12 Stops Along the Pacific Crest Trail

Mojave Desert

Cheryl began her journey in Mojave, California, a small town located in the southwestern region of the Mojave Desert. This arid ecosystem is spotted with sand dunes, rock formations and yucca trees. These distinctive trees are better known by another name—Joshua trees. It's believed that Mormon settlers gave the trees this name because the limbs reminded them of the biblical story of Joshua, a man who reached his arms up to the sky in prayer.