Juniper Flats to Boyscout Trailhead via Johnnie Lang Canyon
(8 miles, +500/-1,500 feet).

Winter backpacking is always tough more for the dark than the cold. We did everything we could last night to stay up until the stars came out, but even so it’s 12 hours of full darkness in the tent before light breaks.

It was another nippy morning in Joshua Tree, though thankfully there was no wind since I forgot my sleeping pad (MixMaster lent me one of his — thanks!).

The sun slowly emerged and crept across the plain.

We walked cross country to cut off a couple of miles of trail on our way to Johnnie Lang Canyon.

Although we never quite found the trail agin, we were soon up at the saddle above the canyon. We were immediately greeted with a huge boulder field that we needed to scurry down.

Just like yesterday, we found water in this canyon, too. It made everything glow.

After an hour or two we emerged from the canyon and started making our way back towards Quail Spring. By 10am we were at the car and headed towards lunch and a victory beer.