Moonlight Ascents

It was a beautiful night. The full moon was glinting off the spinning blades of the wind turbines that coat the desert like an odd martian flower-scape. The windows were rolled down all the way and the warm night air was blowing through my hair. I bubbled with the anticipation of climbing in one of the most awe inspiring National Parks, Joshua Tree. I got to the parking lot at 10:30 pm and having sipped on various cornucopia's of energy syrups I was running down the trail to the base of the first climb. The granite felt warm beneath my finger tips and the chalk felt strangely refreshing, it was like visiting an old friend that you had not seen in a long time. The full moon provided enough illumination to climb without headlamp, while the bolts shimmered like welcoming beacons, beckoning you to keep climbing. Jackrabbits scurried from bush to bush looking for a rare tasty morsels in this harsh landscape as route after route fell beneath our frenzy to taste that, oh so addictive, coagulation of fear, adrenaline, joy, and ecstasy. As the time kept ticking onward our frenzy started to simmer, due to the disruption of our normal sleeping patterns and our crashing sugar highs. The last route was a slightly overhanging flared crack. The last move was pulling an overhanging roof via a laid back finger crack, delicate footwork, and a very awkward mantle to the table top summit. After a few false starts I pulled through to the top and took in a few deep breaths of victory. I had fulfilled my fixation and was ready to head home to a warm soft bed and the loving arms of my wife. I coined the phrase endowed by so many REI shoppers as I started down climbing, Life is good...

Until next time