Category: Joshua Tree National Park

wild thing, you make my fingers sing

My fingers are crying. They’ve been in pain all week from last weekend’s Joshua Tree excursion. And I’ll be returning to JTree today. I’ve left a project there: Desert Shield. This will be the first time I make the three hour drive two weekends in a row, so I’m hoping for some magic. Realistically though,… Continue reading wild thing, you make my fingers sing

opportunities for growth

Me peeling off Desert Shield. Micah getting all introspective on a high-ball in the Hall of Horrors Area. Another personal growth opportunity on Shakin’ Hands With the Unemployed. Justin on Satanic Mechanic. “It’s only after we’ve lost everything that we’re free to do anything.” – Chuck Palahniuk Tyler Durden would crank at Joshua Tree. Don’t… Continue reading opportunities for growth

from climbing hell to heaven

Friday had me traveling from my mom’s place in Washington to Joshua Tree for some winter radness. Climbing in the cold is rad. And cold it was – thirties and forties during the day. Sunny though, and little wind, so a well-insulated belayer can pull on crisp crystals and hopefully achieve some progress on otherwise… Continue reading from climbing hell to heaven

it’ll be a cold day in Joshua Tree

Joshua Tree got groped by Jason, Marcela and me last weekend. Temps were a tad on the chilly side, around 40-ish, and the wind brought some ferociousness. Marcela’s tent got shredded the first night, but fortunately it snowed the next evening. My companions weren’t super psyched. I got on Desert Shield and a couple head… Continue reading it’ll be a cold day in Joshua Tree

Joshua Tree was crisp and good

I like Joshua Tree. Who knew? Gritty, crumbling granite slabs in the high desert of inland California… sounds like hell, right? In some ways it is. There’s just something about the bold leads, perpetually good weather, infinite rock and gnarled old-school locals that make the park characteristically classic. My formative climbing years were spent in… Continue reading Joshua Tree was crisp and good

J-Trizzle

I spent the Memorial Day weekend at Joshua Tree. It was good. The weather was unseasonably cool, making conditions unusually comfortable. It’s been like 12 years since I was in the park. The group was a bunch of trad climbers… and me. I don’t trad climb. Ever. I think it’s stupid. But whatever, I gave… Continue reading J-Trizzle