You will need to dust off your peak-bagging boots for the trek up the 3,137-foot Duct Peak. This small peak is in the eastern part of Joshua Tree in what I call the "Empty Quarter" of the park. This section of the park is completely undeveloped, and the peak is rarely climbed. It is a wild and trailless area, just the way I like it.
I picked this peak because it looked like it would have great views of the vast Pinto Basin to the south, plus it looked like a relatively easy hike from the highway. It turned out only one of those things was true. The peak has fantastic views but was more adventurous and rocky than expected. Getting to the top requires scrambling up and down rocks most of the way to the summit. The final climb is the most difficult. The toughness of the hike isn't the only surprise in store for you if you head up there.
On the way to the peak, I stumbled upon a small campsite. It didn’t look very old, but was obviously long-abandoned. The camp consists of a few bottles and cans, the head of a rake, and a storage structure. Someone camped here a few times, but I'm not sure why. I couldn't see any good reason for the spot other than the rock outcrop. It's an odd little place.
