Yes, we got snow in the desert!
For days the weather services were hyping up this storm moving across the pacific west of how cold it was and how low the snow levels were going to be (down around 1500 feet and I’m around 2400 feet above sea level where I live in Joshua Tree, California). Many residents here in the desert were getting excited as snow is a rare occurrence here in this arid landscape. But then as we crept closer to the date, my hopes were being dashed as the services were now expecting less precipitation than they originally thought. Still, as word got around on social media that it was starting to snow in the Morongo Basin on the Eve of New Year’s Eve, I crawled out of my sick bed (I’d been down with a respiratory infection since the day after Christmas), grabbed my gear and headed out. I got a few good images but nothing spectacular from Black Rock Canyon Campground on this day.
But then we woke up on New Year’s Eve and I could see a light dusting of snow on the mountains surrounding Joshua Tree National Park. So I bundled up in layers, made some hot herbal tea to go and grabbed my gear again, this time driving into the West Entrance of Joshua Tree National Park.
This morning I was not disappointed at all!
About an inch of ice on the roads made it treacherous to drive on the narrow roads in the park. And trying to come to a stop took some skills. And once you stepped outside the warm comfort of your vehicle, you were assaulted by the cold frigid temperatures being blown all about by the gusty winds. But the snow was so light and fluffy. And dry which made it difficult to form snowballs.
I traveled through the park for several hours, stopping at various locations along the way, braving the gusty winds and freezing temperatures to hike out into the virgin snow in search of hidden treasures not along the roadside. And I found a few treasures for my troubles.
Here’s a short video from my trek through Joshua Tree National Park on New Year’s Eve.
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So have you had any snow where you live?
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