Trip Report
Joshua Tree Rain Shortened Trip Report
Sunday March 2, 2014 12:27am
So, in an effort to supply more climbing content of my own, I decided to write up a short trip report of my recent trip to Joshua Tree, even though it really didn't have a ton of action and got shortened due to lots and lots of rain. I took a few pictures, and could give a little context.

It was my first time climbing in Joshua Tree, but I had been there before around nine years ago for some hiking and scrambling. Beautiful place, but holy sh#t there was a lot of RV's in the campground.
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this is in place to have a better photo as TR cover photo
this is in place to have a better photo as TR cover photo
Credit: kaholatingtong
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Credit: kaholatingtong
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There was also a few clouds rolling through with lots of wind.
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Credit: kaholatingtong
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Bacon is good before climbing and Rock Jocks Wall Rats and Hang Dogs was an excellent read that made me laugh out loud on occasion and it lasted being read about as long as this trip.
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Credit: kaholatingtong
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The first day there was beautiful, although incredibly windy.
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Credit: kaholatingtong
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I warmed up with doing a little toe jamming on the same, getting my first leads in outdoors in several months.

Next up we moved onto this thing.
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Credit: kaholatingtong
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Good times, leading the first pitch I already felt way more back in the grove, and slowly pulled the little barn door side pull step up while laughing cause the route was soo good and enjoyable.

The second pitch was super fun pulling the little 5.7 underhang overpass jug traverse, then the sloper mantle and then slab short finish. And then I sat down on top in wind gusting at perhaps over 35mph. Soo strong, that I could not hear my partner in the cave belay I had built below me, probably 30 feet away, directly. My partner was very short, and had a little trouble going the route I went, and after several tries had to take a different face traverse, the underhang overpass underpass, we were calling it, before coming to the top. Then we got to look at this.
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Credit: kaholatingtong
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And some rocks and stuff.
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Some of them had these rain holes I think they were. They probably filled up in the next day or two.
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This one was good for eating in cause it was soo damn windy. A few of the gusts threatened to knock me over when I was unroped. Yowser.
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Credit: kaholatingtong
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A very beautiful place, indeed.
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Credit: kaholatingtong
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As just a warmup and get used to Jtree day soo far it was going good but the day was quickly coming to a close. I considered one more route, but opted instead for scouting out Walk on THe Wild Sides approach for the next morning. We wanted to get it totaly scoped where exactly it was on the rock and everything so we could jump on it early before anyone else clogged it up.

I met a new friend on the way there. Cameras are bright.
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So that evening, since we wanted to be the first people on Walk on the Wild Side the next morning, and also wanted to get On
Right On
as well, we decided to go to bed early. Literally within minutes of laying down after fully preparing for bed a car pulled up for the camp sight next to ours, their lights shining directly onto and into my tent. They left these lights on for a little bit before they finished uppacking some of their stuff. I got the priveledge of listening to their conversations then as well as they built a fire of logs they brought, and also tried to collect locally, which they were not supposed to be doing, while wondering outloud about poisonous things. It was about this point I proceeded to smoke a large amount of cannabis in my tent and don my headphones with loud music, and not say anything, because it was still relatively early, before quiet hour, and my conflict resolution in these situations is very poor and I didn't need to pick a fight with a group of nineteen year olds.
After Several Hours they were still jabbering on loudly, right near quiet hour, very near my tent and I was getting frustrated. I needed to go pee but for some reason my headlamp had stopped working. I thought the battery had died, but I found out later it may juts be getting old and coming apart, and needed a little love. No matter. I didnt need my headlamp, just my music to ignore the idiots, and my keen night sight to do my business. I decided to give my neighbors the same treatment they seemed to be giving us, by completely ignoring them, so I wandered out to a bush, somewhere about fifteen feet from these strangers dropped my trousers and watered the plant. I couldn't hear what they were saying, because of my music or in this case, weren't saying because they were all quiet, staring at me with their flash lights. I totally ignored them, finished up, went back to my tent, and fell asleep listening to my music. while it was still only about quite hour. Jeeze, I must be getting old, but dunno if that's good. They left the camp sight very early the next morning, perhaps because it had begun to rain very heavily. I think.
Either way our trip ended up being over too because the rain continued heavily, and the forecast called for more of the same for several days. We never got to walk on the Wild Side or do anything else cool. Next time Joshua Tree.

P. S. I knew this sh#t was coming, but it still surprised me to see it. Or perhaps I don't spend enough time in the desert.
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Credit: kaholatingtong
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That's it, more to come, with more content next time, hope you like my whiskey induced trip report. Whiskey makes me wordy but fortunately I kept it somewhat brief.

  Trip Report Views: 1,792
kaholatingtong
About the Author
kaholatingtong is a trad climber from Nevada City.

Comments
this just in

climber
Justin Ross from North Fork
  Mar 2, 2014 - 12:40am PT
I did like your whiskey induced trip report and I'm sober. Thanks for that.
Cole

Trad climber
los angeles
  Mar 2, 2014 - 01:23am PT
Sweet, sweet original content. Good in any flavor. Thanks!
portent

Social climber
your mom's house
  Mar 2, 2014 - 12:24pm PT
After Several Hours they were still jabbering on loudly, right near quiet hour, very near my tent and I was getting frustrated.

You're at Josh man, 2 hours from L.A. What did you expect?

I've learned to expect this but just speak up if it's out of hand...

so I wandered out to a bush

and pee on the dirt not the bushes. The bushes have it hard enough and turning them into salt licks doesn't increase their chance of survival. ;)

Thanks for the TR and photo's, crazy how the wind can turn a beautiful day into a rest day...

-kovar
guyman

Social climber
Moorpark, CA.
  Mar 2, 2014 - 01:56pm PT
Nice TR.......

Walk on Wild Side is six grades harder when the wind is +35 mph...

And you should have pissed on the campfire, better effect ...

Ezra Ellis

Trad climber
North wet, and Da souf
  Mar 2, 2014 - 03:45pm PT
^^^^^^^ +1111;)
RyanD

climber
  Mar 2, 2014 - 06:04pm PT
I enjoyed reading this, thanks. JT is such a great place.
rlf

Trad climber
Josh, CA
  Mar 2, 2014 - 08:05pm PT
Ah yes, Josh weather can be a tad temperamental at times.
Darwin

Trad climber
Seattle, WA
  Mar 2, 2014 - 08:36pm PT
Nice TR. I wish there were a lot more like it.
seanboy

Trad climber
Highland Park, California,USA
  Mar 3, 2014 - 12:12am PT
fooking love josh...even with the kooks and the cools,,,,awesome....place....climb...more..

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