Thursday, June 29, 2023

East Wash, Mark's Arch, and "Big Eyes"

 I know, kind of a crazy title for a post! This is a hike I did back in April in east Joshua Tree. What I'm calling "east wash" is a remote wash I've wanted to follow up into the rocky hills. I've tried twice before, but there are multiple parallel washes in the area and I always seem to end up in the wrong one!
On the drive out, I took a dirt road detour up to this mining area (it's about 1 mile from the Joshua Tree National Park border). I was driving the Jeep so I thought "what the heck, why not!" On the topo maps it is marked only as "open pit mine" (no other name). I don't know anything about it, other than it is no longer active and it looks dangerous. Lot's of steep sandy hillsides to slip off of and fall to your death. Allow me to make a quick side comment, and then I promise to get you to photos from the hike!
 
I know very little about mining, other than a miner or mining company stakes a "claim" which is generally on public land (in this case, BLM land). This gives the miner or mining company sole rights to mine the land. Makes sense so far. What I don't understand is why the miner or mining company is allowed to just walk away from the claim without cleaning up their mess! Seems like the government should require the mining operation to return the land to the way they found it. Perhaps they should put a deposit or a percentage of profits into an escrow fund used for clean up at the end of the claim lease. If they want their deposit back, they need to clean up the land. To clean up this open pit now would likely cost millions of dollars in taxpayer money. Meanwhile, the mining operation is long gone and they pay nothing. On to their next claim. Good deal for them, but terrible for everyone else! OK, end of editorial.
 
I think the wash is straight ahead. To find it requires some solid navigational skills.
 
Ah, this is better. Definitely a desert wash, and the one I was looking for!
 
There are high, dramatic rock formations along the west side of the wash.
 
Alien rock formation.
 
The wash becomes nearly impassable in this area. I stop to admire the wildflowers and that beautiful rocky spire. I'll proceed a little further and will then need to veer west. I'm hoping I can complete a large loop rather than go back the way I came.
 

Coyote den? And check out that boulder teetering up on top!
 
Afternoon golden light.

Heading due west, something just barely catches my eye as I'm passing by. It's white in color, which my brain says doesn't really belong here. Perhaps a large piece of quartz? Can you see it? I decide to check it out.
 
It's a bleached out bighorn sheep skull! It looks like it's been sitting here for many years. A cool find anywhere in the Park, but especially out here, where there's little water and no current sheep population to my knowledge.
 

View from inside, looking out.
 
I continue on, leaving the sheep skull just as I found it. Shortly after that discovery is this huge pointy boulder. Reminds me of a giant arrowhead, or perhaps a prehistoric shark tooth!
 
Did I mention it was a perfect day for a hike? Beautiful clouds and not too hot. Soon this area will be scorching and much too hot for day hikes. As I head north towards my car, I want to find an arch my friend Mark told me about.
 
And there it is: Mark's Arch!

View from under "Mark's Arch".
 
As I stop to admire this beautiful view and golden hour light, something compels me to turn around. And what I see amazes me!
What a incredible rock formation! It appears to have two large eyes, about equal in size, and very photogenic. Keep this rock formation in mind as you will be seeing it again in a future post.
 
View from inside the creature's right eye!
 

Hiking out here, I always have the Coxcombs nearby to keep me company!
 
Thanks for joining me on what turned out to be a really fun hike.
You will be seeing more of "Big Eyes" in the near future!
Linking with Skywatch Friday.

42 comments:

  1. ...beautiful images, but I see that summer has arrived. Varies shade of brown . Thanks for taking me along to see the sights.

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  2. Awesome photos, you really did do the hike justice. That first Alien rock I thought looked like a hippo with a couple of kids holding the mough open. Sixth photo looks like a gargoyle sitting on the top of the rock but I love the photo pror to the eyes watching you

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  3. Those "eyes" are creepy. Glad you finally found the wash you wanted.

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  4. Coal mines in PA are now required to return the land to a near original state. Love the Pics as always!!

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  5. You are so good at reconciling what you see on google earth with what is on the ground. Glad you found the right wash. That sheep skull is a great find and I love that you left it alone right where you saw it. Great ethics in my opinion.
    But then you go crawling right into the rattlesnake dens. I think you are a snake charmer.

