JT DESERT IS AT THE OVERLAP OF THE COLORADO AND MOJAVE DESERTS. THE ELEVATION RISES TO OVER 2500M PROVIDING INTERESTING STRATIFICATIONS OF PLANTS.I HAD A PENPAL OVER 45 YEARS AGO WHOSE FATHER WAS HEAD RANGER HERE. SO IT WAS SOMETHING OF A PILGRIMAGE TO COME HERE.TEMPS IN THE HIGH 3O C'S ,DRY AND SOME FABULOUS CAMPING SPOTS.
THE AWNING HAS BEEN A GODSEND.
ROCK PILES CAUSED BY WATER AND HEAT EROSION OF THE PLUTONISC GRANITE. A ROCK CLIMBERS PARADISE.
LOOKING OVER THE SAN ANDREAS FAULT TO THE SAN JACINTO MOUNTAINS WHERE WE CAMPED THE NEXT NIGHT.PALM SPRINGS TO THE RIGHT.
THE JOSHUA TREE IT IS ACTUALLY A YUCCA WHICH IS A MONOCOT (GRASS).IN THE SOUTH WE HAD SEEN ONLY UPTO 1-2M HERE AT THE IDEAL PART OF THEIR RANGE THEY FORM FORESTS UPTO15M!!
ALTHOUGH A GRASS THEY FORM A WOODY SKELETON,SHALLOW ROOTS THOUGH MAKE THEM VULNERABLE TO STORM DAMAGE.
THIS ALSO IN ITS IDEAL; RANGE IS THE TEDDY-BEAR CACTUS CHOLLA (CHOY-YA).ITS TEDDY BEAR APPEARANCE PRODUCED BY MILLIONS OF SMALL DEADLY SPINES THAT BREAK-OFF EASILY.
THE CACUS WREN MAKES ITS NEST IN AMONG THE BRANCHES AN IDEAL HIDEAWAY FROM DANGER!!
THE OCOTILLO CACTUS ALSO REACHES HUGE HEIGHTS HERE COMPARED TO FURTHER SOUTH IN IT'S RANGE.
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