PRINT: Rock Climb Racing The Sun (aka Lucky Charms), Joshua Tree National Park

Racing The Sun (aka Lucky Charms)

5.7, Trad, 180 ft (55 m), 2 pitches,

Avg: 1.6 from 19 votes
FA: Wendell Smith and John Falcon, November 1973
California > Joshua Tree NP > Indian Cove > Indian Cove Cam… > Indian Cove CG… > Moosedog Tower

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

The 1970 Wolfe guide book only had a handfull of routes outside of HVCG. The only climbs in Indian Cove mentioned were "a short practice wall" and The California Crack A3, F6. There was also a sentence that led some of us to assume that the rock wasn't very good here. One evening I talked John into taking a detour on the way home to check it out.

In our "altered" state, the second we saw Moosedog we had to get to the top of it. The most impressive line (Tranquility) was out of the question as we had only about an hour of daylight left. I spoted a shorter line up the draw and off we went. The first pitch went fast, and we were soon at the belay, (where 3rd Times A Charm Intersects). I couldn't get a good pin placement at the crux, but I had been experimenting with these things the Brit's called chocks and got a home made nut in. (I think it was the first one I placed because I had to).

We walked across the top just as night fell, looking for rappel anchors. Astonishingly a block at the summit was festooned with rap slings, some many years old. We rappelled into the blackness and headed for home, jazzed that we had done it tempered with the disappointment that we weren't the first ones on top.

Description:Start at a ramp about 50' below the notch. Go up a left facing book. Just above where 3rd Times A Charm intersects is the crux. This climb can proabably be done as one long pitch with a 60M rope, but the rope drag and communication problems make it best done as two short pitches.

Protection

Standard trad rack

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

At the crux of Racing the Sun

Copied this pic from the "Half Time" description (nice pic!) and marked it up to show our attempt to follow the description of "Racing the Sun" (green dots). 1st half of our 1st pitch is below the…

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Bill Lawry
Albuquerque, NM

The route description needs some grooming. My partner and I thought the crux was within the first 15 feet off the ground. Contrary to the description, the climbing around and above the intersection with "Third Times A Charm" is not more than 5.6 climbing and perhaps less. Also, regarding the description's picture titled "At the crux of Racing the Sun" - this picture is not at all on "Racing the Sun".

Note that the above comments are based on this route as shown in the beta photo titled "Moosedog Tower - SW Face."

Enjoyed the route as an end-of-the-day climb to an enjoyable view. Apr 16, 2007

The Gray Tradster

5.7

If you didn't go the same way as the "Princess" is in the photo,

you didn't do the route. Apr 21, 2007

Bill Lawry
Albuquerque, NM

Perhaps. We started in an alcove against Moosedog which opened and steeply dropped off to the climber's right. One can enter it from a smaller opening to the climber's left. It could hold a few folks. Does that sound like the start of Racing the Sun? Apr 22, 2007

Bill Lawry
Albuquerque, NM

For those who have done "Racing the Sun", please see beta photo with the caption "Copied this pic from the ...." I marked it with our route including middle and top belay stations. The mark at the very bottom of the pic, i.e. the mark below the "route hidden" section, is roughly half way up our 1st pitch.

Any comments on whether this is "Racing the Sun"? I think the question is whether or not our 1st pitch was on route (as much as can be seen in the photo). May 27, 2007

The Gray Tradster

5.7

Where you broke left on the easy ramp you should have gone up the dihedral.

First pitch was more or less correct. Original line maybe a little left using the big flake. Nov 25, 2007

Bill Lawry
Albuquerque, NM

Okay. I think I see the issue so I removed my scores for the route.

While Racing The Sun and Third Times A Charm intersect, they do not otherwise overlap. Yes? This appears to contradict the photo submitted by Mike M (10/26/2003) - the beta photo that shows various routes on Moosedog Tower which I mentioned in my first comment.

I updated our route markings (green dots) with a yellow arrow showing what I think is the correct finish. Let me know if it is not close. Dec 20, 2007

Ryan Kelly
work.

Yeah, that's it, it continues past TTaC and up the dihedral on the right as Tradster says. However, I don't know how serious I would take the "if you didn't do it my way, you didn't do it comment". The ending isn't anything special. Perhaps on hemp rope with homemade gear it feels a bit different, but at modern day standards it's just another 5.7. TTaC, which is a great route, felt it ok to go up the ramp...

And it can easily be done in 1 pitch. Just have your belayer scramble up to the big platform. May 7, 2008

UpRope

Let relative beginners be forewarned that the rappel off the north side of Moosedog is not your typical straight-forward rap, and can be very intimidating to the uninitiated. Dec 16, 2010

Matt N

Committing, unprotected moves to start. Only a handful of memorable moves after that. Sling long and easily done in one pitch. Jan 22, 2013

Alex Peterson
Kamas, Utah

5.7 PG13

Agree that if you sling it long at the beginning, it will reduce the rope drag. We did it as one pitch with a 70m. We also skipped pro where you leave the ramp and turn right into the book, then we flipped the rope over the turned corner/bulge. This reduced the drag SIGNIFICANTLY. This is a good morning (before 10am) route for the summer in JTree. It remains relatively cool. I gave it two stars, memorable moves at the beginning and at the end (IF YOU GO ON THE CORRECT ROUTE). Jun 8, 2013

Sean
Oak Park, CA

approx 105 ft from sandy dirt starting ledge to the summit gear anchor where Direct South Face and Tranquility top out Feb 4, 2016