Shangrila - 3.8.2021
We parked in the dirt parking lot at the trailhead for the Wall Street Mill in Joshua Tree National Park... located a quarter mile NE of the very popular trailhead for Barker Dam... before arriving here we parked one of the cars at the Boy Scout Trailhead so that we can make today's hike a through hike.
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In less than an eighth of a mile the trail splits... we go to the left while the trail to the right goes on to the Wall Street Mill.
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In less than a quarter mile we have reached the Wonderland Ranch (aka Worth Bagley Ranch or Pink House)... located at the south end of the Wonderland of Rocks... this is where we will enter the wonderland.
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Hiking north into the Wonderland of Rocks.
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After hiking approximately a half-mile we have arrived at Shark Rock... this is roughly where the terrain opens up some.
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Just beyond Shark Rock now where the terrain opens up some... the Astro Dome is on the far left... with the The Camel the rock formation in the center of the photo... we will head out toward the opening between the Astro Dome and The Camel.
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The terrain is narrowing some now.
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Working our way through the Wonderland of Rocks.
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Working our way through the Wonderland of Rocks.
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Now hiking west in the Wonderland of Rocks.
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Sometimes we needed to leave the wash and go up and over some rocks in order to rejoin the wash.
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Up and over.
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The ladies are tiny specks up on top of the rocks in the center of the photo... Star Dancer had not been beyond this spot before... but with additional people on this hike, she wanted to explore further.
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Back in the wash again.
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The hike did not gain a lot of elevation... but the terrain was often a challenge.
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Still hiking west in the Wonderland of Rocks.
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Still hiking west in the Wonderland of Rocks.
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Still hiking west in the Wonderland of Rocks... Keys Ranch is out there somewhere... the range on the center horizon is part of the Little San Bernardino Mountains.
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Feels like we are in the Great Wide Open again... time to head north again in search of Shangrila.
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Hiking north in a wash... just outside of the eastern border of Shangrila.
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After hiking a little more than 4 miles we are entering Shangrila.
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Denali Girl is standing in the northern part of Shangrila.
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After a short visit in the northern part of Shangrila it is time to leave it.
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Almost out of Shangrila and into the Great Wide Open.
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After hiking 5.2 miles we have joined the Boy Scout Trail... leaving a 1.2 mile hike back to where we parked one of our cars earlier in the day... the through hike was 6.4 miles, gaining 315 feet of elevation.
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