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.
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?
Gold Mines & Pinyon Pines - Joshua Tree National Park
Most folks who park at the Desert Queen Mine/Pine City parking area generally head off to see the mines, or maybe Eagle Cliff hideout, or out to Pine City. But being in a contrarian mood, I decided to head southeast into the ruff, to see what I could find.
Hexahedron Mine - Joshua Tree National Park
…and headed east into Fried Liver Wash. After about 100 yards, I went back to the truck and got some more water. I'd be glad later that I did.
Stone Ruins in Fried Liver Wash - Joshua Tree National Park
Ok, what I want to know is, who came up with the name "Fried Liver" wash and why? Was it some old prospector wandering down the wash, dreaming of his favorite meal?
Queen Valley Pictograph Boulder - Joshua Tree National Park
There are hundreds, if not thousands of large boulders in Queen Valley. And one looks much the same as another, so what’s the big deal?”