The heat and a weird day off for both of us drove the Muppet and I to the higher regions of Rock Creek for the day.
After an early start, we got jammed up for almost an hour between the road re-paving in Rock Creek and the guy in front of us dealing with a dead battery while we were waiting for the pilot car. Everyone got delayed additionally while a big-truck guy with jumper-cables gunned his engine to revive his dead battery for 10 minutes before the clicking stopped.
We ate dust at 15 mph for an additional 10 minutes heading up-canyon on the not-yet-paved side of the road, then parked above Hilton Creek Trailhead, while everyone kept going... YMMV.
Yay! Free from the convoy!
The approach is easy at first on the trail - but the cut-off requires a keen eye, usually a initial wet slog (dry this year), and then a nice hike through the your friendly 'breath-sucking elevation gain':
 |
 |
|
 Credit: MisterE |
||
 |
 |
The view was nice anyway:
|
|
|
 Credit: MisterE |
||
|
|
Near the top - only a little rubble to go:
|
|
|
 Credit: MisterE |
||
|
|
Finally there...
"I CRUSH YOUR HEAD!"
|
|
|
 Credit: MisterE |
||
|
|
Maidy chilling and checking the guide:
|
|
|
 Credit: MisterE |
||
|
|
Nobody there for a couple hours - then only one other party
of 3.
The main wall, left side:
|
|
|
 Credit: MisterE |
||
|
|
Climbed a few things, including "The Stoic Tree Arete":
|
|
|
 Credit: MisterE |
||
|
|
We top-roped "The Fall Line", which seemed awkwardly close to other routes.
Went over to do "Living the Dream" and found a spot to cool our beverages:
|
|
|
 Credit: MisterE |
||
|
|
Trees and flowers:
|
|
|
 Credit: MisterE |
||
|
|
On the hike out, just after I took this picture
|
|
|
 Credit: MisterE |
||
|
|
we ran into Beth and Steve hiking in!
Great to see Joshua Tree friends in the Alpine - Beth even was telling Steve just before they ran into us:
"I always run into random people when I go to Patricia Bowl!"
Me too - the last time I was there a friend from Phoenix and crew were the only other party there.
