Joshua Tree

I'm thinking of visiting some friends round there next month - November - and was after a bit of background. Viz, is it lovely. Is it cold. Is there anything else I should know, What's the climbing like. What's the mountain biking like etc.

All info gratefully received.

Ta.

Jon

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OutdoorsMagic Editor | jon@outdoorsmagic.com 

been very close to it
although I've not been in the national park itself the scenery is similar for a VERY big area.
if i remember the local stuff I read theres lots of trails for hiking and bikes through all the joshua trees (naturally!)
I used to know someone who went there every year doing routes, there must be a guide book.

There's a guy over on the board on outdoorreview.com that lives pretty close to it. His name is Ed. Try asking there for people with first hand experience. Gorp says that it's a great climbing place from September to May on http://www.gorp.com/gorp/resource/US_National_Park/ca_joshu.HTM but I guess you found that already if you've done a google search.
--Mjausson

Spent 2 weeks in Joshua Tree climbing and hiking (park permit only allows a 2 week stay). We went end of October - daytime temps are in 70/80's very pleasent (but it did snow one day), night time temps below freezing. It gets dark dead early so it's worthwhile stocking up with fire wood (not from within the park). Camped at Hidden Valley campground - a great place to camp but you need to get there early to make sure you get a pitch - you may have to hang around waiting for someone to move and then jump in the spot quickly! The park rangers are very strict on the numbers of camping spots so if you camp in a spot that is'nt allocated - they'll move you on. The climbing is brilliant - excellent bouldering around the campground and awesome routes of all grades. There's loads of old mining trails about - so the biking should be good - but I'd check first - there is so many regulations in the park that you may find yourself in breach. Theres no drinking water in the park so you need to stock up in Joshua Tree town (20 miles fromm campground)- theres a tap outside of the climbing shop on the corner of the road up to the park. JT is a great place - enjoy

Hi Charlie, thanks for the info. Unfortunately we had to cancel the trip due to w*rk commitments - someone else's w*rk commitments, but we'll be out there some time in the next year or so, so it won't be wasted.

Cheers

Jon

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OutdoorsMagic Editor | jon@outdoorsmagic.com 

Hmmmmm......

Glad you've started this thread as that's somewhere I've always wanted to visit too.

M