Hiked to the Peak in Santiago Oaks Regional Park

Started off hiking up the Santiago Oaks Creek Trail, and through a series of many different trails, on up to the ridge. I took Oak Trail, Yucca, and then Bumblebee. The trails here are hard packed with dirt and at least 4 feet wide for most of the way. There are lots of mountain bikers… Continue reading Hiked to the Peak in Santiago Oaks Regional Park

Arch Rock Loop in Joshua Tree NP

I visited Joshua Tree National Park and stayed at Jumbo Rocks Campground. Nearby was the popular 2.5 mile trail, Arch Rock Loop. Here is what you can expect, if you visit this trail.

Jumbo Rocks Campground

Within Joshua Tree National Park, in the California desert, there are thousands of these strange trees, for which the park received its namesake. There is a campground here called Jumbo Rocks, which is popular for camping, amongst the enormous boulders. Joshua Tree is popular with climbers who go bouldering, and there are 12,000 named climbs… Continue reading Jumbo Rocks Campground

Hole in the Wall and the Mojave National Preserve

It was early March, when I drove out to the Mojave Desert. It's a place I don't really hear about much, unless someone is referencing a place that is brutally hot. You have no doubt heard, "at least we are not in the Mojave," once of twice in your lifetime. So what exactly would I find in a place that is hot, dry, and empty. That's about all I knew about it, and that there were things called Gila Monsters.