Joshua Tree 2002

Detail
Thursday Nov 7th - Day 1
The intent of this expedition was to avoid the impending Santa Barbara rains. Call it a premonition, and I cannot describe how I knew, but I sensed a rainstorm approaching; and, as it turns out, Santa Barbara received six inches of rain.

Last minute preparation on this Thursday morning took longer that I had supposed, so I left Santa Barbara at 10:30am. I wanted to be at Joshua Tree during daylight so as to set up my newly purchased tent without a headlamp. Considering Mapquest's pessimistic estimate of five hours, I felt secure enough to give Juli a call at ImageNet—a full service Web and Internet company—to see if she wanted to have coffee. It turns out that Preston was also there due to Internet issues at his firm. We visited for a bit, talked some business, and I was on the road again 45 minutes later.

Biology is an unstoppable force, so I took the Reseda exit off US 101 and stopped at a strip mall to use someone's restroom. Little did I know the amount of hassle I was undertaking. First I tried The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf thinking a coffee shop to be a good bet. The restroom door was locked, so I thought it occupied and waited. About five minutes later I came to the conclusion that I would need to ask for a key. My biological instincts suggested that I simply go next door rather than wait in line for a key.

At least Coldstone had the courtesy to post a notice on their door stating that only customers may use their restrooms. Irritation and need pushed me to the next door, which also had the same notice. After a bit of agitated scouting, I made the decision to utilize the wrong tool for the right job. In the corner of the parking lot was a large transformer that was semi-enclosed. I'm sure you can finish the story.

To top off this bad experience, the signs for US 101 were labeled East and West! I quickly did the math in my head and somehow got back on 101 South. Oddly enough, the little sign as I entered the highway said US 101 South. Go figure.

On the road again, I saw great plumes of billowing whiteness. Apparently a truck dropped a bag of flour-white Spec Mix; the effect was quite cool.

I stopped in Redlands for gas and went to K-mart for cough drops. Cough drops are rather handy in the desert to ward off dry throat. The Ricola Echinacea Green Tea flavor is really quite horrid, but as you have a few, you are strangely compelled to keep eating them. I'd liken the flavor to rotting sea-weed and the smell of skunk. They are so terrible that I cannot think of buying any other brand.

Almost to my destination, I turn right onto Park Boulevard. There homes all along this road splattered with air conditioners. I can imagine self-imposed captivity in the dry, hot summer months. Many of the air conditioners are not aesthetically placed; some have white streaks running down many roof tops—like spit—suggesting that the air conditioners were considered only as an after-thought.

I found a vacant campsite at Jumbo Rock Campground, #26, set up my tent, had a bit to eat, then crashed. This campsite was close to both the amphitheater and Skull Rock Trail. Earplugs are the cure for flapping tent, so with my weariness from the trip and my slight all-day sinus headache, I was asleep.

I awoke at 7:05pm and noticed just a sprinkle of rain; but I was cozy in my new 7x7ft tent with rain fly.

People came into the campground about 10:20pm making a considerable amount of noise—isn't this always the case? Perhaps I could lay claim to a theory, law, or corollary.

Friday Nov 8th - Day 2
At 6:00am the weather doesn't suggest sunshine. A jack-rabbit scuttled away, but I'm not sure if that is a portent or just a hare.

At 6:40am I started the Skull Rock Trail. This trail has a densely packed and fabulous array of desert vegetation and rock formations. I enjoyed the solitude and beauty; many of my initial photos are from this trail.

There was litter in spots, and, had I a garbage bag, I would have picked it up. Litter in such a beautiful place is degrading to humans. Stupid Gaussian distribution.

As I was meandering along this trail, so early, so quiet, so alone, I came upon a road. I hadn't really studied the map too well, so I didn't realize that Skull Rock was nearby. As I started across the road, I turned my head back, and wham! There is was!

I continued along the trail until I finally reached the road into Jumbo Rock Campground, which was a 1/2 mile walk back to my campsite along asphalt. After all of the natural splendor of the trail, the idea of walking through the campground didn't really appeal to me. Further up I noticed some cars parked on the opposite side of the street to Jumbo Rock Campground, and two guys were starting to hike into the rocks on what appeared to be a backcountry trail. I was curious as to where they were going, so I started to follow. Scrambling over and around towering rocks made it difficult to see their direction, so it was little surprise to me that I lost them. Unafraid of getting lost—I had my GPS—I decided to keep going. There really wasn't any specific trail, but I could see that people had come through here in spots. Eventually I happened upon a trail marker, so I knew I had reached an actual designated trail. I turned on my GPS to add a way point for this marker, then realized that I was back on Skull Rock Trail!

