Joshua Tree National Park
A drive through Joshua Tree National Park might take a couple hours, viewing the park from the road. An exploration of the park would take a lifetime. Joshua Tree National Park has over 550,000 acres of wilderness filled with a variety of plants and animals that make their home in this land shaped by strong winds, unpredictable torrents of rain, and climatic extremes. Every now and then, man intrudes in this wilderness and leaves his brief, passing mark among the surreal geologic features that cover the landscape. Let’s go see what we can find.
Snow in the Desert? - Joshua Tree National Park
Yes, it can snow in Joshua Tree National Monument. And when it does, it turns the desert landscape into a magical winter wonderland. Something that if you ever get the chance to see in person, move heaven and earth to do so.
Hidden Valley Found! - Joshua Tree National Park
I pulled into a rather large parking lot near where my research had led me to believe was near an entrance to the famous “Hidden Valley” of Joshua Tree National Park.... I was determined to be the first to find the secret valley where desperado outlaws stashed their stolen cattle.
Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon - Joshua Tree National Park
It wasn’t too hot, it wasn’t too cold. It was just right, for an afternoon wander-bout amongst a few favorite spots in the park. Who could have guessed that I would See the Elephant?
Queen Valley Prospects Camp - Joshua Tree National Park
Hiking to Nolina Ridge, will I make it? Are those gold mines? What’s with all the wildflowers?
The Desert isn’t Dead - Joshua Tree National Park
Back in early May, opportunity presented itself and said, “Hey, your aunt and uncle will be in Twentynine Palms for a couple days, it would be great to spend some time with them and show off your vast knowledge of neat places to visit in the park.”
GoPro or Go Home - Joshua Tree National Park
With the really wet weather this past winter, the rain, the snow, the “precip,” many folks were saying those magical words……super bloom.
The Barbed Wire Trail - Joshua Tree National Park
Once the hiking boots hit the trail, anywhere in Joshua Tree National Park, toss the game plan out the window. Oh, you may come back to it and somehow end up where you had set out to go (often with a <squirrel!> side trip that turns out to be more interesting than the original goal), or you may get lost and die alone in the unforgiving Mojave.
Yucca brevifolia - Joshua Tree National Park
No trail, just open JT environs with cholla, yucca, cactus, sticker bushes, Joshua Trees and rocks. You never know what will turn out to be the focus on a hike like this, one with no real planning or destination in mind. So I set out to see what I could find.
PC - The Boogie-Man - Joshua Tree National Park
The Boogie-man, long known to visitors of the monument, is at the edge of the main road, peeking over a rock as you pass by