For the Christmas weekend we headed to the Joshua Tree area. The stark beauty of the landscapes provided calm and awe as we hiked between our holiday meals and gift opening. We stayed in an Airbnb in Pioneertown surrounded by stark vistas. The backyard had a jacuzzi for soaking and lounges for nighttime stargazing. I love the dramatic light at sunrise and sunset. There is a lot of variation in the high desert landscapes. Our first hike featured large boulders and ended at som