In the Wild: Aiguille De Joshua Tree

In the Wild: Aiguille De Joshua Tree - FITS®

May 24, 2017

As we approached the end of the dirt road we were met with an “Authorized Vehicles Only” sign.

The van’s high beams illuminated the road past the sign that seemed to go on for miles and we could see headlamps in the distance directly to the left of us. We pulled over to a trailhead parking lot we had seen earlier on our drive and began packing our things. Nick had mentioned the Aiguille De Joshua Tree to me earlier that week and with very limited service we were able to find some vague directions online, accompanied with some tips from climbers in the park. Our plan that night was to find the Aiguille so that we could shoot it for sunrise the following morning, so with that goal in mind we began walking in complete darkness.

According to the directions we had found, we needed to hike as if we were going to Atlantis then hang a right instead of going into the rock formations on the left, like so many climbers do throughout the day. We had been told that once we were on the trail we “couldn’t miss it” which boosted our confidence to try to do this at night. Unfortunately for us, this only applies if you set out looking for the Aiguille in broad daylight because at night everything looks exactly the same. With a long day of climbing under our belts the search for this ONE rock in the park seemed pointless so late at night. For about an hour we walked through Atlantis before both Nick and I called it quits and headed back to the van for some overdue sleep.

The next morning we woke up and packed our climbing gear. Like little kids on Christmas morning we were stoked for what we had wished for the day before. We figured we’d do some climbing in Atlantis and run into the Aiguille De Joshua Tree at some point during the day. A few minutes into our hike towards Atlantis both of us face palmed as we looked out into the distance. There it was standing tall in the sky shadowing all the other boulders around it. We had missed it when it was sitting right in front of us the entire night. Considering it was late in the morning we decided to make it our last stop that day for sunset before we left the park that night.

With this new plan in mind we continued over to Atlantis and climbed a couple of routes over the next couple hours. The sun was unrelenting most of the morning as we climbed in direct sunlight until about 11am. By around noon we were in the shade and Nick was even up to free-solo a couple of routes on the wall before we headed back to the van to repack.

At 5:30pm after a much needed shower and very late lunch we made our way to the Aiguille De Joshua Tree. The sun was starting to set and we could tell it was going to be a magical sunset; a photographer’s dream. We both quickly dialed in our cameras to the perfect settings and Nick climbed what is also known as The Finger Of Hercules. While Nick made his way up the formation I bounced back and forth between boulders trying to get the perfect shot.

To this day I’ve seen Nick stand on cliff edges in Yosemite, free solo climbing routes and rappel thousands of feet off the ground and still cannot comprehend his non-existent fear of heights. He stood up on top of the Aiguille with very little hesitation and as the wind blew I could only imagine how much I’d be freaking out if I was the one standing in his shoes. As the wind picked up and the sun was beginning to hide behind the giant boulders in the distance I snapped the picture that we had been waiting for all day long. Camera in hand I signaled to Nick who was still casually just hanging out at the top of the Aiguille to come down.

Success! An easy down climb, a short hike to the van and an hour drive later we found ourselves inhaling food at a Denny's right outside the park. If you ever find yourself in Joshua Tree the Aiguille De Joshua Tree is a must do…even if you don’t feel like standing on top of it like Nick did.

Sock Sizing

The Perfect Fit Starts With the Right Size.

Your sock size shouldn’t be a guessing game. Our socks range from small to double XL, but the best way to know the perfect fit for you is to match your shoe size to the chart on the left. That way, you’ll know the size you select will give you the fit and feel you expect.

Between sizes? Go with your gut, but rest assured that your socks will still fit great. If you receive your order and find yourself wishing you’d gone up or down a size, just let us know. We’ll happily send you replacements for your preferred size.

Concerned about laundry mix-ups? All FITS® socks are coordinated by color and size, based on the colors you see on the size chart. So, you won’t have to worry about mixing up your sizes with the other FITS® wearers in your home. (But stray socks mysteriously going missing in the dryer? Unfortunately, we can’t help with that.)

The Light Hiker is perfect for everything from big adventures to everyday wear.

How Do You Determine Sock Size?

Sock sizes are typically measured in inches, not by your shoe size. So, a sock size 6-8 will comfortably fit someone whose feet are between six and eight inches long. However, at FITS®, we make it easy for you to choose the ideal sock size without having to measure your foot. Simply use our sock size conversion chart based on your shoe size to select the right fit for you.

How Do You Measure Your Foot for Socks?

To measure your foot for socks, measure the length from the heel of your foot to the tip of your longest toe. The measurement in inches correlates to your sock size. For example, if your foot is 10 inches long, a sock size 9-11 should fit you comfortably. At FITS®, you can skip this step and find your sock size based on your shoe size using our conversion chart.

What Is the Sock Size Conversion?

The sock size conversion refers to sock size compared to shoe size. While all companies may vary slightly on which size socks to purchase based on your shoe size, you can always measure your foot to find the right fit for you.

What is Sock Size to Shoe Size?

Because sock sizes are determined by the length of your foot in inches vs. your shoe size, shoe and sock sizes differ. The FITS® sock size to shoe size conversion is as follows:

FITS® Sock Size Small = Shoe Size 3½ - 5½ men’s and 5 - 7 women’s
FITS® Sock Size Medium = Shoe Size 6 - 8 men’s and 7½ - 9½ women’s
FITS® Sock Size Large = Shoe Size 8½ - 10 men’s and 10 - 11½ women’s
FITS® Sock Size Extra Large = Shoe Size 10½ - 12½ men’s and 12 - 14 women’s
FITS® Sock Size Double-Extra Large = 13 - 15½ men’s and 14½ - 16½ women’s

Knowing this makes it easy to choose the ideal sock size based on your shoe size without measuring your foot.

What Age is Sock Size 9-12?

Sock sizes typically don’t correlate with age. For kids, age can be a general indicator of what size sock they’ll need, but everyone is different. An adult sock size 9-12 fits anyone whose feet are approximately nine to twelve inches long. For kids’ sock sizing, check with the company to find exact details to ensure your little one gets the perfect fit.

Got more questions about finding the perfect sock size for you? Let’s talk.