I had a chance to climb at Joshua Tree while on a business trip with a friend. The time, place and routes were planned. DONE.
The time comes, as did a phone call, " I can't make it, but I have hooked you up with Felipe". What?! Wait....
1.) Are you okay?
2.) Who is Felipe?
" An amazing climber. He is beyond capable and has a lot going for him. He has a big trip planned this spring for Madagascar. You are going to have a great time."
I am beyond grateful that my partner has set me up with a climbing partner, but sad to hear that my friend is not well. But a good climbing partner doesn't bail. I call Felipe, a stranger to me, but he was expecting my call. No answer. ::::Sigh::::, hopefully he will respond to my message.
8:37 a.m. (the next morning) "Lisa? It's Felipe...." "FELIPE!" (Yessssssssssssssssssss!)
Pleasantries exchanged, plans were made, details were to be worked out... Climbing was set to happen that weekend, no questions, just come and we are going to climb!
Originally, I wanted an alpine start (3-5 a.m.), but this guide knows when the sun rises. My mile wide grin met his assured stare at 7 a.m. in the Joshua Tree Information Center parking lot. His hand is stretched out with a smile that read " this is going to be some fun". We chat, load gear and personal possessions into his truck and head out. We head into the desert, pull into a parking lot and discuss who we have in common, shiny gear vs. not so shiny gear, future plans and what I climbed the day before. He looks surprised and states "in that case, I am bringing my climbing shoes".
We head down a windy, dusty trail to a sweet crack line heading right, three pitches up. He glides up the wall.
Did he touch the holds?
Wait, Does he even know that he is climbing?
Did he say that he typically climbs in his approach shoes!?
No wonder his movement is effortless, as were his responses to all that I asked of him. He challenged me to answer my own questions, some of which, I could not.
Thank you Felipe, the answers are embedded in my memory, essential tools for climbing.
We summit, have a chat, exchange snacks and I snap photos of a landscape foreign to any east coast visitor during the month of February."How do you feel about scrambling over some rocks to the other side to do some more climbing". SOLD!
We scramble and I rappel into a popular climbing destination, but not enough to turn me away. The lines are many and read "fun". Felipe knows how to make the most of a time crunched day. A flight needed to be made by 7 p.m. at LAX, and I wanted to get in all the miles I could. 4 lines are ascended, 7 total, all between 8 am and 1 pm. SOLID. More than what I could have made happen on my own.
We had loosely decided the best time to finish. Once back to the car, I sadly realized that I needed to get on the road.
Did I accomplish all that I wanted? YES.
Did I see more than I would have on my own. YES.
Did I get to meet up with an accomplished, dedicated, skilled climbing partner. YES+++
This opportunity doesn't happen all that often when a partner has to bail. What type of partner hooks you up with another A++ partner...not many, but mine did. I was out there, hanging, much like a bird on a wire. But I was very fortunate to have met and have climbed with Felipe, a professional who is going to continue onward and upward, effortlessly, as he already does. read more