TREE

JOSHUA

Rock Climbing

Joshua Tree
March 22-25, 2024

California

Wheelchair Icon

Skill Level:
No experience necessary!

Level 3

Accessibility Rating:
1 = Least Accessible
5 = Most Accessible

Rope Icon

Category:
Rock Climbing

Tent Icon

Lodging:
Camping

Group Size Icon

Group Size:
15 – 20

COST: $225 per person

Limited Space Available!

OVERVIEW

Paradox Sports is heading to Joshua Tree!

Nestled deep in the desert of Southern California, Joshua Tree National Park is known the world over for its namesake Joshua trees, that look like they could have come straight from a Dr. Seuss book, as well as its beautifully featured and patina’d Monzogranite rock formations. These enormous grippy granite rock piles provide thousands of climbing routes for all levels of experience and ability, with largely short and flat, albeit sandy approaches.

The wild landscape combined with mild temperatures during winter and spring make it a popular destination among climbers and tourists alike. We will be camping and climbing here the weekend of March 22-25 and we hope you can join us!

ACCESSIBILITY

3 out of 5: Many approaches are short, but on sandy or uneven trails and some of the formations have bouldery bases. The trail accessibility for chair users and those with limited mobility could be difficult, but participants will have ample support in traveling over this terrain by staff, guides and volunteers. Even with support, participants should have a base level of comfort traveling in this type of terrain. The climbing ranges from less-than-vertical to vertical (not much overhanging), so some participants may want additional body padding or abrasion protection (climbing tape, crack gloves, arm/leg pads, etc).
Paradox Sports strives to serve all individuals regardless of ability, and encourages individuals considering this program to review our Essential Eligibility Criteria here. If you have specific questions about this program, please contact us at info@paradoxsports.org.
If you have any questions on the approach/climbing/camping accessibility, or need any specific climbing/camping gear, please contact sam@paradoxsports.org

TRIP SCHEDULE

NOTE: This itinerary is subject to change.
A finalized schedule will be emailed to you before the trip.

FRIDAY

4PM: arrive at campsite
6PM: welcome dinner and program overview
8PM: campfire (if seasonally allowed)

SATURDAY

7:30AM: breakfast at camp
9AM – 4PM: full day of rock climbing (pack your own lunch)
4PM-6PM: free time
6PM: Dinner
8PM: campfire

SUNDAY

7:30AM: breakfast at camp
9AM – 4PM: full day of rock climbing (pack your own lunch)
4PM-6PM: free time
6PM: Dinner
8PM: campfire

