Split Rock Loop and 'Cling or Fling Corridor' - 1.11.2019

P1050600.jpg
From Park Blvd in Joshua Tree National Park drive Split Rock Road for .6 miles to the trailhead at the end of the road.
P1050602.jpg
We will start the Split Rock Loop in a clockwise direction... we will only stay on the trail for a short distance before leaving the trail and heading for the 'Cling or Fling Corridor'.
P1050605.jpg
We have left the trail after hiking less than 50 yards... and are heading for the corridor.
P1050609.jpg
Getting closer to the 'Cling or Fling Corridor'.
P1050611.jpg
On our way to the corridor... looking back at the parking lot.
P1050613.jpg
There is a little work to do before we reach the corridor.
P1050616.jpg
We have reached the corridor... not sure we can get beyond this blockage.
P1050617.jpg
Just before we got to the blockage in the previous photo there was a way up and around it.
P1050620.jpg
Going left of the blockage.
P1050622.jpg
Clear sailing now to the corridor.
P1050623.jpg
Denali Girl steps into the corridor.
P1050624.jpg
What's the big deal... just walk along the top of the boulders... but, the problem is that the boulders are too far apart to stay on top of them... in other words, up-down, up-down and up-down to get to the last boulder.
P1050625.jpg
Denali Girl is beyond that first blockage above her head and preparing to come up to me on top of the first of the 4 boulders in the corridor.
P1050627.jpg
I'm looking back down the corridor... is Gail having fun yet?
P1050629.jpg
Squeezing up and over the third boulder in the corridor.
P1050631.jpg
Gail is looking back at me after having crawled underneath the fourth boulder.
P1050634.jpg
Done with the corridor... Denali Girl points at the crawl space we used to exit the corridor.
P1050635.jpg
Yes... we have survived the 'Cling or Fling Corridor'... but we still need to get down to the desert floor.
P1050637.jpg
I'm looking back at the corridor.
P1050641.jpg
Almost out of the big boulders.
P1050643.jpg
Looking back.
P1050650.jpg
We have rejoined the Split Rock Loop Trail after coming out of the 'Cling or Fling Corridor'.
P1050656.jpg
On the Split Rock Loop Trail.
P1050659.jpg
The locals call it Tulip Rock.
P1050660.jpg
Awesome rocks.
P1050665.jpg
Denali Girl takes a well deserved break after having survived the 'Cling or Fling Corridor'.
P1050666.jpg
The locals call that rock formation on the left Orangutan Rock.
P1050669a.jpg
Whoa... didn't see this desert paintbrush coming.
P1050671.jpg
Denali Girl and I have named this rock formation Tortoise Rock.
P1050674.jpg
Incredible rock formations in this area.
P1050677.jpg
Who is this dude in the left foreground?
P1050678.jpg
More rock formations.
P1050680.jpg
Looks like another corridor to me... maybe on another day.
P1050682.jpg
Another face in the rocks... wearing an earring.
P1050684.jpg
Isles in the Sky... popular sport climbing area.
P1050685.jpg
One of the climbing walls in the 'Isles in the Sky' sport climbing area.
P1050686.jpg
Almost back to the car.
P1050687.jpg
Lots of sport climbing in this area.
P1050688.jpg
Did I say lots of sport climbing in this area.
P1050689.jpg
Looking into the Split Rock version of the Grand Canyon... we are 3 minutes from the car... our total trip was 1.6 miles, gaining 365 feet of elevation.