Photos by desertgranite

Trying to stay cool in the grotto on a Fall day. This route is easier than it looks.

Pine line is the shortest route on the biggest piece of rock in the U.S. The difference in scale is wildly dramatic...to stare thousands of feet up overhanging granite one minute, and then 50 feet up to the top of this climb the next, it makes you feel pretty insignificant but is a must do for newcomers.

Here's a belay you don't want to use on pitch 2 of Pop Bottle, Lover's Leap. Use a 60M rope and belay from as close to the first bolt at the start of pitch two. This will give you enough rope to make it to the regular belay anchors and then 4th class it to the top.

This is a buildering problem I did in my college days. Left to right with a swing through crux at the keystone - 5.10R

Joshua Tree 5.6 classic friction route Double Dip with John just past the crux and yours truly on belay.