Joshua Tree  4/5-7/98
Family road trip in the new minivan (much easier for the kids to
sleep in this than in the station wagon!).  Scoured Jumbo Rocks,
Belle, and White Tank for campspots, but no luck (Saturday night/
spring break).  Drove out to BLM land on I-10 and bivvied.
In the morning, Renata led everyone but me on a pre-breakfast climb
of the nearest semi-mountain!
- The Eye 5.1  Clint 4th classed; realized on his way up that the
  crux was too reachy for the kids!  Skyler made it to the crux,
  tried a couple of times to reach holds, and then downclimbed.
  Renata made it midway through the hardest chimney/stem section
  (lower than Skyler), then downclimbed/lowered.
Found a campsite at White Tank, after scouring all the other
campgrounds except Indian Cove (nearly got skunked!).  We had
lots of fun exploring the desert/formations/talus caves, and finding
not one but two "white tanks" (dams/small reservoirs).  Neglected
to "rock down" our tent on the first morning; the wind blew
it over and quickly ripped up the fly.  It didn't rain, and the
weather was fairly nice.
- The Sentinel "descent route" 4th class.  (This is the small
  formation in Real Hidden Valley with Illusion Dweller).  The whole
  family summitted on this one, although there was some minor moaning
  when the kids realized it is harder and scarier to downclimb!
Had a soak/splash session at Desert Hot Springs Spa, since the kids
seemed to prefer swimming (and playing in the sand) to climbing!
- Intersection Rock SE Face 5.3  Clint 4th classed.  Lance made
  it about 15' to where it got a bit hard.  Then his lack of
  prior experience with how the rope really works, lowering, etc.
  had him a bit concerned.  But Nancy helped him lower down.
  Renata learned how to chimney, turn around in a chimney, remove
  a Friend (well 1 out of 2).  We got stopped on the second pitch,
  where the chimney/stem was a bit too wide.  Better luck next time.
  It took her a little while to remember how to lower down (at a
  very "spectacular" spot), but she got it done, so it turned out
  pretty good.
Finished off the trip with a long day at Disneyland, and a long
sleep on the drive home for the kids.