I went to the Desert (Joshua Tree Trip R eport)

“

So at the end of last week I was trying to decide whether to go to the mountains, the coast, or the desert. I decided on the desert and I headed over to Joshua Tree National Park. I had never been to this particular park although I have been on all sides of it. I didn’t expect to like it nearly so much! I know the Mojave Desert well; I’ve driven through it countless times and have lived along its edges. I've hiked and camped in it and now and then find beauty therein but most of the time it’s just a place to pass through to get to somewhere else. But Joshua Tree combines truly fantastic rock formations with mountainous views and of course a huge variety of different plant and animal life. Of all the places I've seen in the Mojave I've loved it the most and I plan to return soon!

On Saturday morning I left my house around 8:00 am and headed out to Porterville. The fog was thick in the San Joaquin Valley and I was glad I would soon be leaving its cold and gloom behind. I drove south to Bakersfield and then east on Hwy 58. As I climbed over Tehachapi Summit, elevation about 4,000’, I left behind the relatively wet side of California and entered the dry desert eastern side.

I stopped for gas in Mojave, I haven’t seen gas for less than $2/gallon in a long time! I was thinking it was too bad most travelers on the highway don’t get to see this quaint town anymore as they built a bypass a year or two ago. Once in Barstow I headed north on I-15 for just a mile or two then took Hwy 247 south. I had never driven on this road and as I left Barstow I also left all the other cars behind. I didn't pass a single car until I got to Lucerne Valley!

I decided to go into the park via the west entrance at the town of Joshua Tree. I showed my National Park Pass to the lady at the entrance station then drove into the park. Wow, the Joshua Trees are so dense that this can be called a forest. And soon enough the famous boulder piles and rock formations came into sight on both sides of the winding park road. I pulled into Hidden Valley Campground but it was full so I went on to Ryan Campground, elevation 4,300', where I found a great camping spot in the rocks.

After setting up my tent, eating a sandwich, and shedding my fleece (it was about 70*), I hopped in my truck and drove east and then south. The site marked, “Cholla Garden” had caught my eye on the park map. Cholla are sometimes called teddy bear cactus and wow, I have never seen so many in one spot in my entire life! This garden is located right on the edge of the transition zone between the higher and cooler Mojave Desert and the lower Colorado or Sonoran Desert. I soon came to learn the differences between the two deserts.

After strolling through the cholla garden, carefully as to not inflict myself with spines, I drove north again and stopped at White Tank Campground. Here there is a short and very worthwhile trail to Arch Rock. This campground is nice but there are few Joshua Trees here.

I headed back towards my campsite as the sun fell lower in the sky. I stopped to walk around the Hall of Terrors and Hidden Valley. Then I drove back to my campsite, watched the sunset, then warmed up some chili for dinner.

The night was very quiet and the stars were wonderful. I had no trouble falling asleep and was awoken many times in the night to hear serenading coyotes. I think it got down to about 40-45*.

I woke up at sunrise and headed out to Keys View, elevation 5,185'. This is an amazing viewpoint if you can catch it on a clear day! About half the time smog from LA obscures the view but when it’s clear you can see all the way south across the Salton Sea into Mexico. You can also see two of the highest mountains in southern California, Mt. San Jacinto and Mt. San Gorgonio. Mt. San Jacinto, at 10,804’, has one of the highest reliefs of any mountain in the Lower 48. It rises sharply from the city of Palm Springs which lies at its feet.

Then I drove back towards camp, stopping to hike the Cap Rock Trail. I made breakfast, maple and brown sugar Malt-o-Meal and Earl Grey tea, stopped to sketch a Joshua Tree, then packed up camp. I drove to the Barker Dam trailhead and hiked this trail, another not-to-be-missed short trail. I saw lots of wildlife including a canyon wren and a cottontail rabbit. Also along this trail are pictographs.

I drove on the Queen Valley Road, one of the many dirt roads in the park, back to the paved park road and stopped at Jumbo Rocks to hike the Skull Rock Trail. I couldn’t quite see the “skull” until a nice gentleman pointed it out to me, lol

Then I drove out the main entrance at Twentynine Palms and stopped at the Visitor Center. It is located at an authentic palm oasis, the Oasis of Mara. There is a nice nature trail there that is worth strolling on as I saw at least 8 different species of birds!

Then it was time to stop for a bite to eat and then I headed home.

Oh, yeah, Joshua Trees are not trees, they’re monocots, they don't have wood or growth rings, and they are in the lily family. Palm Trees are not trees, either ;)

Complete trip report with pictures... http://www.tarol.com/joshuatree.html [img]”

“Great TR and pics! Thanks!”

“This sounds good, I'll check it all out in a bit, uh, so to speak.”

“great pics”

“FANTASTIC report and photos! Joshua Tree rocks.”

“Sweet photos!”

“Thanks, guys - I'm really pleased with my pics, you should see the non-compressed originals :)”

“Wow....thanks for sharing!!!!!!!”

“Did you stop and say hello to my grandma?”

“awsome pics and great report. thanks.”

“Your grandma?”

“I was stationed across the street from Joshua Tree when I was younger. It was never very special to me.”

