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Human Sacrifice Boulder

California > Joshua Tree NP > Queen Valley Area > Geology Tour Rd > Virgin Islands Area
Warning Access Issue: Climbing Regulations/Seasonal Raptor Closures DetailsDrop down

Description

This large block, with it's distinctive and overhanging south face, sits high atop a rubble pile with a somewhat level shelf beneath it providing a convenient spot to drop the packs.

Four known routes are found here, including two of Joshua Tree's more classic sport routes - Dictators of Anarchy (aka The Skinhead Arete) (5.12c) which takes a striking line up the sharp southwest arete and New World Order (5.13) which heads directly up the swell of the impressive south face. The burly and steep crack of Human Sacrifice (5.11c) is found on the southeast face while the northwest face houses the runout Defenders of the Farce (5.10a R) which also happens to be the easiest route to the summit.

Getting There

Walk east passing the Volcano Boulder to this formation, an obvious square block with a overhung south face which resembles a breaking wave.

 The easiest way to the formation is a bit tricky - walk along the rubble pile until you reach a house size boulder down low which has split into two, skirting it on it's east (right) side and then continue uphill past it heading right, with minimal scrambling, until just beneath the formation where an easy but exposed scramble will get you to the base.

Should you nail the approach you'll do very little scrambling and boulder hopping but if not you'll end up marooned between massive blocks with huge drop-offs which will slow you down considerably. 

  • The approach takes about 20-60 minutes from the road depending upon the path taken.

Routes from Left to Right

5.13c 8a+ 30 X- 31 E7 7a
 2
New World Order
Sport
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 2
Human Sacrifice
Trad
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
New World Order
 2
5.13c 8a+ 30 X- 31 E7 7a Sport
Human Sacrifice
 2
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Trad

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Mari Gingery on Dictators of Anarchy aka Skinhead Arete.  Photo credit M. Gingery
[Hide Photo] Mari Gingery on Dictators of Anarchy aka Skinhead Arete. Photo credit M. Gingery
Human Sacrifice Boulder, Joshua Tree NP<br>
<br>
A. Defenders of the Farce (5.10a R)<br>
B. Dictators of Anarchy (aka The Skinhead Arete) (5.12c)<br>
C. New World Order (5.13b A0)<br>
D. Human Sacrifice (5.11c)
[Hide Photo] Human Sacrifice Boulder, Joshua Tree NP A. Defenders of the Farce (5.10a R) B. Dictators of Anarchy (aka The Skinhead Arete) (5.12c) C. New World Order (5.13b A0) D. Human Sacrifice (5.11c)
The landmark Human Sacrifice Boulder, Joshua Tree NP
[Hide Photo] The landmark Human Sacrifice Boulder, Joshua Tree NP
The obvious crack is Human Sacrifice (5.11c), Joshua Tree NP
[Hide Photo] The obvious crack is Human Sacrifice (5.11c), Joshua Tree NP
Looking up at the Human Sacrifice Boulder, Joshua Tree NP
[Hide Photo] Looking up at the Human Sacrifice Boulder, Joshua Tree NP
Human Sacrifice Boulder, Joshua Tree NP
[Hide Photo] Human Sacrifice Boulder, Joshua Tree NP