Shangri-la - 3.8.2018

P1230139.jpg
We started this hike from the Boy Scout Trailhead in Joshua Tree National Park.
P1230140.jpg
Lots of Joshua trees near the beginning of the Boy Scout Trail.
P1230143.jpg
The Boy Scout Trail is well traveled.
P1230144.jpg
After hiking the Boy Scout Trail for ~1.2 miles the trail junctions with the Willow Hole Trail.
P1230147.jpg
We hiked on the Willow Hole Trail for awhile and then followed a less-traveled path.
P1230151.jpg
Looking NW to a snow capped San Gorgonio Mountain on the horizon.
P1230152.jpg
Amazing rock formations in virtually every direction.
P1230159.jpg
Break time on our way to Shangri-la.
P1230163.jpg
Rocks.
P1230165.jpg
Doing a little scrambling... Gail is giving a lot of respect to that catclaw by her right knee... if you don't do so, it will rip you to shreds.
P1230168.jpg
Working our way through the passage to Shangri-la.
P1230171.jpg
Melanie (our awesome guide for the day) shows us some petroglyphs along our route.
P1230176.jpg
Welcome to Shangri-la... now roam around to your heart's content.
P1230179.jpg
Hiking and scrambling in Shangri-la.
P1230187.jpg
Hiking and scrambling in Shangri-la.
P1230195.jpg
Melanie has been hiking in Joshua Tree National Park for more than 30 years.
P1230196.jpg
Hiking and scrambling in Shangri-la.
P1230199.jpg
Rocks everywhere!
P1230200.jpg
Hiking and scrambling in Shangri-la.
P1230203.jpg
Did I mention that there were rocks everywhere?
P1230204.jpg
Tom comes up to check out my perch.
P1230209.jpg
Continuing to roam through Shangri-la.
P1230211.jpg
Hiking and scrambling in Shangri-la.
P1230212.jpg
Going through little passes in Shangri-la that open up into broader rock gardens.
P1230218.jpg
Follow the leader.
P1230222.jpg
Scrambling through one of the little passes in Shangri-la.
P1230227.jpg
Looking for Waldo.
P1230234.jpg
A nice lunch stop.
P1230237.jpg
Roaming around at our lunch stop.
P1230242.jpg
If you happen to see a rock that you like, let me know.
P1230245.jpg
Rocks.
P1230246.jpg
Hiking and scrambling in Shangri-la.
P1230250.jpg
Hiking and scrambling in Shangri-la.
P1230258.jpg
Hiking and scrambling in Shangri-la.
P1230263.jpg
Hiking and scrambling in Shangri-la.
P1230266.jpg
Hiking and scrambling in Shangri-la.
P1230267.jpg
Hiking and scrambling in Shangri-la.
P1230273.jpg
Shangri-la's version of the Matterhorn on the left.
P1230288.jpg
There is a little pass to the left of the Matterhorn... and I'm going to check it out.
P1230288d.jpg
Looking across the pass to the left of the Matterhorn to a very interesting rock formation in the distance on the right.
P1230289.jpg
A closer look at the interesting rock formation.
P1230304.jpg
Out of Shangri-la and back to the real world.
P1230305.jpg
Melanie is going to show us some more petroglyphs before we head back to the car.
P1230308.jpg
Petroglyphs.
P1230309.jpg
Petroglyphs... a little over a mile of hiking will get us back to the car... our total trip was 5.7 miles, gaining 426 feet of elevation.