Oasis!
So, I decided to hike up the Barker Dam Loop Trail (inside the Joshua Tree National Park).
It took me a good hour to reach the Barker Dam Point. So glad I was wearing my new Merrell Moab Ventilators! :-) The path to the dam was enchanting -- like something out of a giant child's playground, replete with steps made from boulders and stone flats. Anyhow, I managed to reach the dam in good time. And, boy, was it a wondrous place!
Luminescent leaves! The rays of the setting sun were scattering their gold on earth. This happens to be a rare instance of water in this desert. I am not sure I can describe the "oneness with nature" you can feel in a place like this, high up in the desert.
Now, for the very first time ever, I had attempted to traverse a (mildly serious) trail on my own. Being the urbanite that I am, I pretty much got lost on the way back That was when I recalled those signs I read at the start of the trail: "When your water is half-empty, it is time for you to head back!"
As you can see from the position of the sun, it was about to set shortly. Losing one's way in the Mojave Desert might sound like a cool adventure, but I wasn't quite looking forward to that kind of a plot twist.
And, yes, darkness fell. Obviously, I survived. But, that is another story.
This is not something I will forget in a long, long while. :-)
Oasis!
So, I decided to hike up the Barker Dam Loop Trail (inside the Joshua Tree National Park).
It took me a good hour to reach the Barker Dam Point. So glad I was wearing my new Merrell Moab Ventilators! :-) The path to the dam was enchanting -- like something out of a giant child's playground, replete with steps made from boulders and stone flats. Anyhow, I managed to reach the dam in good time. And, boy, was it a wondrous place!
Luminescent leaves! The rays of the setting sun were scattering their gold on earth. This happens to be a rare instance of water in this desert. I am not sure I can describe the "oneness with nature" you can feel in a place like this, high up in the desert.
Now, for the very first time ever, I had attempted to traverse a (mildly serious) trail on my own. Being the urbanite that I am, I pretty much got lost on the way back That was when I recalled those signs I read at the start of the trail: "When your water is half-empty, it is time for you to head back!"
As you can see from the position of the sun, it was about to set shortly. Losing one's way in the Mojave Desert might sound like a cool adventure, but I wasn't quite looking forward to that kind of a plot twist.
And, yes, darkness fell. Obviously, I survived. But, that is another story.
This is not something I will forget in a long, long while. :-)