Parental Guidance
5.12a R trad · 2 pitches · 200 ft · ★★★★
Route 2 of 16 from left to right on Dark Shadows Wall, with Negro Blanco on its left and Short Circuit on its right. Dark Shadows Wall has 16 routes, from 5.8 to 5.12a R; this is the hardest.
First ascent: Mike Tupper & Greg Mayer - 1988
Description
Parental Guidance is one of the best in Red Rocks. The first pitch alone is excellent, but the second is just as outrageous and not to be missed. These two can be linked together with careful runnering of gear thus eliminating a point of aid at the hanging belay.
Protection
Draws and a bunch of small cams (nothing bigger than a 0.75 Camalot). Wires, no brass needed. One 60m is enough if you do two single-rope rappels - watch your ends. The suspect hardware on P1 was replaced by the ASCA in May, 2007. The suspect hardware on P2 was replaced by the ASCA in March, 2014.
Hikes, approaches and descents
- Mescalito Direct — Class 3
Access
Timed-entry reservation required to enter the Scenic Drive October to May.
Wet rock: Aztec sandstone is fragile when wet. Do not climb for at least 24 to 48 hours after rain or snowmelt.
More routes on Dark Shadows Wall
- Peyote Power 5.9
- Extra Credit 5.10a
- Heart of Darkness 5.11 PG13
- Chasing Shadows 5.9
- Dark Shadows (Full) 5.8
- Sandstone Sandwich 5.10c R
- Dark Shadows 5.8
- Slot Machine 5.10
- Edge Dressing 5.10c
- Short Circuit 5.11b
- Excellent Adventure 5.11b R
- Risky Business 5.10c R
- Negro Blanco 5.10+ R
- Dream Safari 5.11- R
- Lost Voices 5.8 R