Tuesday April 22, 19.9mi/32.0km

NW side of Eagle Mt (166.5/3420ft) to Joshua Tree NP East Bdy (186.4/1200ft) (CA)

I had my usual 7 A.M start and hiked into the rising ball of flame.

I spent an hour following the same faint 4wd road that I used yesterday, and then I hiked XC for another hour.

Also those mountains in the distance looked really enticing, I’m guessing at least one of those ranges will be on the Desert Trail. I continued hiking XC towards what the guidebook author called a “razorback” of black rocks.

All the lovely little cacti were in full bloom up here at this elevation of 3,000 ft.

When I got to a wash I stopped and had an early lunch in the shade. It was pretty hot after lunch and I took my time hiking up the gradually ascending wash, and after cresting a minor pass, I was quite relieved to be descending another wash. I think this one was actually called Big Wash.

It was pretty enjoyable and mindless hiking and I basically forgot to take photos the rest of the afternoon. Three hours later, and I was at the end of the wash and also the Joshua Tree Wilderness boundary.

I continued another mile, following a dirt road for the water pipeline.

I stopped right before the National Park boundary and setup camp. About 20 miles today!