TrailnameBackstroke

Desert Blog

Sierra Club Excursion to Joshua Tree 2015, trip leaders Geoff Mohan and Dave Meltzer

The barbs of the chollas go straight through most any shoe. Experienced hikers carry pliers to pull them out.

Oasis destination.

The brown rock is a boundary marker- not so easy to find. I found it with a compass only, some cheated and used GPS.

The twitchy bushes in the wind carve interesting tracks.

Next trip: Excursion to peaks Sandy Point (7,062') and Last Chance (8,456') with the Sierra Club Desert Peaks Section (DPS) April 2016

Trip leaders Mat Kelliher and Bill Simpson

The spectacular view of the distant Sierra from the peak of Sandy Point with the Eureka Dunes in the foreground . (CLICK TO ENLARGE)

Motley bunch.

Peak registers often elicit emotional responses.

Typical desert detritus.

Unusually good desert graffitti.

Abandoned mining machinery. 

Probably a sulpher mine.

Abandoned mineshaft.

Next Trip: Angeles Chapter Desert Peaks Section trip to Clark Mountain May 2016. Trip leaders Alexander Smirnoff, Beth Epstein

Clark Mountain (7,933 ft) is the highest peak of the Mojave National Reserve.

Beth and Alex discuss the best approach.

View to the North. At night the glow of distant Las Vegas might be visible.