On Monday we drove 150 miles northeast of San Diego to Joshua Tree National Park, an otherworldly wilderness bordering the Mojave Desert. The landscape is stunning, with bold, beautiful rock formations dotted with desert plants, including the park’s namesake trees. According to legend, the tree’s outstretched branches reminded 19th-century Mormon settlers of the biblical prophet Joshua guiding them westward. Fun facts: The Joshua Tree is a succulent, not a true tree, and is protected under California law. It can live for hundreds of years, and depends on a single species, the yucca moth, for pollination and survival.
We hiked the Hidden Valley Trail, a short loop through an area allegedly named by cattle rustlers who stashed their stolen cows here. Although it was a pleasant 65F, summertime temperatures regularly exceed 100F, and we were greeted by this ominous sign at the trailhead:
Our next stop was Keys View, a magnificent vista overlooking the beautiful Coachella Valley and Santa Rosa Mountains. The weather was clear, and we could easily see the San Andreas Fault, the city of Palm Springs and the 10,831-foot peak of Mt. San Jacinto.
Lastly, we drove to Mt. San Jacinto State Park and boarded the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, the world’s largest rotating tram car. It takes ten minutes to cover the 2.5-mile trip up Chino Canyon to the upper viewing area at 8,516 feet. We had a quick lunch, then took another hike—one of the 50 miles of trails on the mountain—but had to be careful, since many parts of the trail were still snow-covered.
Bonus Question (multiple choice): How many countries are there in the world? (answer at end of post). A. 84 B. 195 C. 248 D. 336
After driving back to the coast, we had a quick and tasty dinner at the Encinitas Fish Shop before returning to Mary & Tim’s after a long but thoroughly enjoyable day!
Map of Joshua Tree National Park: https://maps.app.goo.gl/xdHmKVgoZdtCVugp9?g_st=ic
Map of Palm Springs Aerial Tramway: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Y8Q9EkjC4L6epazF7?g_st=ic
Bonus Question Answer: B. There are 195 countries in the world.
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