Photo Essay: Escape to Joshua Tree

Los Angeles is an amazing city, we really don't know how good we have it. We have the beaches, the mountains, the forests, and the deserts, all within a few hours drive. When things get a little too complicated in the city, I love the idea that we have all these options, where we can escape the daily grind and get in touch with nature.

There is something about the desert that beckons our hearts, it's the same unfettered temptation that has been romanticized in many novels and movies. With it's wide open spaces, the desert offers a canvas for the mind to unclutter itself. When life gets a little too complicated, the desert manages to simplify things. So this past weekend, I had the opportunity to camp out with some friends at Joshua Tree National Park.

We were fortunate enough to witness some of the beautiful flowers on the Joshua trees, which is just starting it's bloom. Despite the cold gusts of wind that came on Sunday morning, the weather was pleasantly comfortable. We camped out Black Rock Canyon Campground on the outskirts of the park. Black Rock Canyon Campground is kinda like the shallow end of the pool, you're only five minutes from Yucca Valley just in case you run out of liquor or food. But to truly experience the beauty and wonder of this National Park you have to camp within it's interior. Visitors can choose to stay in designated campgrounds, or venture out and camp in the wilderness. Next time we're definitely going to jump head first into the deep end of the pool, and camp in the interior. With global warming, the outlook on Joshua Trees look bleak, so now maybe a good time to visit these beautiful plants.