Hike to the Ladders - 4-10-13 & More

To get caught up...

A concert at the La Quinta Museum on Friday, 4-05...a great guitarist from the Bay Area.  Allan even enjoyed that one.

Then a Band Concert and ice cream social at the McCallum Theatre on Sunday afternoon, 4-07...got us in the mood of summer.  All renditions of John Phillip Sousa marches...my favorite...smiles on our faces all throughout.  Musicians came from LA and were fabulous...then Gavin McLeod of The Love Boat era recited "Casey at the Bat".  Was a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon with neighbors, Sally & Alan...then out to dinner to the Backstreet Bistro on El Paseo. 

Tuesday was Date Night...out for Happy Hour at the Cliffhouse...then stopped at neighbor, Karen's, for another cocktail by the pool.  Okay...too much partying here.

Off to the Painted Canyons for another hike at the Ladders.

 

...with friends from Alaska, Chris & Pam.  They like to get out of Alaska in the winter!

 

Was a gorgeous day...a little windy...so kept Pam and I cool.

 

The engineer at work building his cairn.

 

Chris & Pam coming out...and Allan getting ready to descend.

 

What a great photo op...yep, we love this hiking!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lost Palms Oasis Trail @ Cottonwood Spring - 4-03-13

Off to Joshua Tree National Park for a day hike with the Seniors.  Always look forward to this hike during the Spring time as all of the plants are in bloom. 

Here is a Mojave Yucca with its big flowers bursting out.

 

We start off at the Visitors Center at the southermost boundary of the Park...heading out on the Lost Palms Oasis Trail.  Will be about an 8-miler round trip with a 400 foot elevation gain.

 

Blue skies today...and birds flying all around, too.

 

A look back at the Salton Sea...

 

...while we take a little break.  Nice hat, Allan.  He really looks like a hiker, huh?

 

Now the rest of the hike, Janet spends taking close-ups of all the things bloomin'.

And, she'll even identify them for you...a Barrel Cactus!

 

Beavertail Cactus..

 

More Mojave Yuccas in bloom.

 

A ready to bloom Ghost flower...I can't pass up any of them!

 

And here are two other types of "flowers" standing on the hillside...

 

The Mojave Asters were in full bloom, too.

 

Our ultimate destination was to the Lost Palms Oasis.   Is a down, down, down to get there...I stayed up top this year to take more pictures of flowers.

 

...but could still enjoy the lush growth of he California fan palms.

 

Had to look real close to see this flower blooming out of the rocks...a Purple Mat.

 

More Mojave Yuccas...I guess you can tell I couldn't pass up taking pictures of these!

 

And more Beavertails...I just love Springtime in the desert!

 

Our group...is getting smaller as the season is starting to end, and folks are heading back North!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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