Sunday, January 17, 2010

Joshua Tree 2010

You can definitely get away from it all in Joshua Tree National Park. The park is a good 2 1/2 hour drive East of Allen (including the stop at Hadleys).

We were there this weekend with my son's scout troop. I took this photo while straggling back to camp Saturday night.

The desert is a combination of desolation and beauty. The rock formations at Joshua Tree are spectacular. This weekend's clouds only added to the area's beauty.

The whole place has an otherworldly look and feel to it. Though named for a cactus-like plant, the park is perhaps best known for its incredible rock formations that rise abruptly from the desert floor.

These rocks were just to the east of my tent.

As were these.

The trip was to allow the scouts to learn rock climbing, which they did in impressive fashion. That's my guy on the far right. He and many others (including some dads) made it to the top.
Of course, I had to stay on the ground to take pictures. Great trip.

10 comments:

HappyDane484 said...

What troop? My troop went recently too.

Unknown said...

Love Joshua Tree. Thanks for posting this.

Michael Coppess said...

Thanks both. We're in troop 21, out of east Pas. And Dane, I added you to my blog list. Good luck on your daily photo blog!

Thal Armathura said...

Joshua Tree is known for its UFO sightings. A fantastic site for sky gazing at night! Never know what might happen.

Michael Coppess said...

Thal: Now you tell me?

BTW, your blog is still blocking my comments.

Cafe Pasadena said...

TA won't let you comment on his blog!?? Let him know you're comments will only be 110% complimentary & positive.

MC, I need to compare these JT fotos with your fotos from last year. Gotta see how much you've improved as a fotographer!

Michael Coppess said...

Thanks CP. I'd say I've gotten better at the photos. I enjoy Thal's blog, but for some reason, I can't seem to figure out how to leave comments.

Thal Armathura said...

To leave comments on Avenue to the Sky you may have to hit the post comments button twice for some reason, because the first time it will give back an error message. No one has been blocked and I don't censor comments, so anything may show up. I love this freedom of information and exchange. This is what real participatory democracy is about. The U.S. was founded on the free exchange of information and ideas; in the beginning our founding fathers and politicians allowed any newspapers of any persuasion be distributed for free by the U.S. Post Office. Our media model of the last 100 years, supported by advertising, has now failed and to keep America free we need to have a free press and a free distribution network, and at the moment the free distribution network is called the Internet.

Petrea Burchard said...

Joshua tree is a magical place. I love it there.

Shenandoah bed and breakfast said...

Joshua Tree National Park organization was incorporated 1962 as the primary educational partner for Joshua Tree National Park, to provide high quality informational products, services and programs to park visitors, and the global community.