Hiking In the Joshua Tree !

Leaving Los angeles (even for just a full day) can really be a restorative... as ya know I love this city but the smog, the energy(a.k.a. vibe)....really has a tendency to wipe ya out... so a two hour plus drive east (about 140 miles from Los Angeles) and there you are in the middle of nowhere with nothing but a good friend, a few cliff bars and lots of water, CDs for the ride and most of all your thoughts.

Looking at the desert from the side of the 29 Palms highway the desert can appear to be bleak drab and desolate but trust me take the trip pay the 15 bucks for a pass (it's good for 7 days) and be prepared to be struck by the awesome awesomeness (yeah I said that), and besides...I have always been attracted to desolation.

 

140 miles later... we entered the park through the West Entrance of this 800,000 acre park, making a stop at the visitor center for some maps, a bio break a quick shoe change and we were off...

Skull Rock

Standing before this rock formation it's easy to imagine that you are on Eternia visiting Castle Grey Skull (I was originally going to write imagine yourself as He-Man but for me, eh not so much). At this particular trail you can climb through narrow passage ways climb giant boulders and see a variety of flora and fauna the like of which I (especially being a New Englander) have never seen. There is a hiking trail at thi particular stop which is about 1.7

 miles long ,however, we just tooled around climbing taking in the views of Quail Mountain and Eureka Peak. The whole time we scouted this area I couldn't help but think of all of the rattlesnake holes we were trapesing over (singing the R.E.M.s the sidewinder sleeps tonight). Although we saw no Rattlers we did see lizards, rabbits and a Desrt Fox (or two).

Jumbo Rocks

This area includes an impressive array of some of the largest climbing rocks ever... great vantage points throughout the walk thoroughly enjoyable, but somewhat more populated at there is a camp ground located area here... 

Keys Dam 

This was my favorite part of the trip a 1.3 mile trail that wound through (of course the desert) at the furthest point in the loop was a dam built by the Keys family in 1939 (and in case you wondered there is no swimming allowed!)

 

After leaving the dam, the loop leads you to some Petroglyphs (which have unfortunately have been altered and "enhanced" I swear I saw an Jetliner-glyph) and then back out to the road.

 

Hall of Horrors

Although I wasn't completely certain as to why they called this particular hike the hall of horrors, it was nonetheless enjoyable. Following a stone lined path around giant mountainous rock formations (looking for at least one horror) he sun began to set... the eery silence of the park and the shadows cast made this last stop one of the most enjoyable, yet prolly not at high noon.

Joshua Tree Park is for sure one of the most breathtaking place to hike I have ever been. The plant life and rock formations set against the desert really give you a perfect canvas to think, dream and spend time with someone you are close to or get to know someone you are not... 

this destination is fishwicket*