In Search of Warmth in California, Utah, and Arizona in February (page 10 of 13)

After passing about 150 meters of slot canyon, we try to climb back up to our left as soon as possible, but it’s not going to be easy since the walls are very steep.



One kilometer further, the slopes become gentler, so we climb up a ravine. Everything goes well until about thirty meters from the top. Three of us manage to get past the last difficulty, but for Maxime, the loose dirt keeps giving way under his feet. And of course, the rope that would’ve come in handy right now is still in the car.



Maxime finally makes it with Rachel’s help. The rest of the hike is a breeze.





We hit the road north to visit a palm grove. Two options: Indian Canyons or Lost Palm Oasis in Joshua Tree NP. We ultimately choose the second option.

The sky gets cloudier as we go. A few miles after the south entrance of Joshua Tree NP, we stop at Pinto Basin Road.



The scenery is truly stunning. Here, we really see what a desert in bloom looks like!! It’s a notch above the daisies at Organ Pipe 😛...









That’s all well and good, but we’d really like to see a palm grove, and since the Lost Palms Trail hike is 12 km round trip with 300 m of elevation gain, we can’t dawdle too long in these flower fields...



At 1:40 PM, we’re parked and ready to tackle the hike after our two morning walks.



We immediately recognize the Joshua Tree vibe with those iconic rock formations. But temperature-wise, it doesn’t feel like it at all—it’s freezing cold, barely 4-5°C in the middle of the day!! 🏴‍☠️



Everyone’s bundled up in wool hats, but we still run into several Canadians in shorts! We ask if they think it’s mild, and they tell us it was over 15°C the day before... This cold weather’s been following us since the start of the trip 🤪!

View of Mastodon Peak, which I’d rather not climb since the trail is still long to reach the palm grove.





This hike would’ve been a real highlight with some sunshine. Despite the gray sky affecting the mood, we still have a great time!

The 6 km go by quickly since the trail is hilly and fun.



A little over an hour later, we finally see the palm grove, and all that’s left is to descend.







Water’s still flowing at the bottom of the valley after the recent rains. After a refreshing break and a big snack, we head back. We cover the 6 km in 1 hour and 7 minutes... A record for the kids, who spend their time running down every slope to get back to the car faster 😎. And for me, it’s a little training for the upcoming marathon...



At 4:15 PM, after 2 hours and 20 minutes of effort (excluding breaks), we complete the loop. Then, we start looking for a campsite. We’re not too keen on camping here since the night promises to be cold—very cold.

We head toward White Tank Campground anyway. On the way, we don’t even stop at Cholla Cactus Garden, where about ten cars are parked. We’ve seen so many at Organ Pipe that we’ve become picky!

When we arrive at White Tank Campground, there are 4-5 spots taken, especially those sheltered from the icy wind blowing. We finally set up our tent at the foot of a large rock formation where we should be able to sleep peacefully, not forgetting to pay our "fees," even though there’s little chance of any ranger checks tonight... Not stupid, those rangers!

No way we’re cooking outside, so we prepare a big vegetable salad (canned) with dressing. Since we’ve walked nearly 20 km today, everyone devours their portion, then we all get cozy. I’m already dreading the cold to come...

Summary: Anza Borrego SP 15/20: It’s a huge State Park, probably the largest in the USA, which means you have to drive a lot to get from one spot to another. Its main advantage is the relative tranquility and wide-open spaces. We were pretty disappointed not to have been able to do THE hike, Borrego Palm Trail. Fonts View and The Slot are two must-sees in the park. Fonts View can be visited in the morning or evening: don’t just settle for the viewpoint—walk along the Rim as much as possible to take in the full scale of the site.

Lost Palms Oasis 17/20: This hike is worth it both for the scenery along the way and the palm grove itself. Everyone loved it!

Feb 21 – Joshua Tree NP to the California coast

After going to bed in freezing cold, I’m surprised in the middle of the night to hear rain falling on our tent. Not cool two days before we leave, since it’ll be hard to dry... The night was rough again, with three "manual mattress inflations" just so the kids could sleep peacefully.🤪

During his 5 AM morning pee, Tim wakes me up by coming back into the tent and announces that everything outside is white! The pattering on the tent was actually snow 😄! The tent is covered in a white blanket that insulates us from the cold...

Before going out, we shake it off anyway, just to avoid bringing snow inside.

Waking up is pure joy: we’re so lucky to witness this spectacle in a California desert 😇!!



Taking down the tent goes surprisingly well since the fabric is barely damp, so we can enjoy this rare sight.



For breakfast, we debate eating at our reserved table. We’ll postpone our campfire to make some scrambled eggs instead!

The sunrise is just magical... 😮







Then we head out toward Arch Rock, located a bit north of White Tank Campground. We spot several jackrabbits that seem just as confused by the snow. They’re totally disoriented! One even charges straight at us and only changes course a few steps away!!



Thanks to footprints, we find several burrows...





Then we reach Arch Rock, which we saw last summer under a blue sky and at 104°F.





