Friday, January 2, 2009

Joshua Tree at Saddleback Butte

This photo was taken at dusk in the high desert town of Palmdale at Saddleback Butte State Park. The park has a campsite, complete with a camp host and a barking, four-legged sentry.

A sandy trail begins after a mountain lion warning sign at the camp and wanders past the human-like stands of Joshua Trees and thousand year old creosote bushes. After a 1.6-mile (2.6 km) hike up to Saddleback Butte at 3,651-foot (1113m), the desert sky opens up, offering spectacular views of the Southern California high desert as well as the snowy San Gabriel, San Bernardino and Southern Sierra ranges. More on this subject later....

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow that is a great photo!


Greg
Bicheno daily
Hobart daily

Hope said...

JT....this is a beautiful photo and the words in your post really transport a person to this location...so remote and close to nature & God's wonder.

I'm sorry I haven't been commenting much in the last weeks. I have been busy...but also have been struggling with the thought of maybe discontinuing my blog. Time is my enemy....as with all of us ...it seems there isn't enough time for all we want to do. So far I have been keeping it going.

I love visiting all my favorite blogs ...but sometimes I haven't commented even when I want to. I'm sorry I haven't been commenting lately.

San Diego Farmgirl said...

Beautiful sunset! Joshua Trees are the best.

Anonymous said...

Lovely photo. It's hard to take this kind of sunset picture. Terrific.

ben wideman said...

Incredible! Wonderful photo.

Victor said...

Beautiful! You should look into the Skywatch project. Happy new year from BC

LĂ­lia Abreu said...

Nice blog and photos!
I wish you a nice 2009, full of laughter (needed more than never), optimism, health, love and sucess at all levels.
Today, afternoon I saw in Lisbon a beatuful rainbow, pity I had not a camera... its like hope.
congratulations and a rainbow hug from Lisbon!

Benjamin Madison said...

Wow! Great colors and composition. (I hope the mountain lions heed the warnings. Their days are probably numbered!)

Anonymous said...

This is a superb photograph! Great work! Cheers.

Julie said...

Really engrossing image here, JT. I enjoyed the text which accompanied it, too. It is almost as if I am there - except for the thousand foot climb!

Unknown said...

This is stunning! Very well done! Although I've never seen a Joshua tree I find them fascinating.

Jane Hards Photography said...

This is just stunning.

Anonymous said...

They call the Buttes the three sisters

Unknown said...

Great shot! I was out at Saddleback Butte around New Years this year and posted one of the Joshua Trees surrounding the butte at dusk. Your shot is very clean and a true representation of this beautiful park. I especially appreciate the portrait angle, the Joshua Trees, butte and crescent against the blue sky.