Friday, August 5, 2016

Joshua Tree, CA

After spending the weekend in San Diego with relatives, we are back on the road early Monday morning headed for Joshua Tree National Park in the high desert. As a kid, I grew to hate deserts trapped in the back seat of a car sans air conditioning on family trips back and forth to Texas over summer breaks. Both the oppressive heat and my pesky younger brother were punishing. However, in my 20's on my first back-packing trip to the palm canyons in northern Baja, I discovered deserts can be wonderful.

On that trip, we left San Diego long before sunrise. As we drove through the desert the multitude of stars in the clear black sky blinked down on us.  By the time we stopped at the base of a canyon and donned our packs, I wasn't so sure about this hike through the dusty forbidding terrain. After an hour or so as we entered the canyon and the walls  closed in, we came to palm tree lined running water. As I looked up, the palms heads were framed against an electric blue sky. It was stunning. Around camp that evening, I found pottery shards from earlier peoples. In the evenings, I read Carlos Castaneda's "Teachings of Don Juan" which made the desert come alive with both real and imaginary beings.  I was hooked.
Heading for the hills

Poppies blooming along the road


Green field near Temecula with San Jacinto Peak

San Jack with windmills


We arrive early in the afternoon hopeful the Easter Break crowds have moved on. So far so good as there is only one or two cars ahead of us at the entrance. This is far from our first visit to the park. When we lived in the San Diego area during the '70's, we would frequently come up to go hiking or camping. During those days, the park was sparsely visited and we mostly had the place to ourselves.
Entrance to Joshua Tree

Classic rock and Joshua Trees

This way to the campgrounds

Although the park is named for the Joshua Tree, the real attraction is the rocks. It appears many college students are taking extra time off from their Spring Breaks to go rock climbing as both the rocks and campgrounds are crawling with them. Although, it takes some hunting, we do find a nice campsite.



Rocky vista

Kids in this camp love their own cave

More rock climbers

To get away, we take a short hike to Skull Rock. The late afternoon sun brings out Mother Earth's feminine sensuous side in the rocks.







Many of the desert plants are in bloom. They protect themselves against unwanted intrusions with spikes and spines or poisonous berries.
Joshua Tree in bloom

Barrel Cactus

I wouldn't eat these

The weather is so pleasant that we really enjoy our hike.
Marti next to brittlebush in bloom

Skull Rock

Peter kicking back on a rock lounger

Some high clouds have moved in overnight bringing in hazy dirty air from the cities, so the morning isn't as clear as the day before. Still we continue on our plans to hike up to the summit of Ryan Mountain. It's only a few miles, but the steep climb up for the first mile or so is challenging.
Trail marker for Ryan Mountain

Peter takes a break at the summit

Summit marker

Just like our Moon California Hiking book says, the views from the summit are amazing and worth the steep climb up. While admiring the 360 degree panoramas, we meet a club of women hikers from Kansas City MO.  We ask them about their favorite BBQ places. They recommend Joe's or Jack's (the two J's).  Humm ... good to make a note of if we ever get our American music and BBQ cross-country trip together.
San Jacinto Peak

Mount Baldy (aka Mount San Antonio)


Desert floor below
On the way back down the trail, I meet people from all over the world.  One group is a family from Prague in the Czech Republic. They are proud of their city's cultural heritage and are enjoying the contrast seeing the American deserts.  I also meet two easy going young men from the Netherlands. They, like many of the Dutch, speak excellent English.  I tease them about being Dutch, but not even wearing a speck of orange colored clothing.  They laugh and reply since the are in the USA they are going native and both pull out gaudy red-white-and-blue sunglasses.  We all enjoy a good laugh together before continuing on the trail.




Despite a good effort in finding a campsite for the night, we are shut out.  Oh well, time to move on.
Cyclists also on their way out of the park

Next time we'll come earlier



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Retired and enjoying life.