cyberhobo

I keep thinking of this climb I want to do called Cast Up a Highway that is shady in the morning, but I’m feeling a little slow on the draw from the beer consumption last night. Ann is waiting for our email friend Karen to show up, and Ted wants to climb, so I suggest…

More hungry for rock than dinner, we head over to Chimney Rock to go up The Flue ( 5.8 ). I’ve backed off the start of this one on lead before, and I do it again now. The bottom 25 feet are not really protectable, on not very positive 5.8 moves. Watching Ted do it…

After a blissful lunch and siesta at the Hidden Valley Campground, I spot a nice looking face nearby in the shade. A flip through the guide reveals a well-protected 5.10b route called Papa Woolsey. Ted took one look at it and said, “so ya gonna lead it?” I felt like giving it a try. It…

Ted & I get up early, ready to get on some rock at Joshua Tree. I chew a piece of bread, pack up, and we head out. The main road is under construction, and we stop following the “follow me” truck, duck into a dirt pullout, and tromp off to get onto a popular route,…

Once again we had a good turnout of social climbers. Ann & me, Clare & Dennis, Walter, Randy, and Greg all popped up at Wagon Wheel in the front. Randy took a pretty good whack at the Trade Route right off, then Ann & I played on the crack on the other side. Ann took…

It must be the fall climbing season, because seven people showed up at Casa Java at 7 am to go to Alabama Hills! Me, Ann, Ted, Roy Boswell, Bud Gates, Clare Hupp, and Charlie Raff headed north to clip some bolts. Ann & I started off on a 150-foot 5.8 on The Loaf called Ranger…

Double Cross made me sweat for every inch. It’s a sweet hand crack with an overhanging bulge in the middle. With the added effort of protecting it, I had my hands full. It’s another “easy” redpoint that I feel proud of. Everybody else enjoyed it too, and I was proud of Ann for working the…