Joshua Tree National Park 2017, California - Day 4

Shaka from the top of Intersection Rock, Joshua Tree National Park

Amazing first day with Seth Pettit of Mojave Guides!!  My climbing goals for this trip is to learn how to climb Crack using hand, finger and toe jamming! Today I got to learn all this and, I have to admit, it was very intimidating. But I slowly got the hang of jamming hands and/or fingers and stepping my feet up. I got to climb and practice these new skills on 7 pitches. Oh, the rock friction here is beautiful - just so, so sticky! Enjoy a some photos taken of my day.

I met up with Seth at the Joshua Tree NP Visitor Center in the morning and after a quick check of gear, we headed to the Trashcan Rock at Quail Springs. His girlfriend Simone (Education Tech with JTNP) dropped by with Bernadette, the only climbing ranger at JTNP. We chatted for a bit and Bernadette said she used to live in NH and had climbed at Whitehorse and Cathedral Ledges!

Seth taught me how to wrap my hands in climbers tape, and then showed me some  hand and finger jams.

In addition, Seth taught me to lead belay using the "pistol grip" of the Grigri 2 and he also showed me how to set up the Grigri 2 in "guide mode" for top belaying.

He also pointed out some different features on the rock. Like these "dishes".

On the West face, I followed Seth up B-3 (5.3), jamming my hands and feet whenever I had the opportunity. Top rope was set up on B-1 (5.1) so I could get 2 laps in, again jamming my hands and feet whenever I could. 

Then I got to finish off with climbing Tip Toe (5.7) on top rope, a really nice face climb up a thin dike between B-1 and B-2. 

We took a break for lunch in the picnic area of Hidden Valley. After lunch, I followed Seth up Easy Day (5.4) on the east face of Turtle Rock. This is the route that has that little crack that I jammed my fingers and then my toes into. And that little crack has really good constriction...I ain't gonna lie, it was painful until I climbed up past that little crack.











Across the street, I followed Seth up Upper Right Ski Track (5.3)  on the North Face of Intersection Rock. That was a super fun, super easy climb! I just followed the curving crack up and around. And again, I jammed my hands whenever I had the chance. 

The start of URST

Cleaning URST

At the top of Intersection Rock

The Old Woman from Intersection Rock

From the top, we rappelled 2 pitches down the south side and I climbed the first pitch of Mike's Books (5.6). I started on the Direct Start and it was tough. I had a tough time getting my hands and feet to stay jammed in the crack. The sides of the crack flared and made it awkward to get my shoulders and hips into it as much as I could. At one point I had my left knee jammed into the crack but it slipped out. I ended up pulling on a piece to get up to the ledge. Later Seth explained what I could have done to make it less awkward for my shoulders and hips.

From the ledge up was easy. The climb on this section is pretty sweet! 

Overall, the weather was just beautiful, it was such a fun day of learning new climbing skills and it was such a great experience to climb in Joshua Tree NP! Thanks so much Seth and Mojave Guides! Looking forward to Day 2!

Joshua Tree National Park 2017, California - Day 3

What an AMAZING day! My second day desert hiking and I spent it with the Hi-Desert Hiking Club, a meetup group based in Yucca Valley, CA. I signed up for today's hike which is "off-trail" in Joshua Tree National Park. Tim hosted this event and it was fantastic! The plant life throughout the desert is just mind blowing and beautiful! Throughout our hike, we had cool, gentle breezes. I also prepared for this hike a bit differently than yesterdays solo hikes. I wore shorts for my hikes yesterday and my legs were all sandy and dirty. I also needed to change out my baseball hat and wear something that covered the back of my neck. I wore pants for today's hike and it kept the sand and dirt off my skin. It also helped to protect my skin when brushing up against the plant life...which was often, especially being off-trail. And I bought a wide-brimmed hat, (as well as climber's tape) at Nomad Ventures. 

Today's loop hike is rated moderate, with a 300 feet elevation gain, and 4/5 miles round trip. We began hiking through an area of many creosote bushes and barrel cactus. We continued up a narrow dry creek with Yuccas and California Junipers. Our hike took us along the Window Rock Loop trail for about half a mile. At the half way point of our hike, we lunched at 4,130 feet among a gorgeous, golden brown area of large granite formations. Enjoy some photos of our hike.

Joshua Tree National Park 2017, California - Day 2

Yes, my very first experience at "desert hiking"...woot! Today I did some "on-trail" solo hiking and drove through the park from the west entrance to the north entrance. At the Visitor Center in Joshua Tree, I spoke with a park ranger who highlighted spots on a map that I wanted to check out. He also recommended I drive through the park from the west entrance to the north entrance. So glad I did....it was such a gorgeous day! The west entrance is 10 miles from the visitor center and I purchased a 7-day vehicle pass for $25. Enjoy some photos I took of my day.

Trashcan Rock at Quail Springs

This spot was starting to get busy with climbers

Solo hiking the Hidden Valley Trail



Turtle Rock 
This area is opposite of the Hidden Valley Trailhead
You can see a school of climbers in the lower left

Echo Rock

On my way to the Barker Dam trailhead, I passed this beautiful slab!

You can see some climbers on the right!

Solo hiking the Barker Dam Trail

On my way out of the Barker Dam trailhead area I took a drive through the Hidden

Valley Campground. Super cool and would definitely camp here if I were with a

group. The rock formations surrounding this campsite were full of climbers!

