The first time I saw Joshua Tree it was on a quick trip to my brothers wedding, and I was enthralled. As a climber, it looked like a playground. When I moved to California, J-Tree was nearly a second home for me in winter, I spent enough time out there I knew most of the regulars. I’ve had a lot of good times and good adventures, and still love getting out there even if it’s changed a lot in the nearly 30 years I’ve been going. It’s a bit in danger of being loved to death, so if you go, please treat it gently and kindly and with all the respect the delicate environment deserves.