Kelly C.

Kelly C.

Kelly (Founder)

Kelly Crawford is the founder/CEO at Joshua Tree Excursions (29 Trail Tours, LLC), a veteran-owned and operated outdoor ECO adventure tour company. He served honorably, in the U.S. Army National Guard and the United States Marine Corps for 23 years. The bulk of his time in the service was spent with the USMC as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Technician, where he supported both military and law enforcement organizations around the world, to include several combat deployments to Somalia, Iraq and Afghanistan.

After leaving the service, but prior to founding 29 Trail Tours, Kelly was the Director of Business Development and Training for 6th Wave Innovations Corp, a nano-technology product development company. Kelly decided to leave the corporate world to pursue his love of the outdoors and nature and explore the planet with other like-minded individuals.

Kelly spent his formative years in the mountains and valleys of Oregon. He has traveled extensively around the world exploring and discovering the hidden wonders of our amazing environment. Kelly resides Joshua Tree, CA - the gateway to Joshua Tree National Park - one of the most majestic of the National Parks. He lives by the motto that, "Life is a journey and not a destination." He possess a wealth of leadership experience, is an avid outdoors-man and an expert in survival, navigation and back-country expeditions.

Kelly now lives and works between Joshua Tree, CA and Dallas, TX with his wife Jennifer, of Desert Birth and Wellness, who is currently pursuing her Midwifery License at Origins Birth and Wellness Dallas There they, along with their SIX girls, are enjoying the journey.


Amy - Sunflower (Owner)


Amy was born in Dover Delaware and raised in many places on the east coast including Georgia and North Carolina and Texas. She found herself moving consonantly until the beautiful Mojave desert came into her life. Now Joshua Tree being the longest destination she’s been planted at (12 years), she is happy to call it home.

Amy bought into Joshua Tree Excursions in 2019 and helps the “life is a journey and not a destination” motto live on.

She is a mother of two, a boy named Arlyss, a girl named Ellette, and a wife to Stuart Harvey. She looks forward to providing a legacy of adventures for her kids and hopes they love this beautiful desert as much as she does.

As you make your bookings with Joshua Tree Excursions you are sure to be communicating with Sunflower. She is the brains behind the operations. She strives to make all Joshua Tree Excursions customers have a special journey to talk about for ages.


Zarrin (Head Guide)

Zarrin has been a professional outdoor guide for about ten years, with WFR wilderness medicine certification and AMGA SPI rock climbing instructor certification.  He has guided snowshoeing, rock climbing, hiking, sightseeing, sea kayaking, and astronomy.

He is originally from Pittsburgh, PA.  Since the age of around 20, he has lived in other places.  For four years he worked on several organic farms in Vermont and did a few semesters of college studying Sustainable Agriculture at Sterling College in Craftsbury Common, VT.  In 2012 he transferred to Paul Smith’s College in upstate New York to finish his undergraduate education, and completed a B.P.S. degree in Recreation, Adventure Travel, and Ecotourism.

After graduating from Paul Smith’s, he moved to Winter Park, CO.  Enjoying skiing and snowboarding in the Rockies, he then moved to Teton Valley, ID to find some even deeper snow.  He lived in Driggs, ID for six years before moving to Joshua Tree in 2019.  Having also been a rock climber since the age of 14, he has pursued rock climbing, especially traditional crack climbing, more than ever since moving to Joshua Tree.

Also, since moving to Joshua Tree, he has taken up astronomy as another passion and interest, and now also leads astronomy tours for Joshua Tree Excursions.  His astronomer bio is below.

His other interests include geology and hydrology, especially groundwater prospecting and the science of “Primary Water.”

 
Zarrin

Zarrin L.


Jacob G

Matt L

Cory G


Kelly

Kelly learned a love of the outdoors while exploring the creeks and lakes of the Missouri Ozarks.  Her favorite outdoor activities include hiking, floating, bird watching, fly fishing and rock climbing. After earning a recreation degree from the University of Missouri, she began sharing her passion as an outdoor educator in parks, national forests, and wildlife refuges. In 2021 she hit the road to indulge in adventures of backpacking and rock climbing throughout the Western states. This experience led her to seek opportunities where she could help others in having amazing trips in the wilderness. Kelly looks forward to telling the stories of natural resources and human history that may otherwise lie hidden in Joshua Tree National Park.

Kelly K.

Kelly K.


 
Carmelina K.

Carmelina K.

Carmelina

Growing up in Southern California, Carmelina’s love for the outdoors began at a young age. As a child she went on family camping trips in the San Bernardino mountains and San Diego beaches. As she grew, her love for the outdoors snowballed into her passion. She would spend her free time backpacking in the Sierra, eventually climbing Mt. Whitney. In 2016 she thru-hiked the 500-mile Colorado Trail from Denver to Durango.

Carmelina married her U.S Marine husband in 2009. Together they have lived, worked, and played throughout California, North Carolina, and Hawaii. In 2017 her husband received orders to MCAGCC Twentynine Palms- a Marine Corps base just outside of Joshua Tree National Park. Upon moving to the area, Carmelina began volunteering with the national park and eventually began working as an information specialist with the Joshua Tree National Park Association. At the National Park’s visitors center, she lead interpretive programs on the natural and cultural resources of the unique desert park. In the summer months Carmelina works as a backpacking guide in Yosemite National Park.

