Echo Rock (sport climbing) - 3.9.2018
Tom belays Craig as he leads the 5.8 rated 'Stichter Quits' at the Echo Rock climbing area in Joshua Tree National Park.
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One of the classic climbs in Joshua Tree National Park... it used to be called 'Black Tide'... and still should be if you notice the black colored wave cresting near the top of the photo.
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We were incredibly fortunate to bump into Craig a couple of days earlier in the 'Chasm of Doom'... and when he offered to guide us on some sport climbs, we quickly accepted his offer.
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Craig nears the top of 'Stichter Quits'.
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Craig rappelling off of 'Stichter Quits'.
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We are running out of rope... so Craig relaxes while Tom ties a second rope to the first rope... the need for a second rope didn't really come as a surprise.
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Craig continues his rappel.
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Tom works on 'Stichter Quits'.
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Tom continues higher on 'Stichter Quits'.
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Tom continues up.
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Tom on top of 'Stichter Quits'.
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Roger working his way up 'Stichter Quits'.
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Like Stichter... Roger quits and goes no higher on 'Stichter Quits'... go ahead, call me a quitter.
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Craig goes up a second time to clean up the gear at the top of the climb... except this time he decides to stay on the left side of the black tide so that he can add a little variety to the route.
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Craig works the left side of the black tide on 'Stichter Quits'.
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Craig soaks in the views from the top of 'Stichter Quits' before coming back down.
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Tom belays Craig as he leads the 5.6 rated 'Double Dip'.
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Craig climbs above a huge flake on 'Double Dip'.
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Heading for that horizontal crack above.
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Craig places some protection... adding a 'quick draw' to a bolt and then running the rope through it.
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Plant those feet and walk them up to the crack.
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Tom is half way up the huge flake.
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Craig is belaying Tom from above.
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Tom nears the top of 'Double Dip'.
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Craig watches as Roger starts to rappel off of 'Double Dip'... the ground is 165 feet below... if you are wondering how I got up top, I hired a helicopter to drop me off up there.
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Did I mention that it was a 165 foot rappel down to earth.
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The rappel was so easy compared to the climb.
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Almost ready to exhale.
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Craig rappells off of 'Double Dip'.
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Craig demonstrates the barefooted rappel... what an amazing day of sport climbing in Joshua Tree National Park.
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