Avg: 3.7 from 527
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Access Issue: Climbing Regulations/Seasonal Raptor Closures
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This is perhaps the most classic Joshua Tree boulder problem. It's as famous as Yosemite's Midnight Lightning, Hueco Tank's Ghetto Simulator or Boulder's Monkey Traverse, Gunsmoke requires little introduction.
The Gunsmoke Traverse is L-shaped and is usually done from left to right. Start as far left as possible, move right along the wall for about 50' past 2 crux sections, turn the corner (third crux), and continue another 35' along rails to a final bulge. If your guns aren't too smoked, reverse your moves back to the start (in days of yore, to legitimately claim to have done the problem required completely traversing across in both directions and the problem was rated 5.11+).
It's not uncommon to find a dozen or more people here at any given time. Several other quality problems can be found in the vicinity, including the classic stemming problem Streetcar Named Desire (V6) and The Chube (V2).
Southern exposure makes this a hot one during mid-day - best done in the late afternoon.
In the late 1980s and much of the 1990s, a local climber known as The Birdman dominated this problem. He could be found on the route every afternoon. At the height of his powers, he completed roughly 35 passes of the traverse without stepping onto the ground!!!!
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Boulder,Co.
Later, the Birdman climbed on our top ropes in Echo Cove. He went up the climb and then down the climb, again up another time then down again. Quiet as he was, he spoke with his climbing and his precision. Thanks for the inspiration, Birdman!!! Mar 20, 2010
It got it's name one day when John and Mike approached me while loafing at a campsite in Hidden Valley and asked me if I knew anything about the traverse near Barker. To which I replied... um yes. John commented that he thought it was Yaniro's secret work out area.... and asked if I had named it (Hadn't). I had told him I considered calling it Joe's Garage (Zappa... which John had inadvertently turned me on to one day hanging out at Mike Brown's tent in Tuolumne). Don't remember if it was John or Mike that mentioned there was already a Joe's Garage. John asked what I thought (John was always a class act) about "Gunsmoke"... "Cause when your done... your guns are smokin'". I concurred (he had a talent for naming stuff... like Cellulite Eliminator in the Meadows) and so it was. Aug 31, 2011
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