Stirrup Tank Shelter

 I've hiked Stirrup Tank in Joshua Tree National Park a few times before (here and here), but I wanted to explore the area further west and south. The rock formations look interesting on Google Earth, and it's an area rarely explored. That's a combination I find irresistible. So join me while we take a look!

When will I ever learn? The terrain was steeper than I was expecting. It was all up and down and crossing steep washes. Satellite view tends to make the terrain look flatter. How many times have a said "it looked easier on Google Earth!"

I love the strange, interesting rock formations and textures. The one directly above reminds me of a fish head looking up at the sky!

 

I was really happy to meet Mr. Grumpy tortoise on my hike. These guys have gotten extremely rare. Unfortunately, it's not uncommon to find the shell remains from deceased tortoises, but it's much less common to come across a live one. This guy wasn't looking too spry. He barely opened his eyes to look at me, and never moved. I moved on without disturbing him, hoping he wasn't sick.

 

I came across these very large boulders, leaning against each other creating a natural shelter. Within the shelter is this rock ring with signs of soot above it. It looks very old, but whether it was more recent or perhaps ancient, I guess we will never know.

 

I call this the "big boulder" area, which is near the shelter. This boulder is about 15' in height. I like the big, open, unobstructed view of the desert. You may be able to tell from the shadows that it's getting late in the day. 

 

A little bit of golden light left before the sun sets!

 

Not sure if I prefer color or B&W, so will share both!

 

This was one of those hikes that felt longer than it was. Total distance was just over 5 miles, but it kicked my butt!

 

Thanks for joining me on this adventure.

Stay safe and stay healthy!

Linking with Skywatch Friday.