Joshua Tree and Climbing News Archive

Rock climbing does not increase the risk of osteoarthritis in the hands and fingers, says a University of Tennessee study that challenges a previous theory.

Todd Skinner killed on Leaning Tower 10/24/2006 - Rock and Ice

Free-climbing pioneer Todd Skinner was killed yesterday, October 23, while descending fixed ropes on the Leaning Tower in Yosemite. Details of the accident are incomplete, but it appears that he and his partner Jim Hewitt were working on a free route on the 1,200-foot monolith.

Climbing magazine article link

Petzl Ball-lock Carabiners recalled 10/20/2006 - Petzl

Petzl America voluntarily announced a recall of Petzl M34 BL Am'D BALL-LOCK and M36 BL WILLIAM BALL-LOCK carabiners with the new metal locking sleeve due to the possibility that the sleeve can be unlocked without pressing the green button, so the locking system acts as a TWIST-LOCK, instead of a BALL-LOCK. Affected units were sold during March and July, 2006.

CCH Aliens recall - manufacture date range expanded 8/30/2006 - Mountain Project

The Orange CCH Alien cam that was reportedly involved in the Paradise Forks incident, has turned out to be dated 10-05, rather than the highly publicized date of early 2004....
CCH will tensile test customers’ Aliens, of any manufacture date at no charge, to ensure that they will withstand a fall. Testing is done to 2/3 the rated tensile strength. After testing, all cams are currently being identified with a “Tensile Tested” stamp on the main swage above the loop. We will test and return cams to our customers within 1 week of receiving them.

Black Diamond Speed Harness Recall 7/17/2006 - Black Diamond

Black Diamond Equipment, Ltd., voluntarily announced a recall of Black Diamond Speed Harnesses -- Focus Speed, Gym Speed, Momentum Speed, Vario Speed, and Wiz Kid -- for possibility of incorrectly threaded waist and/or leg loop buckles. Affected units were sold from December 2005 through June 2006.

Joshua Tree National Park fire out, 650 acres total burned 7/2/2006 - The Desert Sun

Ranger Pam Tripp said Sunday morning that the fire, with more than 100 firefighters battling it, was extinguished overnight and that officials are watching to make sure it doesn't reignite. A lightning strike witnessed and reported by park visitors sparked the blaze at about 2 p.m. Saturday, Tripp said, quickly spreading through the dry vegetation.
The Jumbo Rock campground was evacuated as the fire spread from near Geology Trail Road toward Sheep Pass campground, taking with it some of the signature Joshua trees that grow in the park. The trees can live to be 150 years old.

Botanist's hunt turns up floral treasures 6/21/06 - Hi-Desert Star

Recent field work in Joshua Tree National Park has added 100 new names to the species list, and among them are three plants variously listed in the state and federal records as either threatened or endangered.
Park botanist Tasha LaDoux is pleased with the discovery of the distinguished species. Not only do the specimens embody some hope the plants could make a comeback in numbers someday, their presence in the park adds an extra eminence to its already noteworthy plant diversity.

It's Costing More to Visit National Parks 6/3/06 - The Press-Enterprise

Not only will driving to one of California's national parks cost more this summer than last, but getting in will cost more, too.
Several California national parks, including Joshua Tree and Death Valley, have hiked their entrance fees for 2006, a move federal officials say is necessary to supplement park budgets in the face of rising costs. Some park users say they understand the increased fees and are willing to pay them -- for now.

New Joshua Tree visitors center to open 5/24/06 - The Desert Sun

Up close and personal.

That’s the mantra of a new Joshua Tree Visitor Center opening Friday, just off Highway 62 on Park Boulevard — a main road to the West Entrance of Joshua Tree National Park.

Joshua Tree National Park Association bought the property from James and Deborah La Monica, who built a gift store, gallery and pastry shop in Park Center development in 1996.

CCH announces recall of several Alien cams 1/12/06 - CCH

Colorado Custom Hardware, (CCH) has recently completed an investigation and extensive testing to identify and isolate safety issues concerning the brazing on CCH Alien cams....Testing has revealed that there was a brazing issue with specific cams made after November 2004. The units to be identified are marked with a small center punch dimple at the base of the round ball where the axle goes through the cable eye. Although few failures have been reported, CCH recommends immediately discontinuing the use of any Aliens with this mark. CCH is recalling the cams with the identifying punch mark.

Groups want to keep open space open (Shawangunks) 12/21/05 - The Journal News

Each year, Marty Molitoris leads people to the famous climbing cliffs of the Shawangunk Ridge. About an hour north of Rockland County, this mountain range attracts serious climbers from all over the world....

