Greetings from Hotel Wysocki!

So since the last update, i realized i slightly tweaked my wrist on a top out, so i took a few days off.  Eric, Brianna, and I went for a day hike up Big Horn Mountain and saw the amazing view of the park from one of the highest points.  I believe we gained in between two and three thousand feet of elevation.  One of the nights, (wednesday?) we went on a pseudo-caving adventure through one of the piles of joshua tree rock.  we left camp at around 10 pm and the catch is that once you're out of the car no headlamps are allowed.  The entire thing is based on feel and instinct. Pat led the group to the entrance and then led us through each obstacle, including dropping off of boulders, climbing up others, climbing tight chimneys, and the birth canal.  A slot you must squeeze through; the only option being to lay flat on your back with your arms stretched out above your head, and push through to the lip with your feet and then pull once you get to the lip. it was awesome, for most of the chasm you could not see your hand in front of your face.  We got to the top, savored the moonlight which seemed so bright after pitch blackness, and then dropped back in to finish at the bottom.  It was an exciting experience, one that i don't feel many people get to do unless they meet someone who has done it.  however i dont believe i could find the entrance again...

On thursday we bouldered.  I sent a few things, including sloper safari v4, raspberries? v6, sawaxing on the DL v5, and newtons Law v5.  Jeff sent sloper safari and DL both of which were projects for him, Eric sent sloper safari

Friday Eric and i did routes, starting with a 5.8 hand and fist crack; albeit its shortness (35 or 40 feet) was super fun and had great jams.  We then did Stitcher Quits, 5.7 the classic run out joshua tree slab.. It was 100 feet with 4 bolts, and once you get to the anchors at the top, you basically solo up to the top (easy easy slab) and then walk off. It was super fun.  We then did the Headstone at Ryan Campground.  Its the prominent feature in the area and i had been eyeing it up since we got to jtree.  It was fun, a little exposed, but great climbing and it was stellar to be at the top of this cruiser.  We wish we had spent more time on routes, but due to my wrist and what not it ended up being a neglected part of the stay, just all the more reason to come back!

Friday night Brianna Eric and I made our way to Hotel Wysocki in the valley above LA.  He put us up, gave us showers, carrots and hummus. what more could a drifter ask for?  we went out in town friday night and i woke up after a few hours sleep to drive Brianna to the airport.  It seemed like her being here flew by and i cant seem to figure out where the time went.  It was so fun having her for this leg of the trip, with beautiful weather and sun.

We went for a hike saturday afternoon in the Angeles National forest.  The hike turned out to be an 11 mile loop that climbed a mountain for 6 miles. We saw so many different forests on this mountain it was wild;  spruce forest, areas of mainly bushes and underbrush, and other huge deciduous forests.  It was a nice change to see a lush green deciduous forest after spending so much time around cacti and other plants that aim to kill you.

We stayed the night last night and this morning we are headed to the beach, yep venice beach, and then driving up the coast to Big Sur for some hiking tomorrow morning and bishop on Monday!

Lee sending Newtons Law

Jeff Sending Sawaxing on the DL

Eric and I climbing the Head Stone

Packing it in

Sunset on Erics Hike

Top of Big Horn Mt.