The Mojave Preserve

Up early, we run a few errands in Yucca Valley and then jump back on the 29 Palms Highway, through Joshua Tree, through the marine base serving the town of 29 Palms and then north, heading towards The Mojave Desert Reserve.

It's two hot lanes straight into the desert with the Marine Corps Air Combat Centre somewhere on our left behind all those rising rock mountains.







We also drive a bit of the famous Route 66 and check out one of the relic diners and motels, still making a go of it.







Created in 1994 and consisting of a vast 1.6 million acres, The Mojave National Reserve is home to terrific rock formations, sand dunes, the largest concentration of joshua trees (in the world!) and then some jack rabbits, big horn sheep, coyotes and the occasional mountain lion.

We plan to make our first stop at the Mitchell Caverns where drip like formations (called speleothems) extend down in a world beneath the desert. Sadly there is a sign at the entrance informing us that it is closed.

So, we make our first official stop at the Visitor's Centre at Hole-In-The-Wall where the kindly park ranger sets us straight on the camping and hiking options. We ask about the caverns and are told they are closed due to budget cuts — a casualty of California's near bankruptcy status. Nice work, Terminator...

After a quick lunch in the shade, we take on the Hole In The Wall Rings Loop Trail and soon understand why they call it Hole In The Wall. It's a little tricky navigating down the rock face using the provided metal rings, but we get some great views of the swiss cheese cliffs and unpolished marble vertical rock formations.















The hiking loop is only a mile of so, but we're feeling the heat. That sun's hot, man!








Watch out for the prickly cactus, there.

We drive north up a sandy washboard road to the Mid Hills campground. The area surrounding the camp suffered greatly in 1994 when a wildfire swept through the Preserve. Upon first look, we think we've made a grave mistake. The area is burnt out and skeletal.

But further in, we discover half of the greenery ensconcing the 26 campsites has survived and we find a site that is the pick of the lot! Looking out over the valley below, we are rewarded with some stunning views. At 5,600 ft, it is a perch high above the desert floor.







It's much cooler up here too. Tonight is the first night we have our fleece on as we sit around the campfire. The setting sun decides to put on a show for us.














By 7:50 p.m., the dark descends and the stars burst out in full force.