One feels so very tiny here in this vast landscape.
Petroglypys, if only we could read the stories they tell us.
Left from cattle rustling days, a dam. We also saw some tools, and a water trough. Hard to imagine trying to live, and work cattle in this desolate desert area. How hard life must have been.
Climbers....yep they're really there. We were quite a distance and this is a zoom folks. Gives you an idea of the size of things there.
Fantastic outline here of a Joshua Tree against the dark and angry sky of an approaching storm.
Hiking, camping, siteseeing via car, climbing??? Explore nature in many ways. Joshua Tree National Park--something for people of all generations. Got a family, stop in the visitors station and sign the kids up for The Jr. Ranger Program. You'll be surprised how much you learn with them. There are Ranger lead walks, talks, and evening programs. Interested in geology? You'll be in heaven here. Desert yes.....but not in the way many of us think of a desert. It was pretty nippy the day we were there, the climbers though probably liked the cooler temperatures. We were there in February. We spent a day there, our accomodations were in Desert Springs. If traveling from other areas, I would suggest packing a lunch as nothing really much is available along the way.
Entrance into the park is $15.00 (unless you have a Golden Annual Pass). Camp grounds vary from $10.00 to $15.00.
Like to go off road, ride horses? Those activities also exist here.
Layer, take water regardless of the time of year you go.
The Joshua Tree (Yucca Brevifolia)is a giant member of the lily family. If you see a Joshua Tree, chances are good you're in The Majave Desert, but you might also see it growing along side a Saguaro Catcus in the Sonoran Desert in western Arizona or mixed with pines in the San Bernardino Mountains.
Mormon immigrants that reach the Colorado River named the tree after the biblical figure Joshua. They felt the tree's limb were guided travelers westward. All tree limbs reach up to obtain the light, so to me they seem no different than other trees.
You do see the landscape change as you drive through the park from The Mojave Desert to The Colorado Desert.
Hope you enjoy these few of the many pictures I took that day.
That is beautiful! Much different than my frigid Canadian weather! I would love to go rock climbing some day. That looks so steep!
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures!! Looks like a wonderful place to visit! Thanks for sharing! :)
ReplyDeleteHi Sandy -- these are great photos and yes, I have your walking suitcase in my in box ;)
ReplyDeleteAwesome pictures
ReplyDeleteAwesome photos and love your badge!
ReplyDeleteOh no, now I want to ride a horse through the Joshua trees, and that so isn't going to happen any time soon :( Oh well, I'll have to live vicariously through your blog :) Thanks for the beautiful photographs.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely gorgeous photos!! Wow just an amazing adventure.
ReplyDeleteI added you to my blogroll :)
These are simply beautiful pictures!! thanks so very much for the fabulous share!!
ReplyDelete~Jackie:-)
thanks for the walk down memory lane. i used to live in apple valley. the sky in the desert is the best view hands down.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the pics. I love traveling out west and can also recommend the National and state parks in the Utah and Wyoming area. I saw the Grand Canyon for the first time in 2003... I'm still in awe. If you are going to see that, then see it last because it will make all other landmarks pale in comparison..
ReplyDeleteJeff
Stunning. Joshua Tree's on my list of Parks to visit one day. We're headed to Arches next week.
ReplyDeleteNeed more of your wonderful photos when things calm down....
ReplyDeleteIts nice view thanks for share wish i could be there
ReplyDeletefrom the pictures it looks a deserted place...but lovely and dramatic place to go trekking.
ReplyDeleteThanks for exposing such nice and beautiful locations...this is the effort of such blogs that we people at least know the hidden places on the earth...nice and informative post...
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pic's and great info thanks
ReplyDeleteNice review. I hope to visit that place someday.
ReplyDeleteI lived in Southern California for 16 years, from 1972-1989. I can't tell you how often we camped at Joshua Tree. Your pictures have brought back many memories.
ReplyDeleteThe weather is slowly getting better here in CT, too. We actually had something of a heat wave the last 4 days. Yesterday it got up to 92 degrees, and I had just about had enough! However, today it is a much more civilized 70, and it is supposed to go down to the 30s overnight tonight, which is going to feel very chilly after the past few days.
I love the photos! Very nicely taken.. :)
ReplyDeleteSandy, this is a wonderful description of the Joshua Tree National Park. We were there a few years ago and were awestruck by the trees and petroglyphs. I didn't know about the Mormon connection - that's news to me. I've bookmarked your site to keep coming back.
ReplyDeleteThanks for popping by my blog!