Valhalla Dome - 10.8.2019
This hike/scramble starts at the trailhead for Barker Dam in Joshua Tree National Park... a very popular trailhead in the park.
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Heading into the rocks on an obvious trail.
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Gaining a few feet of elevation to get to Barker Lake.
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There is rarely any water in the lake this time of year... and this year was no exception... when you get to the lake the trail to the dam goes around to the left (west), but we will follow a path around to the right along the east shoreline of the lake.
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Denali Girl heads for Valhalla Dome on the east side of Barker Lake.
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Denali Girl leaves the lake bed and starts up the rock to join me.
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On the way up to the top of Valhalla Dome... a little steep when leaving the lake bed.
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After the first 100 feet of elevation gain the terrain eases a bit... the Little San Bernardino Mountains are on the horizon.
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The high point on Valhalla Dome is up there where the little tree is.
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Quail Mountain (the high point in the park) is on the left-center horizon in the photo... the Astro Domes (popular rock climb) are on the far right.
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Denali Girl nears the high point (~4500 feet) of Valhalla Dome.
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Denali Girl waits for me on the summit of Valhalla Dome... luv the rock here... the Astro Domes are in the distance on the left.
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Looking east to Ryan Mountain in the left-center of the photo... with Lost Horse Valley on the right in front of the Little Bernardino Mountains... Quail Mountain is on the far right horizon.
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Looking NE to Queen Mountain on the right horizon... the Astro Domes are on the far left... with lots of rocks between the Astro Domes and Queen Mountain.
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Ryan Mountain in the left foreground and Quail Mountain on the far right horizon... with Lost Horse Valley in between.
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Looking back at the Valhalla Dome summit as we head north to explore the dome area... Ryan Mountain is on the horizon.
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Denali Girl has found a nice place to rest in the rock.
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Heading down now... looking back up to the summit on the far right... with Queen Mountain on the horizon.
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Denali Girl is almost back to the lake.
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Almost back to the parking lot for Barker Dam... the hike was a total of 1.8 miles, gaining 255 feet of elevation.
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