Easily the tallest Joshua Tree in the Park, if only it could stand up straight!
Easily the tallest Joshua Tree in the Park, if only it could stand up straight!
Sometimes, when wanting to take the back way up the South Astro Dome, I'd start my hike from the north-east corner of Hidden Valley Campground, instead of from the Barker Dam parking lot. Early on the way would be this arched Joshua Tree. Last time I looked for it, however, I was mystified and unable to see it anywhere, even though it was such a prominent landmark of that hike. Eventually I did locate it, but it was reduced to nothing but dead Joshua Tree wood, crumpled and broken on the ground.
To read all about Joshua Trees, see this scientific and informative aritcle