After months of anticipation, it was finally time to meet
A&M for a few days of climbing in Joshua Tree. We had a loud reunion at the
climbing shop (apologies to the hearing of the other folks in the store) then
headed into Yucca Valley for grocery shopping and dinner. Dollar Taco Night was
a delicious way to start the vacation.
After consuming a hearty breakfast, we met our guide Seth from Cliffhanger Guides to get the climbing day started. We began with three routes on the west face
of Sports Challenge Rock then got on two more routes on Turtle Rock before
lunch, a fine way to start the day. In other exciting Turtle Rock area news,
the bathrooms had a much less horrid odor coming from them than they did in
January when D, S and I climbed there. We climbed the three-pitch Wandering
Tortoise - a fun, easy route with a couple of
opportunities to get close to your climbing partners on belay and rappel
ledges, ending with a long rappel (close to the full length of a 60 rope) to
get back to the bottom. Our last route of the day took us back up the path we
just rappelled. The bad news was, it was long. The good news was, it got easier
as the route got higher. Unfortunately, it started with a fairly tough move for
short people, and I whacked my leg pretty good trying to get on – it was a
three bandaid repair job! Eventually, I got on and up.
All that climbing worked up a pretty stout appetite, so our
next stop was The Rib Co over in 29 Palms for burgers and peach cobbler a la
mode. Mmmm.
Wednesday was sent exploring the park, mainly by car, as the
temps pushed into the 80’s. We checked out various climbing and camping areas
and the visitor’s center in 29 Palms. We wanted to go to the Cholla Garden, but
the road was under maintenance, so we headed into town to so a little shopping
instead. Found a nice purple winter cap at Coyote Corner that I didn’t need
because a) it was 80 degrees outside and b) I have a ton of hats already, but
since none of them are purple, I bought it. I did not buy the “bear backpack,”
as even I have my limits, but my bear would be way cuter than your child in it :-)
We ate dinner at Pie for the People, where M gave her
approval to the NY-ness of their New York Style pizza.
Our first stop on Thursday morning wasSantana’s for the
California breakfast burrito, a delicious concoction of eggs, cheese, pico,
bacon, guac and, yes, French fries. (FYI, the guac is an add-on, but completely
worth it.) Fabulous. We made some purchases from the vending machines on our
way out.
Given the forecast, which called for sunny and highs into the
80’s, we decided to chase shade. Given that likely everyone else in the park
would have the same idea, we headed a bit off the beaten path, climbing three
routes in each of the Belle’s and Sheep’s Pass campground areas. Someone who
was staying or had recently stayed in the Sheep’s Pass campground decided to
leave the latrine better than she found it.
There was time for one last climb on our way out. (Chalk one
up for scheduling the trip during daylight savings time.) We scampered up The
Eye and took in the view before walking off the back.
After one last California breakfast burrito, I said goodbye
to A&M as they headed back to Chicago and I got on the road to head east to
meet D&S, who planned a last-minute trip to Horseshoe Canyon Ranch. Driving
roughly 1500 miles in three days isn’t exactly my idea of a good time, but it’s
worth it to climb with friends.
