The Tree at Joshua Tree

[JimFox]

This isn't a Joshua Tree in Joshua Tree, but it's becoming one of the better known trees there. This is excluding the famous spire rock that it gets paired with this Juniper Pine so often because the color in the sky was better shooting to a western direction then the normal southern direction.

I got this at sunset the night before I met Kyle out at Joshua Tree to shoot this very tree with the Milky Way at about 4am. While Kyle was living it up in Palm Springs, I was already out freezing. It was only in the low 40's at this point, but the wind was blowing hard out there in the 30mph range. I am not sure what the wind chill was, but I know I was wearing my refrigerator jacket for sunset.

All comments are welcome,

Jim

 

[Ben Egbert]

This is sweet Jim, I love the composition and the sky and the subtle color in the slick rock.

 

[AlanLichty]

I like the view and the lighting is superb.

What were the crowds like at JT? Are the campgrounds full?

 

[Kyle Jones]

Really sweet Jim!

 

[JimFox]

This is sweet Jim, I love the composition and the sky and the subtle color in the slick rock.

Thanks Ben!

 

[JimFox]

I like the view and the lighting is superb.

What were the crowds like at JT? Are the campgrounds full?

Thanks Alan.

Joshua Tree is huge. So if you go to places like Hidden Valley or Barker Dam the parking lot will be full on weekends and there will be lot's of people. The great thing about Joshua Tree is that there is lot's of pull offs and places to park. So you can spot an interesting pile of rocks off to a side, find a close pull out and park and go hike over to it and there will be no one but you there.

The campgrounds, sadly JT has switched over to Recreation.Gov for most of the campgrounds, some are still first come first serve. But now in Jumbo Rocks which is where Kyle was to meet me, I got there early on Friday with the intention of grabbing a campsite close to this tree. There are 7 campsites right there, so it would make for easy parking (you can't park in the campground unless you are camping). But sadly I found the normal campground reservation envelope stations covered in a plastic bag with a note that you now had to use Recreation.Gov. I called them, and they said the campground was booked solid. So I parked at the entrance and walked the short distance to this area, which wasn't a big deal. But when I walked back out in the dark about 9pm I noticed that for the 7 campsites that are right at this tree which has 14 parking spaces. Only 2 cars were there camping. So I was already assuming the others were no shows. When I drove back in about 11pm after eating, there still was only 2 cars, so I "borrowed" someones no show parking area. I guess using the Recreation.Gov is less hassle for the park, no envelopes to deal with, etc. But for us who actually are out there using the park it's a real drag and is really sad. I was there to camp and enjoy the NP, but officially I couldn't camp there because 5 other people who reserved the campsite who knows when in the past decided to stay home and not come out to Joshua Tree. I don't think it's smart move on the parks half. Rules and regulations should be to benefit those who are actually in the park, not someone who doesn't show up.

Well... mini-rant over...

 

[Timmeh]

Hey Jim,

The light balance between the sunset and the juniper is well processed. My initial reaction was that I wish it was tighter, but that's why you're you and I'm me. I think it is a much more soothing photo as you've presented it. Did you stay for the snow?

Tim

 

[JimFox]

Hey Jim,

The light balance between the sunset and the juniper is well processed. My initial reaction was that I wish it was tighter, but that's why you're you and I'm me. I think it is a much more soothing photo as you've presented it. Did you stay for the snow?

Tim

Thanks Tim. Yeah I kind of like it nice and wide open like this.

I didn't stay for the snow, it was a quick overnight trip. I made it mainly because Kyle forced me to go shoot the Milky Way with him in the morning. I just got there early to try and get a campsite and also to shoot this (the sunset).

 

[AlanLichty]

Thanks Alan.

Joshua Tree is huge. So if you go to places like Hidden Valley or Barker Dam the parking lot will be full on weekends and there will be lot's of people. The great thing about Joshua Tree is that there is lot's of pull offs and places to park. So you can spot an interesting pile of rocks off to a side, find a close pull out and park and go hike over to it and there will be no one but you there.

