Thursday, February 24, 2022

Jabba Rock

This section of Joshua Tree National Park is full of crazy, eroded rock formations. Sometimes it looks like the rocks have just melted under the incredibly hot desert sun.


 
My friend Mark Robben came across a rock formation he named "Jabba Rock", and I think it's a fitting name. It's in the center of the photo (above), and a close-up shot (below). 

 
What do you think? Does Jabba Rock resemble Jabba the Hutt?
 
Mark had mentioned he hadn't been able to find a way to climb up to explore the alcove at the top of Jabba Rock, but it looks fascinating! Big, spacious, with an arch and a great view.
A close up of the upper alcove. Doesn't that look amazing!?? Hard to see from this angle, but there is another large recess or alcove directly beneath the upper alcove. It's like a two-story condominium! 
 
So therein lies the challenge... how in the heck do you get up there?? Too much vertical rock surface to climb up from this angle.
 
At the base of Jabba Rock. From this approach, it looks sketchy, but not impossible.
 
Ta Da... success!!! See that round opening in the rock (center right)? That leads directly into the upper alcove. I'm really happy to have found a way in, and I'm still in one piece.
 




Jabba Rock alcove is pretty amazing. It has large window-like openings with incredible views. The wind blows through on a regular basis. It looks as if the floor of the alcove has been recently swept, it's so clean! Two or three people could comfortably camp up here (just don't try to climb down in the dark!).
 
After enjoying the views and soaking up the ambiance of the upper alcove (and wondering if Native Americans might have sat where I'm sitting and enjoyed the same views), I decide it's time to climb down. The sun is getting low on the horizon, and I still want to see if there is a way to climb up to the lower alcove.
 
This gives you a nice view of the lower alcove. Overhang is probably the more accurate term. Directly above it is the upper alcove, which we just came from. I find a crease in the rocks and make my way up.
 

The lower overhang is almost as impressive as the upper alcove, but not quite. Still, I was really pleased to be able to find a way to climb up and check it out and get some photos. Jabba Rock is on my short list for a return visit!
 
By the time I was done crawling all over Jabba Rock, the sun was long gone and the moon was up. Looks like it's going to be a dark hike back to the car using GPS and a headlamp!
 

Cotton candy skies kept me company for a while on the hike back to the car!

Goodbye sun and hello moon!

Linking with Skywatch Friday.
Thanks for stopping by. Stay safe and stay healthy!!

46 comments:

  1. I can see Jabba just from the name. Beautiful photos of the rock and its surroundings. Great moon captures too.

    ReplyDelete
  2. They do look melted! In fact, one of these looks like a melted village. Do you see it?

    ReplyDelete
  3. ...my friend, these gorgeous images helped to warm me up on the cold winter day. And I thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  4. What can I say, where there is a will there is a way. Stunning shots

    ReplyDelete
  5. "Bring me Solo and the Woikkie."

    Amazing landscapes.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Dearest Peter,
    Jabba Rock looked fascinating and then the challenge to get there and for being able to find that opening!
    You sure did it and once more came away with the most stunning photos.
    A story of your adventure as you go...
    Hugs,
    Mariette

    ReplyDelete
  7. You just keep on outdoing yourself. What a rock you and your friend found and what a climb up and down and then back up to the lower snake den, I mean alcove.
    You are a living legend.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Wow the pink clouds - so pretty. Also like the first image - looks like an elephant with a trunk to me, and that image with the rock with on both sides the sky is stunning! I agree with Yogi:):)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Beautiful. That last photo is a keeper!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Yes, that so looks like Jabba the Hut. Wow. Glad you were able to get up there to explore it.

    ReplyDelete
  11. The rock is amazing and the skies are beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Some of these are so crazy they are beautiful... Super evening shots.

    Sherry & jack watching the sun in Florida

    ReplyDelete
  13. Oh oh, now Star Wars fanatic will troop there for a selfie :)

    Worth a Thousand Words

    ReplyDelete
  14. wow! What a gorgeous place. I love to see such rock features on my real eyes one day.
    Thanks for this virtual tour. All photos are amazing!

    ReplyDelete
  15. I love the sunset photos the best. Impressed that you can find your way back to the car in the dusk!

