Monday, May 1, 2017, was our last full day in the Boron area. We decided to check out Saddleback Butte State Park. Saddleback Butte is a 3,651-foot solitary mountain formed 70 million years ago. The park preserves the butte and the Joshua trees that dot the high desert landscape around it. A two and half mile trail leads from the Visitor Center to the summit of Saddleback Butte. The first part of the trail is a paved nature walk.
As we headed out into the desert, we came across the first of many Joshua Trees. We always believed that the only place you could see Joshua Trees was in Joshua Tree National Park. However, we have since learned there are a number of areas in the Mojave Desert that still have Joshua Trees. With climate change, those areas are getting smaller and smaller. As we began our hike, we found lots of cute Joshua trees. In one place, David could see Kathy with a mature Joshua tree behind her, and Kathy could see David with a young tree (we call them "Josh's") to his side:
As we began our hike up the alluvial plain, we were treated to a brilliant display of wildflowers. This photo doesn't begin to show the brilliant yellow, gold and brown hues spread out across the landscape:
We spent some time getting up close and personal with the bright yellow plumage of the wildflowers:
We also spent some time with the white fuzzy ones, as well.
On the way up Saddleback Butte, we stopped to check out Little Butte, which is a hill with an elevation of about 2,800 feet.
Here is Kathy getting up in the world:
From the summit of Little Butte, we can see why Saddleback Butte got its name. Its dual peaks rise from a saddle, which was the goal of our hike:
As we climbed higher, we found some really large and probably really old Joshua Trees. It is hard to tell the age of a Joshua Tree because it doesn't have tree rings to count. In fact, a Joshua Tree isn't a tree at all. It is actually an agave plant. Mormon pioneers who first settled this area called them Joshua Trees because they reminded them of the uplifted arms of the bearded prophet Joshua.
The trail guide indicated we would have over 1,000 feet of elevation gain over two and a half miles. However, we felt they saved the majority of the gain for the last half mile!
Dave scampered ahead as Kathy tried to catch her breath.
As we reached the saddle of Saddleback Butte, we could see the summit of Mt. Baldy, about 75 miles (as the crow flies) to the south of us:
About 10,000 years ago, a prehistoric lake covered the valley. From our vantage point, we could almost imagine sitting on an island in the middle of a huge lake.
After recovering from all that "up," we settled in to enjoy the views and munch our lunch. Can you say, "lunch selfie"?
After lunch, we explored the granite outcrops looking for the perfect pebble souvenirs. Before long, it was time to leave our lofty lunch spot. Needless to say, the way down was twice as fast as the way up.
Tomorrow we begin our journey north on U.S. 395. Eastern Sierras, here we come!
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