For the very reason climbers flock to Minnewaska Preserve each summer, developers are eyeing the large parcels of pristine land now that real-estate prices have pushed many out of the Lower Hudson Valley.

Tortoise fans now armed with GPS 6/17/05 - Hi-Desert Star

What started out as a simple way to make hiking more fun and educational may emerge as a new way for biologists to track California Desert tortoises.
This year, the Joshua Tree Tortoise Rescue began receiving e-mailed photographs and Global Positioning System coordinates from hikers who encountered tortoises in the Morongo Basin.

Developers covet areas surrounding national parks 3/20/05 - USA Today

People who cherish Joshua Tree National Park's desert probably don't want wayward tee shots, pets or trash spoiling the serenity and scenery, but it could happen.

Development is closing in on Joshua Tree and many other national parks. "It is happening all over the country," said Curt Sauer, superintendent of Joshua Tree, "and it is going to continue to happen."

Climbing to the top - Woman helps adapt physical activities for disabled 3/3/05 - The Holland Sentinel

Pulling herself from one rock to the next on the indoor climbing wall at Grand Valley State University, Kelly Merz tries to show that life in a wheelchair hasn't stopped her from doing anything.
"Why can't someone in a wheelchair rock-climb?" said the Zeeland resident, a recreational therapist at Mary Freebed Rehabilitation Hospital who has spent the last five years in a wheelchair.

Old bolts get the boot from national park climbers 1/23/05 - Hi-Desert Star

Climbers are making climbing safer by replacing old, rusted bolts in the national park. Their work has the added benefit of reducing the visual impact of fixed climbing gear on rock formations.

Heavy Snow hits Joshua Tree National Park 11/21/04 - RockClimbing.com

Woke up to a foot of snow this morning at Joshua Tree. THE PARK IS CLOSED TODAY DUE TO SNOW.

Look through the Forum thread for some amazing photos.

Rope drag remedies 11/3/04 - Boulder Daily Camera

Forty-five feet up a Boulder Canyon wall, I cling to the "The Luminosity's" holds — consumed by, in my father's words, puckerbutt.
Having just pulled past the moderate climb's crux onto a beautiful, exposed face, I suddenly find myself being tugged earthward by the rope.

SKY'S THE LIMIT: A group seeks to raise $1.5 million to build an observatory for Twentynine Palms 9/27/04 - The Press-Enterprise

A group called Sky's The Limit is reaching for the stars.
The Twentynine Palms-based organization has been working for about a year to bring an observatory to the High Desert town. The small nonprofit group has acquired the land and drawn up the plans - and now needs the funds to build its $1.5 million project.
Over the weekend, Sky's The Limit held its first fund-raiser, Celestial Rhythms, which featured music, drumming and star watching in Joshua Tree. Organizers expect the sold-out event will bring in $2,000 after expenses.

Season lures climbing population back to Joshua Tree 10/20/04 - High Desert Star

Locals who have climbed in a sparsely populated park since June, following a ritual of shade chasing, early rising and late evening climbing, are watching the peaceful summer season come to its natural conclusion. Not only do the feeling of the air and the quality of the light change around here in the fall, but the human energy in the park shifts the tone of things, ratcheting up to a near vibratory clamor.
The recent cool weather front is a sure sign that rock climbers, and lots of them, are not far behind. For many years now, the quartz-monzonite formations of Joshua Tree have lured passionate pursuers of this activity from all over the globe. Travelers from as far away as Europe and the East Coast have moved into the campsites in Hidden Valley. Climbers fleeing the rain of Yosemite Valley and the snow of the Tuolumne high country have arrived in the park with the predictability of migrating birds.

The National Parks Project 2002-2004 9/24/04 - scottwparker.com

Since September, 2002, artist Scott W. Parker has been crisscrossing the country by specially-outfitted Jeep, on foot, by kayak, by ferry and bush plane with a singular, visionary goal: to document the National Park Service’s 56 diverse National Parks, spanning from the Arctic Circle to the Everglades, through painting, pastel drawing, photography and writing.
Click on "Scott's Itinerary and Works" and scroll down for links to Joshua Tree National Park.

Wild Country - Helium Karabiner RECALL - 9/21/04 - Wild Country website

In house testing has revealed a potentially serious problem with some HELIUM KARABINERS. Wild Country are requesting the immediate return of all HELIUM KARABINERS AND QUICKDRAWS marked with the following batch codes: AAA, AAB, AAC, AAD, AAE, AAF
Wild Country is pleased to announce that all customers who returned their Helium Karabiners to Wild Country will receive a new Helium as a replacement.

