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I needed a break from the nonstop meetings and frigid cold air conditioning of the SCEC Annual Meeting at the Riviera Resort in Palm Springs. Going for a walk around the block (in 105-degree heat) was out of the question, and besides, I'd heard something about a "second bloom" at Joshua Tree National Park and was eager to check out the veracity of that rumor.

...

As I reached the top of the summit block, I was treated to a fabulous surprise: a beautiful magenta penstemon in full bloom! (I believe this was Penstemon clevelandii, aka Cleveland's beardtongue.)

Though a little hazy that day, the view was fantastic -- this is definitely one of those "top of the world" summits, since there's nothing notably higher in the vicinity.

As I left the summit plateau and began the steep descent, I came closer than comfortable to a rattlesnake -- the first I'd seen in some time... not that I had missed them! I was fortunate to be able to get around him without too much difficulty. Aside from the discovery of another odd flower (which turned out to be Krameria erecta, aka littleleaf rhatany -- my first sighting!), the way down was pretty uneventful... even when I briefly lost the trail. The slopes of Queen Mountain are such that getting truly lost was never a real concern.

My bottle of water exhausted at the end of the shadeless trail, I was warm and more than a little dry by the time I returned to my truck, but I was pleased with my finds and had a real sense of satisfaction, particularly when looking back at the peak I'd just climbed. With my wedding day approaching, I knew this would probably be my last peak climbed as a single man.