MONDAY

8AM: breakfast at camp
8AM-11AM: Breakdown camp, pack up and depart

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

We encourage participants to have basic outdoor experience and at minimum an introductory understanding of either rock climbing. Each year we welcome first-time climbers into our community, right alongside some of the best in the world. There will be routes available for a wide variety of skill levels, and coaches to help you succeed – whatever your goal may be. Our climbing will range from 5.7-5.10, with the majority of routes falling around the 5.8-5.9 range.
Most campgrounds in the park are developed, but dry and somewhat primitive, meaning no running water or electricity. Campgrounds are not ADA-compliant, but we have camped in similar spots many times, and are familiar with adapting to the challenges they present. There are vault-toilet bathrooms, picnic tables and flat areas for tents and most of the areas should be navigable for everyone, possibly with some assistance from volunteers or staff. As we are “car-camping” (not backpacking in), all program members should plan on being prepared with gear / layers for both good and poor weather, including hot sun to rain (or very rare, snow). Since we will be in the desert, it could be quite hot during the day and chilly overnight. We will do our best to set up climbs in a mixture of sun and shade, based on real-time conditions during the trip. We have extra tents, sleeping bags and sleeping pads if you don’t have your own.
If you have any questions on the approach/climbing/camping accessibility, or need any specific climbing/camping gear, please contact sam@paradoxsports.org
All participants and climbing assistants are responsible for their transportation to and from the event as well as during the weekend.
Joshua Tree is located North of Palm Springs in south central California, due East of Los Angeles by roughly 130 miles.
Paradox Sports can help connect you with rideshare options with other participants or climbing assistants joining, depending on ride availability. During registration you will have the option to request carpool, and include where you will be coming from.
The closest metropolitan areas and airports within driving distance are:
•    Palm Springs International Airport – 1 hour
•    Ontario, CA – 1 hour 40 mins
•    Long Beach, CA – 2 hours 15 mins
•    Los Angeles Internatioanal Airport – 2 1/2 hours
•    Burbank, CA – 2 1/2 hours
•    San Diego International Aiport – 2 hours 45 mins
•    Las Vegas – 3 hours
We encourage climbers to bring their own personal gear if possible, including a harness, helmet, and climbing shoes. All group gear, including ropes, anchor material, bouldering pads will be provided. Climbers will also need to bring all personal camping gear, including tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad and appropriate clothing. Paradox Sports has a limited range of climbing shoes, helmets, harnesses, and camping gear available to loan if you need to borrow please indicate in your registration. You can see a full packing list for trips at the button above, and we are happy to answer any questions about gear that you might have!
Paradox will provide Friday night dinner, Saturday/Sunday breakfast, lunch and dinner, and Monday breakfast. Individuals are responsible for packing their own lunches and snacks during the day at the crag (We will have build your own lunch options and snacks available). We will be bringing all of our food, water, etc in and do not plan on resupplying during the weekend, so if you have allergies or dietary restrictions, please include that in your registration.
Due to the nature of this program, climbing assistants should have previous experience on a Paradox Sports trip, attended a Paradox Sports volunteer training, Adaptive Climbing Initiative course, and/or be an experienced climber. We encourage all assistants to have experience in the outdoors. Assistants are expected to belay, be comfortable assisting others through variable terrain, and have at least an introductory understanding of climbing and the associated equipment. Paradox Sports reserves the right to assign assistants to appropriate roles based on the assessment of experience, skills, comfort and overall ability.
Assistants register through the link above, and select “Assistant Climber Registration”. The cost for assisting with the same as the cost for adaptive climbers. As a non-profit, we need to cover our cost to operate and this includes both participants and assistants pitching in to cover trips costs. Often the lines between “participant” and “assistant” are indistinguishable as we enjoy a weekend of climbing as a community. Registration fees for everyone cover food, lodging, equipment, professional guides, extra programming, insurance, and other overhead for planning the trip. It takes a lot to make these programs succeed – we thank you for your contribution both physically and financially.
If you are an AMGA certified guide and want to volunteer guide time on any of our programs, please contact our Program Manager Sam Sala at sam@paradoxsports.org.

What’s Included:

•    Professional guides and instruction
•    Camping and Guide Fees
•    Meals: Friday dinner; Saturday/Sunday breakfast, lunch and dinner; Monday breakfast
•    Gear: Technical rock climbing equipment (please indicate your gear needs in your registration)

What’s Not Included:

•    Transportation: All participants and volunteers are responsible for getting to and from the event, as well as transportation during the weekend.
•   Guardian / Partner registrations: Each registration is for one individual only. If your friends, significant other, guardian or personal aid would like to join, we ask that they register as a volunteer for the trip and help cover the costs of lodging, meals, logistics, guides, etc. and that they are eager and willing to be an active part of the community for the weekend!
•   Alcohol is not included, and not permitted while on Paradox Sports programs.
* For information on financial assistance please see more details here.
Unfortunately, due to the nature of our programs, Paradox Sports has a no pets policy.  If you have a service animal that you plan to bring with you on a program, please be sure to let us know in advance and familiarize yourself with this Service Animal Agreement.  We will require a signed copy of this agreement from anyone bringing a service dog with them on the trip.  If you bring any animals on a program that are not service animals, you may be asked to leave without reimbursement.

We have a cancellation policy to ensure the maximum number of climbers can attend and spots do not go unused.

If you cancel:

•    2 weeks or more before the event, you will receive a full refund of your registration fees unless costs were incurred by Paradox Sports; in that case, we may retain 10% of your registration fee.
•   Less than 2 weeks before the event and we cannot fill your spot, you will be charged 50% of the registration fee.
•   Without notice (no-show) your registration fee is non-refundable and we will retain the full fee.
•   For cancellations due to emergency situations and special cases, please contact us to discuss options. We will work with you for the best solution.
*If you are asked to leave any Paradox Sports event by staff due to inappropriate behavior, you will not be refunded any fees in association with the trip or event, no matter the duration that you were in attendance. 

Questions? Please contact us at info@paradoxsports.org or by phone 720-638-5593