Wonderland of Rocks - 2.23.2024
We parked at the unpaved parking lot located a quarter-mile NE of the very popular paved parking lot for Barker Dam in Joshua Tree National Park... and started hiking on the trail for Wall Street Mill.
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In less than a tenth of a mile we turned to the left (north) on an unsigned, but obvious path... leaving the Wall Street Mill trail.
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After hiking less than a quarter-mile we have reached the Worth Bagley homestead... also known as the 'Pink House'... and we will enter the Wonderland of Rocks from behind the homestead.
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Hiking north in the Wonderland of Rocks... the passage is a bit narrow for the first half-mile.
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Continuing to hike north in the Wonderland of Rocks... with 'Shark Rock' out there in the right foreground.
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After hiking a little more than a half-mile the wash opens up some... with the South Astro Dome and North Astro Dome in the middle of the photo.
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Looking back from where we have come as we continue to hike north in the wonderland.
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Passing by the 'Freak Brothers' rock formation in the right foreground as we continue to hike north in the wonderland.
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After hiking a total of 1.8 miles we are leaving the main wash in the wonderland... now hiking NW and getting ready to begin the loop portion of today's hike.
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Hiking NW... and not really following much of a path.
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We are going to explore the area up there in the left-center of the photo.
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The gang decided to take a break down there while I headed up the boulders and rocks in the previous photo.
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Denali Girl took this photo of Crazy Horse coming over to join me.
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Denali Girl took this photo of Crazy Horse and me exploring the rocks... with San Gorgonio Mountain on the left-horizon... located in the San Bernardino Mountains... and at 11,503 feet it is the high point in Southern California.
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From the previous photo I am looking west at another valley in the wonderland.
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Crazy Horse exploring the rocks.
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Denali Girl is coming up to join Crazy Horse and me.
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Denali Girl and Crazy Horse having fun exploring the rocks.
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Time to head back down from these rocks and continue hiking NW in the wonderland.
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Crazy Horse and G-man decided to explore a ramp that might get them up to the top of these rocks.
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Continuing to hike NW... working on the loop portion of our hike.
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Working the boulders as we continue to hike NW in the wonderland.
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Continuing to hike NW... with Crazy Horse showing us the way... good luck if you can find him.
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Occasionally we found narrow passages.
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Continuing to hike NW... but getting ready to hike south... and work on closing the loop portion of our hike.
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Hiking south now in search of an unnamed arch that we will find by crossing over the gap on the far right in the photo... earlier we were up on the rocks on the far left in the photo.
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Heading up and over these rocks in search of the unnamed arch.
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Looking for that unnamed arch.
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Still searching for that unnamed arch... somewhere up there near the top of the rock formations on the far left.
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We have found the unnamed arch... Crazy Horse and G-man have climbed up to it before.
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Taking a break while enjoying the terrain below the unnamed arch.
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We have left the unnamed arch area... now hiking SE and working to close the loop portion of our hike.
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Hiking SE and working on closing the loop portion of our hike.
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Hiking SE and working on closing the loop portion of our hike.
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Hiking SE and working on closing the loop portion of our hike.
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Hiking SE and working on closing the loop portion of our hike.
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Taking a break and looking back at where we came from... with the San Bernardino Mountains on the horizon.
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Now hiking east and working our way back to the main wash in the wonderland... that huge rock formation on the horizon is on the far side of the main wash... but there is still some work to do in order to get over there.
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Working our way over to the main wash in the wonderland... Denali Girl is performing her 'Ride em Cowgirl' move.
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Hiking east and getting ready to close the loop portion of our hike.
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Hiking east and getting ready to close the loop portion of our hike.
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Almost down and back to the main wash in the wonderland.
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Back in the main wonderland wash... we have hiked a total of 3.7 miles... with 2 miles being the loop portion of the hike... now hiking south on our way out of the wonderland.
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Hiking south out of the Wonderland of Rocks... with 'The Camel' in the right-center foreground.
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Getting ready to pass by the 'Freak Brothers' rock formation.
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Passing by the South Astro Dome (left) and North Astro Dome.
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Continuing to hike south out of the wonderland.
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Continuing to hike south out of the wonderland.
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Back at the Worth Bagley homestead... and almost back at our car.
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The parking lot is a stone's throw away... the total hike was 5.6 miles, gaining 350 feet of elevation that included a lot of ups and downs.
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