45.8

I recently took a trip to Joshua Tree National Park. This is one of great things about where I live: the proximity of beaches, mountains, AND deserts. I went for a hike, thinking quite foolishly that I would stay out after dark to catch some shots of the rising moon and stars. Well, the first coyote started howling about 7 pm, and I changed my plan pretty quickly. Until the sun started setting, that is, and then I kept shooting. Then it got dark and I started hiking under the most beautiful desert stars back to the car. That's when I got lost. Frightful thing, really. I eventually, and luckily, stumbled my way to a road, and finally found my car around 11:15 pm. Thank goodness for friendly climbers driving around late at night who helped me with a ride back to where I had parked. I ended up over 2.5 miles away, even though I had a map AND compass. Moral of the story: never take the wilderness lightly!! :)