There are two faces to great climbing days: the daytime sport, and the evening obliteration. But however wild the evening festivities become, I can still remember the previous day of climbing due to either the soreness of my muscles, the disappearance of skin on my fingertips, or the vague memory of sitting atop a recently sent boulder problem.

The 2006 Rock Rodeo began on another lucid blue-sky day ripe for t-shirtless bouldering in Hueco Tanks State Park. Climbers jumped into impromptu cargo vehicles carrying passengers and their crashpads- reminiscent to that of the Beverly Hillbillies. 

After a brief registration hold up, competitors and spectators hiked out of the parking lots and began their day of climbing. Some areas on North Mountain were as crowded as a Boston subway station without the seriousness and impatience-though climbers could be seen showing frustration. But many areas were quieter with smaller groups of climbers looking only as serious as climbers can: lying on a crashpads, shoes halfway on, moving slowly in the late afternoon sun. Nonetheless, the day was full of consistent failures, successes, cuss words, excuses, and screaming.

The Rock Rodeo offers a unique competition environment. The schedule is not very rigid; the judges are not in your face with clipboards and fountain pens, but with crumpled sheets of paper and pens they stole from a gas station or library. Climbers have the freedom to choose from a variety of established bouldering problems to send for the competition. Unlike sterile indoor competitions, the spectator can choose to climb the boulder problems as well. 

The after party at Rob’s Rock Ranch proved to be a forgettable event (which of course suggests great atmosphere and plenty of alcoholic drinks). The faces of all the climbers reflected in the light of the massive bonfire were satiated and happy: the green chili burgers roasted our mouths pleasantly, the New Belgium beers and Red Bull Vodkas could have filled an arroyo, and the music continued as the stars hurdled the Texas desert.

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