Shangrila in the Wonderland of Rocks - 2.12.2024
We parked at the Boy Scout Trailhead in Joshua Tree National Park... the trail will take us out toward Ellesmere Island... the huge rock formation out there on the right-center horizon.
|
Hiking north on the Boy Scout Trail... nearing Ellesmere Island.
|
After hiking a total of 1.2 miles we have reached the trail junction of the Boy Scout Trail (left) and the Willow Hole Trail (right)... but we will actually take a path to the right of both of these trails and follow it along the north side of Ellesmere Island.
|
Hiking east on the path that follows along the north side of Ellesmere Island.
|
Still on the north side of Ellesmere Island and looking for an entrance to Shangrila... a 3 or 4 square mile section on the western border of the Wonderland of Rocks.
|
After hiking a total of 1.6 miles we are getting ready to enter Shangrila.
|
Entering Shangrila.
|
Entering Shangrila.
|
Almost in Shangrila.
|
Welcome to the north end of Shangrila... we will hike SE and then to the south as we hike through Shangrila.
|
Hiking south through Shangrila.
|
Hiking south through Shangrila.
|
Continuing to hike south through Shangrila.... we call the impressive rock formation in the right foreground... Mastodon.
|
Looking back to where we entered Shangrila through the gap in the center of the photo.
|
Continuing to hike south through Shangrila.
|
Denali Girl posing in Shangrila.
|
Continuing to hike south through Shangrila.... and ready to tackle what lies ahead.
|
Continuing to hike south through Shangrila.
|
Continuing to hike south through Shangrila.
|
I'm looking back and watching Denali Girl continue to hike south.
|
Star Dancer leads the way as we continue to hike south through Shangrila.
|
Continuing to hike south through Shangrila... now getting ready to leave the Wonderland of Rocks because we are getting close to a section of the wonderland that houses Keys Ranch... a section of private property in the park.
|
Working our way out of the Wonderland of Rocks.
|
Looking back at where we came from... and I have no idea what our route was.
|
Hiking west now as we work our way out of the Wonderland of Rocks.
|
Hiking west now as we work our way out of the Wonderland of Rocks.
|
Almost out of the wonderland now... continuing to hike west... with the snow covered San Gorgonio Mountains on the horizon through the gap.
|
After hiking a total of 3.7 miles we have left the Wonderland of Rocks and hiking south on the way back to our car... Quail Mountain (the high point in the park) is on the horizon above Denali Girl's head.
|
After hiking a total of 4.2 miles we have reconnected with the Boy Scout Trail... closing the loop portion of our hike.
|
Almost back to our car... the total hike was 4.5 miles, gaining 295 feet of elevation... not a lot of elevation gain... however, a lot of scrambling in the rocks.
|
