MEMORIES:
misty jade remembers...I spent a large chunk of my formative years living in the High Desert and had Joshua Trees growing in ... More »
Posted on 08/20/08
Not only is Joshua Tree the title of a Grammy-winning album by U2, it is a national park in Southern California filled with the natural beauty of both the Colorado and Mojave Deserts. Once the home to a number of Native American tribes, like the Pinto, Serrano, Chemehuevi and Cahuilla, and later Homesteaders in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Joshua Tree became a local favorite for climbers and hikers alike. The 800,000-acre park finally gained national park status in 1994.
Joshua Tree National Park offers visitors a number of ways to discover and explore the desert setting upon which it rests. Trails abound, varying in difficulty and taking hikers into scenic vistas such as Keys View, which on a really clear day can offer a view from the Salton Sea to Mexico. The park also has five of the 158 desert fan palm oases in North America, located in areas of the park where fault lines have forced water up to the top.
Joshua tree has nine campgrounds as well as the opportunity for backcountry camping. In fact one of the campgrounds to the northwest, Black Rock Canyon, is nestled amongst a variety of desert flora, such as junipers, cholla cacti, various shrubberies and of course, the park’s famous Joshua trees. Trips to Black Rock often include encounters with local critters such as ground squirrels, jackrabbits and the ever-so-cute cotton tails. Birds are in abundance as well; wrens, quails, great-horned owls and (MEEP MEEP!!) roadrunners are often seen in the area during the day. Nighttime at the campground wouldn’t be complete without the howling and singing of the coyotes that call the outskirts of the campground their home. To the east is Indian Cove. Due to the rock formations towering nearby, this campground is perfect for rock climbing enthusiasts. Additionally, a visit to Indian Cove in the fall gives many a camper the opportunity to see Joshua Tree’s one-and-only Desert Tortoise as it ventures from its burrow.
Other popular destinations in Joshua Tree include the aptly-named Skull Rock and Mastodon Peak. Cottonwood Spring, another popular destination, was used frequently by the Cahuilla Indians who left behind pottery and other artifacts from their time in Joshua Tree. Cottonwood was a regular stopping point for prospectors and miners traveling to the mines in the north. In fact, this favorite watering hole is the result of seismic activity along the fault lines running through the park. So, what’s shakin’ in Joshua Tree? In 1999, a 7.1 magnitude earthquake hit the park on October 16th at 2:46AM. This earthquake caused a rupture on the surface, and evidence of prior earthquakes is apparent throughout the park.
For rock and roll fans of the late 60s, no discussion of Joshua Tree would be complete without mention of Gram Parsons. A pseudo-member of The Birds, founding member of The Flying Burrito Brothers and frequent collaborator with country legend, Emmylou Harris, Gram was more of a footnote than a star. Strange circumstances in Joshua Tree, however, would eventually give Gram posthumous cult status. He had casually mentioned to his manager one day that should he die, his wish was to have his body set ablaze on one of the tall rock formations in Joshua Tree. So when he died in 1973, his manager did what any loyal friend would do; he stole the casket from the Los Angeles airport and with the help of another friend, they drove the remains out to Joshua Tree and set them on fire. Today, a small plaque marks the location in an area known as “ The Gram Parsons Memorial Hand Traverse” and fans still visit the site to pay their respects.
Joshua Tree National Park is not only a Californian experience, but an American one, and perhaps even a worldly one. With so much to see and do and learn, at the very least it’s an experience not to be missed.
