Shangrila - 12.4.2024
We parked at the Boy Scout Trailhead in Joshua Tree National park and started hiking to the north... with the western border of the Wonderland of Rocks on our right.
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Continuing to hike north on the Boy Scout Trail.
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Continuing to hike north on the Boy Scout Trail.
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We bumped into another hiker on the Boy Scout Trail... and he took this photo of Star Dancer, me and Denali Girl.
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After hiking a total of 1.2 miles we will leave the Boy Scout Trail (going left) and take a few steps on the Willow Hole Trail (going right).
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After taking those few steps on the Willow Hole Trail we are following a path to the east... with huge rock formations on our right.
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After hiking a total of 1.6 miles we have found the entrance to what Star Dancer refers to as Shangrila... Mark Knopfler talks about it in his 'Our Shangri-la' song.
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I took this photo from the Shangrila entrance... looking back at Star Dancer and Denali Girl as they get ready to join me.
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Entering the north end of Shangrila... and we will be hiking SE for awhile.
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Continuing to hike SE in Shangrila.
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Continuing to hike SE in Shangrila... with what we refer to as the 'Matterhorn' in the distance.
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Now hiking south in Shangrila.
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Hiking south in Shangrila.
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Hiking south in Shangrila.
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Hiking south in Shangrila.
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Hiking south in Shangrila... here looking back at some of the terrain we have negotiated.
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Hiking south in Shangrila... here looking back as Denali Girl scrambles down some boulders.
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Hiking south in Shangrila.
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Continuing to hike south in Shangrila... and after hiking a total of 2.6 miles we are looking for an exit from Shangrila that will get us back to the Boy Scout Trail.
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Scrambling our way out of Shangrila... now hiking to the west... looking to close the loop portion of our hike.
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Now hiking west and searching for the Boy Scout Trail.
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Now hiking west and searching for the Boy Scout Trail.
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Now hiking west and searching for the Boy Scout Trail.
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After hiking a total of 3.5 miles we have reached an obvious path (used to be a road)... we will follow it for a bit until it gets us in the neighborhood of the Boy Scout Trail.
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After hiking a total of 3.8 miles we have found the Boy Scout Trail... closing the loop portion of our hike and leaving a half-mile to get back to our cars... the total hike was 4.3 miles, gaining 286 feet of elevation.
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