The 50th Episode of Anthony’s Audio Journal, is about our hike into Joshua Tree National Park and our adventure up the Red Butte Wash to visit the Carey Castle. This trip was unique because there isn’t really a trail to Carey’s Castle, in fact, it’s not a trail at all. The only tell-tale signs that it’s there is a small black dot on the USGS Topographic map and the words, “Carey’s Castle”. It’s a pretty well kept secret, and folks want to keep it that way. There are no signs at the trailhead or along the way. There’s no sign at the castle or any mention of it in any of the Joshua Tree publications that I’m aware of. The few cairns that have been placed by hikers are routinely knocked over and scattered about or purposely built to redirect hikers into dead ends, further adding to the mystery of the hike to Carey’s Castle. The hike involves over four miles of walking in loose gravely sand and climbing through the boulder choked wash that forks many times throughout the adventure. Elevation gain is a modest 1400 feet but by the time you’ve walked through the deep gravel and climbed up and over the boulders, it seems like more, much much more.

In last episode Doug and I began a 4 day three night adventure up the North Fork of Big Pine Creek to visit the largest glacier in the Sierra Nevada Mountains; the Palisades Glacier. We also explored the historical Lon Chaney Cabin, and enjoyed the fabulous turquoise green glacier fed chain of lakes below some of the tallest peaks in California. In this episode we have an unusual encounter with a hostile backpacker and meet some unusual characters at Lake #3, before hiking up valley to the Glacier Trail. From here we work our way through a talus and boulder field to stunning views over the glacial fed chain of lakes and the Palisades Glacier.We conclude our hike with a stop at peaceful Black Lake for our last night in the wilderness. Be sure and watch the video Doug put together of our hike and posted on YouTube in brilliant High Definition.