From deserts to beaches

Yesterday, I went out hiking at Joshua Tree National Park. It was my first time hiking in desert conditions, and while the weather was pretty nice, I made sure to bring lots of water and sunscreen. It was an interesting park, with conditions ranging from almost completely barren, to beautiful patches of desert plants in full bloom. The Joshua Tree is a very unusual tree, as it is a member of the Lily family as opposed to a traditional tree family. The tree is fairly rare, appearing mostly within the Mojave Desert at higher elevations.

I have posted the pictures from my trip to Joshua Tree National Park online here.



After I was finished with my conference sessions today, I went driving up the Pacific Coast Highway. I took some pictures along the beach about half an hour before sunset.