Friday, December 17, 2010

J-tree climbing adventures

I'll just tell a few tales of Joshua Tree climbing as I stare out the window at the rain...

So this is a climb I did on the last day that I really liked. It was challenging enough, ie not so challenging that I could crap in my pants. It had a lot of different styles of climbing in it. And it was really short, so we could do it in a short period of time and get out of there before the sun went down. (That's me at the top in the white.)


I'd prefer to do something like that than the slab climb my friend did:


This is a distance shot of M climbing. A beautiful route - I did not do it, but I will someday. Just a 5.4, but challenging.


At the end of one day my friends had gone to get a rope on Loose Lady. This is rated only 5.9, but boy is it heady. It's all bolted slab:

They happened upon someone just taking their rope down, so he pulled our rope up. We took turns climbing it as the sun went down and the wind picked up. It turned out I was the last to go. Talk about pressure as you know your belayer is stuck in the shade freezing his beehind off. And it's not an easy climb. Especially when the wind is howling. I was 2/3 of the way up and the sun went below the horizon. At the top, I was setting up my rappel with the wind whipping my hair around, freezing my beehind off, but going every so slowly to make sure I did not make a mistake. Apparently it was a nice sight, since I was photographed by strangers. I would have liked to see that photo.

OK, happy weekend everyone!

4 comments:

laura b. said...

I get a little drop in my stomach and the soles of my feet tingle when I look at your climbing photos. That is FEAR! I am so amazed that anyone does that!

crazy4coens said...

Amazing! You have a wonderful lively spirit. Not many people have the cajones to do what you do. I sure don't!

Churlita said...

Yeah/ those pics make me a little woozy too. I'm glad it was at least an interesting climb.

Mel said...

Absolutely gorgeous. I love Joshua Tree. I didn't wanna haffta leave--it was just too cool to wander though. (though I did not climb...LOL....I just wandered and walked!)

I have enough difficulties walking straight on flat ground. LOL TRUE!