Rockin' and Rollin'

Back we go into Joshua Tree National Park and the Mojave Desert for a nice 2+ mile hike at Split Rock for a rockin' and rollin' time.  It was a BEAUTIFUL winter day in the desert.  Temperatures were in the low 70s and the skies were brilliant blue.  We couldn't ask for a better hiking day.

This hiking trail sits about 4,200 feet and is about a 4-mile drive into the park from the north entrance off Utah Trail, and Utah Trail is less than one mile from the RV park.  This is a 2.1 mile loop with a side trail to see Face Rock.  We also "got lost" (uh, yeah, we lost the trail) near the end of the hike so it added a little more mileage onto the original hike length. 

Here I am playing Samson, pushing apart two boulders.  It's fun to be silly!

I'd call this a window (which is what technically it would be called), but personally I think it looks more like a door.  Love these rock formations.

Gary called this a molar, and I later found out online that it actually does have two different names:   "Tooth Rock" and "Tulip Rock"--both sure seem like they work.

Now this is more of a window ... and maybe even a balancing rock to boot!

We took a .2 of a mile roundtrip side trip off the main trail to see a human face carved into this rock edifice--aptly named "Face Rock".  It's amazing how the natural desert elements of wind, rain and sand help shape the rocky terrain into identifiable, recognizable things like faces, skulls, tulips, teeth, etc..

The recent cold spell included a snow storm at the higher elevations and there's just an itty-bitty bit left on the ground.

I love all the rocky jumbles in Joshua Tree National Park, and here's just one example of them.

This part of the hike gave us a beautiful view of the opposite mountain range.

To the victor goes the spoils!  Not sure what his spoils are, but Gary sure looks like the victor!

See the small rocks that are running horizontal through this large rock monolith?  These types of small rock rows are very common in the park.  Not only can they be found on the rocky boulders, but they can also be found snaking around on the ground.

Here I am on the trail.  It was very warm and I was glad that I had a hat and was carrying the water!

More balanced rock and freestanding rock icons.

Here's Gary by a great example of a window and nicely balanced rocks!

Love the Joshua trees in Joshua Tree National Park!

The end of a perfect hike and beautiful day.

 

 

Psalm 95:1-5

O come, let us sing for joy to the LORD, let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation.  Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. For the LORD is a great God and a great King above all gods, in whose hand are the depths of the earth, the peaks of the mountains are His also. The sea is His, for it was He who made it, and His hands formed the dry land.