Fortynine Palms Oasis

Joshua Tree National Park

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I wanted to be sure I stopped by an oasis while around Joshua Tree, so made my way to Fortynine Palms. The trail outside of Twentynine Palms starts just inside Joshua Tree National Park, but does not have an entrance fee. Again, there is a sign detailing the statistics of the hike and stressing that it might be too strenuous for you. Here it gets particularly worried about the passers by because part of the trail on the way out is uphill. Mounted on the side is a huge thermometer so people can know exactly how hot it is out. Today, that isn't even all the way up to 60°F.

Signs at the start of the trail.

The first bit of the trail is climbing. It doesn't actually start in the canyon with the oasis, so has to climb up and over to the correct canyon. Twentynine Palms comes into view below, stretching far and somewhat obscured by fog.

The desert terrain to hike through.

The rocks take on odd shapes. This looks over the foggy city to the mountains beyond.

There's quite a few people on this weekend day with the lot more than half full.

Someone behind me spots a tarantula. The big hairy spider causes a bit of a stir. One of the pair behind me says she's glad she passed before it was noticed, but eventually goes back to see it. I try to look for another as I go, but it seems I should have gone back too. There aren't any more being suitably obvious.

Looking out over the mouth of the canyon below the oasis and Twentynine Palms.

The more still wildlife is easier to spot and photograph.

There's a funny way the light seems to be playing over the northern peaks.

The trail turns back on itself and finishes its climb, coming to the first view of the palms down below. Just the higher ones are visible at first, but more come along. There are some spots along the trail as it drops that are surprisingly hard to follow considering how many must do so regularly.

The palms are a little grey and hard to pick out on this grey day.

Loads of palms down in the canyon. There's even more than claimed.

Getting up close and personal with the trees.

The trail passes very close to a few trees, then stops overlooking quite a bit more and the water. Signs ask visitors to stay on the trail when close to the palms and not to go past the end. The pair that had a look at the tarantula wonder aloud why so many people can't seem to follow the rules. I agree that it's probably not a good idea to go stomping all over the roots of these trees and polluting the little bit of water. A guy up on a rock encouraging poses from a large group of noisy children who are among those who can't follow the rules expresses his views that since humans can't visit any place without destroying it, they may as well do whatever they please in those places they do visit. Rather fatalistic. Are humans surrounded by some miasma to make that happen? A cloud of deodorant and soda pop? There doesn't seem to be a cost in being responsible, so we decide not to increase our impact.

Fall comes here, too. There really is very little water so it is easily polluted.

Looking down the canyon to the city. It is still foggy.

I keep looking around for big horn, especially in the area of hill where there was one last time. It's probably moved in the last 10 years. There's none today, but once the noisy children leave and the area is without human sounds, there are a lot of birds singing. I sit and listen for a while.

Looking up the canyon.

These trees really have some impressive skirts.

As a family arrives for a picnic and a few other groups with plenty of chatter come along after them, I figure the relative quiet of only bird song is about to vanish and take off for the parking lot once again. As I do, the clouds clear up and it turns to a bright day. I guess I was too early this time.

Largely clear now and the light still hits those distant northern peaks a little brightly.

The way down again. Parking is still a bit over half full.

There's still no more tarantulas to be seen, or at least none that I notice. I really missed out by not popping on back the short way.




©2019,2020 Valerie Norton
Written 14 Jan 2020