At The Backroads

The Joshua Tree……its limbs are outstretched in supplication like in a prayer,

thus the legend that the Mormon migrants named it after the prophet Joshua. Its unique and grotesque beauty found mostly in the Mojave Desert has attracted most passersby. Many Californians have tried to bring these trees home hoping to grow these wonderful and majestic looking trees in their backyard.

To protect these trees from human devastation in their natural habitat, this part of the desert was established as a National monument in 1936. In 1994, this desert park was declared a National Park. Joshua Tree National Park is close enough to two major cities in California, Los Angeles and San Diego. It is bordered by Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. Thus expect the park to be crowded by city dwellers seeking desert solitude in the cooler months of fall to the colorful months of spring when the park is carpeted by wildflowers. 

The Park…..is composed of two large desert ecosystems, the Colorado Desert (lower elevation) and  the Mojave Desert (higher elevation).

 Cholla Garden Nature Trail, Transition between Colorado and Mojave Desert

The desert….. probably to some sounds so uninteresting, dull and lifeless, but to those who have learned to take a deeper look at all facets of life will find immense beauty that exists in this seemingly dull looking environment.

Keys View, Joshua Tree National Park

This desert park consists of interesting geologic displays such as rugged mountains of twisted rocks and exposed granite boulders formed by the tremendous forces of the earth. 

Me & My Younger Brother @ Arch Rock

Skull Rock (photo taken by my younger brother)

For nature and outdoor photographers, there are endless photo opportunities this desert park offers.

Photographer @ Barker Dam

Photographer @ Hidden Valley

For rock climbers, this desert park is a paradise.

 Rock Climbers @ Hidden Valley

For hikers and nature lovers, this park offers surprising variety, complexity and an appearance of extreme fragility more often observed in a besieged desert environment.

A place of beauty

 and life,

 Bunny Seeks Comfort among the Thorny Cholla

but maybe seen only by the keen observers.

 Hidden Valley

 One of my favorite thing to do at the desert is to watch for sunset (we still have to make an effort to camp in the desert to catch sunrise there :(  ) . How the color of the sky varies in different directions at the desert was mesmerizing. And with the outstretch limbs of Joshua trees in the foreround, 

the precious moment seems like a prayer, giving thanks to our creator, and asking for His grace to help them survive the fiercest tests of time. 

 Keys View, Joshua Tree National Park

National Parks…..preserving nature’s beauty….testifying God’s greatest artistry that can never be equalled. The greatest art piece is not man-made protected in museums, but is living in extreme fragility in the great outdoors, our natural museums. Only that we see the grandeur of the natural world often if we take the backroads, when we leave our cars behind, and then, we move our feet to hike. Yes, hike, while you still are young and are able to move your feet, to explore the great artistry manifested in our natural beautiful world, at the backroads. For when that old age comes and we can hardly move our feet, we have the rejuvenating memories of nature to inspire us to persevere beautifully in the tests of time.

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