Joshua Mountain and Point 3505 - 3.20.2018
FYI... my camera would not function properly... so all photos were taken with my cell phone. After driving 2.5 miles into the park from the north entrance visitor center, I parked in a pull out at the intersection of Utah Trail and Wellock Road... my target will be the most prominent point on the right.
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It is approximately three-quarters of a mile or so across the desert floor where I plan to head up the gully in the center of the photo.
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As I near the gully I found this faint path.
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When I started up the gully I found the path well-carined like the one in the left corner of the photo.
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Gaining elevation in the gully... here looking back across the desert floor to where I parked next to the road entering the park... the broad mountain in the distance is Twentynine Palms Mountain.
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Gaining elevation on the well-cairned path just to the left of the actual gully.
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Joshua Mountain straight ahead.
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The path will lead me up to the pass on the left side of Joshua Mountain.
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Looking back across the desert floor to Twentynine Palms Mountain.
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Getting closer to Joshua Mountain... but if I reach the summit, it will definitely be a route on the back side of the mountain.
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Almost up to the pass on the left.
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Nearing the pass on the left side of Joshua Mountain.
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I have reached the pass on the south side of Joshua Mountain... I believe that we are looking at Point 4312.
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On the south side of Joshua Mountain.
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I have continued over to the west side of the mountain to look for a route up to the summit... and I'm heading up now.
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I'm looking at Point 3582 as I continue up to the Joshua Mountain summit.
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Continuing up.
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Rounding a corner.
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Continuing up.
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I can see the top.
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All things considered... the terrain is fairly easy to negotiate.
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The final ramp leading up to the summit (3680+).
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Don't slip here.
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Looking SE into Joshua Tree National Park.
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Looking north across the town of Twentynine Palms and the Marine Corps Ground Combat Center to the Bullion Mountains.
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Getting ready to head down the ramp from the summit.
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Almost down from the summit.
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Heading over to Point 3505 on the right.
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Getting ready to start ascending Point 3505.
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Ascending Point 3505 and looking over at the east side of Joshua Mountain.
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Ascending Point 3505 and looking over at the east side of Joshua Mountain.
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Heading for the summit of Point 3505.
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Nearing the summit of Point 3505.
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Ascending Point 3505 and looking over at the east side of Joshua Mountain.
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Nearing the summit of Point 3505.
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The east side of Joshua Mountain from the summit of Point 3505.
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Looking east from the summit of Point 3505 to Twentynine Palms Mountain.
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Following the path on the way down that I used on the way up.
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Heading down.
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Almost back to the desert floor... leaving three-quarters of a mile or so to get back to the car... the trip was 3 miles roundtrip, gaining 1330 feet of elevation.
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