WHAT: Joshua Tree New Years 2018-19

WHEN: December 26 to January 5

WHERE: Accommodations likely to be in 29 Palms, California – a 25-35 minute drive into the center of the park. Flights should be to LAS (Las Vegas). LAX is possible, but traffic is terrible.

DESCRIPTION: Joshua Tree National Park is a 3 hour drive from Las Vegas and features several thousand routes, hundreds of which are only steps from the car. JTree is a great cragging destination in the off season, a temperatures tend to be just right: around 12-20º high (warmer in the sun, and depending on the year – last year hit around 24º) and little to no rain.

Routes are almost all three pitches or less, and the vast majority are single pitch with walk offs, but many are of superb quality. JTree will test your skills on friction slab and crack climbing on sharp quartz monzonite, and is a primarily trad climbing destination. Sport routes exist but are not as common, and as there are very few bolted anchors, top roping isn’t particularly convenient (but seconding each route is standard practice). Grades start very low and go very high, however, so there’s something for every trad leader with some amount of experience. If you are not a trad leader but are interested nonetheless, get in touch!

The plan is to fly into Vegas on December 26, rent a car or van, and drive to booked private accommodations in the near by Joshua Tree or 29 Palms towns. We would return after 8 potential climbing days on January 5 (or the 6th of the group prefers). While there is great camping in the park, temperatures dip below zero at night and the sun is down at 4:30pm. From the accommodations into the park will be a 20-35 minute drive each morning and evening.

COST: Participants are responsible for their own flights. Return flights are typically between $750 and $950. Accommodations last year were about $600 per person, though we booked late and may be able to find cheaper options earlier on. Rental car costs can be kept down by sharing cars. There will be a deposit, amount TBD, once there is enough interest.

GEAR: To be discussed as people sign up, but broadly speaking, climbing gear including helmet, layers for temperatures between 5º (at night) and 25º (daytime in the sun), and lots of sunscreen.

TRIP LEADER: For more information or to sign up please contact Gavin Smith at gavin@gavinsmith.ca.

The sooner we can get 6+ people committed, the cheaper and closer accommodations are likely to be. Speak up soon! Please indicate your level of experience (what have you climbed in the last year or two? lead or second?). The trip will require a minimum ratio of competent trad leaders to seconds, though there is room for both.

MAX PARTICIPANTS: 8-10

TRIP CLASSIFICATION: C

WAIVER : You must read it before attending and sign a colour copy of it in ink upon arrival:
http://alpineclubtoronto.ca/images/ACCWaiver2014.pdf