It's coming on two years now since my last trip to Joshua Tree National Park. In fact, that was actually my first and only trip! I know... I know... how can I call myself a true climber when I live in Southern California and have only been to Joshua Tree once. Truthfully, I don't like the thought of it either. My trip to Joshua Tree was definitely the best rock climbing experience I have ever had. The amount of routes is unbelievable and each one offered something different. For those of you who have been to Joshua Tree, I'm sure you know exactly what I'm talking about. Of course, the incredible climbing is not all that Joshua Tree has to offer. The landscape is simply amazing and quite impressive. You're standing right in the middle of the high desert with huge rock formations surrounding you. All you have to do is take a few steps in any direction and you'll find something to climb.

I accomplished a lot while rock climbing at Joshua Tree. It allowed to me strengthen my skills and required me to adapt to different types of climbing. Two of my greatest achievements were climbing my first 5.10 and leading a 5.9. To my surprise, it only took me one attempt on both climbs to successfully reach the top. This was probably due to the fact that I was in my best "climbing shape" ever. Something tells me that if I head back there today, things would turn out a little differently. The picture on the right shows me climbing the 5.10 route. I remember the hardest part of this climb being the multiple overhanging sections. It took a few heel hooks and some pull ups to get myself to the top. An interesting part of this route is that the last 20 feet or so turns into a friction climb. I spent almost the entire climb with good edges and relatitively decent holds, but when I got to the top it was all smoothed out. This transition made for a very fun climb and was something I haven't experienced before. I think I climbed the route twice and then decided it was best to take a break and find something else. I wasn't used to such long and demanding climbs.

My first lead climb was unforgettable. I remember looking straight up the route and saying, "Where are the holds?!?!" Knowing me, there were probably some expletives involved in that statement as well. In the interest of keeping this family friendly, I won't take the time to try and remember my exact words. The entire route was a friction climb and if there was ever a time when you needed to trust your feet, this was it! There wasn't a single place to put your hands and at the beginning it really threw me off. I also realized how hard it was to place quickdraws when there's nothing to hold on to. The bolts were roughly 10-15 feet apart, which seemed like a lot to a person who was used to top roping. Fortunately for everyone else, I was able to setup a top rope so the rest of the group could climb without worry. Overall, the route was very rewarding and I look forward to climbing it again. I definitely learned a lot and truly realized how important it is to trust your feet and not worry about your hands.

My trip to Joshua Tree was simply amazing. The incredible routes and beautiful landscape made everything worth it. The only downside was the cold weather. I don't tolerate the cold very well and to me it was freezing! In the mornings I had to climb with two pairs of pants, an undershirt, a t-shirt, and a sweater. I don't think I really need to explain how much that limits your movement. The biggest issue I had was trying to keep my hands warm. Climbing on cold rocks with cold hands can be very painful, especially when the rocks are a sharp, crystal-like granite. The picture to the right explains it perfectly! I have so many wonderful memories from my trip to Joshua Tree and I can't wait to go back. Hopefully, I will be able to plan a trip for this winter.