Joshua Tree - MLK weekend 2012
January 14-16th, 2012
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Great weather (in the 60's F), but 40mph winds on Monday made it very cold (and Sunday was also a bit overcast/breezy). Flew to LAX + rented a car this time. 3 visits to Crossroads Cafe in a 24 hour window :) Pretty much zero other climbers on our routes!

Day 1: Pope's Crack, Touch and Go, Effigy Too, O'Kelley's crack
Day 2: Dangling Woo Li Master, Sanctuary (TR), Double Cross, Route 499 (TR)
Day 3: Bird of Fire, Loose Lady, Frosty Cone (by accident while looking for Taxman)

  Starting Pope's crack, a classic Joshua Tree 5.9  
  Starting Pope's crack, a classic Joshua Tree 5.9

  On top of Pope's Crack  
  On top of Pope's Crack

  Touch and Go, another awesome climb nearby  
  Touch and Go, another awesome climb nearby

  Touch & Go! Effigy Too, 5.10a  
  Touch & Go! Effigy Too, 5.10a

  Short, but the start is stout On top of Effigy Wall Looking back at Effigy Wall  
  Short, but the start is stout On top of Effigy Wall Looking back at Effigy Wall

  Climbing up O'Kelley's crack, 5.10c (haha!) O'Kelley's overhangs the whole way  
  Climbing up O'Kelley's crack, 5.10c (haha!) O'Kelley's overhangs the whole way

  Resting after the amazing O'Kelley's crack! Hiking into the Wonderland of Rocks, beautiful Wonderland of Rocks  
  Resting after the amazing O'Kelley's crack! Hiking into the Wonderland of Rocks, beautiful Wonderland of Rocks

   
 

  Dangling Woo Li Master goes through the slot and climbs like a 3 dimensional climb! There are a couple of awkward moves to gain a jug on the left  
  Dangling Woo Li Master goes through the slot and climbs like a 3 dimensional climb! There are a couple of awkward moves to gain a jug on the left

  And then stemming is the name of the game Creative rests Airy!  
  And then stemming is the name of the game Creative rests Airy!

  Trying to be a Woo Li Master The route goes left here through a pleasant crack. For some reason, I decided to go straight up - mistake!  
  Trying to be a Woo Li Master The route goes left here through a pleasant crack. For some reason, I decided to go straight up - mistake!

  Offroute on a 1 pitch climb in Joshua Tree - embarrassing :) Apparently I'd rather a climb a wide flare Toproping Sanctuary - 5.10b  
  Offroute on a 1 pitch climb in Joshua Tree - embarrassing :) Apparently I'd rather a climb a wide flare Toproping Sanctuary - 5.10b

  Cool rock formations in the Wonderland of Rocks  
  Cool rock formations in the Wonderland of Rocks

  Not going to miss an opportunity to climb Double Cross, despite crazy winds Awesome climb Melissa starting Double Cross  
  Not going to miss an opportunity to climb Double Cross, despite crazy winds Awesome climb Melissa starting Double Cross

  We lost the sun! Temperature is dropping... Toproping the 5.11b underneath  
  We lost the sun! Temperature is dropping... Toproping the 5.11b underneath

  The crux moves. It would be a spooky lead for sure... pro is sparse At the base of Bird of Fire, wishing for the sun - but at least sheltered from the wind! Starting Bird of Fire. Some non-trivial moves off the deck with no gear..  
  The crux moves. It would be a spooky lead for sure... pro is sparse At the base of Bird of Fire, wishing for the sun - but at least sheltered from the wind! Starting Bird of Fire. Some non-trivial moves off the deck with no gear..

  Established in the crack. It becomes overhanging at the lip, cool! Nearing the crux  
  Established in the crack. It becomes overhanging at the lip, cool! Nearing the crux

  A couple of handjams away from the top  
  A couple of handjams away from the top

  On top of Bird of Fire, photo thanks to a couple of friendly folks! Melissa on the start  
  On top of Bird of Fire, photo thanks to a couple of friendly folks! Melissa on the start

  Peakaboo Rubicon - another time (we hoped to do it, but it was brutally windy + chilly)  
  Peakaboo Rubicon - another time (we hoped to do it, but it was brutally windy + chilly)

  Houser Buttress 40mph winds today - but it's relatively sheltered at the belay, so can't be too bad? Higher up, battling the 40mph gusts of wind - whoohoo!  
  Houser Buttress 40mph winds today - but it's relatively sheltered at the belay, so can't be too bad? Higher up, battling the 40mph gusts of wind - whoohoo!

  Houser Buttress - Loose Lady (due to some flexing/suspect holds :)) The most bolted climb in Joshua Tree probably! The winds are much higher up there!  
  Houser Buttress - Loose Lady (due to some flexing/suspect holds :)) The most bolted climb in Joshua Tree probably! The winds are much higher up there!

  We thought this was Taxman, but it's not - we were on the Dairy Queen Wall, not the IRS Wall :) A fun climb, but not 5.10a - turned out to be an easy 5.7 indeed :)  
  We thought this was Taxman, but it's not - we were on the Dairy Queen Wall, not the IRS Wall :) A fun climb, but not 5.10a - turned out to be an easy 5.7 indeed :)

  We're not in the right spot, but might as well keep climbing At the top Sun is setting...  
  We're not in the right spot, but might as well keep climbing At the top Sun is setting...

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