If Trees Could Talk: Joshua Tree National Park, CA.

I’ve long harboured a desire to visit Joshua Tree National Park, most likely inspired by my father’s trip in the early 70s and the beautiful slides he brought home.

It’s easy to give personas to these gangly yuccas, with their long arms and unusual body contortions. There’s a sense of friendliness to them. It even extends to their name which, as the story goes, was given to them by 19th century Mormon pioneers. As they journeyed across the Mojave desert, they were reminded of the biblical Joshua, waving them on towards the promised land.

With a little imagination, each takes on its own character. Certainly, no two are quite alike. Some seem to have gregariously gathered in groups, others have struck off alone. There’s all kinds and shapes out there: tall, confident and upbeat, or solitary, timid and wistful…

DSC_3793.jpg

Welcome to the mystical land of the Joshua Trees.

DSC_3363.jpg

We spent our first night camped behind a boulder field outside the park. Peace and quiet was broken only by an intrepid desert mouse, who sniffed about our belongings in the hope of a midnight snack, before being trapped and unceremoniously ejected from the tent.

DSC_3618.jpg

We're in. $5 a bike gets you a week in the park.

DSC_3554.jpg

In my mind's eye, the trees seemed to gather around us, as if forming a welcoming party, ushering us into their land.

We wound our way amongst them, making our introductions...

DSC_3683.jpg

Straddling both the Mojave and the Colorado deserts, the park is filled with all manner of wondrously shaped creations. And I don't mean Nancy...

DSC_3915.jpg

Most have ingenious, prickly ways of protecting themselves.

DSC_3663.jpg

Some are squat and portly.

DSC_3398.jpg

Others more pointy.

DSC_3697.jpg

A few have found homes in improbable places.

DSC_3419.jpg

I'd love to return in the spring, when the whole desert begins to flower.

DSC_4130.jpg

The blossoms of the Joshua Trees are creamy white. Some trees tower 40ft in height, and might have come straight from the pages of a Dr Seuss book.

DSC_3921.jpg

Over a 200 year life span, each develops its own character. This one seems both playful on the one side, and downcast on the other.

DSC_4162.jpg

A main paved loop runs through the park...

DSC_3848.jpg

... with a few dirt road detours.

DSC_3838.jpg

We spent two, crisp cold nights there. I'd liked to have stayed longer.

DSC_4119.jpg

Although the park is named after its trees, the rock formations there are just as remarkable.

DSC_4118.jpg

Hidden Valley is littered with huge boulders, as if tossed aside by a passing giant.

And just like the trees, each rock has a persona too.

DSC_3829.jpg

Infested with cracks and slabs, they're popular with climbers, who cling to the rough granite, ant-sized in the distance. Fall and Spring are good times to climb and bike, as summer temperatures can reach 120F...

Even without climbing gear, it's fun to scrabble about.

DSC_4025.jpg

Leaping from boulder to boulder, in the aptly named Wonderland of Rocks.

DSC_4106.jpg

A truly enchanting place.

DSC_4137.jpg

So long Joshua Trees, until the next time...

9 thoughts on “If Trees Could Talk: Joshua Tree National Park, CA.

    1. While Out Riding Post author

      According to Bono…
      “Spending time in Africa and seeing people in the pits of poverty, I still saw a very strong spirit in the people, a richness of spirit I didn’t see when I came home… I saw the spoiled child of the Western world. I started thinking, ‘They may have a physical desert, but we’ve got other kinds of deserts.’ And that’s what attracted me to the desert as a symbol of some sort.”

      Reply
      1. Mark

        Hah just a little cold, and these pictures just make it seem that much cold here! Hopefully I’ll see these photos up on flickr one day, they’re beautiful!

        Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.