Joshua Tree -- March 27th, 2006

• A Timber Bandit Tale by Cho
• Jump to: trip gallery
• Posted:04-04-06 @ 06:01:35
• Updated:04-04-06 @ 05:08:55

OK, as a trip log, this one may be wimpy compared to the epics written here. But I figured I haven't contributed, like, anything to this site. so this is it kids...

I finally made my way back to JTree with my niece Grace in tow for her inaugural outdoor bouldering trip. The park was packed so camping was unavailable. Luckily, my other niece Vivian lives in Yucca Valley, just 15 minutes from the west entrance of the park.

My nemesis.

On our first day in the park, we attempted an eight mile trail called the Lost Palms Oasis. It was a beautiful, dry and windy desert day that seemed to escape us, and so were unable to complete the hike. Alas, the palms remain lost.

On the second day, Grace and I struck out on our own in search of some mild bouldering and the site of my dumbest "I'm in denial" moment ever. In my dazed and confused state of my last climbing trip to JTree over two years ago, I had forgotten where it was I oh-so-tragically fell. But armed with info from Damo, I was able to track down the crack that nearly ended my life (don't begrudge me my dramatic license - I've earned it). Needless to say, I was very disappointed to see that it wasn't nearly as high as my memory had mislead me to believe. Clearly, I thought the route was like, forty feet high, when really, it's like, 10 feet high. I felt a little less depressed when I saw hownarrow the crack is. I could definitely see why I lost my footing at the top of the climb. I did the first few moves but my ears were ringing with Damo's admonition against avenging myself without my spotting entourage, so I stayed firmly on, or near the ground.

After marvelling at the thinness of the crack, we took a look at the big dish on the left of the boulder. Without a proper spotting crew, I just putzed around on it. Another climber took a try at it and climbed it without hesitation in his street shoes. When I asked him what it was rated, he told me 5.8. 5.8?! I was struggling on a 5.8?! Yeah, I was awashed in Bandit shame.

We then headed over to Ryan Campground per Damo's suggestion, but were distracted by the Hall of Horrors. With a name like that, we figured this must be, like, the greatest place ever. We spent the afternoon playing around on a couple of easy 5.8's out there. We didn't have too much time to explore anything beyond a boulder or two since we had a date with the outlet shopping. Ahhhh, to be girl...

This being the first time outdoors for Grace, it was a groundbreaking experience. She wondered why anyone in their right mind would ever climb at a stinky old gym when climbing outdoors is clearly a far superior experience. I had to concur as all Bandits I'm sure would. All in all, I'd say it was a pretty damn fine trip. Is there such a thing as bad trip to JTree? Oh wait...