Perseid Meteor Shower

Posted on August 13, 2012 by NDTitanLady

The Perseids radiates from an area in the solar system near the constellation Perseus. We observe the Perseid meteor shower when the Earth travels past this area of scattered cosmic dust. For the past 2000 years The Perseid Meteor Shower has been in peak observance every year between July – August. Activity is primarily visible in the northern-hemisphere of the globe.

My proximal location to view the night sky with minimal no no light pollution is at Joshua Tree National Park. This was my first year going out to observe the meteor shower. The peak night was this past weekend, August 11-13. It was an unbelievable experience. The sky averaged about 60+ “shooting stars” an hour. Collectively I witnessed ~200 meteors skimming surface of the earth.

During a summer day, this high desert has been reaching temps averaging at 106F. So, I left home and started to head out to J-Tree at about 6pm. Apparently everyone else had the same idea, because by the time we arrived at 7pm we nabbed one of the last campsites in Hidden Valley Campground.

The conditions were almost perfect. There was patchy clouds when we arrived, but to our luck the sky was completely clear for a few hours. When a few clouds arrived, around 2am, they were a light layer of quick moving clouds.The moon did not appear until 1:30AM, and when it arrived it was a small crescent moon. Throughout the whole night, the sky was sparkling from an unfathomable amount of cosmic stars.

The peak of the shower was from 3am-dawn. The whole night the temperature stayed at a wonderful 75F. We had crashpads, blankets, and cots spread out on top of this flat area of rock adjacent to our campsite. It was a hard task attempting to keep my friends awake. As I babbled on about the wonders of the universe, they kept on saying “Wake me up in 15 minutes ok?”. Apparently I was super hyped on psyche because I was up and awake the entire night.

It was 3am, and all my friends were fast asleep and snoring away. I attempted to drift into dream scape too, but it was not happening. I had this unnerving anxious feeling the whole night. There were moments of wonderful self-contemplation about my whole life situation. To avoid self-loathing about my never ending education, relationships, health, future, etc. ..I finally pushed myself out of my cot. I then decided to take a night walk with my camera. I scrambled high up to the edge of HVCG to see the views from above.

There were moments of freak out, where I needed to get on top of this boulder. My trad skills kicked in and I stuck my fist in the crack to get up and over. As I slid my finger into the crack the tip of my fingers touched something alive… as soon as I pulled my hand out of the crack a cluster of bats few out. One flew directly into my face, with my mouth agape. yea. I was molested by a bat.

Eventually I got to the top, and I took this picture with a shutter timed release. With the exposure open for one minute, I had to run over to the boulder in distance and held hippy yoga pose for 45 seconds. I tried to keep as still as I could to get the shot. Holding the tree pose for 45 seconds for me is challenging, somehow I managed to not loose my balance and fall off the cliff. When I got back to my camera to close the shutter, I took a peak at the screen. I saw that I actually captured a meteor passing by when I took the picture. This IS my favorite picture I have ever shot.

In the morning I did manage to get some kind of “climbing” in. While wandering around, I found this huge boulder elevated on top of a gully.

I had my own Indiana Jones moment… “RUN, GO NOW. I’ll hold it off as long as I can.”

I also had a run in with the wildlife. This toad is Bufo punctatus, or “Red-spotted Toad”. The name is straight forward enough. He was chilling near the bushes when I went night bouldering at False Heuco. This is the first time I have ever seen a toad in Joshua Tree. The past few days a storm rolled over the high desert. The thick thunder storm dumped water onto the desert floor and flooded streets. So I wasn’t surprised seeing this guy in the middle of the wash.

Click on the picture to see detailed image of this amazingly gruesome toad.
Hidden Valley Campground at 4AM

The Outback at 5AM

It was amazing to see all of that in a place I love. So next year in August, I HIGHLY suggest you go out and watch the showers. It’s nice to escape from the city lights as much as possible. As soon as the sun rose, I left quickly before the sun shed light on the campsite. Until next time JTree. Love you.

Take time to explore & Climb ON everyone!

