Joshua Tree Day 2

After a relaxing evening at our beautiful JTree campground, David and Tandi have to head back to San Diego in the morning. So Keith and I are on our own for the day, and we decide to take on a two pitch route we scoped out from our campsite. It was about a two minute approach from our tent!

Overhang bypass (5.7) goes up the right side of this rock formation to the top.

Before they left, David and Tandi wished us well and snapped this picture of me near one of the park's namesakes.

As luck would have it, Keith scoped out the climb, there wasn't anyone else around, came back to get me, and when we arrived together there were already two parties ahead of us. Not a big deal, but one party was pretty slow and soon the shade we had hoped for on the climb was rapidly disappearing. Finally Keith led the first pitch (stopping midway to let the slow follower from party number 2 get past him), and then it was my turn to follow.

Me following pitch 1, lots of drive by photographers and gawkers around since its right by the camping area.

Me squinting in the sun, about to hit the shady part of the climb!

After finishing the first pitch, I arrived at the anchors and much to my dismay party number two was still there. They had tried to start pitch two and ran into a number of problems. Probably many of you know that I haven't learned to trust the gear completely yet. So I was a little freaked out by having to wait at the trad anchors for some time while party two got their act together (at first I didn't want to even look at the anchor, I was imagining in my head that I was bolted to the wall and I didn't want to break the illusion!). Keith calmly kept me in check and helped me gain some confidence, and I was ready for pitch two.

Keith at the belay waiting to lead the second pitch, and helping me calm my nerves! Thank you babe!

Pitch two was a fun hand traverse followed by a slabby topout. We then rappelled down to a boulder, scrambled back to the parking lot, and we were done. Despite the long wait to finish the climb it was a lot of fun. After drinking a beer and LOTS of water, we were ready to head back to San Diego. Tuesday is my last full day in San Diego, and I was ready for some serious beach time. Joshua Tree is such a wonderful place with beautiful rock, I can't wait to get back some day!