Just a little more than a week ago I was yucking it up in the Mojave Desert of southern California with my good buddy Tim, my oldest friend in the world (Union Street Junior High, Bangor!). Tim has lived out in the desert there for about 15 years now, and I can't seem to get him to move back this way.

But every time I visit I remember why he loves it out there so much. He lives in a little cabin high on a hilltop overlooking Yucca Valley, with tremendous views of Mt. San Jacinto and Mt. San Gorgonio (both 10,000 foot peaks along the Pacific Crest Trail) right out his door. And magnificent Joshua Tree National Park, world famous for its great rock climbing, hiking and mountain biking, is just minutes to the east.

So I was elated to get to spend four days hanging out with him, which ended up in the usual whirlwind of outdoor activity. We hiked, we scrambled, we rock climbed, we camped out, we cooked hot dogs and beans over a pinon pine fire, gazed at the stars in the clearest night sky possible, and fell asleep to the barking of coyotes all around us (and occasionally right in camp trying to snatch our food).

The desert was magical, as it always is, and now I can't wait to get back there for another visit. If only I didn't have to endure the ugly and unhealthy thick brown-orange smog of Los Angeles to get there.

So here's some pics from this brief, but action-packed trip to Joshua Tree.

Enjoy!

Joshua Tree National Park, a desert paradise.

Hiking in the high desert.

Late day sun over Barker Dam, one of the only places to find water in Joshua Tree.

Pictographs in a cave near Barker Dam.

The second stage booster at work from a rocket launch from Vandenburg AFB as it screams over Joshua Tree. I can't say I've never witnessed anything like this before. Wild!

Approaching Saddle Rock with climbing gear in tow.

First pitch of Walk on the Wild Side, a premier 5.8 climb.

Fixing the first belay.

Paying out the rope...

My turn on the awesome friction wall.

Hamming it up as the angle eases off.

A rather scenic belay spot.

Topping out on the airy pinnacle.

Happy feet.

Rappelling off the climb.

Packing up the gear.

Tim's dog Ringo in the twilight of evening on Mt. Ryan.

Sunset on the summit ridge of Mt. Ryan.

Dogs grilling on the fire in camp at Hidden Valley.

Sunrise over Hidden Valley and camp.