The campgrounds, sadly JT has switched over to Recreation.Gov for most of the campgrounds, some are still first come first serve. But now in Jumbo Rocks which is where Kyle was to meet me, I got there early on Friday with the intention of grabbing a campsite close to this tree. There are 7 campsites right there, so it would make for easy parking (you can't park in the campground unless you are camping). But sadly I found the normal campground reservation envelope stations covered in a plastic bag with a note that you now had to use Recreation.Gov. I called them, and they said the campground was booked solid. So I parked at the entrance and walked the short distance to this area, which wasn't a big deal. But when I walked back out in the dark about 9pm I noticed that for the 7 campsites that are right at this tree which has 14 parking spaces. Only 2 cars were there camping. So I was already assuming the others were no shows. When I drove back in about 11pm after eating, there still was only 2 cars, so I "borrowed" someones no show parking area. I guess using the Recreation.Gov is less hassle for the park, no envelopes to deal with, etc. But for us who actually are out there using the park it's a real drag and is really sad. I was there to camp and enjoy the NP, but officially I couldn't camp there because 5 other people who reserved the campsite who knows when in the past decided to stay home and not come out to Joshua Tree. I don't think it's smart move on the parks half. Rules and regulations should be to benefit those who are actually in the park, not someone who doesn't show up.

Well... mini-rant over...

Thanks for the access info. Unfortunately I am quite familiar with Recreation.gov and do have an online account with them. I don't particularly like the need for their add on fees but am not interested in venting on that here. I may be looking at this place as something to include when I am down there starting next week.

 

[Johnny Chien]

This isn't a Joshua Tree in Joshua Tree, but it's becoming one of the better known trees there. This is excluding the famous spire rock that it gets paired with this Juniper Pine so often because the color in the sky was better shooting to a western direction then the normal southern direction.

I got this at sunset the night before I met Kyle out at Joshua Tree to shoot this very tree with the Milky Way at about 4am. While Kyle was living it up in Palm Springs, I was already out freezing. It was only in the low 40's at this point, but the wind was blowing hard out there in the 30mph range. I am not sure what the wind chill was, but I know I was wearing my refrigerator jacket for sunset.

All comments are welcome,

Jim

View attachment 16374

Great shot Jim, great to meet you at Joshua Tree. I'll post my pics after I process them this week

Johnny

 

[JimFox]

Great shot Jim, great to meet you at Joshua Tree. I'll post my pics after I process them this week

Johnny

Hey Johnny!

It was awesome to meet you too, and I am really glad you joined us here. I look forward to seeing what you got when you get yours processed.

Jim

 

[JimFox]

Thanks for the access info. Unfortunately I am quite familiar with Recreation.gov and do have an online account with them. I don't particularly like the need for their add on fees but am not interested in venting on that here. I may be looking at this place as something to include when I am down there starting next week.

Joshua Tree as a whole is a great place to visit. Even if you don't get a campsite at Jumbo Rocks, you can still park at the entrance and just walk back in to this area. It's a 7 min walk tops.

 

[Jim Dockery]

Beautiful. I'm with Tim, thinking a tighter shot at first, but your comp. also grew on me. I love that tree and will search it out next time I'm down there.

 

[JimFox]

Beautiful. I'm with Tim, thinking a tighter shot at first, but your comp. also grew on me. I love that tree and will search it out next time I'm down there.

Thanks Jim! I am glad you liked this, and glad the wider perspective grew on you.

Whenever you do come down here, be sure to let us know it will be great to meet up with you.

But if you don't make it any time soon, the great photos by you, Jameel and Alan have me thinking I may change up my normal Colorado Wildflower plans for late July and instead go up to Oregon and Washington. It's been a few years since I have been there, and I really think I need to revisit that area and spend some time. If I do, I definitely want to meet up.