“JT is my birthplace of my being. its where I found myself. and still travel there in my minds eye. I have 3 award winning B&W framed photos in my room that were taken in JT. I hiked that hidden valley trail and rock scrambled up to sit on the rock ledge that is Hidden Valley Canyon. You can't see it from the trail, cause its hidden. most people stop at the dead end and turn back to the car...not so hidden until you climb up and then down the wall into the canyon.

Great photos...I can't wait to get back there one day”

“Stikmon, just a little bit of exploring in Death Valley and one realizes there are lots and lots of hidden spots. That whole park is just begging to be explored!”

“I thought you went to Joshua Tree...I'm confused, cause your photos went to JT, but did your mind go wandering elsewhere...

But, I do agree...Death Valley is another one of God's Holy places...I've got to get back to Zion. I hope to make that a reality sometime real soon. Travel channel this thurs is showing a show called...Secrets of Zion and Bryce. I caught some of it on sunday, but not all. I'm gonna DVR record it and watch it when I get back from Big Bend.”

“Nice report and great pix! I was just a boy when I saw Joshua Tree NP last.

I've been thinking about touring through some of the old Ghost Towns and doing a series of B&W photos...been looking at Rhyolite...so I could play around in DV too.
There is a lot of damage to the DV roads from the flash flooding earlier this year...190 is a mess.”

“Thanks for the pics and report. Brings back fond memories.”

“Thanks, I've never been there, but now I want to go!”

“I love Joshua Tree. Thank you for the trip report and pictures BearCrossing. It brought back some wonderful memories for me. I am going to go back there!”

“Sorry, Stikmon, yes my mind is on Death Valley as well, I'll be there in a little over a week!”

“WindWalker, Rhyolite is awesome, so is Bodie.”

““Your grandma?”
BearCrossing
5:04:18 PM
12/21/04
ignore this user

She lives in Desert Hot Springs, just over the mountains.”

“Very nice..desert hiking is the best! Its wehre I got my start :)”

“Very nice pictures - nothing like it around here, that's for sure. :)”

“Very nice. I especially liked the petroglyph pic.”

“Thanks everyone :)”

“Hi bearcrossing!

You made my afternoon cup of coffee so much more better! I was drinking it while reading your trip report and enjoying looking at your beautiful pictures of the desert!
One day I do hope to experience Joshua tree..it looks very beautiful.
What a nice campsite you had with all those great rocks all around & 70 degrees I bet that felt great..nice and warm.Is that the normal temperature for this time there?

Thanks so much for sharing!”

“Thanks for sharing. JTNP is one of my favorite parks -- even if some of the rangers do stare at me blankly when I ask about good hiking instead of climbing. If you go again, you should really check out the Covington Flats area. So few people, great hiking and very dense, huge Joshua trees. I believe the largest Joshua tree known is in that area. Anywho, everyone going there should also stop at Crossroads Cafe in the town of Joshua Tree for a meal or at least coffee drinks. Awesome little place. Thanks for the pix, helps me pretend I'm back there now.”

“getagrip, thanks! Next time I will check out Covington Flats. I think I'm going to try an overnight bp trip as well :)”

“I worked the RV show in Quartzsite for KOA, Inc; it was a pretty dismal cold weekend and we even closed up the booth early on Sunday because of the rain. I left Blythe early Monday, I had stayed at the new KOA there. I had planned the extra day so I could drive back to Seligman through Joshua Tree and I had hoped to stop or at least drive by Mojave.



I woke up early and took off. I was surprised it didn't take long to get to JT. I actually got to the south entrance early about 8AM. It was so nice to not have to be anywhere or even answer the phone. I drove slowly and stopped at all the info boards and took lots of pics. The scenery was just awesome. And so quiet, nobody around, nobody else driving through. The sky was bright blue with a few clouds just to give a great contrast to the unadulterated blue. I didn't have time to do any hiking but I saw so many places that beckoned me it was hard to say no and keep driving. The cacti were almost in bloom. Little yellow future explosions of color! It was so relaxing and so inviting, I really wanted to stay, I couldn't so I promised myself I'd be back to explore and relax for more than a few hours.

I stopped and took a quickie hike to jumbo rocks. I loved the quietness and hearing just the birds and me! The smell was so clean and fresh. I really gotta retire soon! It started to cloud up but was still beautiful. I probably only spent 2 or so hours but it was just enough to make me want to come back for a seriously long hike. I was just awestruck.

I drove up towards Amboy and I didn't know that Rte 66 went through there, so instead of going to Mojave I stayed on 66 to try to get a picture of the Rte 66 shield painted on the road for a brochure on my campground. I GOT ONE! It looks so kick butt. It has to be cropped to make it even but...



Pictures are here:
http://community.webshots.com/album/562324187eDtczc?vhost=community
last edited: 1/31/08 1:21:18 PM”

“Next time let us Californians know you're going to be so close.”

“Well I've made a vow to myself that I will take a few days here and there this year to take off. So later on this spring and maybe the fall I will be out that way again and I promise to let you guys know and maybe we can do a little overnighter or lunch!”