On the 10 Freeway. It was raining all the way from Pasadena to Palm Springs.

Windmills, there was blue sky when I drove past Palm Spings.

The lizards on the onramp near Indio.

The flower lined 10 Freeway near Joshua Tree. It's overcast, but the rains have stopped.

Joe (me), Juliet, Ron, Bruce and Gabriela ready to start the hike to Monument Moountain. After meeting at the Cottonwood Ranger Station we drove to this spot.

The first part of the hike was a half mile walk across flat ground to a ridge. We would use that ridge to get on the main ridge that leads to the peak.

Starting the climb up to the first ridge.

Lot of flowers in the area.

This first climb was the hardest part of the hike. The area was really green after all the rains.

Ron up ahead leading the way.

After hiking on a fairly flat section for a while, we got to this short but steep part.

Looking down the ridge we are following to the peak.

On another flat section.

Starting to rain, we stopped to put on our rain gear here.

Monument Mountain about half mile away. We followed the ridge on the right to the summit. I put the camera away after this shot due to the heavy rain. In a few minutes, cloud base will dropped and we could only see about a 100 feet.

On the summit of Monument Mountain. It's raining, hailing and windy, but we are happy to be here. I'm wearing sunglasses to protect my eyes from the hail. (Photo by Ron)

Another summit shot with Ron. We were glad that Ron made a GPS track on the way up. The cloud base dropped below us and we could only see about a hundred feet, would have been hard finding our way out.

Near the end of the hike it stopped raining so I got the camera out.

It was nice finishing the hike without rain, gave us time to dry out a little.

Juliet checking out a cactus near the end of the hike.

A view at the cactus Juliet was looking at.

Gabriela and Bruce.

Back at the trucks.

Following Bruce on the Pinkham Canyon Jeep Trail back to the Cottonwood Campground.

Our campsite at Cottonwood.

Hanging out around the campfire after dinner. Juliet brought a great tasting cake for Ron's birthday. Bruce and Gabriella headed home a short time later.

THE END