Chasing Wildflowers
Joshua Tree National Park, Ca.
April 14, 2017
Yea, it was Easter weekend and we knew the campsites would be full but none the less we headed out for Joshua Tree NP anyways. Hopefully to catch some of the late season wildflowers for my camera. Traffic was flowing at a good clip and we soon arrived at Cottonwood Spring road exit on the I-10.
Stopping for our traditional photo at the park sign, the sky was clear and somewhat bluish. Some wildflowers were starting to show themselves off.
Motoring further up Cottonwood Spring Rd., I pulled into a turn out for there were some fine specimens of Ocotillos and other wildflowers.
This roadside spot is a small bumper crop of wildflowers and plants.
Our next stop was the visitor center; it was very busy with the Easter weekend crowd. I flashed my old geezer NP pass at the clerk and bought 2 new maps. Julie and I headed out on their little walking trail to take a look and photograph some bloom flowers.
The wind had kicked up, taking clear photos was a problem but none the less I was able to take a good number of clear photos. Back to the TC and off to Black Eagle Mine Road, this was a area in which during our last trip here (few years back) we found some Desert Lilies and hope to find some more.
This graded dirt road was fairly smooth, very little wash boarding. We would make stops as wildflowers were spied.
Finding an insect on a flower/plant always adds to the photo.
Moving on down the road as to say and soon halting for more photographing.
By this time weโre almost 5 miles into Black Eagle Mine Road and spotted a few more gems of the desert.
Julie found this Five Spot, not fully open but enough to see the spots. Plus this area abounded with Desert Lilies, 46 plants we counted!
Julie was wandering around and called for me, she found a plant I really didnโt expect to see and it was the only one we did see during our entire adventure.
Soon enough the park boundary gate came into view, they were open and beyond them laid the Eagle Mountain Mining District. Per our map another 4 miles of non maintain road was ahead before reaching the permanent locked gates.
Rocky road is what is best to describe this section, passing by a mining operation up on the hill, the tailing poured out of the mineโs mouth.
The road may have been rocky but it wasnโt long before end came, not at the locked gate but due to a rather large boulder in the road.
I had to back down our TC to a place where people had camped out; there we had lunch before heading back to Pinto Basin road.
On the way the same rocky road, we came across the first person weโve seen weโve been on this road.
Sighting a second vehicle was just a short drive down the road.
Not too long after the second vehicle sighting we are back at the Joshua NP boundary line. Once again campers in the past had spent the night here or maybe several nights.
From our turn around point it was 2.1 miles back to the NP boundary line.
We saw one more vehicle about half way out, they warned us of an adult Desert Turtle in the road up ahead. We did see this turtle, careful in pasting it.
Arriving back at Pinto Basin Road we headed for Amboy Crater for our overnight stay, all of Joshua NP campsites were full you know Easter Weekend. Other than the train coming by at night Amboy Crater is pretty quiet place to park for the night.
Not much in the way of wildflowers were at Amboy crater, the big bumper crop happened in March.
Morning brought a beautiful blue sky and after breakfast we headed for Kelso Dunes. Julie and I have never been there; north of the I40 on Kelbaker Road several stops were made.
Kelso dunes straight ahead.
At the Dunes
A family was out there doing a pre-Easter egg hunt, they also brought along a Mongolian style tent.
I was amazed at the variety of vegetation at Kelso Dunes.
Julie and I made one last stop before heading to Barstow to meet a friend for dinner and that was Kelso Railroad Depot, again we have never been there. On the road leaving the dunes a juvenile turtle was crossing the road.
It was a short stop at the depot.
Thanks to everyone for reading my Trip Reports
c.traveler2
Joshua Tree National Park, Ca.
April 14, 2017
Yea, it was Easter weekend and we knew the campsites would be full but none the less we headed out for Joshua Tree NP anyways. Hopefully to catch some of the late season wildflowers for my camera. Traffic was flowing at a good clip and we soon arrived at Cottonwood Spring road exit on the I-10.
Stopping for our traditional photo at the park sign, the sky was clear and somewhat bluish. Some wildflowers were starting to show themselves off.
Motoring further up Cottonwood Spring Rd., I pulled into a turn out for there were some fine specimens of Ocotillos and other wildflowers.
This roadside spot is a small bumper crop of wildflowers and plants.
Our next stop was the visitor center; it was very busy with the Easter weekend crowd. I flashed my old geezer NP pass at the clerk and bought 2 new maps. Julie and I headed out on their little walking trail to take a look and photograph some bloom flowers.
The wind had kicked up, taking clear photos was a problem but none the less I was able to take a good number of clear photos. Back to the TC and off to Black Eagle Mine Road, this was a area in which during our last trip here (few years back) we found some Desert Lilies and hope to find some more.
This graded dirt road was fairly smooth, very little wash boarding. We would make stops as wildflowers were spied.
Finding an insect on a flower/plant always adds to the photo.
Moving on down the road as to say and soon halting for more photographing.
By this time weโre almost 5 miles into Black Eagle Mine Road and spotted a few more gems of the desert.
Julie found this Five Spot, not fully open but enough to see the spots. Plus this area abounded with Desert Lilies, 46 plants we counted!
Julie was wandering around and called for me, she found a plant I really didnโt expect to see and it was the only one we did see during our entire adventure.
Soon enough the park boundary gate came into view, they were open and beyond them laid the Eagle Mountain Mining District. Per our map another 4 miles of non maintain road was ahead before reaching the permanent locked gates.
Rocky road is what is best to describe this section, passing by a mining operation up on the hill, the tailing poured out of the mineโs mouth.
The road may have been rocky but it wasnโt long before end came, not at the locked gate but due to a rather large boulder in the road.
I had to back down our TC to a place where people had camped out; there we had lunch before heading back to Pinto Basin road.
On the way the same rocky road, we came across the first person weโve seen weโve been on this road.
Sighting a second vehicle was just a short drive down the road.
Not too long after the second vehicle sighting we are back at the Joshua NP boundary line. Once again campers in the past had spent the night here or maybe several nights.
From our turn around point it was 2.1 miles back to the NP boundary line.
We saw one more vehicle about half way out, they warned us of an adult Desert Turtle in the road up ahead. We did see this turtle, careful in pasting it.
Arriving back at Pinto Basin Road we headed for Amboy Crater for our overnight stay, all of Joshua NP campsites were full you know Easter Weekend. Other than the train coming by at night Amboy Crater is pretty quiet place to park for the night.
Not much in the way of wildflowers were at Amboy crater, the big bumper crop happened in March.
Morning brought a beautiful blue sky and after breakfast we headed for Kelso Dunes. Julie and I have never been there; north of the I40 on Kelbaker Road several stops were made.
Kelso dunes straight ahead.
At the Dunes
A family was out there doing a pre-Easter egg hunt, they also brought along a Mongolian style tent.
I was amazed at the variety of vegetation at Kelso Dunes.
Julie and I made one last stop before heading to Barstow to meet a friend for dinner and that was Kelso Railroad Depot, again we have never been there. On the road leaving the dunes a juvenile turtle was crossing the road.
It was a short stop at the depot.
Thanks to everyone for reading my Trip Reports
c.traveler2
