Adventure at Joshua Tree National Park, Part 1

          After our botched excursion to Yosemite, we decided to try again in a new location (and new direction).  We plotted out our trip to Joshua Tree National Park, a much closer trip from Los Angeles.  Our theory was, that even if it was a stormy weekend for most of the country, traveling any direction but north would aid us in our quest for a safe, crazy-weather-free camping adventure.  So, to the desert we went.

Heading into Joshua Tree National Park.

We arrived at Joshua Tree, scoped out the most awesome of awesome campsites at the Indian Cove Campground, and went off in search of mountains to hike and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to eat.  Our trusty map of the park led us to Ryan Mountain, a 3 mile hike that was easy enough that a pseudo-hiker like myself would only complain every other 1/2 mile, and difficult enough that we would feel accomplished and perhaps a little badass at the end of the trail.

Anna at the head of the Ryan Mountain trail.

          Soon enough, we realized the weather was not what we expected.  The sky suddenly became very dark, casting huge shadows on the desert below us.  And then- there was snow.  Beautiful, tiny snowflakes accompanied us to the top of the mountain, where we added rocks to the cairn and looked out onto the very lunar-esque landscape. As we decided to head back down the mountain, tiny snowflakes got larger and more frequent.  And then- there was the sideways snow.  Growing up in Ohio, I experienced, and perhaps, enjoyed, an occasional sideways snowfall. The wind is stronger than you think and the little ice crystals sting your bright red, already freezing cheeks.  However, after living in Los Angeles for nearly 3 years, I am slightly ashamed to say that "cold" weather to me is now 40F degrees, so I was ill-prepared for this unexpected change in precipitation.

On the trail.

Anna in the snow at the top of Ryan Mountain.

The wind picked up and eventually made it very difficult to see where we were going.  The rocks were all extremely slippery, so my main focus was to remain alive and avoid tumbling over the side of the narrow trail.  As I was hiking down the mountain as quickly as possible, I started to think about what the (actor) doctors on Grey's Anatomy do when a patient with frostbite comes into the hospital.  Realizing that there is usually a dramatic amputation and a replacement of the patient's index finger with their middle toe, I decided that was perhaps not the most reputable source of medical information, and that I should probably just book it down the mountain and back to the comforting warmth of baby Yaris.

           We eventually made it back down to the parking lot and headed back to our campsite.  We stopped for a celebratory "coffee" and french fries from McDonalds, where upon entering, Anna and Kristyn were asked by a bunch of (drunk?) guys (wearing shorts) if they were archaeologists "because of the hiking boots."  I don't know, I guess when I see people wearing hiking boots and 20 layers of clothing near a national park, I just assume they're hiking.  Unless these guys were hitting on them, in which case, they should continue to use that pick up line because it makes them sound very smart.

          Back at the campsite, it was Kristyn's overwhelming responsibility to keep us alive.  Being the most (read: only) experienced camper on the trip, she was tasked with building a fire, creating shelter, and feeding the helpless Ormiston girls in order to keep us warm and prevent death.  All afforementioned tasks were done successfully, although the ridiculously high winds made it a little more difficult than we would have liked.  Anna climbed the surrounding rocks like a little mountain goat, gathering kindling and yelling things.  I just kind of stood there, offering words of encouragement and, well, offering words of encouragement.  I think I tried to tie the tent to a rock once so it wouldn't blow away, but I'm pretty sure the rock just blew away.  Long story short, I slept maybe 2 hours total, had to get up to go to the creepy bathroom (yes, I went in the bathroom) twice in the middle of the night, and slept with a handwarmer packet in my shirt so I wouldn't die.  

The little tent and the big rocks.

And I survived!   I camped successfully for the first time in my life and I was actually quite proud of myself.  I had dodged hypothermia and death all in one go!  I crawled out of my caterpillar-like mummy sleeping bag and out into the chilly morning.  The rocks were gleaming in the sunlight, so I woke up the girls and made them take a walk on the Indian Cove trail.

Early Monday morning in the Indian Cove Campsite.

Sunrise and cholla cactus.

Anna on our early morning walk.

Kristyn, camping-and-adventure-specialist extraordinaire.


Next:  Another day in Joshua Tree.  From 30 degrees and snowy to 78 and lobster-y sunburn.  Stay tuned!