Ancient Collisions

“Ancient Collisions” reveals a landscape where massive boulders lie heaped and pressed together, as if frozen in the aftermath of some primeval upheaval. Their rounded forms bear the scars of time, smoothed by wind and weather yet still carrying the weight of their violent past. Tufts of desert grasses and hardy shrubs break through the sandy soil below, softening the stark geometry of stone. Under the open sky, the scene feels both chaotic and harmonious—a testament to the desert’s endless cycle of upheaval and renewal.

I snapped this photo while hiking the Bigfoot Panorama Loop in Joshua Tree National Park—a trail that feels like it was carved to test both body and spirit. The journey begins at the East Entrance in Twentynine Palms, CA, where the desert sun greets you with warmth and the trailhead sign reminds you of what’s ahead: 7.4 miles of strenuous terrain.

The path unfolds slowly, winding through sandy washes where each step sinks just enough to make you aware of your effort. Towering rock formations rise like ancient guardians, and the desert life—quiet, resilient, and beautiful—peeks out in surprising places. It’s the kind of trail that asks for patience and preparation: water, a light protein snack, and above all, respect for the fragile land you’re walking through.

There are rules posted, and for good reason. This hike is for people on foot only—no pets, no bikes, no drones, no shortcuts. Just you, the trail, and the desert silence.

By the time you loop back around, you’re not the same person who started. The Bigfoot Panorama Loop leaves you both tired and renewed, carrying a little more desert mystery in your bones.

Piled boulders bear witness to an ancient upheaval, their massive forms pressed and scattered across the slope. Amid the wreckage, resilient grasses find root, softening the memory of impact.