At The Backroads

San Diego Rocks! I am not referring to “rocks” we usually describe things or places or people if we are in awe of them, rather, the “San Diego Rocks” I am referring to is really about rocks, at Woodson Mountain. The early Indians settlers called it “The Mountain of the Moonlit Rocks”.

Moonrise Over Woodson Mountain from Afar

Maybe, the early Indian settlers named it as “Mountain of Moonlit Rocks” for the rocks and boulders are very visible even at night, over great distances. If hills and small mountains litter San Diego’s backyard, boulders litter on the slopes of Woodson Mountain.

Natural Rock Garden @ Woodson Mountain

Boulder Strewn Slope of Woodson Mountain

I have two previous posts about Woodson Mountain, one is Hiking Woodson Mountain from Lake Poway, with an approximate distance of 7 miles out and back and 2300 ft climb. The other one is Hiking and Geocaching at Woodson Mountain from Highway 67, which is approximately 3.6 miles round trip and 1200 ft climb.

Because of rain last Friday and Saturday, we decided to take the trail that starts at Highway 67 to avoid the all dirt trail that starts from Lake Poway. I was thinking the trail that starts at Lake Poway may get muddy and slippery and I did not want to have heavy mud clinging to my shoes for the entire hike. Also, there was still a possibility of another rain to come because of the dark clouds that seemed to be ready to fall anytime, so a shorter hike was desirable for us.

Dark Clouds Over Rolling Hills

Though I love taking the trail that starts at Lake Poway more, but the hike that starts at Highway 67 also has some features that I love. One of them is at the start of the trail where we pass the seem to be dancing sycamore trees.

Sycamore Trees, Near the trailhead at Highway 67

The trail changes from sycamore lined path to boulder strewn path.

Paved Trail to the Peak of Woodson

Big Boulders Lining the Trail

How big are some of these boulders? For scale, you can compare the man walking on the trail with the boulders lining up on the side. And those boulders are not necessarily the biggest in this boulder strewn mountain.

Big Boulders Lining the Trail

There are a lot of boulders with vertical and almost seamless face, making Woodson Mountain a popular place for the local San Diegans to go rock climbing.

Vertical Flat Face of A Giant Boulder

There were several rock climbers last Sunday but I did not get the chance to take them a picture, for either I was too close to them I hesitated to take them picture for fear I am invading their privacy, or the angle was not very good. But here is one picture of a little girl practising rock climbing already, I think she was just about 11 or 12 years old. I shot this last year’s spring.

Little Girl Rock Climbing

After reaching the peak of Woodson, we usually look for our favorite rock to gaze at San Diego County below us.

Potato Chip Rock

Potato Chip Rock

Looking down at the topography below us, we know that this is not the San Diego most people know. A lot more people associate San Diego with miles of beaches, true! But San Diego just has so much more to offer to its residents. For an outdoor enthusiast, this place is a paradise. From surfing and paragliding in the ocean, to biking, hiking and trail running in its hills and mountains,  to rock climbing in its many boulder strewn small mountains, to dirt biking in the desert, to photography, to snow sledding in its mountains, and whatever that I forgot to mention. For me, I am happy just walking or hiking on its slopes and taking pictures.

When we got back to our car, the rain started falling hard, so Sunday was our lucky day. We had a complete hike, but did not get wet at all. Yet, lucky enough to observe the full moon rising over the “Mountain of Moonlit Rocks” later of the day.

Sundays Full Moon

Moon Rising Over Woodson Mountain, @ Dusk

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.