We hit the road to chase the slightest ray of sunshine! There’s hardly anyone around...





Next, we head to Jumbo Rocks to snap photos whenever a sunbeam improves the lighting.









Skull Rock, topped with a snow cap

Hi Guillaume! Gorgeous photos of Joshua Tree... We’ll be there in a week—different vibe, they’re forecasting 28°C ;)... We’ll see how it goes! Have a great Sunday! Fanny

Next, we head to Keys View. Some Joshua trees look quite eerie!!



Here’s Keys View with a panoramic view of the valley, the San Andreas Fault, and Palm Springs.



While we weren’t impressed last summer with a dusty sky, the scenery is stunning with a sky free of particles! 😇







A snowplow



We hit the road again, and the sky eventually clouds over completely. We decide to abandon our plans for Coachella Valley and Indian Canyons.



In Joshua Tree, we make a quick stop at Walmart, whose parking lot is covered in 10 cm of snow. The cashier tells me she hasn’t seen snow in Joshua Tree in the 5 years she’s worked here! That’s how lucky we are!!!! 😎



Then we take a detour to Pioneertown, a small hamlet we discovered in lol64’s latest travel journal. The vibe is totally different.



Impossible to park—or even get out of the car... We’re facing a full-on snowstorm! 🤪



Even with a 4x4, access is super tricky, and while maneuvering to turn around, I nearly get stuck in a 60 cm snowdrift!

Of course, we can barely recognize the ghost town scenery.



A Joshua tree whose branches are about to snap under the weight of the snow... 😮



We continue toward Los Angeles, seeking sunshine, hoping the weather forecast from 5 days ago—predicting clear skies—was accurate...



We’re pretty lucky. Heh, Laetitia’s voodoo doll is showing its limits... 😛



Just past Los Angeles, we spot some scorched landscapes, likely from the catastrophic wildfires last summer.



Then we stop at Rincon Beach to finally find the warmth we’ve been craving.





The place invites you to wander and soak in the views, whether it’s the kids





or perfect strangers...

Hi Fanny, 28°C is a whole different story... Normally, we should have had around 15°C, which would’ve been ideal for the Lost Palms Trail. Anyway, enjoy your trip!!

Well! You left France to find some sun in February, but the snow caught up with you 😄 Still, those snowy landscapes are pretty cool 😊

It's so beautiful with the snow !! 🙂😮😎 Vinciane

Hi Guillaume,

The photos in the snow are gorgeous. So many great memories... with your kids...

I’m still following along... 😉

Thanks Sylvie and Vinciane 🙂 ! A little word of encouragement does a world of good... 😉

Hello! Thanks for this story—despite the unpredictable weather, you really made the most of your trip, and kudos to your kids. For me, departure is in 15 days.

Well done, Guillaume, for managing all those little mishaps and that crowd... Shows that for us women, our presence isn’t always indispensable after all! 😄😄 Have a sunny day, Sonia

Good sunny day

Thanks, and it’s the first one since we’ve been in Alsace near Sélestat 😛. Gonna try to make the most of it! 😎

You left France to find sunshine in February, but the snow caught up with you 😄

Isabelle, I totally missed your message (no VF notification). It’s kind of like leaving the Champ Rousse slopes to get away from it all, only to end up in the snow again...😛 It wasn’t exactly the change of scenery you were hoping for, but hey, you can’t always choose... 😉

Hi Gilles, Enjoy your second stay... As usual, you’ll be there at the best time!! 😎

You left France to find the sun in February, but the snow caught up with you 😄

Isabelle, I missed your message (no VF notification). It’s a bit like leaving the slopes of Chamrousse to get away from it all, only to end up back in the snow...😛 It wasn’t exactly the change of scenery you were hoping for, but you don’t always get to choose... 😉

Ah! You know Chamrousse 😉. It’s not the most beautiful resort around, but it’s the one for Grenoble locals 🤪. That said, in the summer, there are some gorgeous hikes to do in Belledonne because there are tons of little lakes, so I’d recommend coming in the summer instead 🙂.

Is it over? Is the conclusion missing?

No, there's still a full day left until SFO... I'll get to it this afternoon 😉

Good sunny day

Thanks, and it’s the first one since we’ve been in Alsace near Sélestat 😛. We’ll try to make the most of it! 😎

Well, Guillaume, you’re close to where I live. If you ever plan to visit Saverne, let me know—I live there. It’d be a pleasure. SONIA PS: Did you come for Easter break or to live here?

If you ever plan to visit Saverne, let me know—I live there. I’d be happy to show you around. PS: Are you here for Easter break or to live here?

Thanks for the invite! We’re originally from Alsace and come back twice a year to see family—always in April and at Christmas. Otherwise, you can bet we’d be in the Southwest in April rather than February 😛... Tonight, flammekueche at a restaurant in Scherwiller—we’re *so* craving it!!

Thank you so much for this incredibly original travel journal.

I’ve been following your journal quietly, and I just had to come out of the shadows to encourage you to finish it.

Kudos for the time it takes to write this. I wish I had your courage, but unfortunately, I don’t.