The guide book said that if you can only do one hike in Joshua Tree National Park, the one to do is Ryan Mountain, a three mile round trip with 1000 foot elevation close to the middle of the park.
We planned the hike for Saturday, March 28, during my spring break from school and the perfect season for a visit to summer scorching hot and winter bitter freezing high desert in southern California. I went out to the park early on Friday to set up our camp at Black Rock Campground's sites 23 and 24. I was set up by early evening with three or more hours of sunlight still available to me before Susan and the rest of the crew would arrive. With map in had I set of for what I thought would be about a seven mile hike. I ended up doing a new four mile loop that wasn't on my map.
This is a Joshua Tree, the parks namesake. Behind the tree is the beautiful starkness of the high desert.
Is this some of the black rock after which our campground is named?
One of the evergreens that thrives in the high desert is the Juniper. This one's days are over.
Photography? Skill or providence? This shot was "accidentally" done with the flash. I think it gives the scene a surreal feel.
