Joshua Tree, California, turns up again
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (342199)
Rockingham, Australia
April 12, 2020 5:53am CST
I wrote recently about Gram Parsons and Joshua Tree. I’d never heard of Joshua Tree before but lo and behold one our news stories told of a New Zealand journalist who nearly met her death at Joshua Tree National Park.
She was an experienced hiker but that is really no excuse for not telling someone where she was going and not leaving any note giving her destination.
As a result, when she fell shattering her pelvis, no-one knew she was in dire straits. She was facing sweltering Californian desert heat, had no phone service, enough water for about a day, a bagel, a hard-boiled egg, and a chocolate bar.
She was there four days and three nights before a search helicopter chanced to locate her.
You can read about it here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-11/claire-nelson-near-death-joshua-tree-hiking-fall/12130058
But the interesting thing for me is that I’d never heard of Joshua Tree and suddenly it turns up twice.
Photo is from Wikimedia, [courtesy of Brocken Inaglory / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)] of the Giant Marbles in Joshua Tree National Park.
18 people like this
17 responses
@oahuwriter (26777)
• United States
13 Apr 20
What a miracle story. I hope the hiker will recover! It looks very dangerous and trecherous! What a coincidence twice it came to you!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342199)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Apr 20
I'm waiting for it to turn up a third time. That is generally what happens. lol
@JudyEv (342199)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Apr 20
@oahuwriter It always amazes and pleases me when that happens.
1 person likes this
@oahuwriter (26777)
• United States
14 Apr 20
@JudyEv
Life is beautiful that way at times!
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
12 Apr 20
I admit, I have always wondered why people don't leave their destinations, have a safety net, take more supplies, you know normal prep things. I am glad she was found though.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
13 Apr 20
@JudyEv you know, maybe her attitude is common in people who end up in similar situations.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342199)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Apr 20
@Jessicalynnt If I was still riding horses, I probably wouldn't bother with a safety helmet as I rode for years and years without one. They just weren't even thought about when I started riding so it's hard to adopt some of these things. Which is a bit different to this I guess.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (182267)
• United States
12 Apr 20
She is very lucky to be alive. Hikers get themselves in trouble, when they go off by themselves without a word to anyone where they are going, and when they are expected back. There was a guy you may have heard about Aron Walston who had to break and cut his arm off to get out of a very tight spot.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342199)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Apr 20
I remember reading about that guy. It's amazing what he did.
@RebeccasFarm (90477)
• Arvada, Colorado
13 Apr 20
Yes the Joshua tree Judy.
Oh my she is lucky to have made it.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (108252)
• Marion, Ohio
12 Apr 20
When doing that stuff someone should always know.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
12 Apr 20
Joshua Tree National Park is not that far from where I live. It's harsh terrain.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (181821)
• United States
12 Apr 20
She really was lucky. You should always tell someone if you're wandering off by yourself.
1 person likes this
@amitkokiladitya (171927)
• Agra, India
12 Apr 20
Thanks for the information. I really wanted to read something different
1 person likes this
@amitkokiladitya (171927)
• Agra, India
13 Apr 20
@JudyEv thanks..have a good day ahead.
1 person likes this
@xFiacre (13162)
• Ireland
12 Apr 20
@judyev If you hear of it again within a week then you’ll be crowned Queen of Joshua Land. I’ve read about Sicily twice this week so I’m hoping for a third time then I’ll be entitled to take up residence there. A man in a pub in Galway told me that’s how it works.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342199)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Apr 20
I came across the word 'gallimaufry' a day or two ago. Never heard of it before. Now I'm waiting for it to turn up again.
@JudyEv (342199)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Apr 20
I hadn't either till I read that particular book.
@Butterfingers (66583)
• India
12 Apr 20
That's scary but that hiker is so brave to be able to survive
1 person likes this