"Once caught by its golden lure you become a prospector for life, condemned, doomed, exalted." from "Desert Solitaire" by Edward Abbey.
These are some images from my recent climbing tour through the desert. We visited several unique and beautiful areas in colorado, new mexico, arizona and ended up in joshua tree california, the crowned jewel of desert climbing in the spring. Besides having a lifetime of classic climbs, the wildflowers and blooming cactus carpet the landscape with brilliant color this time of year. The consistent warm dry climate felt wonderful after a long cold winter in the mountains. It is not hard to possess these treasures. They are there for the taking. Simply open your senses, explore your consciousness and "you become a prospector for life."
