Joshua Tree - Mary Peak 2/10/07
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Sooz and Joe(me) at the start of the hike just off the Pinto Basin Road. Mary Peak is the high peak near the center of photo.
Sooz's monkey is ready for the hike.
The first part of the hike was on a slight uphill as we headed for the start of the ridge just above Sooz's head.
Smoke trees in the wash.
Better view of Mary Peak as we approach the ridge we will follow to it's peak. This peak is in the Hexie Mountains.
This is the route we will use.
Looking back across the Pinto Basin to Pinto Peak.
We stopped the the start of the ridge so the monkeys could take a break.
After hiking 1.8 miles, we reached the start of the ridge.
Looking back as we start up the ridge.
Hiking up the ridge was fairly easy with the occasional rock pile to get around.
Looking down from about two thirds of the way up.
Looking up from the same spot. A short way past this point we came upon Kathy that was on her way down after reaching the peak. She hiked back to the summit with us.
Looking back as we near the summit.
Almost there.
Sooz in the bottom left of photo, Kathy is already back on top.
Me, Sooz and Kathy on the top of Mary Peak at 3,820 feet. The hike was 3 miles with a 2,050 foot gain. Most of the gain is in the last mile.
Marker on the peak.
Pinto Peak to the north.
Zoomed in on Pinto Peak.
View to the northeast.
The pointy peak in the distance is Monument Mountain to the south.
Cactus
The big wash just west of the peak.
Kathy and Sooz on the peak.
The flying, screaming monkeys on the peak.
The monkeys doing what they do.
This is the first time Kathy seem the monkeys in action.
Starting the hike down off the peak.
Following the ridge back down.
This was the steepest section of the hike.
On the easy section.
Almost off the ridge.
On the flat section, heading back to the trucks.
Sooz and I camped just outside the park on BLM land. Kathy stayed for a while before heading home.
The spot we camped at about a 100 feet outside the park. It's been a few years since I've done any hikes in Joshua Tree.
