Thursday, August 12, 2021

Summer Hike

 It's no secret that summer hikes in the desert are challenging, to say the least. Daytime highs almost always exceed 100 degrees F. Just too dang hot to hike, and it can be downright dangerous. Heat stroke is a very real threat. But my friend Mitch had an area he wanted to show me that's accessed via Keys View Road. If you take this road all the way to Keys View, you are over 5000' in elevation.

We didn't go all the way to Keys View, and as we started our hike, we were below 5000', but not by too much. Higher elevations in Joshua Tree National Park are not only cooler, but also get a little more moisture. You see Joshua Trees and boulders, but also Pinion Pines and the occasional oak.


One of the highlights of this hike was finding this ridge with a really gorgeous view. It's very similar to what you would see from Keys View (see below).

Above is a screen shot taken from the historic Mission Inn Museum video collection. It's not dated, but what is now called Keys View used to be called inspiration point. It's striking how similar the view is, compared to the view from our unnamed ridge (previous two photos).

Here's Mitch taking a little break and re-hydrating. I pivoted 180 degrees for this photo. The previous photos (view shots) were looking roughly south, and this one more or less north.

And Mitch took this one of me, looking south again, with the view behind me. I like the b&w version a little better.

We started our hike with just a few low clouds on the horizon, but as the day progressed, high clouds moved in and it turned out to be a beautiful sky day!



A nice overview of the terrain covered during our hike.





Finding ways around boulders and scrub was occasionally challenging!



And here's a big bonus: Near the end of our hike, I noticed the moon rising through the cloudy mist! I had my telephoto lens with me, so I made a quick lens change for this shot.


This turned out to be a great hike. Hot, but not nearly as hot as lower elevations, wonderful views, and pretty skies. Shortly after taking the above photo, we were treating to a lightning storm off on the horizon (too far away to hear the thunder), which I posted about here.

Linking with Skywatch Friday.
Thanks for stopping by!!

41 comments:

  1. ...it's in the low 90s here this afternoon and I'm enjoying your gorgeous images in the comfort of my air conditioned home. I just not up for the challenge!

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  2. Beautiful photos. I like the name Inspiration Point better. It’s just the kind of view that one could stare off at forever and get completely lost in thoughts.

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  3. Beautiful. Although, I think that hike would still be better in the spring or winter. I don't even want to think about how hot it was, even at that elevation.

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  4. Amazing views! Love the sunset.

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  5. What a great way to spend some time! Beautiful!

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  6. Such a beautiful landscape, and so different from what I am used to.

    Here we got past 30 Celsius today with humidity. Supposedly the heat will break in the next 24 hours, but they've been saying that for a couple of days.

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  7. You really are good at using the light that you have. Very beautiful photos.

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  8. Glad you both were safe, and we are the beneficiaries with these lovely photos!

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  9. Wow! wonderful hike scenes. It needs lot of energy to hike along with mighty DSLR and lenses

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  10. Wonderful pics and and a beautiful changing sky. Glad it was cooler up higher. We have been having 80's and 90's temps here and we are not used to those highs. We have had one rain shower in almost 2 months and I am telling you the webs between my toes are drying up. That's it
    MB

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  11. Now that´s Hot. We had almost the same earlier this summer. Very rare temps in my heck of hoods. As for photography; rock solid set of pics, as usual. You have fabulous skies and scenery is something else all right.

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  12. 103 here today. No rain for two months. Not good for our flora and fauna. This was an amazing post. I don't think I've ever seen better pictures of the desert. Well done!

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  13. Another serie of your beautiful desert shots. It's always a bit apocalyptic in my view

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  14. Another series of stunning photos, seeing such beautiful scenery makes you forget all the crap that is going on around us at the moment

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  15. Brave men and awesome photography ~ Happy Weekend to you ~

    Living in the moment,

    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  16. Man I so appreciate these posts you don't even know!

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  17. What Tom said! No, seriously, happy you have the desire and stamina to bring us these stunning captures.

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  18. Must be some very old trees there, hope you take lots of water with you.

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  19. awesome photos. I agree, the one with you is so good in B&W.

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  20. Beautiful!
    Have a wonderful weekend!

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  21. With heat indices here over a hundred, I've also had to radically adjust my hiking habits.

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  22. What beautiful skies! And I loved all the Joshua trees. Despite the heat, the desert can be a stunning place.

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  23. Looks like a great day out there. Nice with the portrait of you with the trusted Canon.

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  24. Your photos are very beautiful! The lightning in your last post are so great. It must be wonderful to capture it!

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  25. Awesome trip with a stunning and very poetic ending!! You’re really blessed living in this gorgeous area!!

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  26. Wow the clouds - so many formations! Like the movement of the clouds behind you in your black and white. You must have a great sense of direction. I would get soo lost:) Great post, Peter:) Emille (Jesh)

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  27. Oh!! I JUST noticed the answer to one of my questions at the bottom of the screen . . . Hey! Thank You for All You Do! 💙

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  28. Beautiful photos as usual. I love the view and that moon shot is gorgeous.

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  29. Wonderful images of your hike, thanks for sharing.

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  30. Beautiful photos...Love the one of the moon especially.Thanks for sharing.

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  31. Gorgeous views! And that moon shot and the colorful skies at dusk are lovely.

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  32. And Dig That Lightning - What An Adventure There Spare Parts - Mitch Snapped A Beauty - Hike On And Smile Often

    Cheers

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  33. Soooo beautiful again and.. nice to see you :-)

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  34. Luscious light, gorgeous skies! Great picture of you.

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  35. The majestic landscapes, the rugged and beautiful.

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