Joshua Tree, December 20-26, 2001

Marko and I spent a few cold, wonderfully fun days in Joshua Tree climbing beautiful cracks and sandpapery faces. Highlights included beating my bowling high score, spectacular climbing, and learning dirty phrases in Swahili. Lowlights included the freezing wind that made it too cold to climb some days and getting attacked by a cactus. It was a really fun trip. My brother David joined us for two days, and as we headed home we stopped by my parents' house in Claremont for some fabulous food and warm, sunny weather.

Day 1

The first night at JT it snowed, and the day was very cold. We climbed anyway, not knowing if it would get any warmer during our trip. Luckily, it did.

Marko's shadow on a boulder after climbing Mr. Misty Kiss, a short hand crack.

Amy rappels Mr. Misty Kiss.

Marko studies Dappled Mare, a two pitch climb we did next.

Day 2

Amy belaying and Marko climbing the Southwest Corner route on Headstone Rock. (Photo by ?, from Marko's camera.)

Marko.

Amy topping out on Headstone Rock after climbing the Southwest Corner. This rock is damn fun to climb.

Amy holding up Headstone Rock. The Southwest Corner route goes up the left side, and "Cryptic" goes up the arete on the right.

After a leisurely lunch of quesadillas, we hit the rocks again and climbed to classic cracks. Here is Marko leading the first one, "Double Cross." This crack was really amazing.

Marko studies the next route, "Dogleg."

Marko on "Dogleg."

Day 3

My brother David joined us on the third day, which also happened to be quite cold and windy. We hiked around and scrambled up boulder piles, enjoying the gorgeous scenery and bizarre rock formations at Joshua Tree. The balancing rocks are especially cool.

Amy on Geology Tour Road.

David.

David negotiates a chimney.

David and Marko holding up a rock.

David and Marko (and my shadow) on top of Mt. Ryan.

Marko finds a nice place to watch the sunset.

Sunset done, Marko finds a way down.

Day 4

Marko on "Sail Away." This super-fun, beautiful hand crack on Hidden Tower was in the shade on this cold blustery day but we wanted to climb it anyway, so we got on it despite freezing cold hands and noses.

Amy after climbing "Sail Away," with the shadow of Hidden Tower on the ground.

Marko at the top of Hidden Tower.

Marko on "Loose Lady."

Amy about to get on "Loose Lady."

Amy.

One of many spectacular Joshua Tree sunsets.

Day 5

Sorting gear at my parents' house in Claremont.

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