Joshua Tree trip

[Wolfgang92025]

Well, managed to spend the last weekend of April at Joshua Tree National Park. Since my mother had never been to Joshua Tree, we asked her to join in the fun.
Left Saturday morning and got there about 10 AM. Sign said all campground are full, but we decided to look anyway. Got lucky and the second campground we looked at. Not a great site, but it worked. Had a nice day exploring the park and fixed a great dinner for the ladies. After dinner drove mom into town (she stayed in a motel) for the night and then spend some time sitting around the campfire, looking at the stars and drinking hot chocolate. Brought mom back to camp Sunday morning for breakfast and left shortly afterwards. So here are the

Skull Rock



Snow covered Mount Gergornio in the distance (11503 feet) about 50 miles away



Desert flowers






Candi and Mom walking up the road back to the car with the wind blowing








The Lords Candle


Camp



Candi trying to stay warm



Joshua trees in a valley. This picture is a little deceiving. The large rock formation is maybe half a mile away, so it looks like you see a lot of trees, but in reality, trees are spaced maybe every 50 yards or so.





Cholla (jumping cactus) cactus garden



Cholla cactus flower



Ocotillo in bloom



If you look real close, the branches have needles very inch or so and they are just a little bit longer than the green leaves. What a defense system.....

\

Had a lot of fun and got to see some of the cactus in bloom.

[Shadow Catcher]

Thank you very much for sharing your pictures. I have always loved the desert and now we are far from it.

[Wolffarmer]

Wow, nice pictures Wolfgang. You caught the cactus in bloom, that will not happen here in Idaho until June. And we only have one kind up here.

Randy

[Wolfgang92025]

Randy,

Timed this trip just right. Hard to believe, such beautiful flowers can be surrounded by some many stick pins. That's why our dogs stayed at home this trip. Last time they both picked up a small clusters (1" dia) of jumping cactus. I was lucky to just be able to cut the hair that is was stuck in and it never got in their skin. Could have been real painful.

[cherokeegeorge]

Great photos Thats a trip I want to do.

[TheBizMan]

Been there, but didn't get as good of pictures. You have some great shots.

[Wolfgang92025]

George,

Looks like it should be less than 2 hour drive for you, just hit I-10 east. But it's pretty warm (about 100 deg f) out there now during the day. I would wait till October now.

Lee,

Thanks, I must have taken about a 100 pictures, you are just seeing the best ones.

[Mike B]

When I was younger, I lived in the Mojave desert for 11 years. I have now lived in North Idaho for 27 years and sometimes I miss the desert. Like when I see your excellent pictures of desert flora. Back when it was legal, I used to go out and collect those plants with my dad. Nowadays - if it's good for you, it must be illegal.

Mike
Hayden Lake, ID

"Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." - Ben Franklin

(Sorry, I just finished re-reading Little Brother by Cory Doctorow)

[Dant]

Beautiful photos! Thanks. Just went through Joshua trees between Tonopah and Goldfield NV May 30. First time I'd seen snow on those trees.

I love areas like those in your photos with the big boulders. Where exactly were those taken?

[alffink]

Joshua Tree National Park, CA

One of the little known gems, in the Nat park system

One of my favorite places

[Wolfgang92025]

I love areas like those in your photos with the big boulders. Where exactly were those taken?

Joshua Tree is a large park. Main road runs north/ south more or less. We used the Joshua Tree (city name also) entrance on the north side on this trip. Big boulder formation for about the first 20 or 30 miles. Most of the formations are on the northern side of the park. Say several rock climbing schools had set up camp for the weekend.

More pictures from previous are about half way down this page

http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=41275&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

[Wolfgang92025]

Joshua Tree National Park, CA

One of the little known gems, in the Nat park system

One of my favorite places

Could not agree more.

It get over shadowed by some of the other national parks in the state. Just shows you the great diversity we are fortunate to have out here in the west.

[canned o minimum]

Oh MY ! What spectacular pics !! "I" gotta git out thar one a these days !!

Thanh you fer sharin then beautiful pics !!

[Wolfgang92025]

"I" gotta git out thar one a these days !!

Bob,

Part of the park is in Riverside County. So it is a relatively short haul for you. Tried to find a picture of your rig. No luck, but I did read your welcome thread. If you are still towing with a VW, the rock formations are in the northern park of the park. It's a long climb up the mountain to get there. From what I remember, it is about the same going in on HWY 62 coming in from the north or using the southern entrance to the park of I-10. On a side note, I think all but the southern campground are dry camping. Bring your own water and keep in mind this is the desert, so bring plenty.

[canned o minimum]

Good advice.. well taken !! Yeah, it IS only a short haul fer me...Prolly next May