You may recall that I left things up in the air last week (Old Road Hike). It was another beautiful blue sky day in Joshua Tree National Park, and I was about half way through my exploratory hike of the "Old Road" area.
I climbed out of the wash and this (above) was my view to the north (the direction I needed to go). My options were to continue exploring unknown (to me) territory or to backtrack. Since I hate backtracking and I still had almost 2 hours of daylight left, I continued north, hoping to go past the large rock formation and then make my way east (behind those rocks) back to the Old Road area.
This joshua tree seemed to be telling me to "keep left!" (which I did).
As I followed the path pointed out by the joshua tree, I quickly came across this stone cairn. Actually more of a mound. The stone cairns I see are typically very small and are used as trail markers. This one is a real mystery. Someone put a lot of work into it, and it looked to be old (or at least not recent). I wonder what significance it has? Another Joshua Tree mystery!!
Time to move on. As I made my way around the back side of the rock formation and started heading east, things started getting interesting and I had a sense of total solitude and of hiking in an area that sees very little human traffic.
This thin, flat disc-shaped rock formation was weird and intriguing!
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| Desert weed, late afternoon light |
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| Recently split rock (sharp edges) |
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| Long ago split rock (smooth edges) |
Couldn't resist a bit of PhotoShop fun!
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| Small window rock |
"Bottle Opener" rock? Would the name have anything to do with the hike being nearly complete, and looking forward to a cold beverage?
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| Around the corner from Bottle Opener rock is Lizard Head rock. |
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| Profile Rock |
As the sun sets behind the rocks in Joshua Tree, my hike comes to an end. Thanks for joining me on this interesting adventure!
Click on the link to check out great skies from around the world.
Thanks for stopping by!!
Lovely pictures! It's better to quit smoking, it can get stone? Happy weekend!
ReplyDeleteevery post, the same thing goes through my head...I so wish I could join you on a hike out there.
ReplyDeleteA magnificent landscape. I'd love to see the Joshua Tree area someday.
ReplyDeleteHello, I enjoyed this hike. Pretty blue sky. Funny edited smoking photo. I like the last sun flare capture. Happy Thursday, enjoy your day and weekend!
ReplyDeleteWonderful shots and beautiful blue skies too, lol on the smoking shot. Thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteThat was such a great hike with so many fantastic shaped rocks!
ReplyDeleteNot forgetting the amazing blue desert skies!
Beautiful you really did find some stunning places in the park and the skys are amazing
ReplyDeleteI like how the rocks are all different shapes - funny to see the cigarette hanging out of one of them :-)
ReplyDeleteGorgeous rock formations and excellent photos and fun with photoshop!
ReplyDeleteHappy Weekend to you,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
So beautiful, as always!
ReplyDeleteFantastic pics. Happy Weekend.
ReplyDeleteI really look forward to reading about your adventures. Your love of the desert really comes through in your posts and of course your sense of humor and love of exploring.
ReplyDeleteSplendid as always!
ReplyDeleteThe place looks rugged and beautiful.
ReplyDeleteYou sure got the interesting rocks down there!
ReplyDeleteThe variety of different rock formations you find always amazes me. And why would anyone go to the trouble of building a cairn in such an isolated spot?
ReplyDeleteI wish I had visited these places when I lived in Southern California! Beautiful shots.
ReplyDeleteThese rock formations are incredible.
ReplyDeleteWonderful series.. thanks for sharing!
Amazing rock formation
ReplyDeleteFascinating rocks against that incredible blue sky - my journeys with you are always interesting.
ReplyDeletePeter, Your dessert shots are amazing as usual! I love rocks so I would really like to see it out there. Your Photo Shop fun cracked a smile on my face. :D Profile Rock is pretty cool. It makes me think of the Old Man of the Mountain in New Hampshire. We were fortunate to see it in 1989 but since that time it broke away. :( I love the last photo with the sun star pattern shining through the rocks! I love it when I can get pix with the sun shooting off in different directions! I hope the new year is treating you well. This is the first time to join SWF in a long while. Hopefully, I can get back into the groove of things. TTFN!
ReplyDeleteYou have captured the amazing uniqueness of the rock formations and your labels reveal your amusing sense of observation.
ReplyDeleteAhah! Your photoshop fun is just great.
ReplyDeleteAnd the sunset behind the rocks deserves!
you and your photo journeys live in my imagination. Thank You for showing
ReplyDeleteLOL - love your smoking rock. Your shots are just awesome.
ReplyDelete"Smoking Rock" NP. :-)
ReplyDeleteFabulous! Those rocks have a real presence. And you made me laugh out loud!
ReplyDeleteA fantastic photogenic journey. The profile rock is incredible, the rocks have their own identity.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful week!
Like the art of stacking rocks - Ive also seen it from some artists in Southern California. Oh, I don't even know how to do that in Photoshop. Did you use layers. or ...?
ReplyDeleteAnyways, have a great weekend and thank you for coming by!
amazing rock formations. you made me smile again- this time with a cigarette. well done!
ReplyDeleteWoW a smoking rock face. Unbelievable finds . I like all the pic's here.
ReplyDeleteA fascinating series, wonderful desert pics !
ReplyDeleteGorgeous photos Pete! Some amazing rock formations.
ReplyDeleteYou are making me jealous...
Love hiking through the rocks with you on this post. Amazing rock formations. I think Lizard Rock looks more like Turtle Rock to me! Your post makes me miss Arizona - I grew up in Douglas, and lived in Tucson and Prescott as well.
ReplyDeleteOther-worldly rock formations. A wondrous walk!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great looking walk - a real pleasure to get off the beaten track. Chances for doing that are a bit limited here!
ReplyDeleteCheers - Stewart M - Melbourne
you never fails to surprice me. The cigarette? Well, one needs some fun.
ReplyDeleteWhat always amaze me is how well this land and colors go with the color of the skies. :)
Fun during the walk and after in photoshop! You have given those formations great names! It was good of the Joshua Tree to point you in the right direction )).... and I do seriously wonder about that gigantic cairn. thanks for taking me along on a hike I wouldn't be able to make any longer, even if we were lucky enough to be in JT sometime soon!
ReplyDeleteAlthough I am familiar with desert landscapes, this hike is in such sharp contrast to Montana that I found my mouth kept dropping open. Isn't the Earth a miraculous place? Your Photo Shop was fun - smoking man looks like he has a mustache!
ReplyDeleteVery nice landscapes.
ReplyDeleteA fantastic desert well captured in a beautiful warm colors
ReplyDeleteLoved completing the hike with you. Those weathering of these rocks and the shapes they make is just fantastic. One day I would like to visit Joshua Tree Park myself - it is a landscape which pulls you in.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures. Picture with cigarette makes me laugh. Weed in the afternoon light is my favourite.
ReplyDelete