After 10 rainy days spent in L.A. at Rick's place, on 23rd of December,
Faith,
Janek and our friend
Mich finally left to
Joshua Tree National Park. We were psyched to get back on the lines and start to climb again.
Rainy days in L.A., bored , coffee ... (photo by Mich Kemeter)
The route from L.A. to
J. Tree was easy drive although we had to deal with crazy Los Angeles traffic and some big hills just before our destination. We were followed by
Mich in "his" Jeep.
We stopped to buy food and supplies before getting inside the park. Fortunately we had enough luck to find free camp-site in Hidden Valley camp-ground. This year we got camp-site number 23. The same day or rather night three of us bouldered a bit with poor headlamp night. It was really fun and
Janek and
Mich managed to send "Stem Gem" V4 in the night with headlamps on. This is classic problem from John Bachar.
We met many old friends from the last year and had some fun with new people. It was great time to hang out with our Canadian friends Thomas, Charlie and Greg. Our good friend Ric Phiegh came from L.A. and brought full truck of wood. Since that day our dirtbag life was way better!! Thanks Rick!
Before New Years when
Jordan and Annalena suppose to arrive we did some warm-up stuff in the park. First we set up 90' Cave Corridor line and Canadians had 60' line up. We walked both lines OS&FM (Faith sent all the lines in the belt-loop swami and
Janek and
Mich ball&chain).
It was really cold but it felt nice to be on the highline again. We climbed and bouldered a lot. Our everyday routine was breakfast, a bit of free-solo climbing or bouldering, stretching and than going to realize main plan for a day.
Next line we went to set up was "Hall of Horrors" Highline we have did last year already. Thomas and Charlie went together with us. Set up was quite easy. We had to get right size nuts to screw in the hangers but that was the only problem.
Faith walked the line in the leash-swami and
Janek sent with the ankle leash. He walked the line one more time this time free-solo.
Faith and
Mich cruised the line one more time and Thomas sent make look this line easy.
Monkeys on the rock (photo by Thomas Sloss)
Janek sending the line FM free-solo (photo by Thomas Sloss)
In the next few day
Faith and
Janek picked up on the airport
Jordan and Annalena. For the next highline project our team was back together. The other line we set up was 100' long and 75' heigh "Hemingway" Highline. We went together with many friends. We met up with good
Jerry's friend Dave which didn't slackline for 8 months and than he had send that highline in one direction. That was amazing ascent to watch. Jano also did great job on the line. After many catches and mental fight he finally sent the line. Everyone was celebrating when Jano step off the line.
Janek and
Mich walked the line OS&FM with the ankle leash,
Faith sent with leash-swami first try, both directions and
Jordan sent OS&FM in the swami-belt.
We bouldered a lot between highlining days.
Mich and
Janek sent "White Rastafarian" - high-ball V3. The three of sent other high boulder problems. Some of climbed also some TRAD routes. It was really fun.
Charlie and
Janek spotting Alfredo on the "White Rastafarian"(photo by
Mich Kemeter)
Soon we had another opportunity to walk "Hall of Horrors" Highline again. Jono and his girlfriend set it up again. When we arrived Jano already walked the line couple times.
Janek walked the line first with the ankle leash. The highline was a bit too tight. We loosened it a bit and
Jordan and
Faith walked next.
Faith was really happy for the opportunity of walking this line again. She wanted to free-solo this line too last time, but it was too windy and too late.
Faith got the second free-solo FM ascent of this 25m long and 30m heigh exposed line. The same day
Mich got the third full free-solo send.
We bouldered even more and harder and the three of us sent "Chongo Gap" Highline again.
Janek,
Faith and
Mich all sent free-solo. We didn't get chance to meet up with our friend Frankie and
Jerry left Joshua Tree after two days.
We moved back to the Pit where we stayed together with Phil and the other guys. We had to leave J. Tree soon so we decided to do some new project. We scope out the line in the night and after two days (the rigging took much longer time than we expected) everyone got their ascent.
Faith walked the line first. She tried first in the swami-belt but the line was crazy loose. We tensioned the highline afterwards and
Faith send FM in the harness.
Mich walked the line after
Faith in a harness OS&FM.
Jordan and
Janek had to send the line next day. They were way to exhausted after full day of rigging and scrambling around. It was also the end of the day and it was getting dark. Both of them sent the line next day in the harnesses OS-OW&FM. The line was named by
Faith Dickey with the name "Ranger Danger" Highline.
The line is spectacular. We think it's about 45-50m long and 30m heigh. Soon, Jono should send as exact length after measuring it.
We had a blast in J. Tree! Christmas Ave and New Years were great party with a lot of climbers and slackliners.
We are in LA right now. The way of spending time is working on the blog, website, waiting for our car to be fixed (we have to rebuilt an engine which will cost us around $1300). Luckily
Prana will support us with a bit of money and we are getting some money too. We should be all right. We are planning to leave to San Diego and then Mexico on Monday. Arriva, a ja ja jaaaj!
To see more photos from Joshua Tree Park click HERE
Peace & SlackOn!
Janek
