Sierra Spraker | September 2, 2021

Joshua Tree is nothing short of magical. I will admit, I never took myself to be a desert lover. In fact, I can’t really handle heat over eighty-five degrees Fahrenheit. Sure, this fact could licit a few eye rolls, but for me it just means a bit of strategic planning will lead to unforgettable experiences. 

The moment we stepped foot in the camp ground, I was hooked. My desert tour guide and photographer of these photos was (and continues to be) Ethan. He and I were running on the tail end of a coffee buzz, and so the first stop was food. We took a recommendation from a friend and headed towards Pappy & Harriets, a desert oasis fit for cowboys and desert fairies alike. While we waited for our table, we each sipped on a Coachella hazy IPA. I can't even remember what we ate, and I'd like to believe it was because I barely blinked and it was gone. Regardless, we greatly enjoyed this join right in Pioneertown. Hearty food and a tequila drink was just what the trip needed to kick everything off. It was the perfect setting for the desert. 

There’s something intangibly perfect to having no schedule in the middle of nowhere. Of course some drawbacks, little planning leads to potentially missing the hours of The Wine and Rock Shop, which was our next stop (their front landscaping featured above). Luckily for us, we made it. The Wine and Rock Shop is exactly what you would imagine it to be. Probably the funkiest and coolest stop, this unique establishment in Yucca Valley is filled with a unique and eclectic selection of wines (every kind imaginable), as well as crystal rocks with extra-terrestrial flair on top of it all.

Our last and final stop for our first round in Joshua Tree was the Joshua Tree Saloon. A place I’d been hearing quite a bit about from Ethan, and was intrigued for the full desert experience. We arrived to a packed house, which for being in the midst of a pandemic was slightly disconcerting. Regardless, we sat in a darkened corner and enjoyed every last bite of food. My camping experience has officially been raised a notch or two.

Fast forward a couple weeks and there we were again. Back in the best place, but this time for a different cause. We stayed in an Airbnb and attended the gallery opening of a friend of Ethan’s, Mike Townsend. His gallery in Yucca Valley had brought together the perfect mix of humans, and it couldn’t have been more fitting. The opening installation, Synthetic Cascade, was a fascinating display. If you've made it this far into this piece, then I would encourage you to stop by Compound Yucca Valley. It’s a wonderful place. 

The last morning in Joshua Tree was started with a coffee run and a spin through the national park. Coffee from The Dez in and a nutmeg cinnamon roll is what kept us alive. Side note and personal growth point: adding nutmeg to my cinnamon roll recipe...absolute genius flavoring. 

Driving through the expanse that is Joshua Tree National Park is a sigh to behold. The inspiring and monochromatic colors are soothing. Spending time with a photographer has its perks, for starters there’s always some new place which needs to be checked out. For example, our entire trip to Joshua Tree (the first time). An amusing side effect of spending this much time with a man holding a camera is the amount of peeling off the road and hiking far into the brush because there is another amazing tree off in the distance. Other than that? No trouble in this paradise.  

To make a long story short, and for those of you who like to skip to the end, Joshua Tree is the perfect background to experience individuality, life, community, and above all another fascinating vastness which we can find in areas of the world. There are always instances and moments around us which can and should be paused for. It’s worth stopping to get that shot, finish the roll of film, or just to stop and admire. Life is short, collect the instances and make a memory or two.

All photo credit goes to Ethan Duffy // @duffvisuals