I decided to backtrack back to my campsite for a little breakfast. Food, by the way, consisted largely of canned soup, tuna, and my own homemade gorp recipe. Did you know that gorp stands for good old raisins and peanuts? I had chocolate chips, so I guess my concoction could only be dubbed as trail mix. It was 9:00am when I finished my expedition.

At 10:00am there was a ranger led talk at Mara Oasis. I was curious as to the caliber of the talks, so I drove to the Mara Oasis Headquarters, which is actually outside of the north gate. Not having been checked as I entered the park, I was surprised that I was checked leaving. I guess they get you either coming or going.

There were eight people total that took the tour. The ranger was Eric N. who had a goatee and a humorous disposition. He showed us the oasis, gave us some history, pointed out robins, dead palms, and a wren nest... there was quite a bit of cool things to see. I was very happy with the caliber of the talk and therefore made up my mind to check out more ranger led events.

The next ranger led talk was some hours away, and since I was out of the park anyway, I drove to 49 Palms Oasis.

There were other people leaving when I arrived. Perhaps ten minutes into the trail, I passed a man and woman. The woman said "promise me you won't go down there." The man was giving similar advice, saying to be wary of flash floods with this type of weather. I said I would keep it in mind.

Some time later I saw the Oasis from a distance. Even in this strange overcast sky it severely contrasted the desert around it.

The weather was still fairly ominous, and with the words of warning from the two people I had passed, I was a bit nervous as I went further and further down toward the oasis. Some 200 yards away I started to feel raindrops; this made me very uneasy. Soon the drops went away and the sky began to clear, so I thought I would chance it, figuring that if it started to rain I could run fairly quickly up the mountain—George speed ahead!

The oasis itself was filled with flora and fauna, and a Dr. Pepper can—just what you'd expect at an oasis. I took a few photos, then boogied on out of there.

My next adventure was to see a second ranger led program, this one dealt with rock formations. The hike started at White Tank Campground and was led by a ranger named Dar, short for Darwin. This guy was fantastic: he was well informed, enthusiastic, and had a sense of humor. The tour was superlative; it really sparked my interest in geology.

After the tour I saw the Chollu Cactus Garden. These needled plants are remarkable because they grow along the demarcation line between the Mojave desert and the Colorado desert.

I headed back to camp, had a bite to eat, then read the Purloined Letter with my LED headlamp. At 7:00pm I went to the amphitheater to see the presentation, and wouldn't you know it—there was Dar! He gave a great slide show for about 45 minutes.

I went back to my tent and tried to sleep, but the wind was relentless. When my rain fly broke, I made an executive decision, tore down my tent, and slept in my car. This was none too comfortable, but it worked. Hindsight suggested Cottonwood campground to be perhaps less windy and warmer. Next time.

Saturday Nov 9th - Day 3
I decided that I wanted to see the Salton Sea. The Salton Sea is the largest lake in California and is salt water. It is considered the fastest lake because of its bouyancy and low air pressure; thus speed boats haul ass. I had never see this lake; in fact, I hadn't even heard of the lake until I heard of a movie of the same name starring Val Kilmer. I saw the movie post trip and enjoyed it.

As the sunrise began to unravel, I headed south through Joshua Tree, into the Colorado desert, then beyond the Cottonwood Campground, and out of the park. The skies were blue with hefty, laden white plumes of cloud—it was a glorious morning and my mood was elevating.

On the way to the Salton Sea, I saw mud cliffs of the Mecca Hills / Orocopia Mountains wilderness area. It is stunning to watch scenery change so much in so short a distance. These mud cliffs were multi-colored as though painted.

Some twenty miles out of the park was the city of Mecca; streaming green fields in the middle of the desert. Grape vines lined the right; citrus trees bordered left; it was truly a fabulous, almost spiritual view. The view from a nearby mountain would prove ethereal.

The Salton Sea was beautiful from a distance, but close up there were myriad bugs in the water and the shore was encrusted salt and barnacles. I only saw a minute section of the lake, and I feel that it is probably much better in the recreation area.

The temperature began to escalate and I found the need to employ the service of my air conditioner. Around 8:30am, I headed up Hwy. 111 towards Indio, and home.

Hwy. I10 has enormous white wind mills used for generating power. As I approached this land of three-armed sentinels I saw a most rare and amazing rainbow. Beautiful as anything you've ever seen, it was unfortunately the foreshadow of impending bad weather. While talking to my father on my cell phone, I related the beauty of the rainbow and took digital images, all while driving. Later that evening I was able to send to my father images of the land of wind and rainbows.

Driving through L.A. is arduous enough in good weather; foul weather made me realized that I had left Joshua Tree a day too early. Driving through L.A. made me realize that I had left Joshua Tree a bit too soon.

See some images of the trip.