    ReplyDelete
  16. The black n´ white is my fav. Fantastic view. Great place for picnic I reacon. Little campfire and something to fry with it. And coffee as a dessert.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Oh yeah, Jabba the Hutt!
    The second photo shows me a rhino head lying upside down, mouth open, eye and horn close to the ground.
    Your photos are spectacular als always, thanks for sharing.
    Greetings from Germany

    ReplyDelete
  18. Großartige Felsenlandschaft,
    beeindruckende Fotos, herrliche Himmelsblicke !

    ReplyDelete
  19. Somebody should leave a photo of Carrie Fisher in her skimpy outfit... The black and white image shows why that can often be a great choice for images like these. It put me in a "My Darling Clementine" mood immediately.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Again, enviably beautiful photos. What a beautiful backdrop that desert provides.

    ReplyDelete
  21. The rock formations are as fantastic as the sky! Love the sunbursts! Jabba is definitely an appropriate name for that formation. I appreciate the kind comment, too!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Wonderful rock formations, Great clicks.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Brilliant - What A Delightful Adventure - Enjoy The Family Time This Weekend Brother Man

    Cheers

    ReplyDelete
  24. Fascinating formations. I could see an elephant in the first picture (the trunk, the ears, a couple of legs) and your Jabba the Hut formation does look like Jabba.

    ReplyDelete
  25. What fascinating formations! I agree that name is apt.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Beautiful landscape and one heck of an adventure. Appropriate name for that rock formation. Stunning skies!

    ReplyDelete
  27. What magnificent views and weaving in and out of Jabba Rock has got to be rewarding. It is possible the top will crumble from its own weight one day so being there is kind of historic!

    ReplyDelete
  28. What amazing photos! Jabba Rock definitely looks like Jabba the Hutt. I'm so glad you were able to get up there for those beautiful views. Gorgeous sky shots in the evening too. Have great weekend. :)

    ReplyDelete
  29. Yes that rock definitely looks like Jabba, I could even see the shape of the eyes, good spotting.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Would be a good location for another Star Wars movie. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  31. It sure does resemble Jabba the Hut! (I've moved my blog to https://www.melltells.com/)

    ReplyDelete
  32. Gorgeous photos as usual. I can certainly see how Jabba Rock got its name. I'm also pretty amazed at the first photo where the rocks truly do look like they've been melted a bit. Such an interesting place to explore.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Crazy!! They look like dinosaurs or creatures stuck in time. Cool photos!

    ReplyDelete
  34. As always very beautiful photos. The melted rocks looks like animals. The Jabba Rock is fantastic, and it looks indeed like Jabba Hutt!

    ReplyDelete
  35. Das würde ich mir auch unheimlich gern mal in Natura anschauen, tolle Bilder. LG Romy

    ReplyDelete
  36. A sheep nortured by an Elephant!
    And Henry says he saw a sibling, too!
    You really live in a very beautiful area and give others a chance to join you - thank you big.

    ReplyDelete
  37. being brave (returning to the car after sunset) paid, you got gorgeous images.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Some rocks really looks animals. Incredibly great works have been shaped by nature.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Greetings and Salutations! That first image looks like an elephant rock that melted for sure. Looks like it is a bit tipsy Turvey too. LOL! It does seem like these boulders melted from the hot sun. You are brave to find your way back to the car at night. What an adventure! Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Wow! Incredible formations! Yes, that looks like Jabba for sure.

    ReplyDelete
  41. You are so brave -- and you take such beautiful pictures. Gorgeous hike. Those rocks in the first pictures (before you found the way up) do look like they just kind of gave up -- like it was too hot to live!

    ReplyDelete
  42. Jaba Rock is amazing! I’m glad you found a way in so we could check out the view, too. No words for that incredible sunset! What a treat for the eyes.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Oh my goodness! It is almost an exact likeness! When my son was young he loved everything Star Wars, and I have a Jabba the Hut toy in my basement that he played with and now my grandsons play with. I will have to show them this post.

    ReplyDelete
  44. Your photos are fantastic. Just found your blog and be assured I will return soon. Thanks for the photos. I been to these places but don't have photos like yours - GREAT.

    ReplyDelete