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Subject: So High
Rating: V5
Quality: 4 stars
Location: Joshua Tree
Notes: Has a reputation for breaking bones!
Study: This is one boulder problem that
really lives up to its name, as it is no doubt one of
the scariest highballs in SoCal. Put up in the early 80’s
by the legendary John Bachar, first toproped, then soloed.
Kevin Thaw added a V9 sit start in the mid nineties. This
low start suffered a broken hold, and then was re-established
by Dan Mills at a solid V11. Reports indicate that this
low start has crumbled once again. V13 anybody?
The original start, however, is in no jeopardy of crumbling
soon. Most need a cheat stone to reach the high first
holds, consisting of thin patina flakes at the base of
a shallow crack. A huge move gets you started on this
epic climb. A couple of jugs and a few more long moves
gets you to the notorious lip move roughly 22ft. OTD.
Its this move turning the lip that defines So High, and
even Joshua Tree bouldering for that matter, as a lexus
of bold climbing in Southern California.
-R. Miramontes
Photos: Miramontes collection
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