Cap Rock

Thought I'd find this area busy today

Oyster Bar area

Skull Rock

Bald Knob - Solo Hiking

Pano photo of Lake Winnipesaukee from Bald Knob

Bald Knob (1,801 ft)
Trails: Turtleback Mtn & Bald Knob
Mileage: approx 6.5 miles
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate

What a great day for a hike! Didn't realize there was another trail to Bald Knob until I met Larry DeGeorge at the trailhead. He said there is another trailhead along route 171. It's unmarked and on private property, but hikers are allowed to use it. Next time I'll try that way! The trails were muddy and slushy, especially on the hike down. I didn't bring snowshoes, as I didn't think I needed them. I did pack microspikes but didn't need those as well. Enjoy some photos taken along my hike.

Leprechaun's Lement (WI2-3) - Ice Climbing

Pano photo left to right: LL gully, LL slab. Hanging By A Moment

Leprechaun's Lement (WI2-3)
Kinsman Notch, North Woodstock, NH

The last of this season ice climbing for me....so I was glad I got to get in one lead. Like the past weekend at Arethusa Falls and weekend before that at Waterfall, we had the ice all to ourselves today. Overcast skies were sure promising and when we got to the base of Leprechaun's Lement, we were glad it was in the shade. For the most part, the slab was clear of snow. (below the base of LL lay the snow that had slid of the LL slab). 

John led the Leprechaun's Lement Gully, then we rapped down into the vertical section of the slab where we did a couple of laps. We also did a couple of laps on the Hanging By A Moment. And finally, in the late afternoon, I led the Leprechaun's Lement Slab. I led the center since I had only led the left hand side of the slab. The ice on the first half of the route was really still good. But by that time the clouds lifted and the sun had shown through baking the top half of the route. And after the half way point, the ice was just pure shitty. So I only placed pro up to the half way point and ran it out to the tree anchor. I could've put one more piece of pro in if I just scraped the shitty ice off of the top layer. But the grade was easy, I felt good, calm and not pumped and made sure all my sticks and feet were solid. Enjoy some photos taken of our day at Kinsman Notch.

Arethusa Falls (WI3-4) - Ice Climbing

Pano photo of Arethusa Falls

Arethusa Falls (WI3-4)
Crawford Notch, NH

Beautiful bluebird day for some spring ice climbing! John and I checked out Walk In The Forest and it wasn't looking good. Most of it was in full sun and looking really baked (scary). I suggested we check out Arethusa Falls so we back-tracked along the railroad tracks and headed up the Arethusa Falls Trail. The 1.5 mile trail was well-packed and there were some hikers already coming down. They confirmed solid ice and no flowing water like John and Phil had encountered couple weeks prior. Like Waterfall (WI3) the week before, we had the falls all to ourselves. But there were many photographers, hikers and their dogs who came to the falls while we were climbing. John did a fantastic job leading up the left-center. At the start the ice was solid. But at the middle there was a lot of snow and about 3/4 way the ice was pretty bad, but under it was solid. The flowing water in the center definitely caught my attention. At the top and off to the right, is a tree with a large red webbing  around it. John set up anchor and we rapped down from here. 

Great job sending Arethusa Falls John and thanks for another mellow day of ice climbing!

Waterfall (WI3) - Ice Climbing

Waterfall (WI3)
Frankenstein Cliffs, Crawford Notch, NH

Great conditions, mild temps, no wind makes for a great climbing the last day of winter! John and I climbed the Waterfall route - had this area all to ourselves. Mellow day of climbing for sure!

Left Hand Monkey Wrench (WI3) - Ice Climbing

Got to the base of the Left-Hand Monkey Wrench and I started up the ice. 
I hadn't even put my first piece in yet when my belayer kept asking me if I knew what I was doing. 
From then on I didn't want to even be there climbing with her. 
Near the top of Left-Hand Monkey Wrench, I stopped and made the decision to back off.
So I downclimbed while removing my pro.
I'm so glad I quit when I did.
Better safe than sorry!

Lesson learned!
Having a lead belayer who starts doubting you (out loud) as you're climbing, is no fun to climb with - it also says a lot about their own lack of confidence. Before I go out on a climb, especially a multi-pitch climb, I always make sure I'd be comfortable on that grade and with that climber. If not, I don't go. And if I'm leading, I always ask my belayer if they are comfortable lead belaying me on a climb. If not, I don't go.

Leprechaun's Lement Gully (WI2) - Ice Climbing

Leprechaun's Lement Gully (WI2)

Thanks for the belay, Ken!

Usually when I shut off my truck engine, the headlamps automatically turn off. But not today. Had to make a trip back down to the parking lot to turn them off. If you ice climb at Kinsman Notch, you know that very steep approach well. Great warmup hiking the approach twice, fer sure. But would have rather spent the warmup actually climbing. But my truck - she started right up. ;)

Met Ken and Dominique for some mellow climbing at Kinsman Notch. Ken thought the ice might be thin from the thaw, but the conditions were really good!  I thought it would be crowded but we had the climbs all to ourselves. Counting the three of us, plus a solo climber, two parties of 2, and a guided group, there were 18 total at the crag today. At one point we even left our rope hanging on the Leprechaun's Lement route and went to check out The Beast. Enjoy a few photos taken of our day.

Dominique on Leprechaun's Lement (left) and Hanging By A Moment (right).

Ken on Hanging By A Moment

This solo climber made his way up Hanging By A Moment. He climbed up to the trees, then rapped down. Then climbed back up to the trees on a solo belay.

Met Sharon and Don. Sharon is a new ice leader too! 
Look at her go! Yay Sharon!

We checked out The Beast - looking good!

From the base of The Beast

Leprechaun's Lement

Selfie