TRIP REPORT PHOTOS
The parking area is on this wide shoulder along Hwy 190 close to where mile marker 33 would be (except the mile marker was missing):
The sandy path leading to the south out to the tree location was well trodden in 2018:
Reaching the location requires walking across Lower Centennial Flat. The Coso Range is visible in the distance here, as well as on the album artwork:
The next two pictures show Joshua Trees still standing which are passed on the way out:
In the distance, U2's Fallen Joshua Tree along with the tributes left by fans could be seen:
During the approach to the tree and all around the tree, fans have used rocks to spell out words related to U2's music:
The song "One" is one of U2's most famous and beloved hits. It is track 3 on their 1991 album "Achtung Baby":
"Pride" is the name of the 2nd track on U2's 1984 album "Unforgettable Fire":
Someone used rocks to draw a heart and the number "30", representing the 30-year anniversary of "The Joshua Tree" in 2017:
The most famous tribute at U2's Fallen Joshua Tree is this plaque, made by a fan named Ernie. It has stood the test of time, still being here 10 years after my first visit:
These words "Have you found what you're looking for?" are a perfect way to sum up the feelings of just about every fan who visits here:
The famous Joshua Tree logo is embedded on the face of the plaque:
Rock messages have been left all over the place by visiting fans:
For the fan tributes left behind, we start with this guitar. We can only imagine that the person who left it behind was perhaps inspired to learn how to play by listening to U2's music:
Two more guitars left by appreciative fans. The guitars also add some color to the area:
Two fans found what they were looking for and left this cymbal and drumsticks on October 16, 2017:
It seems that U2 taught this fan the importance of showing empathy to others:
Fans traveled all the way here from Brazil in May of 2017 in order to leave this tribute:
The fan who left this attended concerts in Philadelphia 30 years apart, with both concerts being in support of the album "The Joshua Tree":
A colorful wood piece left in July of 2017 to mark the 30th anniversary:
A fan from Belgium who plays the drums appreciates U2 drummer Larry Mullen Jr.:
If I'm reading this rock correctly, these two fans traveled from Maine to visit U2's Tree in February of 2016:
Notice how the tributes have been placed all along the fallen Joshua Tree:
The rock words spread out a wide distance away from the tree:
Note the location of the plaque, U2's Tree, and the nearest Joshua Tree which is still alive:
Lower Centennial Flat stretches on for about 10 miles past U2's Tree:
Two more pictures showing how some of the fan tributes have been placed around the fallen tree:
This page contains a section of lyrics from each of "The Joshua Tree" album's 11 songs:
These boxes usually contain sign-in registers and are often found on top of Death Valley summits. In this case, someone left this box containing U2 souvenirs here in 2014:
The 11 original album tracks have been written on the side of the box. Which song is your favorite?:
This gold and black painting done by a fan named Daisy and left in October 2017 matches the front cover of the 30th anniversary Super Deluxe reissue. The red heart was a nice touch:
Redoing this report allowed me to explain the meaning behind my message of "the Joshua Tree is faraway, so close". As noted here, my favorite U2 album is actually Zooropa:
This retro metal lunchbox would have fit right in at school cafeterias in the late 1980's:
Getting a self-portrait on my second visit to the tree, a full ten years after my first visit:
Panoramic showing the plaque, fan-made rock words, and U2's Fallen Joshua Tree (click to enlarge):
Panoramic of Lower Centennial Flat with a close-up of U2's Fallen Joshua Tree (click to enlarge):
This final picture from March 2018 shows the tree and tributes left behind:
The rest of the pictures are from my 2008 visit to U2's Fallen Joshua Tree. This will give you an idea of how much the area has changed. Note that I am holding a CD copy of "The Joshua Tree":
My wife Daria got to visit U2's Tree a mere three months after we got married. Note the rock peace sign in front of her:
Getting a picture with some of the fan-made rock artwork on the ground:
Daria posing in front of the trunk of the fallen Joshua Tree:
Looking straight up the tree at the direction it fell when it likely could no longer support the weight of its branches:
In 2008, a fan had written out the title of the song "Pride", much as someone else did ten years later in 2018:
This rock artwork represents the Elevation Suitcase. This was a logo used during their Elevation Tour, which supported the 2000 album "All That You Can't Leave Behind":
Two additional views of the tree and how it looked in 2008. It was far less decayed:
Also, there were virtually no tributes left around the tree back then:
The plaque, the U2ube, and U2's Tree are all visible here:
In 2018, a large number of rocks surrounded the plaque. Back in 2008, only a few rocks had been placed on the concrete pad:
This was the legendary U2ube, which contained messages from the fans inside. It has now disappeared and was not present in 2018:
This was my entry left in the U2ube ten years ago:
