Christmas at Joshua Tree 2007

Xmas at JT, the best present money can't buy

Thanks to Austin for taking some of the best pictures, he seems to know my camera better than I do.

Austin and Brett at Quail Spring Picnic area

Brett and Austin at Quail Springs picnic area

Bat Crack Jessica and Tucker

Tucker following Bat Crack, 5.5 in the twilight.Tucker is a piano tuner from Portland and plays a mean blues guitar. We met Tucker, Amy and Jessica in the last 4 days of our trip.

Jessica finishing Bat Crack. In the evening at the parties around the campfires, Jessica and I played duets; she on the violin, me on the harmonica. I'd never seriously played with a violinist before but Jessica converted me. We made beautiful music together.

If only all climbs ended this way, Tucker and Jessica in the twilight on Intersection rock.

Cars leaving at sunset from Intersection rock.

After rapping off in the dark, we posed for pictures. Jessica, Amy, Tucker and me. I beleive the distortion in this photo is smoke from the campfire

Richard pointing at something in the morning. Note the water bottles. There is no water or electricity at Joshua Tree, though town is just 14 miles away.

Morning mist over the campground

Me belaying Brett right before he took a big whipper.

Brett taking a 15 foot whipper off North Overhang on Intersection Rock 5.9 He hit the deck, or, at least the belay ledge but didn’t get hurt as I caught him right as he decked. Very scary fall on an exposed move 100 feet up. Photography by Austin who was standing on a ledge below.

Sunset on Intersection Rock walk off

Me following Brett up Pinched Rib.

Amy following a 5.7 at Quail Springs

Austin’s first 5.7 lead at echo rock

Austin at Echo Rock

Me warming up for Bearded Cabbage, I need to do more pullups before trying to repeat routes I did in my twenties.

Austin trying Bearded Cabbage.

Brett and Austin in the Iron Door cave near the hidden valley campground. A retarded son was locked in here back in the 1930’s.

This was a very strong door, and an erie place to hang out, full of bad vibes.

Me on the infamous Watershute route, 5.10b. The first 10 inches took 40 minutes of work and involved a double elbow lock and a 30 foot runout…what was I thinking?!

Brett on the gunsmoke traverse.

Brett leading Dappled Mare, 5.8 at lost horse wall.

Austin and Jessica trying out New Years eve party clothes in town.

Amy and Jessica writing down things they want to burn on the "burning man"

Amy writing writing something she wants to burn on the burning man

The burning man crowd, Austin’s idea turned into a crowd magnet.

Getting the Burning Man ready to burn. Not sure how I got these double exposures but it may have involved a slow exposure, a flash and a headlamp.

Once word got around that Austin had put up a real burning man, the crowds gathered fast. We even had two drummers show up for the festivities. The drummers were our next door neighbors. They had been drumming for 10 years and were awesome.

The gasoline starts to catch fire

I’m not sure at what point this burning thing got crazy, but suddenly the drums were throbbing in our brains and people started dancing around the burning man, whooping, hollering, and having a grand old time, Joshua Tree style.

It got louder and crazier until two rangers showed up and busted the party. They said our fire was too big, and no more than 6 people per site. What, did they think we were going to start a revolution?

This is new years eve, round 11:30. There were 5 drums, a guitarist, a flute and wooden spoons. I need to get out more, I had no idea people still partied this hard. Being one of, if not the oldest, guy there, I had trouble letting my hair down as much as these young people, but it was fun being there and taking pictures...lots of good vibes. Climbers are friendly people!

Party down.

Group shot before we started the 22 hour drive home. Not counting food, we spent $158 each for our 18 day trip, and that includes gas for the van ($477 round trip, 17mpg, $3.40 gal.) and camping fees.