11_16 to 11_28_2012 On to Joshua Tree...Part 2

We arrived in J-Tree at the house of Felicia and Greg. Their place is really beautiful and we so appreciate being able to stay there and enjoy their company. We headed out in the warm weather looking to climbing something...anything... something fun. It was a bit crowded so our decision was based largely on what was not taken. We found these fun climbs that usually have many folks top-roping it into submission and hopped on. They were great fun.

We finished the evening by heading into the Space Station. It was great fun, but the approach and descent (i.e., don't fall or you will die) leave much to be desired. It's getting harder over time too. :)

Back at the house, Russ and Sooze came by. we stayed up late laughing and jawing. Great time!

The next day, we all headed into a new wall. It was a bit of a walk, but flat, and it was WARM. Yay warmth!

Off to Outer Mongolia for us!

We arrived to some super marginal (that is optimistic for sucky) climbs. And it was hot. Not much time would go by and we were all pretty cooked from the heat.

Nice to be in the pretty weather - but unbelievable that it was as hot as it was at the end of November.

Summit shot. :)

Greg and Felicia climbed next to us. Made for some fun perspectives.

Dave and I got up early one morning and drove to the San Jacinto Wildlife area. We had hoped to see some raptors. We saw a LOT of Northern Harriers (all female). Some friendly Say's Phoebes. Mallards. Some Red-Tails and Yellow-Rumps. But it was not very birdy.

Still it was a good time. Would love to get out there in a month or so to see the migration.

After another day of climbing, Dave climbed up to the space station (see him in there?) while I hung around in the parking lot. It was fun seeing him up there. Made me wish I was there.

We enjoyed a nice Thanksgiving dinner at the house with Greg, Felicia, Riley and Ginny. :)

Then out for more climbing the next day.

Dave found some incredibly feet-cruel warm ups. :)

And off he went.

Later Dave and Greg climbed the Northwest Overhang while Felicia and I watched and photographed from the ground. Fun to watch them and total freak people-watching.

Here Dave belays Greg up the last bit of the climb. Really fun perspective from where I sat.

Dave's self-portrait on top of Intersection Rock.

The next morning, our last day in the area, we drove to Morongo to meet Steve Wolfe and Jose for some birding. We knew it be light in terms of birds, but I think we were all psyched to be out together.

Great times!  We enjoyed a lunch at the local Cafe, then Dave and I started the long drive home. We stayed in Cedar City, UT on the way home at an excellent hotel (Crystal Inn). Highly recommended! Thanks to everyone who hosted us and hung out with us. It was an excellent break from what has been a very intense rat-race these days. Free Blog Counter