Three Loons in Joshua Tree National Park - March 11, 2001
Dan M., John and Carol in NC
John and Carol were fortunate to have a guided tour of Joshua Tree National Park by long time park enthusiast (and semi-local loon)  Dan M.  We met in the Yucca Valley for a scrumptious breakfast buffet, and then off to the park to walk it off!
For those of you wondering, "Where in the heck is JT National Park?"  here is a link to John Uhler's map page. 
 

We started out on the south side of the Indian Cove Campground on the north side of the park - off hwy 62.  There were several groups of people repelling and climbing on the massive piles of rocks that shoot up everywhere from the desert floor.  It would be a different sort of camping experience from what we know in the Appalachian Mountains, to be nestled among the boulders, with so little green to be seen.   It was a special treat to spend time in the park with Dan because he's known it so long and so well.  He told stories of camping here since he was a kid.

You can see that the "path" was also quite different from what we are used to.  Y'all didn't know Dan M was part mountain goat, did you?  We soon found it out!  He was hopping from rock to rock, fleet footed as can be, while we "flatlanders" struggled to scramble up the trail.
 
 

 

 
 
 
 

There has been more rain and snow falling in the area this winter than usual, so many of the pools and streams that spend most of the year dry were filled with water.  Look closely and you can see the small waterfall (that won't be around much longer).
Dan M and John make it to a good waving spot.  Dan actually went a bit higher up on the mountain to get some pictures.   Carol and John were starting to get height sick,  so we stayed behind and soaked in the sun. 

 
Let's zoom in on that one - now you can see the smiles!

 
 
 
 

This is definitely the desert.  This stream got to where we are standing, and just disappeared into the ground.

 
 
 

Even this early, we saw hints of spring.  What will this area will be like when all of the cactus burst into bloom!

 
 
 
 

Two more blooms in the desert!
On the other (north) side of the campground was a relatively flat nature trail that was our next pursuit.  With sandy soil instead of the large boulders, it had a wide variety of bushes, trees and cacti.  Not much to be seen in the way of critters, except lizards.

We left this part of the park, stopped for a mid-day snack, and then went a bit further east to the main visitor's center for a look at the exhibits before saying our good-byes.  We both decided to make our way back to the highway by driving through the park.  That allowed us to get the panoramic shot below, including the park's namesake - the Joshua Tree.  You can get some perspective with John standing by the near tree!
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