Carmelina’s hobbies include hiking, backpacking, and landscape photography. Her photography gallery can be viewed on her website Carm Explores Photos.


 

Our Photographers

Greg

Born and raised in California, Greg has lived most of his life exploring the Southwestern regions of the U.S.  He has experience in rock climbing, backpacking, hiking, snowshoeing and kayaking, and he loves sharing his passion for the outdoors. 

As an award-winning landscape photographer, he brings over forty years of experience to any adventure.  His photographs transport viewers into the heart of nature’s beauty, capturing the essence of each natural scene. 

 A two-time award winner in the Joshua Tree National Park Art Expo, he is very familiar with the terrain and unique locations in the park. 


Daniel

Daniel was born in rural Virginia but calls western North Carolina home. The east may not have the largest or most dramatic mountains or landscapes, but there’s something indescribably special about the quietness of the rolling hills and rainforests that make up the Appalachians. Daniel began climbing incollege but really picked the sport up in the forested and bug-ridden crags of Alabama, of all places. Dan’s first memory of the alpine would have to be the spitting headache accompanying him up Whitney — and much of the way back down. He swore he’d never do anything like that again. Over the next few years, Daniel would find himself mountaineering in the Alaska Range, climbing Rainier, Shasta, Hood, Mt. Washington in the dead of February, Mexico’s highest volcanoes, and many ascents in the High Sierra.

Currently, Daniel absolutely loves rock climbing — whether that’s long routes to a summit of 50 feet of the best hand cracks you’ll ever encounter. He currently guides in Tahoe, the Eastern Sierra, Joshua Tree, and Red Rocks, Nevada.

Prior to working as a full-time mountain guide, Daniel was a pilot in the U.S. Navy, serving eight years after graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy with a degree in Aerospace Engineering and Mandarin Chinese — though he remembers absolutely zero Chinese.

Daniel is certified as an American Mountain Guide Association (AMGA) Rock Guide, Wilderness First Responder, and Leave No Trace (LNT) Master Educator.

 

OUR ASTRONOMERS

Cosmic Z-

Zarrin enjoys both astronomical research work and sharing the night sky with guests of all ages!  He owns a selection of telescopes and binoculars to share the best views of celestial objects like stars, planets, nebulae, and the Moon.  A laser pointer allows for the most fun pointing out constellations and observing the night sky with the naked eye.

His research work is related to binary star systems and the Precession of the Equinox.  He understands that far more is unknown than that which is known.  Topics of discussions of astronomy, cosmology, physics, and optics may include the theories and Laws of Newton, binary star systems, alternate explanations for the redshift of galaxies and why Zarrin is one of an increasingly large number of astronomers who don’t “believe” in the Big Bang, and what’s up with the color magenta.

               Sometimes, the topic of extraterrestrial life, or the question of why there is a Universe at all, might be interesting to discuss.  But I can’t tell you too much about ETs, because, well….

Favorite Constellation:  Delphinus

Favorite Star (actually a binary star system):  Sirius

Favorite Planet besides Earth:  Jupiter

Favorite Open Cluster:  the Double Cluster in Perseus

Favorite Deep Sky Object:  NGC 0891

Favorite Double Star for Visual Observation:  Polaris

Zarrin L.


Steve Caron

“Starman” Steve

Our astronomer, and Night Sky Presenter, Steve Caron, has been studying astronomy from a very young age. Originally from the San Francisco area and later on, Los Angeles, he moved to Hi-Desert in 2013 to pursue astronomy related projects where he committed himself to do public outreach astronomy and educational programs.

Steve was the lead astronomer with Sky's the Limit from 2013 to 2018 where he developed and directed weekly public outreach programs, including the Night Sky Festival. He is currently a volunteer night sky guide for Joshua Tree National Park and the lead astronomer with the Twentynine Palms Astronomy Club. Steve is also an expert astrophotographer and telescope repairman.

Steve has an unequaled passion and knowledge of astronomy and the night sky, which he most enjoys sharing with others. Starman Steve is a true night owl, but during the daytime hours he is a musician and music educator, playing horn and trombone with several local music ensembles as well as directing the 29 Palms Youth Orchestra.


Ciera

Ciera+image2.jpg

Ciera has lived in Joshua Tree her entire life. She fell in love with the outdoors at a very young age, because from the moment she could walk, her dad would take her on hikes around Joshua Tree National Park. Growing up in deserted north Joshua Tree, far away from any light pollution, her dad also peaked her interest in astronomy, and would often wake her up the early morning hours to view a meteor shower, or the International Space Station passing overhead in the night sky. When she was 8 years old, her dad brought home a telescope and showed her the moon, and ever since then she was hooked. 

After graduating high school, Ciera got involved with Sky’s The Limit Observatory, where she volunteered from 2015 to 2018. She is currently a volunteer night sky guide for Joshua Tree National Park and working for the Twentynine Palms Astronomy Club. 

Ciera specializes in smartphone astrophotography and is bilingual and able to perform night sky presentations in Spanish. When she isn’t behind the telescope, she is a musician in several local ensembles, playing french horn and bass guitar.