I learn from the exhibit in the visitors center that this park spans across two deserts, the upper elevations in the northwestern area of the park are in the Mojave Desert, and the lower elevations in the southern and eastern areas of the park are in the California′s Colorado desert which is part of the larger Sonoran desert.

Too, I learn that the Joshua Trees only live in the Mojave desert, where the elevations are higher, between 3000 feet and 5000 feet.

Heading out into the desert, I find quickly that the temperature is 100 degrees, but stop to take numerous photos of the Joshua Trees and the rock formations.

It was late last night before it cooled off enough to obtain sleep and it is just after seven when I awake and walk into the d-mart to grab a cup of hot. By seven-thirty, I am driving east and stop by the Park Rock Cafe at Joshua Tree visitors center for breakfast and to upload the journal entries that I did last evening while waiting for the cool.

I then drive through the park to access the eastbound interstate, stopping several times for photos of some amazing rock formations, desert blooms and the steep road down to the Sonoran desert.

Arriving in Yucca Valley as the sun is setting, I drive into Twenty Nine Palms and stop at the d-mart to overnight. I then grab my camera to take a series of photos of the fading light on the nearby mountains.

Then, I have to wait some time for it to cool off before sleep arrives.

After having driven down the west coast from Oak Harbor, Washington, a drive that had taken eleven days, I arrive at Twenty Nine Palms and overnight at a d-mart, Early the next morning, i drive into Joshua Tree park for the first time. I stop first at the visitor center but it is still closed, so, I walk into the park rock cafe and have breakfast.

After eating, I walk around the corner and enter the visitor center to see why this desert is a national park.

After several hours of driving through the Mojave portion of the Joshua Tree National Park, I begin the drive down into the Sonoran desert where an entire different type of cactus grows. The road literally goes down a steep grade to the lower elevations of Joshua Tree National Park.

I find that there is a subtle beauty in this place even though the environment appears totally hostile. Further, I can not envision myselƒ alone afoot is such a place even with a fully outfitted pack.

Maybe I could have done it in my youth, but now, it would take a lot of training and preparations for me to backpack in this kind of terrain. Neither do I have the desire to backpack in the desert, nor do I even want to camp for a night at one of the campgrounds here, especially not during the summer. I might, however, consider camping in the dead cold of winter.

Nevertheless, I am glad that I did come to this park to see the subtle beauty that was unknown to me prior to arriving.

Leaving the park, I head to Yucaipa, California to help a friend work on his home for a few weeks before I head east.