Trifter

image by author

For those that are looking for a nice winter getaway, but can’t quite afford the Hawaiin or Caribbean trip, maybe a visit to Joshua Tree National Park in California would fit the bill nicely. Located within 50 miles of Palm Springs, and less that 150 miles from LA, this is a beautiful, magical place with plenty of open sky, open space, and lots and lots of interesting rocks. So interesting, that rock climbers from all over the world come here to practice. The above picture is just one timy example of the countless rock formations which are scattered throughout the park. The weather might get a little chilly at night, but with the money you’ve saved from not going tropical, you can just whip down to Palm Springs or La Quinta for some resort pleasures, but the park is where you’ll want to spend your days. it’s almost like being on another planet, and a great place to rejuvenate your soul and spirit. Who knows, you might even run into one of the many old Gold Mines laying around in ther park, or you might see the ghost of one of the original cattle ranchers who built their homestead and ranch up here in the hills. Don’t forget your camera and hopefully its a digital one cause there will be so many shots you won’t want to miss. Lets see if you can guess what the picture above is showing?

Hint: it rhymes with troll

Let your mind go crazy with imagination as you make your own interpretations of the rocks.

Enjoy…
image by author

This is a view from Keys Point in the park, looking out over the Coachella Valley with the desert cities of Palm Springs, Rancho Mirag, and Palm Desert barely visible way in the distance at the foot of the mountains across the valley floor. That little strip of wrinkled mountains or hills you see in the middle of the picture is the San Andreas fault system heading north on its way up to San Francisco. We are standing on the Noth american Plate, and over those wrinkled hills is the Pacific Plate.

image by author

A little place to get some shade. Oh, and I almost forgot to mention, you might even get lucky scrambling around on the rocks and notice some ancient hieroglyphs carved into the stone by people that lived and moved through here thousands of years ago.
image by author

Joshua Tree National Park

Located in Joshua Tree California

Exit from interstate 10 and go east about 25 miles or so to Park Blvd in big downtown Joshua Tree.

Turn right and follow the road up into the park

Oh, and bring some climbing shoes just in case…