We spent 2 nights camping in Joshua Tree National Park. (we had originally planned on 5, but, well, the van needed TLC)
The first night, we camped at Black Rock Canyon Campground, near the town of Yucca Valley. The campground was covered in sand…SO different from the verdant, tree-filled campgrounds we are used to in Olympic National Park and the rest of Western WA. It was like being in another world.
This was the winter solstice, and we enjoyed our traditional solstice meal: baked potatoes made in the coals of the fire. The moon was full, so there was plenty of light by night, and we would have had a quiet sleep if it hadn’t been for the loud group of young campers in the site across from us…but they were enjoying themselves, and I don’t begrudge them that.
The temperature went from a high of 70+ when we arrived that afternoon to a low of around 40 during the night. The desert is a place of extremes.
After a hearty breakfast, we headed out for our first hike of the day.
