Geology Tour Road

It's been 3 weeks since we've been out to our desert place, and really missing it!  I had two goals for this weekend: [1] Work Goal - buy and/or clean filters for the swamp cooler, which requires considerable time up on the roof, up and down the ladder, etc., and [2] Fun Goal - go explore "Geology Tour Road" in Joshua Tree National Park.  I'll spare you the boredom of blogging about the swamp cooler, but the Geology Tour Road was really fun.  This was my first visit... very scenic, and a "must do" recommendation!

So, Geology Tour Road is easy to find; it's well marked (large sign)... just grab a map as you head into the park.  It's about midway between the 29 Palms and Joshua Tree entrances to the park, so doesn't really matter which entrance you take.  As you turn off the main road, you will see bathroom facilities and this sign on your right.  There is also a metal box near the sign... be sure to pick up the Geology Tour Road Guide that's inside this box.

According to the guide, this is an 18 mile (round trip) tour that "leads through one of Joshua Tree National Park's most scenic landscapes".  I'd have to agree!  There are 16 numbered stops along the way (not always easy to spot), and the guide points out the geology highlights at each stop.  Very cool!

My Better Half on the Geology Tour Road

The brochure says four-wheel drive is recommended, especially after you get about 5 or 6 miles into the drive.  I never actually put my Jeep into 4WD, and I think a 2WD vehicle with decent ground clearance could make it fine.  Definitely not recommended for the Honda Accord, however!

Gayle capturing desert sky!

We picked a great day to take this drive, with giant, fluffy clouds and the threat of rain (never happened).  And we picked the late afternoon for the long shadows.  There were so many photo opps that I kept the camera around my neck for the entire drive!   We only saw a handful of people on the drive, even though it was a Saturday in April.  Highs were only in the 50's, so our ride in the open Jeep was a little on the cool side, and we bundled up accordingly!

It was a crazy day, weather-wise.  In the AM we went over to Home Depot in Yucca Valley and there were actually snow flakes coming down!!  Only lasted for about 10 minutes, but pretty wild!

OK, back to the tour...

Around marker 12 - Lost Horse Mine area

Please note, I'm not organized enough to put these photos in order... they skip around quite a bit!  The area around marker 12 (Lost Horse Mine area) is a good place to stop and look around.  There is a trail head that starts off from here, and two large ore processing containers.  The brochure says this area is "riddled with tunnels and shafts dug by miners of gold and other precious metals".  Interestingly, the Lost Horse Mine is one of the few mines that was actually profitable (due to the high grade ore in this area).

View across top of Squaw Tank (Marker #9)

Above is a view of "Squaw Tank" which is a small concrete dam.  Cattlemen built this in the early 1900's to capture water for their cattle.  It was dry behind the dam today.

Around mile 7, the road makes a large loop, and becomes one way only.  Be sure to stay to the left.

You will run across the sign below after crossing the dry lake bed.  Stay right (toward 29 Palms).  We're saving Dillon road for another trip in the future.

Stay right (toward 29 Palms) to stay on the loop

Crossing the dry lake (somewhere near marker #13)

Getting close to completing the loop, and heading north... just beautiful!

 By late afternoon, it just seemed like I couldn't take a bad picture!  The light was great, the the blue sky with fluffy white clouds were awesome!


Above is a picture with the twin peaks of Malapai Hill.  I guess geologists get excited about this sort of thing!  According to the brochure, the hill is 400 ft. above the valley floor and is composed of black basalt, which erodes more slowly than the surrounding monzogranite.  Anyway, to my eye, it's just a cool looking hill!

Gayle under beautiful desert skies!

There were a few areas where the flowers were really beautiful.

Unidentified plant getting ready to flower... I just liked the late afternoon light.

Well, that's it.  Hope this gives you a flavor of the Geology Tour Road.  I'm looking forward to seeing it again sometime soon!

SkyWatch Friday!

Have a great weekend!

Under Desert Skies - 49 Palms Oasis Trail

Visit Skywatch Friday 

for more beautiful skies from around the world.

Geology & Cultural History of Cottonwood Spring

My sister, brother-in-law and I signed up for this class offered by the Desert Institute at Joshua Tree National Park.  It was taught by D. D. Trent, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus in geology.  Here's the course description:

"Stretch you legs and enjoy the spectacular scenery of the Cottonwood Mountains with D.D. Trent in this all-day field class.  Trent will discuss the rocks and minerals of Cottonwood Mountains and tell stories of the people who eked out a living in the area during the late 1800s.  Along the trail, Trent will share the history of the cowboys, miners, and teamsters who depended on Cottonwood Spring for their livelihood."

It was a great class, very interesting and informative.  I would definitely recommend it, especially if you are interested in the geology of the area.  Dr. Trent took us to mines and other interesting areas that we would never have found on our own!

The weather was cold this weekend, so you can see everyone was bundled up.  There was extensive cloud cover with no shadows, so the light was "flat" for photography, but that didn't stop us from taking a ton of pictures! 

Starting our day -ore crushing site at Cottonwood Spring

Morton mill site with cyanide vats in foreground.

Hard to believe horse-drawn carts were pulled up and down this old mining road!

 

Mastodon Mine

My sister in the "rock gardens"!

Cottonwood Spring wash... & wide, open spaces!

Chocolate Chip Cookie rock!!

Window Rock

The Mastodon peak loop train and mine area are really interesting, and a great hike.  I really enjoyed hiking around and exploring this area.  If you get a chance, really worth checking out.

Out for a drive in Cottonwood Spring wash!!

Cactus - Dig Your Own!

As you drive east on Highway 62 through the town of Morongo Valley, be sure to stop at the Cactus Mart. If the “Dig Your Own Cactus 59 ¢” sign doesn’t catch your fancy, or the giant lizard on the roof of the gift shop doesn’t catch your eye, or if you don’t want to get out just to see the myriad cacti displays both in the ground and for sale in pots, or the flocks of colorful birds jostling at the feeders out back near the Koi pond, or if you aren’t interested in purchasing cactus candy or pomegranate jelly, OR even if you don’t need to use their the bathroom, then get out of your car JUST to see Butch and Sundance, the resident cashier counter cats! These beguiling critters could care less that human hubbub and high commerce is being carried out all around them; that human eyes are taking in their lovely mutual catnaps, taking pictures, blowing in their ears, petting them, calling their spouses to say “Honey, come in to look at these darling cats!” while souvenirs, cacti, postcards, objects de art, money, and credit cards exchange human hands above their innocent heads, while they continue to snooze.  An itch behind the ears or a stroke of soft fur will produce a stretchy leg, a cat smile, and then, an even closer snuggle.  How long do cats sleep, anyway?  Every time we stop, those two have themselves cuddled into this wooden box, on the cashier counter.  A must-see in Morongo! 

The other sign that's hard to miss is the "Cactus Mart" sign.

Oh, and remember to grab your camera before you head in!

Two cats in a box!!