Garden Grove

Tales from Big Bear Lake to Joshua Tree!

Hey fun seeking criminals,

Hold onto your helmets because our journey from Big Bear Lake to Joshua Tree was a rollercoaster of adrenaline, mishaps, and breathtaking views!

First up, Big Bear Lake – where the air is crisp and the adventures are endless. Arrow Lake tried to throw us off our game with its remote climbing routes and surprise guests (hello, rattlesnake!), but we weren't about to let a slithery interruption ruin our fun. The "rim of the world" road treated us to some heart-stopping views, reminding us why we love the great outdoors.

San Bernardino National Forest was a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts like us. From flowy MTB trails to snowy peaks, there was something for everyone. Crossing that little stream was the ultimate chill session – nothing like a refreshing foot scrub in the wild!
We had an icy dip in Big Bear Lake to feel clean and smell good again, nothing beats a good night's sleep, right? And don't even get me started on the climbing – those rock formations were straight out of a fantasy novel.

But alas, even paradise has its pitfalls. A sharp rock decided to play tire roulette with us on our way out of Big Bear Lake, leaving us stranded in the middle of nowhere. Thank the stars for kind strangers and makeshift tools – we MacGyvered our way out of that mess just in time for a well-deserved noodle feast.

At Joshua Tree National Park, we had high hopes for some epic climbing adventures, but sometimes life throws you a curveball. Trad climbs and bold routes proved to be a bit too spicy for our taste, but we made the most of it with some bouldering and cave exploration.
Very special in this area are the many Joshua trees which grow everywhere in the Mojave desert, which make the area look a bit surreal as in a video game. Actually they are not really trees, they belong to the family of yucca. Almost every part of this plant has been or is used by other desert dwellers, people as well as animals. People used is to wove its fibres to make baskets, sandals or mats. Beechy ground squirrels, birds and deers eat the creamy white blossoms (see pic attached), bees get their nectar and produce the yummy desert honey. Later fruits and seeds provide food to antilopes, ground squirrels and other small animals. Woodpeckers drill in tree trunks. Even after death a Joshua tree trunk provides a home to ants, scorpions and lizards. It is a tree of life.

Those horror halls in the huge rocky mountains were straight out of a nightmare – thrilling, but definitely not for the faint of heart if you are afraid of heights or narrow passages! (I wonder how the big Americans (in width) get through those 😅).

So, my intrepid companions, here's to wild adventures, close calls, and the unforgettable memories we made along the way. Who knows where our next escapade will take us?Leia mais