JTree Magic

31 Mar 2019 - Michelle Ho

Oh Joshua Tree. Such a magical place. What can I say? Rocks and boulders as far as the eye can see. Spiky Joshua Trees waving their arms in the air. And the best darn people on the planet can be found here!

Geoff and I rolled into Hidden Valley campground early on Sunday morning to grab a first-come first-serve site. We found a good spot and were delighted to find van-traveling trad-climbing super-rad friends in the next site over. We were neighbors for the next week. Each day, we’d wake up, have a leisurely breakfast together, split off to climb in different areas in and around the campground, regroup for dinner, and have a big ol’ campfire to end the night with music and mezcal. What more do you need?

Superbloom of yellow flowers in Joshua Tree!
Superbloom of yellow flowers in Joshua Tree!
So happy.
So happy.
Ocotillos are so awesome. They are tall woody plants that have thorns with each leaf. We got to see them in bloom, with their spindle-y red flowers waving in the breeze.
Ocotillos are so awesome. They are tall woody plants that have thorns with each leaf. We got to see them in bloom, with their spindle-y red flowers waving in the breeze.
Ocotillo close up.
Ocotillo close up.
These are cholla cactuses. They are incredibly sharp and other-worldly looking plants. I think Geoff is doing an cholla impression here.
These are cholla cactuses. They are incredibly sharp and other-worldly looking plants. I think Geoff is doing an cholla impression here.
Rappeling off the otherside of Outhouse Rock after Geoff climbed Straight Flush.
Rappeling off the otherside of Outhouse Rock after Geoff climbed Straight Flush.
Top of Intersection Rock, looking down into the Hidden Valley campground.
Top of Intersection Rock, looking down into the Hidden Valley campground.
Us at the top of Dappled Mare.
Us at the top of Dappled Mare.
We hiked to an arch near White Tank.
We hiked to an arch near White Tank.
Found a good hammock spot in a wash near Split Rock.
Found a good hammock spot in a wash near Split Rock.
The yuccas were in bloom! Joshua Trees are actually not trees but yuccas.
The yuccas were in bloom! Joshua Trees are actually not trees but yuccas.
We climbed Ryan Mountain on our rest day.
We climbed Ryan Mountain on our rest day.
The view from the top of Ryan Mountain. You can see two snow-covered peaks. We think one is San Jacinto and the other is San Gorgonio.
The view from the top of Ryan Mountain. You can see two snow-covered peaks. We think one is San Jacinto and the other is San Gorgonio.
Sunset climb.
Sunset climb.
Two of our rad neighbors, Abby and Bickel, and us on the top of Intersection Rock.
Two of our rad neighbors, Abby and Bickel, and us on the top of Intersection Rock.