Canyon, Las Vegas, Nevada.
“After a 5.8 approach pitch, the crux pitch follows an overhanging finger crack which widens from tips through all finger crack sizes to thin hands to
reach the roof,” Mayo writes in the video description. “The roof crack also progressively widens from hands to cupped hands toward the lip.
“The roof itself was first free-climbed by Paul Van Betten in 1984, after aiding the finger crack. He later returned and led the crack leading to the roof
free in 1987. Yet, Stefan Glowacz was the first to free climb the entire crux pitch of Desert Gold as one, also in 1987, and receives credit
for the first integral ascent.
“The golden Aztec sandstone crack is atypical of the Red Rock style patina face climbing, is a must-do for all crack aficionados.”