Wonderland of Rocks - 11.18.2024
We parked in the dirt parking lot located a quarter-mile NE of the popular paved parking lot for Barker Dam in Joshua Tree National Park.
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Less than a tenth of a mile of hiking we left the Wall Street Mill Trail and started hiking toward the Wonderland of Rocks... the Wall Street Mill Trail continues along the southern border of the Wonderland of Rocks and goes for three-quarters of a mile out toward Queen Mountain on the horizon.
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After hiking less than a quarter mile we have reached the Worth Bagley homestead... also known as the 'Pink House'.
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Hiking with... (left to right) Stalker, Star Dancer, photoman, Klondike Kate, Dawson Dan and Denali Girl.
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We entered the Wonderland of Rocks behind the 'Pink House' and will continue hiking north.
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Continuing to hike north in the Wonderland of Rocks.
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Passing by Shark Rock as we continue hiking north in the Wonderland of Rocks.
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Continuing to hike north in the Wonderland of Rocks with the south and north astro domes out there on the left.
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After hiking a total of 1.4 miles we have reached the 'Freak Brothers' rock formation... there are several sport climbing routes on the three distinct summits... named after the Fantastic Furry Freak Brothers 'underground' comics.
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Just beyond the Freak Brothers we started hiking east... while Star Dancer, Stalker and photoman continued hiking north.
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After hiking a total of 1.6 miles we have reached the 'Red Obelisk' rock formation... the rock has 3 bolted climbing routes on it and the rock's west face has a distinctive reddish patina which gives the formation its name.
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Contining to hike east... with a lot more of Queen Mountain appearing on the horizon.
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Continuing to hike east in the Wonderland of Rocks... searching for Garrett's Arch.
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After hiking a total of 2 miles we have reached Garrett's Arch... kind of hard to see because there is a tree on the other side of the arch... discovered by park ranger Gary Garrett.
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Continuing to hike east beyond Garrett's Arch... with part of Queen Mountain on the horizon.
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After hiking a total of 2.2 miles we have started hiking to the south.
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As we hike south I'm looking back at where we have come from.
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After hiking a total of 2.5 miles we are getting ready to go through the narrow passage in the distance.
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We have gone through the narrow passage in the previous photo and starting to give up a little elevation.
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Continuing to hike south and working our way out of the Wonderland of Rocks.
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Continuing to hike south... reeling in the Wall Street Mill.
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Continuing to hike south... here looking back at where we came from.
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After hiking a total of 2.9 miles we have come out of the Wonderland of Rocks and reached the Wall Street Mill.
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Some of the Wall Street Mill history... we have a three-quarter mile hike to get back to our car.
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We are getting ready to close the loop portion of our hike... with the parking lot a stone's throw in the distance... the total hike was 3.6 miles, gaining 224 feet of elevation.
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