Fluffy rocks in the desert
Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2011 5:28 am
We have just completed an expedition in Joshua Tree for four short days and frigid nights, protected only by the lightest sleeping gear one can check in their luggage, and a Lexus with heated seats and a weak battery.
25F and howling winds pushed beyond the 'extreme' rating on my LaFuma Ultralight. An added feature of this bag is that you can watch the moon waxing through the bag!
Cryogenic entombment was staved off each morning by survival pancakes and/or fresh breakfast burritos, followed by a brisk death stroll or car shuttle to the other side of the campground. Each day we were able to enchain several boulderwands in the blinding sunshine without severe incident. Some of these magnificent death domes towered over a ropelength above the virtually Martian landscape.
On the second day, our party retreated to the village for firewood and a revitalizing Thom Kha (****).
Upon our return my party member became unchained, forgoing the safety of a roped belay. They needed to be subdued subsequently by several stuck small cams in succession in the frigid numbing shade of the Dairy Queen cliffs.
As the first world problems continued to mount, we exhausted the last of our fresh vegetables, hummus, and SD card storage. We escaped back into 3G range in time to relay desperately awaited word of our relative comfort.
We will make another attempt, perhaps in a year's time when the realities of outdoor climbing are softened by the salve of time...
25F and howling winds pushed beyond the 'extreme' rating on my LaFuma Ultralight. An added feature of this bag is that you can watch the moon waxing through the bag!
Cryogenic entombment was staved off each morning by survival pancakes and/or fresh breakfast burritos, followed by a brisk death stroll or car shuttle to the other side of the campground. Each day we were able to enchain several boulderwands in the blinding sunshine without severe incident. Some of these magnificent death domes towered over a ropelength above the virtually Martian landscape.
On the second day, our party retreated to the village for firewood and a revitalizing Thom Kha (****).
Upon our return my party member became unchained, forgoing the safety of a roped belay. They needed to be subdued subsequently by several stuck small cams in succession in the frigid numbing shade of the Dairy Queen cliffs.
As the first world problems continued to mount, we exhausted the last of our fresh vegetables, hummus, and SD card storage. We escaped back into 3G range in time to relay desperately awaited word of our relative comfort.
We will make another attempt, perhaps in a year's time when the realities of outdoor climbing are softened by the salve of time...