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(Kyle Sparks)

Climb White Rastafarian

But first, get comfortable climbing in situations where you might fall

Published: 
Image
(Photo: Kyle Sparks)

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What it is: A classic highball boulder problem in Joshua Tree National Park.

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Why it’s worth it: Joshua Tree should be on every climber’s bucket list. The park has more than 8,000 established routes, including White Rastafarian, an overhanging V2 that requires only moderate technical skill but—with a top-out 23 feet off the ground—a very level head.

How to prep: Get comfortable climbing in situations where you might fall. Last year someone moved the infamous armchair-size rock directly below the route’s crux moves, which made falling less dangerous but also blunted the route’s headiness. (Thankfully for purists, it was recently moved back.) “You want to be a solid 5.11 climber,” says Bob Gaines of , a Joshua Tree climbing school and guiding outfit. “It’s one of the classics, andit’s a scary one.” Weather is ideal for bouldering between October and April. A seven-day park fee is $20; a one-year pass runs just $10 more.

From ϳԹ Magazine, May 2016 Lead Photo: Kyle Sparks

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