Last year I helped organize something I optimistically called the 1st Annual Jtree Tweetup. Climbers from all over the US and Canada came, we had a great time and I’d call it a success. But to really make it earn its name we had to have a 2nd Annual Jtree Tweetup right?
Right.
The plan was similar to last year, in fact scheduling worked out that we chose the same Veteran’s Day week / weekend. I was able to convince a local climbing friend of mine [Michael, who is now on Twitter as @ride395] to come out on Tuesday of that week to help me get some campsites. Fortunately a number of folks were arriving Wednesday as well to help hold down the fort.
So how’d it go? Well here’s a smattering of what I learned:
You don’t have to go to Griffith Park to experience Laserium or to a remote telescope station to view stars, nebulas and detailed views of the moon. Thanks for this discovery goes to Rick (@Jetforme) and his wonderful lasers and telescope and to Dave (@dmasten) for his Pink Floyd loaded iPhone and to both of them plus Aleya (@Blueskeyes207) for their space knowledge.
Patrick (@patrickgensel aka Shoeless Joe) has both good and bad luck. He left his climbing shoes in two different places this trip but got them back. He also left his camerabag with his SLR and phone in it in a car he was hitching a ride in (in the park). It was not recovered while we were in the park but we took him to fill out a form with the rangers and he got a call Monday that the park had it.
The Palm Springs airport is kinda nice.
The Thai place Urban Spoon recommends in Palm Springs is not open anymore.
Royal Siam Thai Food in Joshua Tree is not open on Tuesdays. [of note, at last year’s Jtree Tweetup we learned that Crossroads is not open on Wednesdays].
I’m not bad at this guiding thing but a big group with mixed climbing and Joshua Tree experience can tax the planning brain.
As an event organizer, a chart showing names, approximate arrival times and cars is not too nerdy to have.
Climbing the Manure Pile rock formation (the one the campsites in Ryan Campground are situated around) is fun at night. [Thanks Petzl Tikka Plus 2 and CORE system – review to come!]
Clif Shot flavors with “+ Caffeine†work well for fending off migraines.
I can lead Vorpal Sword with style (once the migraine goes away).
Handwarmers are pretty cool things and I don’t know why I didn’t think about bringing them to Jtree before.
Clif Luna bars with giant matches (provided by nice neighbors who left camp early and gave us stuff) make a cute Birthday Cake for Laurel (@mtsquirrel) [we also said Happy Belated to Adrienne (@adrienneknits)].
You can never have enough firewood in Joshua Tree in November.
Empty boxes of stuff sponsors provided can tide over a fire while someone gets more firewood. Thanks Clif Bar, Action Wipes, Boulder Canyon, Coach’s Oats you kept us from freezing! Thanks also goes to Eastern Mountain Sports but don’t worry, we didn’t burn the hats or stickers 😛
Speaking of sponsors, I learned we should also do plugs for Tweetup goers with our own climbing/outdoors related businesses: Me! (casual clothing, gifts, various water bottles, license plate frames, yoga mats, etc). George (Backclip: a climbing information website ). Aleya (cool climbing nut jewelry, website to come?). Bill (Urbanski Farms, website to come?)
Even if your throat hurts, it’s still worth it to join in on a song you know when it’s being played on the ukelele.
When on the “reach challenged†1st crux of Gunsmoke do not: 1. Make a comment to strangers about your chalk bag being your “spot of color†after they’ve called you a Ninja. 2. Listen to your friends when they are describing your climbing with animal terms and one of them says “giraffeâ€. Doing either may result in FOTCL (Falling Off The Climb Laughing).
A cold Sigg water bottle placed on the head makes a decent migraine distraction, though not so much a stylish hat.
I should take my own advice and drink more water and wear more sunscreen.
I should check all the pockets and folds in all my bags that I brought in case the Flip MinoHD I thought I forgot… is actually there.
No two Tweetups are the same but they all have something special.
Climbers who are on Twitter are pretty darn interesting.
I think there is a demand for the 3rd Annual JtreeTweetup…
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List of climbing areas visited during the 2nd Annual JtreeTweetup:
- Ryan Campground
- Real Hidden Valley
- Hidden Valley Campground
- Atlantis Wall
- Lost Horse
- Barker Dam (Gunsmoke)
- Echo Cove
Pics from my cameras (mostly taken by me, those with me in them have the photographer noted in the captions).