As usual I have been having quite a few adventures and many climbing trips. I made it to The Needles for 3 days back in late June. That was amazing! The rock just blew my mind, perfect splitter cracks, bomber rock, unbelievable formations, an amazing approach, beautiful views, great camping spot, and all located in one of the most beautiful settings that is within an easy 5 hour drive from Redlands!
This was the view from our campsite!
The first glimpse of The Needles from the approach trail. It was a helluva lot bigger than I anticipated.
We had to hike up a sketchy creaking and cracking stairwell to get to the look out tower.
The view from the top, mind boggling!
After three days without a shower hiking in and out of The Needles I needed a bath.
I graduated from college shortly after that (well almost I was allowed to walk even though I had one class left). It was an amazing experience being in The University of Phoenix Stadium in Phoenix, Arizona. I was very happy to discover that the air-conditioning was cranked to full blast as July in Phoenix was super hot.
Sunset on the drive to Phoenix from So-Cal.
Graduation!!
Mrs. Tait & I
Somewhere in the mix of all this "action" I had my birthday. I turned 25, it is wierd being 25 I am still not used to it. In fact when I was at the grocery store tonight buying some beer I told the checker that I was 24, force of habit I guess.
Me and my 3 brothers on my birthday at the new Hanger 18 in Riverside (from left to right: Joshua, Nathan, Isaac, & Luke)
On the early morning of my birthday I got up super early and drove out to Tahquitz with Kevin Newell and we did Super Pooper 5.10a/b. We swaped leads all the way to the top. The crux pitch was amazing, great exposure, and a funky thrutch of a mantel to get over the crux. I had the distinct pleasure of leading the 5.8 splitter crack pitch which was amazing! Perfect finger jams and crisp edges all the way to the top (not to mention it ate stoppers all the way up). It was also a bit of a sentimental trip too, because on my 12th birthday (13 years earlier) I had climbed White Maidens Walkway 5.4 with my Dad. It was my first multi-pitch route and my first climb on Taqhitz.
Right before I left for the Tradeshow, Rhondie and I did get out for an amazing day of climbing at the 8,000 foot crag (any guesses on why it is named that?) It was a beautiful day, there was quite a bit of ominous clouds overhead but it did not rain!
The crag!
Our amazing Honda FIT, the ultimate road trip vehicle (43 Hwy MPG!!).
The Tradeshow
I won’t go into much detail as you all are probably sick and tired of getting all my emails and/or hearing about the tradeshow. Let it suffice to say that they Athlete Lunch kicked ass! And the tradeshow was a huge success! Check out Sonnie Trotter, Ethan Pringles, and Colette McInerny’s blog to see what they had to say about the tradeshow.
Nancy and I.
The Team!
The 5.10 Booth!
And to top off this great summer, I got in another moonlight session at Joshua Tree! The full moon was amazing and I crushed a variety of problems in my Guide Tennies. The screeching owl was great as well, not to mention Kevin Newell fell asleep on lead while jammed in a chimney, I was stuck below belaying him wondering what the hell was going on. He eventually woke up and now I have an idea of what it is like to belay on a big wall (sorta)
Well until next time, be safe and double check your knot...
