The Desert is Alive

This is the second in a series of seven posts made during a 2017 US vacation. 

1. Joshua Tree
2. The Desert is Alive
3. Wide Open Spaces
4. Spring Flowers!
5. Gator Bait
6. Tornadoes and Car Trouble
7. Spirits in The Desert

Trip Path as of 4/2/2017

Trip Log

1. Joshua Tree National Park CA

Excellent but busy. Getting a campsite was pure luck. Awesome hiking, climbing, bouldering

2. Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument AZ

Very nice and very clean campsites. Nice hikes and beautiful sunsets. Five miles from Mexican border. Lots of blooming cactus and wildflowers.

3. Saguaro National Park AZ

OK, nice place but dryer with less cactus to see there.

4. City of Rock State Park NM (see pics at bottom of page)

Cool for bouldering if you are in the area. Kinda like a mini JTree. Tons of bunnies and some Jacks. A really nice surprise that we stumbled upon. 

5. Carlsbad Caverns NP NM: TBD, going there tomorrow

One of the reasons that Craig and I decided to take this trip was to be able to spend the time to find those little gems that we might pass by during a regular one or two-week vacation. It seems like almost every time we take an unplanned hike, we find something wonderful and surprising. Joshua Tree National Park is a beautiful place, and it turns out that there are also beautiful places just outside the park. Well, really an oasis. The hike to 49 Palms Oasis (3mi round trip) was a photographer’s dream of the most amazing yellow, red, and purple flowers mixed in with a variety of cactus and yucca trees. The hike ends at true oasis with 49+ palm trees (yes, Craig counted at least 49), gently flowing water, hummingbirds, and frogs. 

Jack the rabbit at City of Rocks State Park

Balance Rock at City of Rocks State Park

Our little trailer at City of Rocks State Park