Joshua Tree National Park
Indio, California: We woke to clear
skies, packed a picnic lunch and headed up to
Joshua Tree National
Park. We drove south on I-10 to enter the park at the southern
Cottonwood entrance. Not the prettiest or most scenic portion of Joshua
Tree, but it is very interesting to see how the Mojave Desert ends and
the Colorado Desert begins - right here in Joshua Tree! (WARNING: 26
photos today!)
Deserts collide in Joshua Tree
Most of the park lies between 3,000 to just over 5,000
feet. A few weeks ago, the park was covered in snow (while we had nearly
two inches of rain here in the Coachella Valley). We found patches of
snow all day. It was COLD in the park and it was windy too.
After checking in at the Visitor Center, our second stop was near the
middle of the park - the Cholla Cactus Garden - where a short path
wanders through a thick field of cholla (choy-ah) cactus. The
species here is Cylindropuntia bigelovii, also called
teddy-bear cholla and "jumping cholla".
Cholla Cactus in Joshua Tree National Park
Cholla
Close up of cholla buds - notice the pebble stuck in the spine
Hollow trunks of dead chollas
We did see a little wildlife in the park today.
A coyote (in one of the campgrounds), one hawk, many ravens and one
chipmunk.
Pretty healthy-looking coyote in Joshua Tree National Park
On the move!
We decided to drive out to Keys View, where on a clear
day you can see all the way to the Salton Sea, with Mexico beyond. Palm
Springs is just below the lookout point. We saw several patches of snow
along the road and the temperature dropped to 47°. When DT opened the
car door in the parking lot, it was nearly ripped off the hinges. We
figure the wind was gusting 40 miles per hour. To reach the look-out
point, we actually had to grip the railings along the walkway. I could
lean into the wind and not fall over!
Palm Springs is down there somewhere... so is the San Andreas Fault, by
the way!
We made it back to the car, forced the doors closed and
tried to warm up. I am so sorry the above photo isn't better, for what I
had to suffer to capture the moment!
Time for lunch! We drove down to a lower elevation, hoping to get out of
the wind. We found a pretty picnic table and set out our lunch...
Perfect picnic spot
... then we picked up our sandwiches and ran to the car
and ate off our laps! It was miserable. That clear blue sky is very
deceiving. It was 51 degrees and really windy!
The Joshua Tree (yucca brevifolia) is a yucca, a giant member
of the lily family.
A forest of Joshua Trees
Joshua Tree limb close-up
Our next stop was to Hidden Valley. No salad dressing
was discovered, but we always visit this interesting area and take the
easy one-mile walk around the inside perimeter. Huge rock formation
surround a 55-acre "hidden" valley. Years ago, ranchers had to blast
open an entrance. The enclosed area has a rich history of cattle grazing
and cattle rustling. Here are (probably too many) photos from our walk:
Entering Hidden Valley
Easy one-mile trail
Hidden Valley
Unique boulder formations
Dudes rock climbing
Interesting dead tree
Prickly Pear/Beavertail cactus
Here we are in Hidden Valley
It was getting late, so we headed north to Highway 62,
stopping at the Visitor Center to buy postcards.
Our last stop of the day was to Pioneertown for a beer at
Pappy &
Harriet's Pioneertown Palace, site of DT's 50th birthday (several
years ago). Pappy & Harriet's barely escaped a terrible wild fire two
years ago - hundreds of surrounding homes and business burned, yet
Pioneertown somehow is still standing.
Pappy & Harriet's Pioneertown Palace
Belly up to the bar. A beer is only $2...
... and they are served in 16 oz. jelly jars.
Live (really great) music most nights
Cheese fries (usually served with bacon crumbles)
We hope you enjoyed our photos of our visit to Joshua
Tree National Park. Until my next update, I remain, your wind-blown
correspondent.
RV Park:
Signature Resorts Motorcoach Country Club