Joshua Tree National Park - Friday 20th April 2007

Two hours drive out of LA is Joshua Tree National Park, a high altitude desert. Mum and I took a day trip here from LA. Joshua Tree is named after the many Joshua Trees that fill the park. They are strange looking trees and they create an other-worldly landscape. Joshua Tree also has many smooth, large rocks which makes it popular with climbers. On the day that we visited the weather was surprisingly cloudy and in fact at times it was drizzly - pretty strange for a desert!


Here's mum next to one of the many Joshua Trees.

Here's mum in front of a typical rock formation.

Here's me in the Cholla Cactus Garden.

A strange looking plant in Hidden Valley.

This is a hummingbird feeding from an Ocotillo plant. The Ocotillo is a freaky, spindly, 2m high plant with scarlet flowers.


Some typical Joshua Tree landscape at Hidden Valley.

Here's mum looking at a 'jumping' Cholla Cactus. They are called jumping cactus because when you get near them the spikes 'jump' into you. In fact, they don't jump, they just stick into you at the slightest touch. I knew this but still got too near one - I didn't realise until later I felt a pain in my arm and found some of the 4 inch spikes had worked their way through my coat into my arm!

Here's a lovely big rock. If you look closely you can see a climber near the top. This rock is a favourite with beginners and there were several people there when we visited.

Here's me at Keys View, a 5185ft high vista which looks out over Coachella Valley, where there was a massive music festival the week after we left.

Sun setting behind the Joshua Trees.