And once again, we make our journrey with friends, to Joshua Tree National Park.
We make our way down here every year, on the last weekend of May, so that we can experience the desert heat, rock climb on real rocks, take some time away from work, and spend our time with good people. On this trip, our whole family came, along with Boris, Natasha, Yulia, Victor Zybin, Kirk + Caren, Gina + Steven, Mónica + Nuno, Brian, Maya + Steve (this is so I don't forget).
What is Joshua Tree National Park? This is a part of the top of the Mojave Desert - a plateau resting at 1200 meters above sea level, with the temperature lower by 5-10 C, than in the lower part of Mojave Desert.
What is the Mojave Desert. It is a small desert in North America, where many Hollywood movies were filmed. So, if you see a Hollywood movie with a desert, moon, The Martian - then it was in the Mojave Desert, since Los Angeles and Hollywood are only a one hour drive away. Top Gun was also filmed here.
Anyways. The Northern desert ends in Death Valley, to the south is Mexico, east is Arizona, and west is Hollywood and the Pacific Ocean.
The main attraction of Joshua Tree Park, well, is the Joshua Tree - Tree of Jesus. When explorers came there, they saw the trees and decided they look a lot like Jesus Chirst, and called the trees after him. They only grow here and nowhere else, and don't burn easily. But lighting things or using open fire is not allowed, since this is a National Park, and due to this they don't burn... A lot like a cactus, but still not. Around 300 types of plants grow here, and only 40 species of animals live in the area, with too many insects. Out of the most dangerous animals; rattlesnakes, scorpions, and the black widow. This year we didn't find any of these animals.
The second important attraction, is the volcanic surface, or more specifically the pushing out of magma, but not erupting. They turned into huge piles of rocks, with many rocks polished due to the winds and other erosion effects. there are lots of piles here, all have climbing tracks written in some big books about alpinism, available at any bookstore. Joshua Tree - one of the most known and important place in California for alpinests. Not as cool as Yosemite, but still a very great place. Great to build up and strengthen climbing skills, fingers, ropes and your climbing shoes.
Next are photos with comments. Thank you all. Come down to Joshua Tree National Park. Entrance cost is $30 dollars per car, lasts for a week.
This is all, and goodnight to everyone. Come visit us in California. We'll take you to Joshua Tree park!
Thank you all. Peace to the world.