West Side Loop, Saturday, 2/3/24

 

Joshua Tree National Park is a fascinating place.  Jimmy and I have seen but a portion, just scratched the surface of it, and are keen to return for more.  It's so different from any other park we've been to, a crazy, mixed-up jumble of desert and rock and unique flora.  JTNP is almost directly north and above Desert Hot Springs, where we're staying; that is, "above" by about 3000 feet.

Our goal for today, Saturday, was to explore the West Side Loop Trail off Black Rock Canyon in JTNP.  Rain is forecast for tomorrow, so play outside today is our motto!  Armed with lots of water, we coaxed Smartie up that big hill again, and hit the trail.  We picked this one because it's tucked away in the park's northwest corner, so less hikers, and it looked to be the most scenic.

But first, as we like to say, first, we wanted to show you another stellar scene out our front window from yesterday morning.  Clouds pretty much obscured Gorgonio's face, but gave us a rainbow instead!  Art in the sky!

Of course, it being the weekend, vehicles were parked everywhere, but very few at the West Side Loop.  When we left Tergel, the temp was 58°.  At the trailhead, the temp was 49°.  Not so much location, location, but elevation, elevation (over 4000' at the trailhead)!  We were dressed in layers for the lower temps.  Leaning on his walking stick, Jimmy is gazing at the incredible panorama before him.

Cholla looks bright, kinda fuzzy, and benign.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  That sucker would wound you big time if you got close enough.  Those needles!  Look how it glows in the sunshine.

The views from West Side Loop Trail are jaw-dropping, really and truly, with layers atop layers of hills and mountains. It's probably one of the better, if longer, hikes in JTNP.  It's rated moderate, a 4.7-mile loop hike -- it meanders through stands of large Joshua trees and a pinyon-juniper woodland, and ascends 785 feet of vertical gain, not too bad.  Throw in stunning views of San Gorgonio for good measure, the tallest peak in So Cal.

Signage was spot-on, which we appreciated, because other trails (not seen on the brochure) intersected our loop.

A warning about the trail being washed out ahead.  Rains create havoc on sandy slopes, but we weren't bothered much, tho the uphill we'd be facing would make us huff 'n puff. 

Half-way up this particular hill (ridge) we stopped to breathe and get this pic.  Our trail is visible and wraps around the big hill behind Jimmy.

The park embraces parts of two distinct deserts—the Mojave and Sonoran.  Compared to the lower Sonoran (or Colorado desert) the Mojave is loftier, wetter, and more vegetated, aka "high desert," and it's what we see here.  Lots of Joshua trees, Yuccas, and Creosote.

Not 100% sure, but that might be the City of Yucca Valley way down below (top, above).  This trail is comprised of various terrain types -- deep sand, hard packed dirt, and uneven rocky surfaces, and there were lots of ups and downs, some steep.

Here's an interesting Joshua tree that looks as though it got tired and laid down ... at which point lots of little arms sprouted along its trunk and pointed skyward.  This was at the crown of a ridge, where Piñon pines, Scrub oaks and Junipers joined the flora.  Plenty of birds up here, noisy Scrub Jays, Mountain Chickadees, etc., and even a Phainopepla closer to the car.

Unlike much of JTNP, the rocks on West Side Loop are not monzogranite, those wacky jumbled boulders seen further east in the park.  If you look closely, you can spot bunches of hedgehog cacti.  The only critter we saw was a lizard.

Coming down from the ridges and back into thick Joshua tree territory, we were tiring and hoping to see Smartie, but she was still a mile away, oh well.  We could do it.  (insert smiley face)  

At last, with Smartie in view, we stumbled across this child's soft parka hanging on a stump, obviously hoping the owner's folks would come and claim it.  I thought it might be better off at the nature center (visitor center) in case of rain, so we carried it to the car and turned it over to a ranger.

Happy were we to see Smartie!  Hungry were we, too, so we stopped at a burger joint (just okay), and came back down the hill.  I couldn't wait to hit the pool and, you know me -- like a marshmallow in hot chocolate -- I'd simply melt into the deliciously warm water.  Then into the hot pool to ease the tired muscles.  What a great day.

Well.  Now.  Today we had to cancel the rest of our month's stay at Catalina RV Resort, and our added Anza-Borrego days.  But we have a family emergency, and need to return home, make airline reservations and fly to Baton Rouge to be with my sister and our very ill brother-in-law.  We're grateful to have had two glorious weeks in the desert.  We'll be back again next year.