PRINT: Rock Climb Party in the Desert, Joshua Tree National Park

Party in the Desert

5.10b, Trad, 70 ft (21 m),

Avg: 3 from 83 votes
FA: Bart Groendycke and Todd Alston, February 1990
California > Joshua Tree NP > Indian Cove > Rattlesnake Canyon > Corral Wall > Corral Wall - Left Side

Access Issue: Temporary Closure in effect from April 3 to June 15, 2024 Details

Temporary Closure for Nesting Raptors
Date Posted: 4/4/2024
Due to the presence of nesting raptors, the following rock climbing areas are temporarily closed: Slatanic Area, Rattlesnake Buttress, Margaret Thatcher Spire, The Stepping Stones, The Bulkhead, The Dunce Cap, and Commissioner’s Buttress.

Access Issue: Climbing Regulations/Seasonal Raptor Closures Details

The Joshua Tree National Park Superintendent's Compendium states that:
1. Vegetation is not allowed to be used as an anchor.
2. Only neutral or rock colored bolt hangers are allowed.

For a complete list of climbing rules and closures visit:
nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/…

Description

One of the better climbs at the Corral Wall, this varied route starts with polished edges (crux) into a hand crack that ends at a horizontal crack below a headwall.

Clip a bolt and move delicately up to another bolt where lieback moves transition to fingery edges. Continue on past another horizontal (1.25" piece here) to a last bolt where some final slab moves lead to bolted anchors.

The good rock and engaging moves combine to make this a Corral Wall favorite.

Location

Between A Fistful of Poodles and Party till Ya' Puke on an attractive brown face.

Protection

3 bolts (1/2"), gear to 2 inches, bolted anchor/rap (1/2")

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

"Party In The Desert".<br>
Photo by Blitzo.

"Party In The Desert". Photo by Blitzo.

Setting up for the crux moves on Party in the Desert (5.10b), Joshua Tree NP

Chris Parks climbs 'Party in the Desert' (10b). Photo by Tony Bubb, 1/05.

The lower portion of Party in the Desert (5.10b), Joshua Tree NP

Left side of Corral Wall -- shows routes from Chuck Wagon Crack to Party in the Desert

Area photo for party in the desert 5.10b

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Chris Owen
Big Bear Lake

5.10b

An intricate climb with lots of cool moves. My crux was after clipping the first bolt, I did a messy lunge move for the bottom of the third crack, smack my wrist. Nov 24, 2003

Blitzo

Good route, probably my favorite at this crag. Oct 8, 2006

Murf	[Hide Comment] Repeated use has polished the start of this thing to epic proportions. Entry moves seem harder than 10b to me, if only for a couple of moves. Jan 22, 2007

Dave Daly
Kernville, CA

IMO, the intial moves getting to the bottom of the crack was the crux. Getting to the third bolt seemed a bit of a mental crux. Excellent route! My first Josh .10b. Oct 1, 2007

Darshan Ahluwalia
Orange, CA

5.10b

more mental than anything Dec 20, 2007

JOHN HYDE
twentynine palms ca

great route, the crux is at the beginning of the route, it's very polished over time Aug 13, 2009

attila

In my opinion, this route is at least 5.11 off the deck. Our party of 3, all solid 5.10 climbers, was shut down on the start of this route. Feb 24, 2010

The Gray Tradster

The start is "worn out".

But, it's "The Monument" so the first ten feet don't count.

Rating stays the same. Feb 24, 2010

T. Alston

Nice to hear so many people are enjoying this route. Party in the Desert and Exfoliation Confrontation were put up on the same weekend in Feb. 1990. First routes on the Corral Wall.
Cheers! Jun 2, 2012

Kevin Dahlstrom
Boulder, CO

OK, I get it that ratings are "old school" at JTree but this is ridiculous. The first few moves are nowhere near 5.10b. Maybe not even 5.11b. Dec 9, 2012

MikeP ROWCC

5.10b

Didn't find the start as hard as some people on here. It was certainly sequential and started with a high step sidepull to get going. A couple of slick footholds gets you into a 5.8 crack with bomber gear. The second bolt was spicy! Almost barndoored off! A little runout beyond that but the climbing lets up. Feb 19, 2013

Rob M
Shangri-LA

Start is very polished and IMHO a 10c move, maybe d, at least with my towering 5'9" frame. A longer reach could probably get a better hand and smear the feet.

No longer a 10b folks. Will try the sidepull next time and re-evaluate. Mar 11, 2013

Matt Hagny

5.10b/c

The start is becoming more like 10c due to the polish of the footholds. Up high, it's certainly not more than 10b. Dec 6, 2017

Dustin Stephens

5.10c/d

Incredibly good.... agree the start is now more like 10+ Jan 22, 2019

Andre Ribeiro
Idyllwild, CA

Excellent route. The polished foot hold at the start can be completely avoided. One move of 5.10+ sounds fair. Establishing myself past the horizontal on the run out after the second bolt caught my attention (I did not see any placements for gear). Dec 28, 2022

Jessie Boas
Truckee, CA

Honestly… didn’t feel polished at the bottom, just need good footwork. Don’t be dissuaded by polish comments, this route is great! Feb 7, 2024