So, I can be a huge procrastinator when it comes to climbing. Lately, majority of my climbing trips involve laziness. I spend most of my time munching on food, sleeping, soaking up the sun on hammocks… and now capturing squirrels. It must be the summer mentality, carefree and chilling. This summer has been really fantastic, I am enjoying myself thoroughly.

Oh yes, and a lot of time spent enjoying the wilderness with good beer.

As shown in the video above, we spent a few hours attempting to trap a squirrel for NO reason at all. Mind you, I am from Suburbia SoCal. I consider this hunting. The wilderness environment placed me in an imaginative setting where I harnessed my inner Les Stroud. Time to bring home the squirrel bacon.
But what to do, if we actually captured the squirrel? Skin it, then make squirrel jerky? Mmm nom nom. Haha no, we would let it go. Anyways, there was absolutely no way we were capable of capturing that fat squirrel with our light little plastic bowl. “A” for effort?

Me, attempting to be incognito. Look away… I’m only a bush. A very gray bush.

I did get some climbing in yesterday! This is Emerald City; A gorgeous piece of lichen covered rock.

Warm-up the muscles, and keen-up the senses.

The weather has been fantastic these past few days! Thick clouds emerged to cool down the inland and desert floors. Below is a view of Palm Springs from the upper Tramway Station (8500ft). On a rare clear day you can actually see Joshua Tree National Park from the upper tram station!

Keep cool, and climb on everyone!

–> Natalie Duran