Ryan Mountain Rocks - Joshua Tree National Park

Eerie. Weird. Odd. Peculiar. Is it a cactus, shrub or tree? The Joshua tree begs a host of questions on first encounter. The iconic image of the... more

by Stephen Stookey

Title

Ryan Mountain Rocks - Joshua Tree National Park

Artist

Stephen Stookey

Medium

Photograph - Photography

Description

Eerie. Weird. Odd. Peculiar. Is it a cactus, shrub or tree? The Joshua tree begs a host of questions on first encounter. The iconic image of the Mojave Desert, Joshua trees possess a Suessian quality. Each tree unique in size and shape as its tentacled branches reach into the high desert sky. Explorer John C. Freemont dismissed the Joshua tree as "stiff and ungraceful" and "the most repulsive tree in the vegetable kingdom." With all due respect to Mr. Freemont, scores of visitors to Joshua Tree National Park and the Mojave Desert would disagree. Set against the backdrop of a high desert sky and massive boulder piles, the Joshua tree silhouette takes on a mesmerizing, mystical grace. The combination of Joshua trees and boulders gives the landscape of Joshua Tree national Park a Flintstone-esque look.

Ryan Mountain sits adjacent to adobe remains of Ryan Ranch. The house once occupied by miners Jepp and Tom Ryan during the operation of the Lost Horse Mine. A suspicious fire destroyed the abandoned ranch house in the 1970s. Ryan Mountain is popular with with climbers, and the jumble of rocks serves as a backdrop to the Ryan Ranch campground. Look closely and you will spot a rock climber.

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Uploaded

December 5th, 2019