Samuelson Rocks, Joshua Tree National Park

DAY ONE HUNDRED SEVENTEEN

Last week I went out to Joshua Tree to visit Samuelson's Rocks. I never made it. I saw some other cool stuff including a well but no rocks. This morning it was time to try again. My time was quite limited because of the need to drop off and pick kids up from school but that's how my days go.

I start hiking and find what looks like a trail but it quickly fades out. From where I parked this is going to be a fully cross country excursion.

I wander across the open desert looking for some rocks. These rocks look very promising.

And for good reason. I have made it to the Samuelson Rocks. Finally. I'll just let the rocks speak for themselves.

There may be other rocks and sayings in the area but, like I said before, my time here is limited. I'll have to come back when I have more.

In addition to the rocks, there was also a lot of historical litter of the type that is very common as old homesteads. No need to post any pictures of it but you can see it when you go and visit for yourself.

On the hike back to the car, a Turkey Vulture (I thought it was a Golden Eagle but have been corrected) flew within about 100 feet of me. He was cruising the desert looking for varmints and looked up and figured I was just a bit too big for an easy meal. He veered off to the side and I caught this shot of him.

It took a rare breed to settle in an area like the desert of Joshua Tree. Someone who was independent, a bit rough, anti-establishment and maybe just a little crazy. It certainly seems Mr. Samuelson fit the bill here. You may never find any of his thoughts and saying in a book of great thinker or philosopher but this little corner of the wilderness his words are forever etched in stone.

Rock On

DAY ONE HUNDRED AND TEN

Today I went up to Joshua Tree to find a place called Samuelson's Rocks. Samuelson's Rocks are some rocks that were written on by some crazy old coot named Samuelson. He wrote a bunch of political, religious, philosophical mumbo jumbo on boulders near his homestead and now it's part of the National Register of Historic Places. He ended up in a loony bin and then escaped and died somewhere in Washington State. I wanted to see what the rocks were all about.

There was one problem, though. The directions on the NPS website are somewhat cryptic and I didn't have a map. No map, no directions: my kind of hike. I mean, how hard could it possibly be to find some rocks in Joshua Tree?

So the directions say to start at the turnout west of Quail Springs Picnic Area (aka Trashcan Rock) and then walk one and a half miles. The problem is they don't tell me WHICH turnout--there are about ten--or one and a half miles in what direction. I guess that's how they keep the area pristine. I decide to go this way.

There are a fair amount of flowers blooming and I expect more in the coming weeks up here. The area near the West Entrance is covered with flowers.

Here are some rocks! Just not the rocks I'm looking for.

I come upon some old junk (historical litter) on my hunt.

And even more junk, which probably means there was a mine or a well or a home in the area.

Well, whaddaya know? A well.

And it has a pump. Let's see if it works!

It actually does! I get a good steady flow of water after just about 10-12 pumps. Of course, by the time I quit pumping and rush over to get a picture of the flowing water, the water stops flowing. Next time I come to this area, I'm going to bring someone along to pump for me.

So I go and check out these rocks but they are not THE rocks.

Nor are these.

Nor these. I don't have much time to wander around and find the real rocks because I have to rush home and pick up kids at school. But there are two things I have learned. One, there IS water in Joshua Tree! I always tell people there is none but now I know that's not entirely true. Two, I know where the Samuelson Rocks are NOT.

You never know what you're going to find while exploring. I find someone's water cache but I have to wonder why it's needed with a nice functioning well nearby. I guess maybe they don't have a pumper along either.

This is an interesting part of the park I have never hiked in before and I look forward to coming back. Next time, I'll find those rocks and who knows what else?