The Same But Different

DAY THREE HUNDRED AND FOURTEEN

I get bored doing the same hike over and over again. If I had my way I would do 365 different hikes this year but unfortunately time and money do not allow it so I've had to repeat some hikes. When I have to do this I try to make it a little different by taking someone else along or adding a new section to one I've done before. Today I did both of these, sort of.

I did this trail near my house and took Kahlua along. What was different is that we came back a new way that we've never done before.

We get to the trail junction and take a right.

I'd like to go left again soon and go to the end of some of these canyons. I've been up there but not to the end. I know there's something cool up there, I just know it.

By going to the right I come to a big wash and this will be our return route. I've never done this before so I'm excited to see what's down here.

The wash narrows and heads down this little dry fall.

Kahlua takes one look at it and says, "What are ya, nuts?". I ain't going down that. I call her and grab her collar but she jerks away. I head down alone and figure she'll find her own way.

I had no doubt. That dog is a good route finder.

We get to another section where the wash narrows and goes through some rocks.

I'm kinda worried about this one. I think the fall might be bigger and the detour longer.

I was mistaken about the difficulty. It wasn't nearly as tough as I thought it would be. Kahlua even wonders what's taking me so long. I don't have four legs, OK?

This rock stands out to me because it's almost a perfect cube. I want it in my yard but it's a little too heavy for me to carry home.

It must have stood out to some earlier visitors because I find a pot sherd not far from this rock.

And a few more close by.

As we near the end of our hike we come across these tools and wonder if a mystery trail maker left them here.

It looks like trails aren't what they're interested in but these crazy circles. I figure that's OK because who really needs a trail anyway?

Cactus Spring Trail, Santa Rosa Mountains

DAY THREE HUNDRED AND THIRTEEN

Cactus Spring is an important source of water in the Santa Rosa Mountains. It was used by the Cahuilla Indians as an essential watering hole and is today used by hikers traveling in the Santa Rosa Mountains. It is such a major source that the only maintained trail in the Santa Rosa Wilderness is known as the Cactus Spring Trail.

Given how important of a water source the spring is, it is often a surprise to some visiting for the first time that it is little more than a shallow mud hole. Without proper filtration you wouldn't consider drinking from it even if your life depended on it. OK, you might if you were dying of thirst but only then.

The Cactus Spring Trail is a popular destination for desert hikers. It offers challenging mountains to climb, cultural resources, solitude and water. That last thing is what makes this trail unique among most desert hikes. I'd have liked to hike to Aqua Alta but time was limited by a parent conference. I'd have less than three hours to get there and back.

Despite the perfect weather today there are some hazards that I'm acutely aware of. I've slipped on this trail before and gashed my knee and this is perfect rattler weather.

A little over a mile from the start I come upon flowing water. This is a good sign. This little drainage is usually dry this time of year.

As I get to Horse Thief Creek the beautiful fall colors of the Cottonwoods greet me.

There is also plenty of water in Horse Thief. It is not only in stagnant pools either but is gently flowing.

Along the trail, you travel through Little Pinyon Flat, an area that was important to the Cahuilla Indians and that was often used as a gathering place for family gathering. In the past, I have found pottery sherds and other Indian remnants in the area.

If I were able to continue on trail I'd be able to climb Martinez Mountain. This is an excellent climb that I've done several times. Also in the area is Sheep Mountain, another excellent climb.

This is where you'll find Cactus Spring. There is no sign although there are abundant footprints, both human and animal, going into the spring.

This is it. When I said it was a mud hole I meant it.

I didn't have time to look around for an Indian artifacts although I found this Valentine.

The Cactus Spring Trail is like the route our parents used to have to walk to school: uphill both ways. This trail is like a roller coaster going up and down over its entire length. It can get very tiresome especially since I'm on a very tight schedule and have to run some sections in order to make it back in time.

Just beyond Horse Thief Creek I see this fresh blood on a rock. While it may be from an animal--my thought is a bird of prey had its lunch in a tree above this spot--it serves as a potent warning. Never sacrifice safety for speed.

The next time I come up this trail I hope I have a whole day or more to explore. There's so much to see in the area to discover it seems a shame to only come for a few hours. Although since I only had a few hours to spend somewhere I'm glad I spent it here.

Home Again, Home Again

DAY THREE HUNDRED AND TWELVE

After two days out on new trails it was time to get back to the familiar. I asked the kids and the wife if they wanted to go but they declined. Kahlua had no such choice; she's on a leash. I wish I had one for the other family members but they probably wish the same thing for me.

