Flora, Fauna And Landscapes Of The Mojave Desert

[James B.]

Going Camping - Be Back In A Few Days

Hello everyone,

Heading off on my first mini-vacation, my first break in over a year, maybe longer. :clap:

Just stopping by to mention how much I have grown to appreciate this site. It’s really special and an important part of my healing and my stability. Since I started, have been able to process a lot of difficult emotions, and trauma. Still lots of work to go, but feeling like my borderline personality disorder has “congealed” somewhat; feel like a more genuine person. My problems with negative thinking have improved, but still much work to go. Emotional issues are better, and I am happy that grief and fear are easier to identify and process. Big step for me.

Going out into the Mojave to camp at some campgrounds that are above 4000‘ and 5000‘ feet. I hope to get some interesting pics to post. I will be carrying the spirit of my friends and fellow trauma survivors with me, and that’s because everyone has been so great making me feel at home here. Not looking for pity, but the “lost soul/lost child” is a very isolated person; I have been that person. I am a CPTSD sufferer and incest survivor. So, thanks for offering me some shelter. That’s what this place is. Please note, I didn’t take the following pic, but am going out into Tortoise country and if I see one, I’ll post a pic!

View attachment 3472


Thanks again everyone - see you in a few days. :smile:
James B.

 

[Iam]

Have a great trip James! Looking forward to those pics! BTW this tortise looks like he's bookin'! LOL!

 

[curiouser]

I hope you have a great trip James, sounds like it will be a lot of fun!

 

[Jline]

I have been camping since I was a little girl, always felt so free in the wilds. It was one of my favorite things to do with my own kids too, camping and climbing. Both my kids ages 19 and 21 go on there own now.... both of them say how much peace it brings them. I'm long over do for a time of it myself... as usual you have inspired me! Have a great time James!

 

[externalsmile]

Thanks for all the pics! They are fantastic.

Enjoy your trip.

 

[amethist]

Have a wonderful few days James.

I am sooooo envious your going camping in the desert, I miss camping so much. I might suggest to hubby we put ours up in the back garden just for fun one night.

Thank you so much for the pics, can't wait to see the next set.

Amethist

 

[James B.]

Mojave National Preserve Trip Report #1

Thanks for the warm comments everyone! Means a lot to me, really does...

Turns out my first trip was somewhat “reconnaissance”. Planned on staying two nights, logistics; no gas stations - became an issue. Really cool trip though, had a great time. Being out two days and one night helped clear my head a lot. Going back to check out some neat free camping spots, new places to hike and 2-wheel drive access roads worth exploring. Big smile.


View attachment 3479
Like a scene out of some art flick, this is Amboy, just before the Mojave Preserve. Sort of Twilight Zone-ish. No one has stayed in those bungalows for over 30 years. Guess Amboy was in some movie - it’s odd, not sure what the big deal is. People trip-out on Amboy. Funny.


View attachment 3480
School’s out! Forever...


View attachment 3481
This is the Granite Mountains area, just inside the Mojave National Preserve. There’s some sort of university study thing out there, but parts are open to the public. Very rugged, good Bighorn Sheep terrain.


View attachment 3482
Made an attempt on Kelso dunes. Got about half way. This is the main dune. Two euro-dudes hiked by fast and bagged the summit no problem. What can I say? Neuro-surgery lumbar is serious, my legs are weak, messed up muscles. Am on the mend and...I’ll be back!


View attachment 3483
Looking north-east. Was pretty warm with light intermittent breeze. Dunes are fairly big, about 600 feet high. Got my day pack at Walmart for $7 bucks, good pack. To be continued...

 

[James B.]

View attachment 3484
From my half-way point looking back toward the parking lot. Ate a peach and hiked back. Saw a neat yellow spotted lizard, but missed the pic.


Link Removed
Amazed anything can grow out here.


View attachment 3486
Left the highway, drove on a dirt road about 14 miles. Made camp and went for a drive. Spotted a very large Red tailed hawk and got this pic.


View attachment 3487
This is Mid Hills Campground. $12/night. Above 5000 feet in elevation. Pinion pines and cactus. Had the place to myself. Very nice.


View attachment 3488
From a hill above camp looking northwest. Vast expanse of the Mojave. Austere and very peaceful. In the fore-ground fire damaged Pinion pines. There's some more pics and I'll post up a little later this PM. Have a nice afternoon everyone.

 

[Iam]

Cool Pics James! Glad you had a good trip ;o)

 

[Cynthiatoo]

Wow James,
You have a real talent here. The composition of your photos and your dialogue.

You mentioned you only have a cheapie camera one before but these photos look great. National Geographic stuff and wonderful spirit lifting stuff for us guys on the forum. The peach picture made me smile big.

I wonder if Quentin Tarantino has a website. I am sure he would love to see that empty town. It is the perfect location for one of his movies.

Good onya James.

 

[James B.]

Thanks Iam, and thanks Cynthiatoo.

There is a lot of weird and odd stuff in the desert. Amboy is just scratching the surface! It's going to get weirder. Promise. LOL. Cynthiatoo, I have to step on these pics (with jpg compression) to shrink 'em down for folks with less bandwidth. I am glad they look alright on your monitor. In terms of a camera, the image processor in my G1 phone (that's what I'm shooting with) seems ok, better for close-ups. What I need isn't more pixels, it's a big zoom and a wide angle. Got a few more things to do, then post up the remainder.

 

[James B.]

View attachment 3489
Starting dinner. Chopped up some veggies and had a stir-fry. It was great.


Link Removed
Collected downed branches around my place all winter. Sawed them up. Loaded a pile into the back seat (passenger foot-well) of my Civic. Great fire wood. It cooled off very nicely, put on a beanie and a sweatshirt/hoodie. Laid back by the fire and enjoyed the peace. Wonderful.

Later, with the last glow in the west, heard a (squeaky shriek) bird call. Thought “it’s an owl”. It kept calling. Felt I’d never see it in the gloom. Then I did. Perfect silhouette on a tree branch. A big owl. It swept down, flew by low about 25 feet away. Large bird. Saw it again early next morning. Spectacular.


Link Removed
Next morning drove to the Hole In The Wall area. Campground and nice picnic area. Interesting volcanic rock.


Link Removed
Hole In The Wall area, some kind of amphitheater thing. Pretty neat. Will be back to do some interesting hikes around Hole In The Wall.


Link Removed
Turns out there is more than one kind of Yucca. Neat looking seed pods.