November 19, 2015

The Contact Zone

November 19, 2015/ Elliot Koeppel

The Contact Zone, so-called by fellow JTree explorer and intrepid 3D photographer, Murbachi. For purposes of this post, the area referred to as the Contact Zone is the demarcation between the light tan monzogranite on the left and the darker material on the right in the Google Earth image above. The CZ stretches for about one mile and after seeing some of Murbachi's pictures (click HERE to see for your ownself) of this area, I knew I wanted to visit, regardless of the danger. The views of the far eastern edge of the Wonderland of Rocks are simply spectacular.

February 10, 2015

On the Rocks - Lost Horse Area

February 10, 2015/ Elliot Koeppel

There are a lot of big rocks in what the climbing community refers to as the "Lost Horse" area, and most have very unusual names. If you like rocks, this is a great place to spend some time. The main parking area for this location is signed "Hemingway," after one of the more notable chunks of quartz monzonite that stands nearby.

January 28, 2015

On the Rocks - Quail Springs Area

January 28, 2015/ Elliot Koeppel

My first visit to Joshua Tree National Park must have been in the late '60s, (that's 1960s, not 1860s). Friends of my parents took me camping and we stayed at Jumbo Rocks campground. I think what fascinated me about the Monument then and which still does in the Park today, is the same thing which drew in over 1.6 million visitors to the park last year. The Rocks. Put simply, the rocks rock.

July 29, 2014

3D Joshua Tree

July 29, 2014/ Elliot Koeppel

I take a lot of pictures, as you Cali49ers have obviously discovered. Writing these posts and sharing photos of places I've visited is almost as fun as the adventure itself. I am currently shooting with a Nikon D7000 and my favorite lens is a Nikkor 18-200 zoom. I think it takes pretty good pictures overall, as long as I keep the sensor clean (it's amazing the amount of dust that can enter a camera body while changing lenses).