Desert Rats: Joshua Tree in the Winter With Bill

[Brad Young]

...I am proud to say that he gave both of us a desert rat grade (drg) of 4.9 out of 10. Really high marks for a first timer....

I finally stopped laughing enough to respond to this.

While it is true that Caleb and Geoff started out OK (although they never reached even a Desert Rat Grade of 4 mind you), they eventually plunged to a truly, embarrassingly low score.

They showed up with a ton of enthusiasm, but, at least in Geoff's case, not enough clothes for nights in the teens and low twenties (I bet that that won't happen again):




And great attitudes, willing to learn from the only 10/10 desert rat I've ever known:




When on their first day we woke up to 35 mile per hour winds and butt-ass cold temperatures, I took them to the only (only!) spot in Josh that is always sheltered and warm (Corral Wall). They got right into business:







And later in the trip (their last day) they did one of the must-do, iconic Josh climbs (at least if one is camping in Ryan Campground): Headstone Rock:










But see, the thing is, they both made a major, major faux pas, right in the middle of the trip and right in the middle of the desert. A sniveling act of cowardice that was so major, so extreme, that they plunged to a Desert Rat Grade of (gasp, sigh) LESS THAN ONE. Bill and I disagreed at first (he gave them a 0.9 D.R.G. and I gave them a 0.7 - we eventually settled on 0.8 as their end Desert Rat Grade).

And that's it. From low to basement in three days.

I sincerely hope they do better next year    

[JC w KC redux]

Remind me NEVER to go to the desert with you.

By the way...news flash - Pinnacles is a virtual desert. 

Remember that when you hear the echo of my drill floating on the breeze in Red Rocks this weekend 

[F4?]

You know squiddo just rents a house in town.

Just saying....

[Brad Young]

Remind me NEVER to go to the desert with you.

Too late. And you survive in the desert pretty well.

[Brad Young]

You know squiddo just rents a house in town.

Just saying....

Then why even go in the first place?

[NOAL]

 What was the major faux pas?  Something like this:

[url]http://www.supertopo.com/climbers-forum/1758033/Who-took-a-dump-on-top-of-Headstone/[url]

[Brad Young]

 What was the major faux pas?  Something like this:

[url]http://www.supertopo.com/climbers-forum/1758033/Who-took-a-dump-on-top-of-Headstone/[url]

No, taking a dump on top of Headstone would be way beyond cowardly. That would extend to absolute heresy.

Their treacherous act was bad, but not that bad.

You see, they came to Joshua Tree expecting the desert. And understanding that they had up to 10,000 climbing routes to do to have lived complete lives. In spite of all of this knowledge, they quit climbing early on their second day (after only two nights and two days in the desert). They gave up climbing time on a three day trip to... well, there's no polite way to say it:

They drove into town to take showers after just two nights.     

[NOAL]

That's a good one!  Which leads to a fun question. What is the longest you have gone without bathing and why?  I did a week on a red rock trip. My partner did not want to go into town.

 I shared this with another climber friend who laughed and said their record was for over a month on an expedition.

[clink]

Brad Young
Grand Master

Posts: 4185


 

Re: Desert Rats: Joshua Tree in the Winter With Bill
« Reply #20 on: Yesterday at 06:47:20 PM »
Quote

Quote from: Yo-so-mighty on January 31, 2017, 10:34:11 AM

...I am proud to say that he gave both of us a desert rat grade (drg) of 4.9 out of 10. Really high marks for a first timer....


I finally stopped laughing enough to respond to this.

So, Caleb(Yosomighty) is pedaling fake news.

Caleb had called me to say how ecstatic he was with getting his version of events posted while you were continuing your JT climbing trip.

Geoff froze his ass off. He has just purchased a legit jacket and is going to get a certain turtle neck layer next.

[Brad Young]

That's a good one!  Which leads to a fun question. What is the longest you have gone without bathing and why?  I did a week on a red rock trip. My partner did not want to go into town.

Twice I went at least nine days/eight nights with no bathing and little cleaning: two different Grade VI El Cap routes (Excalibur and South Seas) each took that long. We took baby-butt wipes and they were helpful.

I usually embrace the desert when I go there. Sometimes I'll take a shower after five or so days. Bill stays out in the desert a lot, for literally weeks at a time. He'll go long periods without finding a public facility, wasting time, and wasting water.

[mynameismud]

My first sabbatical I spent a month in the Valley and never took a shower.  I did jump in the river a few times, sometimes fully clothed as an easy way to do laundry.  I was told that poaching showers does not lower ones dirt bag status.

As far as dealing with cold, I am starting to figure out solutions to this.  As many of you know I can live in a puff jacket, when not moving I get cold quickly.  If I am moving I am fine, but once I stop I feel a bit of a chill in minutes.   One thing I have recently discovered is compression tights and shirts.  Typically I do not like tight fitting cloths so I was surprised to find I really like these.  Up here in Wa I pretty much live in these.  I find myself taking my jacket off at work and around the house.  I even go outside on occasion without a puff.  The advantage over normal long johns is freedom of movement and when being active the compression clothing wicks moisture.  The tops come in white and I have been slowly replacing cotton tees with these. 

Compression clothing used to be expensive and is still a bit more than cotton, but there are a bunch of cheap brands out there now and these can be found on Amazon for 12 to 15 dollars apiece.  Tops you can get in long sleeve or short sleeve.  I have worked outside in these when it was cold and wet, the fabric wicks moisture and does not bind up like traditional capilene or polypro.

[JC w KC redux]

clink - I believe your inability to post a proper picture may have just been surpassed by your inept quoting 

Thanks for the rec Mr Mud - we'll have to check into those.
It looks like the weather is already starting to warm here.

[clink]

I take baths. All of the water is used and not wasted.

BTW this was the reason Brad was inspired to name our route Bathing Beauty.

[JC w KC redux]

I take baths. All of the water is used and not wasted.

I saw that coming from afar - we all know how expansive the views are in the desert 

[F4?]

That's a good one!  Which leads to a fun question. What is the longest you have gone without bathing and why?  I did a week on a red rock trip. My partner did not want to go into town.

 I shared this with another climber friend who laughed and said their record was for over a month on an expedition.

3 weeks on a Denali expedition (+ or - a few days).
The benefit to a sub zero environment is the lack of smell and you body oils do not emanate.
It was only until we got to the landing strip where the temperature raised to a balmy 40....or 30 that our body oils started to thaw, PHEW!! There were some smells, i.e. farts, but that's a different story.

I did do 1 week in the valley in college, no bathing.  My poor partner almost wrenched when he rolled over to m side of the tent and go a whiff. No, no more of that, I'll jump in a river.

[Brad Young]

Red Rocks now. A dozen new routes so far (some multi - pitch). For Bill's birthday today we both got spanked on a 5.10c offwidth to hands (damn physical). We got other routes done too-I led a 5.9 off width that left me gasping (but I got it clean). I've never seen barrel cactus so plump - the shorter ones are almost as round as bowling balls.

[F4?]

Ah, now you are at a real climbing venue. With civilized routes.

There you could do 2,000 routes and still have more to go.

Enjoy!!

[Brad Young]

Ten pitch, three star 5.8 today. That's too many days in a row. I'm spent. We'll do a few sport routes in the morning and then I'm heading home (to see all of you great people soon).

[F4?]

What was the route Brad? 10 pitch 5.8 sounds about right for RR.

[Brad Young]

Dark Shadows. Temps were perfect in the shade.