Mountaineer, 77, saved lives of six climbers on K2 in '53 9/24/04 - The Seattle Times

Pete Schoening's name will forever be etched in the annals of mountaineering for his conquests of many of the highest and most treacherous peaks on Earth...
But whether the famously humble man wanted it this way or not, climbers will forever associate the name Pete Schoening with a single heroic day in August 1953, when he alone held a rope that kept six climbers from plunging to their deaths from the icy crags of K2.

Former Joshua Hills site sold - 9/23/04 - The Desert Sun

A high-profile effort to thwart development on nearly 9,000 acres of desert land near Joshua Tree National Park came to a quiet close Wednesday when environmentalists reported they had completed a purchase of the property.
The Nature Conservancy and the Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy said they concluded the second phase of a two-part deal to buy the land from Canadian-based Cathton Holdings Inc.

Girls climb to new heights of self-esteem - Sep 16, 2004 - The Seattle Times

It was the last day of school, and the girls were climbing the walls. Literally. Shouts of encouragement echoed up from the climbing gym's padded floor.
"Go! Yes! Go!"
"Way to smear the wall!"
"You can do it!"
And after 10 weeks of hands-on study the members of the "Girls Rock!" spring class could do it, reaching for the pastel foot and hand holds with toes and chalked fingers.

Man cited for violating Wilderness rule - 9/16/04 - Inyo Register

Forest Service works out deal with offender whereby he'll teach others about law

A local climber has a $500 hole in his wallet after he was caught using a motorized drill to install fixed anchors on a climbing route in a Wilderness Area.

High honors in the works for Lowe - Sep 7, 2004 - Bozeman Daily Chronical

People from all walks of life liked mountaineer Alex Lowe.
Maybe that's why the local campaign to name an area mountain after Lowe five years after his death has met with such enthusiasm.

Some want to ban climbing at Lower Peninsula's only natural climbing site - Sep 7, 2004 - MLive.com

Citing ecological concerns, climbers and others want to ban climbing at the only natural recreational climbing spot in the Lower Peninsula.
Over the years, thousands of climbers have visited Grand Ledge's 40-foot sandstone cliffs along the Grand River in Eaton County.
But professional climber Mike Hood, who led classes there until last fall, said climbing has destroyed the 14,000-year-old cliff's vegetation and plants.

The Next Hold: For years, a rift divided sport from traditional climbing. Will the future of the sport feature a new, united front? - Aug 26, 2004 - Tahoe World

All that separated Kevin Brown from a 200-foot fall down the granite face of Keeler Needle was a crystal. The sky hook, a climbing tool not much larger than a deep sea fishing hook, he was standing on clung to the small, clear rock at the edge of a drilled hole. Were it to slip farther, he would tumble below.

Herbal entrepreneur finds niche in outdoor industry - Aug 21, 2004 - Hi-Desert Star

Fewer "For the tip rippin', knuckle nickin', climbing fiend," reads the label on Joshua Tree Climbing Salve, a healing hand salve masterminded by herbalist Jenny Qaqundah, who hails from the place after which her product is named.
The label also claims that this 100 percent cruelty-free concoction of organic herbs "helps heal flappers, gobis and blown tips."

In troubled times, fewer people try action sports - Fewer people are trying action sports as economic worries, Western wildfires and the need for security during uncertain times make the comforts of home appear safe and more inviting, according to an industry survey to be released this week.
One-third of outdoor users are 45 and older, most are male and 80 percent are White.
Some adrenaline-rich sports that draw a small but young crowd fell the most in popularity: ice climbing down 73 percent, to 659,000 participants, and natural rock climbing down 32 percent, to 4.6 million.
Aug 1, 2004 - The Arizona Republic

Ranch a testimony to tough pioneer - Deep within the borders of Joshua Tree National Park, just a stone's throw from Hidden Valley, there stands a place that sits like a snapshot out of time. The small clutch of low-slung wooden buildings with their sloping tin roofs, nestled in a valley surrounded by towering heaps of sand-colored boulders, wraithlike Joshua trees and the ghostly hulks of ancient and esoteric machinery, do not stand in stark contrast to the desolate beauty of their surroundings, but almost seem an organic part of it.
July 31, 2004 - Hi-Desert Star

Ravens may be killed to save tortoises - Desert land use management agencies, under the Desert Managers Group, are training their guns on the common raven. Stating increased raven population is decimating desert tortoise numbers, the DMG is collecting public input until Aug. 16 to help it decide on a strategy for reducing the bird's impact.
July 31, 2004 - Hi-Desert Star

The TRAD Guide to Joshua Tree and other books may be ordered directly from the Authors, Charlie & Diane Winger. We'll be glad to personally autograph your copy.

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