Hemingway Buttress

Steve Gerberding soloing "Dung Fu". Photo by Blitz...

Description 

Hemingway is the large rock closest to the main park road in the Lost Horse area. Most of the climbs are on the east side of the buttress, so it can be a nice place to climb when it's hot out. Lots of great climbs, and most are fairly steep with great holds. Favorites include White Lightning (5.7), Overseer (5.9), as well as a bunch of fun routes with "Poodle" in the name.

Getting There 

Hemingway is close the the intersection of the main park road and the Lost Horse road. Now that the NPS has redone the road, there's a parking area on the side of the main road labelled "Hemingway Rock." It's just east of the Lost Horse Road. Park there and head south, a couple hundred yards to the first large rock.

Descent 

Two bolted rap routes: one near the top of White Lightning requires two ropes, a 70m, or some down-scrambling at the bottom; the other is further west and gets you all the way down on a single rope.

The Classics

Featured Route For Hemingway Buttress

Scary Poodles 5.11b  CA : Joshua Tree National Park : ... : Hemingway Buttress (East Fa...

The premiere route on the wall, this stellar line is classic Josh. Found in the center of the formation, this lies just right of a chimney and is identified by left- slanting thin cracks in brown rock. The moves aren't that difficult, but the trick is hanging out long enough to wiggle the gear in. A pin protects the lower crux, although there is another tricky section just below the top. Mostly face climbing with gear, this is like an advanced ...[more]   Browse More Classics in CA

Photos of Hemingway Buttress Slideshow

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BETA PHOTO: Hemingway Buttress. From L to R: "Dung Fu", "White...	New climbing sign at Hemingway parking. Photo by B...	Hemingway Wall from the Parking Lot
Hemingway Buttress. Photo by Blitzo.	Approaching darkness, JTNP.	Display at the Hemingway parking lot, JTNP.
Looking out to the road from Hemingway