My friend Mitch calls this area in Joshua Tree National Park "Untracked Valley." It's one of his favorite spots in the Park, and he was looking forward to showing it to me. Out of respect to Mitch, I won't share any location details. Roger joined us on this hike as well. If memory serves, Roger had hiked with Mitch to this area in the past, so not his first visit.
It's a steep climb up, and I was huffing and puffing too much to take any photos until we got to our first rest stop.
It was a hot day, and Mitch was wearing pants that had zippers just above the knees. They convert from long pants to short pants. Of course, Roger and I couldn't resist giving him a hard time about his blindingly white legs which looked like they had never seen the light of day!
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| Prickly pear blooms |
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| Multi-colored lichen. |
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| Carefully navigating the rocks! |
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| It's not often I get the chance to frame a photo using pine branches! |
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| Time to hike back down. This doesn't look too bad. |
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| Oh, wait... yes it does!! |
I'll leave you with a short video clip. Enjoy the view!
Linking with Skywatch Friday.
Thanks for stopping by!
Laughed at the blinding bright legs. And funny how a little pink flower showing up in the desert gives us all a bit of a lift. :)
ReplyDeleteIsn't it amazing to see brightly colored flowers in a landscape like this! Glad you avoided the snake...eeee! And the video is breathtaking. I got a little dizzy at first! lol But I sure love seeing where you hike. I hiked in the flat forest of Florida this morning and it was very different. But you would enjoy it too!
ReplyDeleteStunning landscape your photos of the terrain leave me in awe. the rock look so small till you stand up near them, makes me wonder how you navigate them all. Lucky you heard the rattler
ReplyDeleteYou guys are having way too much fun. That rattlesnake looks like it might be friendly!!
ReplyDeletewow! lots of colorful florals in your desert post today and awesome views ~ amazing the hikes you take and photograph ~ Xo
ReplyDeleteWishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
...the cactus flowers are a treat to see in this barren landscape. Snake and me aren't on a friendly basis. Thanks for taking me along on this trip. Thanks for your visit to my blog.
ReplyDeleteI hope Mitch didn't get sunburned.
ReplyDeletethe cactus flowers are so beautiful - I thought desert flowers are in spring? or do cactus bloom when you have rain no matter the season?
ReplyDeleteRattling loudly! That rattled me. I know what I'm going to dream about tonight. Those flowers help to make me feel so much better. Good to see you hiking with companions. I worry about you and you're out there by yourself. Great post. Thanks
ReplyDeleteAmazing landscapes.
ReplyDeleteThe last photo takes the cake this week. Very beautiful flower.
ReplyDeleteGreat stuff as always. I was a bit concerned when I heard about the atmospheric rivers and other scary stuff out your way, but it looks like the rain has been more of a boon. It's always nice to see how gorgeous the Mojave can be when the wildflowers and cactus have a chance to bloom. It's always spectacular, but those bits of color are unbeatable. Thanks for sharing these shots--and the fun you're clearly having.
ReplyDeleteDearest Peter,
ReplyDeleteYou're too harsh on Mitch's legs and they are not blindingly white. All they did was waking up a rattle snake from its nap!
What stunning views were that once again and the bonus of those flowers with resident insects; wow!
Thanks so much for sharing and also the video gave a good oversight.
Hugs,
Mariette
OK, so glad you heard the rattler before anyone got bit! The delicate cactus flowers steal the show for me!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful flowers.
ReplyDeleteIs there a better place to see the most beautiful flowers than the desert? I've only had that joy once--- about 40 years ago in the Anza Borrego. I simply wasn't expecting anything like it. At the risk of being repetitive, another fabulous post!
ReplyDeleteThat all that green can survive in such harsh conditions keeps amazing, but thousands of years of adjustments ensure its survival. And to make matters worse you will also encounter rattlesnakes and very large spines. Still, the view repays everything and makes it worth braving it all.
ReplyDeleteWonderful place, Great post, Amazing photos. Greetings from India
ReplyDeleteBeautiful landscapes.
ReplyDeleteI like that lichen! The views and flowers are great too.
ReplyDeleteSon muy buenas las fotos que has hecho de ese Parque. Lo que menos me hubiera gustado, es encontrarme cerca de una serpiente por el miedo que me da.
ReplyDeleteFeliz fin de semana.
Flowers and insects to pollinate them. The cactus! I can understand plants that flower when it rains and can survive harsh conditions. But what do the insects do when there are no flowers? Hmmm. Nature sure is amazing, and so are your photos and scenery. Another hike which I would last about two minutes on.
ReplyDeleteYou did well to get to the top, I would've been huffing and puffing up there too in my unfit state. I think I have the same cacti with the pink flowers.
ReplyDeleteGlad you and your buddies had an adventure together. I saw white legs, pink flowering cacti and and awesome view. Watched the video.
ReplyDeleteThese photographs are so great. The cactus flowers are really gem in the desert. The rattler is surely a fright to see even for a viewer like me. The undiscovered land is a thrill that you take me to without literally flying there.
ReplyDeleteDelightful captures!
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful
ReplyDeletecactus flowers are so beautiful
I don't like snakes
Great hike. Love the beautiful cactus flowers. Glad the rattle snake sounded the alarm by rattling loudly. Thank you for photos and video that we can enjoy the desert safely in the comfort of our home.
ReplyDeleteThe cactus flowers are very beautiful. I get scared when I see the rattlesnake on your photos! I'm glad you heard the noice of it. As always beautiful photos from your hike.
ReplyDeleteLooks dangerous! And very beautiful.
ReplyDeleteFreedom - and the cacti.
You sure are brave - thank you for sharing this to scaredy cats like me!
Gorgeous country! The lichen and cactus blooms are awesome details in a vast expanse. I'm guessing pine branches are very rare indeed! Looks like you had a great hike with friends! I have some of those zippered long/short pants that I use for fishing.
ReplyDeleteThat does look like a difficult climb and hike but what a view! Glad you heard the rattlesnake before it made an appearance.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great hike, thanks for sharing the beauty of the California desert again.
ReplyDeleteThe flowers are beautiful and the landscape is simply fascinating. Can't get enough of your photos.
ReplyDeleteWorth a Thousand Words
Some beautiful views out there and the cactus flowers are gorgeous. You captured them at their prime.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like a challenging trek. It's exciting to see the flowers. And those views!
ReplyDeleteSo barren and so full of life. The pollinators are there. The sky is hard to believe. The flowers are brilliant. Wonderful post.
ReplyDeleteLove that 'casually navigating the rocks'.... we have a different definition of casually I think ))!
ReplyDeleteGood to catch the cactus at the flowering stage ...gotta' love those brave little flowers. (Although I think you and your hiking partners are just as brave to hike in that inhospitable terrain.)
The untracked desert looked especially beautiful with all its surprise flowers in bloom! I loved seeing them. Glad that rattler gave you notice of its position.
ReplyDelete