Joshua Tree National Park

01/14/08 - 01/28/08

I spent two weeks in the Joshua Tree area. Although, I was only able to spend about half that time in the park itself. I rolled an ankle on one of my hikes, so I had to take a few days off to recover. I also missed a couple of days due to rainstorms. I seem to be experiencing a lot more rain than I expected in the deserts I've visited so far this winter.

Joshua Tree is where two desert ecosystems (Mojave and Colorado) meet. These two ecosystems are defined by elevation and each supports different vegetation. The transition between the two ecosystems divides the park. So you can see a wide variety of desert scenery in the park.

The highlight of my visit was the chance to watch a bobcat prowl around for several minutes. He was aware of me, but still went about his business as if I wasn't there.

Ocotillos
Steve Winker