Me, Joe at Turkey Flats off just the Pinto Basin Road. This is the starting point for the hike to Pinto Mountain in the background.

The first part of the hike was a 2.5 mile hike to the base of the mountain. The light colored area at the base of the mountains is actually a sand dune that is more like a giant speedbump 1.25 miles from the start of the hike.

Looking east from the sand dunes.

There was a lot of these flowers on the sand dunes.

These little flowers were also on the dunes.

This shot is just past the dunes. Another 1.25 miles to go to reach the ridge. The green area at the base of the mountains is the Pinto Wash.

Crossing the Pinto Wash.

More flowers just past the wash.

After crossing the wash there is an alluvial fan. My plan is to climb along the ridge on the right side of the canyon.

At the base of the ridge, finally it feels like I'm starting the hike after crossing the flat areas.

Pinto Wash, (the green) as I start climbing the ridge.

This cactus has a nice view of the valley.

Pinto Mountain reappears after hiding for a while.

Lizard on a rock.

Another view back from higher up. Joshua Tree is green from all the rain it received this year.

Walked into some dried pencil cholla while looking at the GPS. Didn't hurt much going in, but stung while pulling them out.

Getting closer to the summit.

Looking down the ridge that I have been following to the summit.

The final part of the climb to the peak.

The summit cairn is in sight almost there.

On the summit of Pinto Mountain at 3,983 feet.

Me on the summit.

One of the summit registers. Someone put stickers covering the military ones.

My starting point is somewhere near the center of the photo. Monument Mountain is the pointy one in the distance. Hiked that one yesterday.

Eagle Peak to the south.

Zoomed in on Eagle Peak.

A view to the north.

View to the west.

To the northwest.

The summit cairn with Monument Mountain in the distance.

Looking back at the peak as I start down.

Looking down the ridge I climbed up as I start my descent.

Most of the cactus were red, but there was a few of these yellow ones.

Close up of the yellow cactus.

Just past this section the ridge gets steep for a while.

A small red cactus.

Still have a long way to go.

Lookiing back at the peak from about half way down.

A view down from the half way point.

I came upon some good sections of use trail from time to time. I missed most of it on the way up.

At the end of the ridge almost back on the alluvial fan.

Off the ridge looking towards the southwest. 2.5 miles to go to reach the truck.

Found a bunch of these tiny mushrooms on the alluvial fan.

Crossing Pinto Wash looking to the northwest.

Looking back at Pinto Mountain. Clouds are getting dark, hope to make it back to the truck before it starts to rain.

A view to the east from the sand dunes.

Looking to the southwest towards my truck which is about a mile away.

At the truck, made it back before the rains started.