A fleeting oasis

The clear skies in our photo come in the wake of some serious Mojave Desert rains. It's not often you'll find the Barker Dam reservoir full of water, but if you do, you're likely in the company of bighorn sheep and other wildlife seeking a sip. Even when the watering hole is dry, the trails around the dam attract boulderers to a buffet of prime problems—one of many hotspots among Joshua Tree National Park's many mounds of monzogranite.