    I agree with your thoughts on mining and abandonment of mining claims. Nationwide there is a similar issue with orphaned oil gas wells. Hundreds of thousands of wells that are leaking small amounts of methane into the atmosphere and in some cases leaking hydrocarbons into water formations.

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  6. Super photos, especially of the erosional forms like the pyramid and … well just all of them

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  7. So many different rock formations there, the alien one is cool!

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  8. The rock formations are out of this world. I saw on Bear Grill show that these terrains in some of deserts are so deadly. The scenery is however very gorgeous.

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  9. What a cool place! Nice pics of the area. When I was in college I had summer jobs working for open pit coal mines in Wyoming. The mines were on public land, and the government required the mining companies to post bonds (in the millions of dollars) refundable if the land was properly reclaimed after the coal was extracted. I don't know how long this rule has been in place. Could be that the pit near you was mined before these laws.

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    1. Thanks, Linda. You made my day! So happy to hear that there is some accountability.

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  10. I see so many magical things in your photographs. And your captions often capture the same vibe. You are awesome man!
    "Lot's of steep sandy hillsides to slip off of and fall to your death. "

    Yeah. That. I just learned a valuable tip. I'd like to pass along to you. If you are ever in a tricky situation with low phone battery, change your answering message to tell people where you are, what time it is and that you need help. That way if your phone dies, the message is still out there and instruct your friends to listen to message from time to time! You know we worry about you. Thanks for these fantastic pictures and the adventure most of us will never take

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    1. Thanks, Cloudia, that's a good tip. I am careful, and I carry a Garmin InReach that has the ability to text and even an SOS button (which hopefully I never have to use!).

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  11. Amazing formation shots. Great entry. Always enjoy your photography!
    JAck & Sherry back on the road

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  12. The 4th picture strikes me as a sculpture showing workers struggling to lift some symbolic object. Well maybe I should have another glass of wine... Seriously great pictures, and I agree with your concerns.

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  13. Oh, those luscious large eyes! Absolutely stunning rock formations that look more like works of art by a one-of-a-kind sculptor. And, yes, it would be wonderful if everyone cleaned up after themselves.

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  14. Very interesting rock formation in the desert.

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  15. Wow, that alien rock is amazing! Like a turtle or jellyfish alien.

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  16. Fantastic Rock formations, as per usual. That Bighorn Sheep Skull would be nice decoration to someone´s Man Cave.

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  17. Extraordinary perceptions! Its always pleasure to watch your artwork! Hope you had good time with exploration

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  18. Nature always manages to make things more beautiful than humans can dream up. Yet another beautiful photo shoot of the desert. Thanks for this.

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  19. Wonderful shapes in these beautiful pictures

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  20. Great post. I'm amazed at the rock formations. They are so unique and sometimes just crazy.

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  21. Thanks so much for posting more photos of Joshua Tree. I was there many years ago and your photos bring back many happy memories. It is a great place for a hike.

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  22. Scary! I hope you hike these places with a friend. Agreed with your editorial regarding the companies that did the mining. They should at least clean it up!

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  23. Yet another gorgeous adventure. I always enjoy your posts and photography.

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  24. Amazing rock formations! And yes, agree with your editorial.

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  25. OMG!!! What an amazing ride you've had! Such incredible views, great weather and stunning founds. Thanks a lot for sharing these impressive moments with you.

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  26. I agree and thought miners have to secure the area before leaving!
    Great pic with the sun. Yes, Aliens!
    Interesting about the skull and nice arch - do you hike by yourself? Isn´t that dangerous?
    Looks a bit like a dragon´s head munching grass.
    A bit creeps with the eyes. Thanks again for sharing.

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  27. Wonderful series of photos of east wash, mark's arch and big eyes ~ you captured well the beauty of these places ~ thanks,

    Wishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  28. Very impressive rock formations. Love your photos, thanks so much for sharing.

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  29. Lots of great sights, as usual - the alien formation, the bighorn skull (no, I didn't see it in the first picture) and Big Eyes. I could swear that, in front of the Left Eye of Big Eyes, I see some kind of vertical pole but it must be an illusion.

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  30. A landscape that does not forgive errors.

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  31. gorgeous scenery and images. I never get bored with it.

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  32. Oh wow it's a wonderful landscape and the rockformations are spectacular,
    greetings
    Kirsi

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  33. Ein bewundernswertes Gebiet, faszinierende Fotos!

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  34. Wow, what fantastic faces, I mean, formations!

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