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Joshua Tree Christmas Rock! · Wed. Dec. 17th, 2014 - Sun. Jan. 4th, 2015

Warning: This is an old trip - it already happened

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Organized by: Todd MacKenzie.

Start: Wednesday, Dec. 17th
End: Sunday, Jan. 4th

Description:

Don't know how to lead ice?  Screaming barfies sound unpleasant? How about camping at -30C or insane amounts of morning faff?  Come to the mecca of winter trad climbing instead and enjoy belaying in the warm desert sun with climbing literally within your campsite.  The following description from climbing.about.com should help sway your interest:

"Joshua Tree is, along with Hueco Tanks in Texas, one of the best winter rock climbing areas in the country. The weather here is generally mild and sunny for much of the winter with only occasional snatches of snow, which almost never sticks. Climbers flock like snowbirds in the winter month to bask in Joshua Tree’s reliably winter sunshine. The park is rain-free an average of 358 days a year and the sun shines almost every day."

Depending on drivers and available free time, people can come and go as they please.  The good campgrounds fill up on weekends, so try to arrive mid-week.  Note that this trip is not instructional and you should be self sufficient.  The climbing is almost entirely traditional and top roping usually requires trad gear anchors or someone to lead the route for you (only climbs without a walk-off or natural protection have bolts on top).  The nights will be cold, so make sure your sleeping bag is adequate.  We'll choose a campground with climbing within walking distance, so morning faff won't be an issue.  Make sure to bring lots of tape as the rock is very abrasive.

No pre-trip meeting.  Organizing rides and partners should be done here or by email.

Campground:  We will try to get spots at Hidden Valley Campground.  This is THE climbing campground with 500+ routes within walking distance and costs $10 per night, but that can be split up to 6 ways, so it will be cheap.  If this campground is full, the next best spot is at Idian Cove.

Posted: 2014-10-21 13:15:59
Last modified: 2014-10-28 13:34:44