Sept 2014 Joshua Tree National Park

My buddy David and I visited Joshua Tree for the first time Sept 23 and 24.  This high desert national park is just 77 miles east from where we live or 25 miles east of Palm Springs, CA. It's an easy day trip although we stayed at a motel just to give us a "base camp" for our first time.

For those not in the know, anyone 62 or over can buy a park pass for just $10 and it's a lifetime pass to any national park (unless you lose the card they issue you.)  Does not apply to camping fees etc.

Joshua Tree is a photographers paradise because with the sun constantly changing, no scene is ever the same.  I'm always amazed how much life there is in a desert!  Kick back and enjoy our trip!

The next two are of David and I

Joshua Trees only grow in the higher altitudes and are related to the Yucca plant.

One of the many boulder formations throughout the park

There's many valleys like this full of Joshua Trees

At one of the many pullouts in the park

Our little friend, a desert Chipmunk(?) who hops around kind of like a kangaroo.

Me next to a Joshua Tree

This is a fascinating mountain formation where magma pushed it up.  Zoom in on the info board to learn more.

This area is called Jumbo Rocks and is also a camping area

Another pullout area called Split Rock.  We kicked back here for a while to enjoy the deafening silence!

Use your imagination and you can see a Transformer image in this formation

Another unusual formation

This was our trusty steed, a Ford Focus, 38 mpg!

We traveled the northern part of the park, next trip we'll do the southern route.  These last photos are all sunset images that I shot as we were leaving the park.  Enjoy.