Skull Rock Trail-A Fun Hike

This is one of the most popular hikes in Joshua Tree National Park. Whenever you pass by, there are tons of cars and hordes of people all over the rocks. I like to go early (around 5:30 a.m.), in the summer, so I can wander freely without the crush. The trail is easy, loping along from Skull Rock over to the Jumbo Rocks campground. I usually go that far, then turn around and cut across country to explore the various canyons and valleys nearby. When I started out this morning, the sun hadn't quite come up over the rocks, so I shot some pictures with the sun behind the rocks, which gave them a glowing quality, with the colors somewhat muted in character. It also brought out this wonderful, vibrant blue in the sky. I like the overall effect and the 'moody' feeling of this series. It's funny, you can return to the same places again and again, at different times of the year and there's always something new to discover in Joshua Tree National Park.