Talk about a trip you took out to Anza Borrego
Oasis Peak
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tekewin Posts: 371
2/5/2022
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There is an infrequently visited area of Joshua Tree south of Eagle Mountain that I have been interested in recently. Several unnamed peaks with >300' prominence dot the landscape and there is a rectangular area of jagged rocks and towers I call the "Wrecked Tangle". One of the easiest to reach peaks was 3723'. Someone had created an entry for it in Peakbagger called Oasis Peak based on it's proximity to the Lost Palms Oasis, but there were no attempts listed. Also no attempts in ListsOfJohn. I suspect it might have been climbed earlier since it is only 3.5 miles from I-10, but I might have the first documented attempt.
I drove north from the Chiriaco Summit exit on I-10, past the General Patton Museum, and past the dry campground to a turn around at a gated dirt road into Joshua Tree. I am not sure an entrance fee applies here, but I had a National Forest annual pass and I carried it with me. It would be a rare bit of luck to run into a park ranger in this area. The approach was sandy and easy. There was an elevated shelf east of the main wash and it was thick with dangerous cholla. I stayed off this shelf until I had to cross it. A short climb to the lowest saddle was easy.
Tanks behind the Patton museum
Thru the cholla forest, Oasis Peak on the left
From the low saddle
Terrain after the saddle was mostly class 2, with some class 3 near the top of the ridge. There were two false summits along the ridge. After passing the second false summit, it was a walk up. Two small piles of boulders competed for the high point, but the one at the very end of the ridge was slightly higher. That's where I placed a register in a plastic sandwich box. I got a great look at the "Wrecked Tangle", even more jagged from a closer perspective. Fantastic scenery all around. The wind was gusting hard on top, making it rather cold, so I didn't stay long. On the way back, I noticed something metal in the middle of the cholla forest and diverted my return slightly to investigate. It was the shell of an old car set up as some kind of shelter. Next to it, I found 3+ gallons of water stored in barrel. My guess is it was shelter for migrants.
First of two false summits
True summit
The "wrecked tangle", Eagle Mountain behind and right
Descending
6.8 miles, 2000' gain
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Britain Posts: 606
2/5/2022
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Out of the way! Nice chug. Been to the museum a few years back.
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Cant drive 55
Britain
http://icorva.com
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ziphius Posts: 911
2/5/2022
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Looks like fun!
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http://www.coyotelearning.org
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rockhopper Posts: 668
2/6/2022
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Nice to get out and explore areas on the East side of the big fault.
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tommy750 Posts: 1049
2/6/2022
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Nice trip and nice shelter find. Guess there's more to JT that Jumbo Rocks!
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Brian Posts: 231
2/7/2022
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I love seeing reports on areas that are seldom visited. How do you think the vehicle got there? Is this an area that would have had a mining road at one time?
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tekewin Posts: 371
2/7/2022
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Brian wrote:
I love seeing reports on areas that are seldom visited. How do you think the vehicle got there? Is this an area that would have had a mining road at one time?
There was definitely a road at one time and a local mine. I found some mining junk in the gully I went up and could see what looked like an abandoned adit on the next hill over. The USGS topo has a mine symbol there with no name. This was my second hike of the day and it was late or I might have gone over to take a look.
The southeast and northeast parts of JT are seldom visited, not easy to reach. My favorite part of the park is the Coxcomb Mountains in the northeast. The terrain is very alien. Aqua, Spectre, and Dyadic Point are all impressive peaks in the Coxcombs. Dyadic is technical and I haven't attempted it yet.
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