Joshua Tree National Park in California is such an awesome place to be. Whether you are camping or just driving through for a quick look, its worth the time and effort it takes to get there.
At my campsite in Hidden Valley, I noticed this reflection of the rocks in the windows of my new Subee. She is a great camper, and has already taken me to some great places in the United States!
Joshua trees thrive in Joshua Tree National Park. The Joshua tree, or Yucca brevifolia, is a member of the Agave family and takes on weird, almost grotesque shapes as it grows. It is considered to be a monocot, like the fan palm. It is a slow grower and only grows 1/2 inch to 3 inches a year.
The rock formations we see today in Joshua Tree occurred long ago. Wind, water and chemical changes in the rocks helped form these huge boulders.
Its so incredible to just put on your shoes, take one step out of your campsite and you are in the desert. With so many places to explore, its difficult to know where to begin.
As for me, I always begin at the beginning. In other words I explore my immediate surroundings first, then get out the park map and explore some of the trails. Over the years, I have been on nearly all the trails, so now I usually just explore the surrounding desert.
Jumping cholla cactus are beautiful, almost frightening cactus, that break off in pieces and embed sharp spines in the skin, clothing and fur of any unwary creature that brushes against it.
Strange rock formations are everywhere!
Joshua Tree National Park is a wilderness park that is preserved by the National Park System. No wood gathering, rock collecting or plant transfers of any kind are allowed. For a collector like myself those are harsh words. But I firmly believe it is best to protect the park for all to enjoy; therefore I just explore and take pictures!
This particular rock formation is one of the favorites I always stop and see.
Behind my campsite there is an open area that is awesome to explore. Quite a few rock climbers gather together in small groups to free climb the boulders, spires and huge rock formations.
I had great fun jumping around, going up and down the rocks, looking in the holes and watching the rock climbers. Never a dull moment in this place.
A good example of a Joshua Tree, tall, stately, poky and beautiful.
Directly behind my campsite, huge boulders and carved mountains of granite beckon people of all ages to climb up to the top. Early one evening a crowd of young adults held a party directly above me. At first I didn't know what was going on as young men and women came out of every corner of the park to climb the rocks and be together. After listening to their conversations, I realized they were just coming to have fun and get to know each other. One girl came on crutches, and had no trouble at all getting up there and playing the impromptu game they had planned.
Morning sunrise from my campsite. I didn't see any of last nights party goers up early for the morning sunrise show!
One day I took a hike out to Barker Dam. Along the trail I spotted this scraggly Joshua tree who reminded me of some of the rock climbers I met! The rock climbers are an interesting sub culture, who truly care about each other, and are more than willing to share their knowledge with each other. Lots of dreadlocks, an overpowering urge to climb, reggae music, and pot smoking seem to set them apart from other groups.
Up at the dam there was no water, just dry sand. California has been in such a drought that all the water in the dam dried up. I have been there before when water filled the dam, and even found an elderly lady skinny dipping in it. No it was not me.....dont worry. Hopefully the water will collect again and nourish the plants and animals.
Since there was no water, I traversed the dry lake bed and walked back into the desert. It was beautiful, exotic, mesmerizing.
Even old dead trees look amazing to me. All this to say, the desert is a wonderful place to visit, explore and camp in. Heres to all the desert rats who agree with me! Hooray!