After departing Overton, we drove to Joshua Tree California. We'd be stay here for about a week. As soon as we arrived, Dave launched out the door to solo a few things and get some quick snapshots. This first photo is a pretty classic J-Tree scene.
He topped out on a formation to watch the sunset.
The next morning, we headed out to do some classics. The weather was awesome! Here I am heading up Toe Jam. This climb is usually packed, but there wasn't a climber anywhere to be found. We took advantage of this to do other climbs that are usually occupied.
At this point, all other climb names will have escaped me. Hopefully Dave can come in and back-fill. Dave is heading up something here...again, nice weather!
Much of the climbing we did were on climbs he'd not done before. The new J-Tree guidebook was pretty useful for this.
Dave psyches out and mentally dominating the next climb. This is such a classic Dave photo!
One day, Susan Peplow headed out with us. Greg Opland was with us too. Here is Susan following Dave's lead up Spiderman. It was quite a climb.
We spent some time at a wall that was 100% new to Dave. Made for some nice photo ops.
Just pretend there is a hold and stand up on it!
Fun day out with Susan, Greg Opland and Dave!
I think this was the last climb of the Day. It was a doozy a bit higher!
Susan, Greg and Callie posing. :)
Callie belaying Dave on a nearly impossible move!
This particular morning, Rick Accamazzo joined Greg, Dave and I. Good times. Rick had to blast a bit early for some family events.
At the end of one day, Greg, Dave and I sat atop Intersection Rock to enjoy the views and weather.
Greg celebrates dirtbag style!
Fun!
Dave is stressing about work. Oh wait, no he's not!
Dave points to the famous 'Space Station.'
On top of Intersection Rock. We met here in 2007 (already 7 years ago!)
One day, Susan and I headed to New Jack City where we had a blast climbing. We failed to take even one photo unfortunately.
Meanwhile, Dave and Greg hiked (and hiked and hiked) to Queen Mountain to get on some nice climbs. It was long, hot and thrashy I heard.
Even Dave saw the hike that was before them.
Hiking....
Hiking and more hiking
Finally, the arrive at a climb...
First things first though...
The next day, Dave and I headed out. It was cooler and really windy, still we found a protected area (at least it was protected from the wind for a while).
Climbing...
Dave hanging out at the base.
More climbing
More...
Frictiony fun! Ha! I said friction is fun! Haha!
We all hung out in the Fish Compound afterward
Lot of shite-talking here
Dave helping out. :)
Russ and Dave. Susan was there too. She managed to avoid getting in any photo though.
Nora was not camera shy.
I completely managed to not get photos of our sidetrip to Morongo Valley to bird. Steve Wolfe came up and met us with a couple of his birding friends. This is such a great birding spot. We also headed over to White-Water Refuge. It was bone dry so it wasn't super birdy. Still it was fun.
I continue our list of new birds for the trip since we left Overton:
Pigeon
Lesser Goldfinch
Juniper Titmouse
Violet-Green Swallow
Rock Wren
Black-Throated Sparrow
Says Phoebe
Cactus Wren
Pinyon Jay
White-Throated Swift
Junco
Scott's Oriole
Canyon Wren
Allen's Hummingbird
Starling
Anna's Hummingbird
Western Bluebird
Bustit
Kestral
Nuttal's Woodpecker
Hooded Oriole
Mtn. Chickadee
Western Kingbird
Western Scrub Jay
Common Yellow-Throat
Warbling Vireo
Bewick's Wren
Orange Crowned Warbler
Cedar Waxwing
California Towhee
Calliope Hummingbird
Common Goldeneye
Robin
Ash-Throated Flycatcher
Sharp Shinned Hawk
Vermillion Flycatcher
Raven