–Natalie Duran

This is what happens when you leave me alone in the wilderness…

Posted on May 27, 2012 by NDTitanLady

I make embarawkward (embarrassing + awkward) videos…

J-tree season is coming to a close until later this year. I started my memorial weekend with a whole Friday to a solo bouldering trip out in Josh. Personally, I like to climb solo when projecting a boulder problem. I’ve actually sent all my projects solo, leaving the air as my trusty spotter (thank god for low-balls). I like to project solo for few reasons. I’m the one controlling my own body. I would like to think I know how my body moves and works. There is a sense of satisfaction knowing I finished a climb by figuring out the beta on my own. Also, I am highly considerate of people’s time. I could spend hours at a boulder, and if I have others along with me who climb at different levels… I would feel rushed to move on. When I climb on my own, I don’t have to worry so much about timing.

I didn’t spend the day projecting anything per se… but I did have a relaxing day fill with rocks, chillin’, bomb lunch, and the black keys. I hiked out to the Planet X circuit. I’ve never been out bouldeirng in this area so I hiked in pretty psyched and not knowing where anything is.

Which probably led me to this “accidental” free solo. I walked up to the spire to touch the climb. Climbing crack puts me in a focused zone, consciousness set in when I saw a bolt in front of my face. At that moment, the best decision is to just down climb whatever I got myself into. Not ignorant, even if some would like to believe so. So whatever you want to express about soloing, for now please keep it to yourself. I don’t encourage soloing whatsoever. It’s a personal decision for me… realizing risks and all.

There are some amazing climbs and quality rock out there in Planet X circuit. If anyone heads out to Jtree and hasn’t gone to this area, I highly suggest it. It is exactly 1.2 miles heading south east from Intersection rock, the turnout will be on the left hand side if you are entering form the West Park entrance. There is an awesome Access Fund trail that leads you straight to the Planet X circuit.

I also went back to HVC and touched scatterbrain again… yea, still kicks my a**
I will continue to work on this one, its my mega anti-style for the left movements of the climb. Slopers, pinches, heel hooks, and big moves.

Keep your passion & Climb on!

-Natalie Duran

Joshua Tree Shenanigans

Posted on May 25, 2012 by NDTitanLady

Climbing can be serious business, and it can be for pure fun. Projecting can turn oneself into a dark beast. No one or nothing else matters but SENDING. It’s always important to have a balance in having serious and fun climbing trips to prevent insanity.

I appreciate Joshua Tree because i’ve met and bonded with so much great people. I’m really glad i’m a photowhore and capture as much precious moments as possible. Some of the most memorable trips i’ve been on, involved gooofin’ around. Enjoy the following shenanigans.

One solo trip out to J-Tree I attempted to Climb Inquisition [V6] roof crack boulder problem that goes out to an off-width section to the top out. That day symptoms of the flu were setting in, so I slept on my crashpads for 3 hours. When I woke up, there was this tortoise with a DEATH STARE inches from my face. Creeper was watching me sleep. He slowly turned around, and I decided to harass him before he left.

The video that inspired me to post is from the video below. The west entrance of Joshua Tree has a Santanas Mexican Food Restaurant as soon as you turn left out of Park Ave. Santanas is infamous for their butt blasting california burritos. These gigantic $5 California burritos are packed with carne asada, french fries, cheese, cilantro, sour cream, and your choice of salsa. The burrito isn’t the important part of this story… but i’m really hungry right now and my taste bud nostalgia is raging at the moment. ANYWAYS I love that outdoor climbing trip. I’ve experienced that climbing trips easily convert acquaintances into besties within a day. We all were highly entertained by the 25 cent fake mustaches. Once I placed that furry tape onto my upper lip, my personality changed into Senior Pedo. Below is Senor Pedo in action.

Who knew 25 cents can source hours of entertainment for a group of climbers.

-> Thank you for joining me through this shenanigan filled trip to Joshua Tree National Park. Love, Natalie Duran.

Who says you can’t climb with a smile on… only if its easy trad.

You know its peak Josh season when you have enough boulders running around to level out the gap at the Lizzy Boulder in the Outback.

This climb is called “Heinous Anus”, so appropriately named. Where the start hold is literally a hole you can fist in. There is also a divot that helps if you kinda finger the hole. No pun indeed, it just happens that way. Just the tip. “Hey bru, get your banana out of my hole… i’m trying to climb”