What to expect for the first time in j tree?
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I'm headed to Joshua tree for the first time in October is their anything I should know before I go? How are the climbs? Gear? Camping? etc? |
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It's a LARGE area. Some of the crags are not that easy to find. Maybe these days with GPS things are easier, but we found it really easy to "wander in the wilderness". |
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expect a sun burn, bloody hands and fingers, "runouts", and people packed in like sardines |
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It has been a National Park since 1994, and there are indeed more people than ever visiting from all over. Camping is a huge pain these days, and lots of people end up backcountry camping by parking at Boy Scout Trail and hiking out a mile. Unfortunately, many folks don't bother hiking more than a couple hundred feet and they leave all kinds of trash behind. Don't do that. |
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Typically October is pretty dreamy. Like @Robert said, It can be very warm it can be unseasonably cold. High winds are normal but you can almost always find the right sun/shade/wind protection you want. |
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Hobo Greg wrote: I agree that it's on you if you get hopelessly lost, but it definitely happens: https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/local/2018/05/26/new-zealand-hiker-missing-few-days-joshua-tree-found-hurt-alive/647365002/http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-joshua-tree-hike-couple-20171024-story.html https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/03/22/magazine/voyages-joshua-tree-lost-hiker.html http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-missing-couple-found-20161118-story.html |
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Robert Hall wrote: Is it? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low_D… |
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Xam wrote: It depends what part of the park you are in. Part is Mojave (high) desert, and part is Colorado (lower) desert. They each have their own ecosystems, and I believe Hidden Valley Loop is where they overlap. There’s some info about all of this on the signs around the loop. |
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I stand corrected. Having grown up in the CA high desert, we always referred to jtree as the low desert but now I know and knowing is half the battle. |
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Hobo is correct... the crest of the Little San Bernardino Mt. Is the geographical demarcation line separating Mojave from Sonora desert... but there is climbing right close to the Parks South entrance... Todd G has some of it posted... and just south of I10 you can find more craging all along that part ... but it’s best visited in February. |
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Get a guidebook. Most of your questions will be answered. The books by either Vogel, or Miramontes, are what you need. |
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You can expect wild temperature swings, choss and the strong desire to drive to Red Rock |
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The land of 10,000 climbs, 100 worth doing. Choose wisely. |
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Expect to somehow have an amazing climbing trip while simultaneously being underwhelmed by every single climb you do. |
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Sounds like JT has jumped the shark! |
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You should expect someone to tell you that you should climb up into the space station |
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You should also expect multiple pretentious van lifers with stupid dogs. |
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Be sure to bring a baggie of shiitake mushrooms to sell to the college kids who want to have a jtree “experience” |
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You should expect to get lost looking for a 30ft V3. |
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Robert Hall wrote: It's a LARGE area. Some of the crags are not that easy to find. Maybe these days with GPS things are easier, but we found it really easy to "wander in the wilderness".Lol. No one goes to those crags. For your first visit you’ll be fine with the main walls that everyone goes to (which also have trivial approaches such as lost horse wall, Hemingway wall, saddle rock, and the various formations around hidden valley campground. If you’re planning on going to a wall where you think you’re going to need gps on your first visit, you’re doing it wrong. Douchy pro tip: Cell phone service is nonexistent in the park (for Att at least) but if you’re worried about finding your way around just save pins in your google maps on your phone using the locations found on the MP map and then download the area for offline use in google maps. It’ll still know where you are based upon the internal accelerometer even without cell service. |
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Any older climbers to that area remember the “Boom Boom Bar”? Yes, I know it burned down. |