Joshua Tree Day 2

Sunday we returned to Joshua Tree for a day of hiking.  Being the MLK long weekend the number of visitors made getting parking at the various picnic sites and trailheads increasingly difficult as the day progressed.  Good thing we got there by 9:00AM.  Monday entry to all National Parks is free so we will definitely be staying home that day.

Other than the crowds it was a perfect day for hiking; cool -mid 50's, no wind and sunny.  The first trailhead we came across was Hidden Valley.  Apparently a local black sheep used this valley to hide stolen horses and cattle.  Now its frequented by hikers and rock climbers.  The park, with its granite rocks and unique collection of boulders and fractured rock is great for rock climbing.

These outcroppings were pushed to the surface millions of years ago by volcanic activity.  

A couple of climbers planning their next move.

Terrible time to develop an itch.  I'm thinking she is second guessing her decision.  
A few seconds later we heard a scream.  
One of her feet slipped and she slid to the ledge below. 
 Good thing she was tied off or we might have had her crashing down on top of us.  

Was a little cold to start but once out in the sun it was nice and warm. 

Great colours in the rock.

Given the number of footprints around this fallen tree I'm sure I wasn't the only
 one using this as a prop for a picture

Count the Joshua Trees if you can.  They go on and on and on.....

Barker Dam Nature Trail took us to a nice little pond.  
The Dam was built around 1900 to provide drinking water for cattle. 
Now its a great place to take pictures or have a picnic on the rocks. 

Not sure but could be turn of the century laundry mat. 

Love the contrast provided by the snow capped peaks. 

Petroglyphs chiseled on the rocks hundreds of years ago.  Colour added more recently. 

Lori practicing her Yoga Tree pose. 

All parts of the California Juniper are used by desert animals for food and shelter.
Man discovered a use as well. 
Berries used for flavouring Gin. 

Looks like a child's building block set.  
All neatly stacked and fit together perfectly.

Notice the fault line made up of different rock.
Looks like someone glued the  smaller rocks onto the large boulders 
except that it runs right through the boulders.

Inukshuk's gone wild. 

The Skull Rock trail.  Guess how it got its name. 
Lady on the left is kind of stuck.  
Can't climb back up and just slides if she tries to come down.
She was saved by another hiker.

We bought an annual pass to the US National Parks which will come in handy for future stops in our trip.  We will probably try to get back to this Park before we leave but will do it on a weekday and hopefully will not be tripping over people at every turn.

Next few days will see us up a few thousand feet and will post that shortly.

Later.