I headed out on this familiar trail and am happy that as I'm heading out six people are heading in. Kahlua and I have this little wilderness to ourselves.

Kahlua the hunter is always on the lookout for something. If a bug so much as moves, she's on it.

I don't think she should mess with this, though.

We go a different way then we've ever gone before and it looks like some moron painted his IQ on this rock.

This trail continues and is one we've not done before but it looks in good shape and well traveled.

The trail heads up to this mountain. It's an interesting spot with lots of holes in the rocks.

This area near the hill is flat and smooth and would make a wonderful campsite.

We didn't bring any camping gear so we have to head back but we'll be back. There's no end to what we might find out here and that's what keeps us coming back.

South Of Devil Canyon, La Quinta

DAY THREE HUNDRED AND ELEVEN

I like to go really light on my hikes often taking little more than a water bottle and my camera. It allows me to travel fast over rugged terrain covering a lot of area in a short time. Sometimes, though, it backfires on me. It did today. When I got out of my Jeep ready to hike, I hit the button on my camera and the screen flashed "Check Your Batteries" and then died. I usually have extra batteries but today I didn't bring the headlamp so I was without any extras. I'd have to use my cellphone for the pictures today and I'm never happy with them when I do.

I start to hike up Devil Canyon, south of La Quinta and wonder if there just might be an Indian trail somewhere in these mountains.

The Boo Hoff Trail takes off on the right side of the wash so I wonder if perhaps there's one on the left side that heads up into the mountains.

I leave the wash and head out overland.

I have to watch my step because there's enough out here to do some real damage.

It looks like my hunch was correct. It looks like a trail or at least I think it might be. It is very faint.

I find a couple of rock piles that often signify an Indian trail marker so I think I may be onto something.

Oh, this is definitely a trail. The longer I follow it the more distinct it gets. When I follow it back I'll have to see where it starts so that next time I come up here I'll be able to go straight to it.

I hear a sound and look above me as a Bighorn walks across the hill above me. Now I really wish I had a better camera. Another, larger ram heads across the hill on the other side of me but my pictures of him don't come out well and the video I shot is not posting for some reason. It's not very good quality, anyway. Maybe next time up in addition to extra batteries I'll bring a real camcorder.

I follow the trail until it become very tough to find. There are a few sections where erosion makes the trail very indistinct. I'll have to come back with more time, more supplies and maybe a hiking partner. It's pretty rugged from here on.

There has to be a lot to discover out here. I have never heard anyone mention this trail before but it's obviously at one time seen more than a few visitors.

I really, really, really want to know where this trail leads.

Although the larger ram has moved on, the smaller ram maintains a lookout high on the ridge.

It's a good vantage point and I can't wait to get up here again.

Pushawalla Ridge

DAY THREE HUNDRED AND TEN

It is hard to fathom that over three hundred days into hiking this year I could discover a new trail that I hadn't done or known of but I did. It is over to the east of Washington Street near the Coachella Valley Preserve. On the past couple of times I've driven out that way I noticed what looked like a road or trail going up a ridge west of Pushawalla Canyon. Since this is an area that has been used for four wheeling in the past I figured it was an old Jeep trail but I decided to check it out anyway. I'm glad I did.

I take the Jeep on a little 4X4 drive over the where the trail starts and discover it actually is a trail. There's no parking area and you need a 4X4 to get there but it definitely is a trail.

The trail has seen recent work and a few hikers. I'm surprised to see footprints; I guess someone else saw this from Washington Street.

The trail climbs straight up the ridge and offers nice views of the valley below.

From the top, you also get nice views of San Jacinto and San Gorgonio. This would be a good place to watch a sunset or moonrise.

The trail splits and one section heads over to Hidden Palms and the other goes toward Horseshoe Palms and then to Pushawalla Palms.

It comes to this barricade made of palm tree logs.

It is a good thing it is here because there's about an 80 foot drop on the other side.

I hike over to the main Pushawalla Palms and drop down this canyon to the palms.

Before getting to the oasis you have to do the limbo.

Pushawalla Palms is one of the larger oases along the San Andreas Fault.

The palms are tall, mature and loaded with palm fruit. Mesquite also grows throughout the canyon indicating that water is readily available beneath the surface.

It's such a nice day I really wish I'd brought a lunch along. I'll know next time.

Communication Breakdown

DAY THREE HUNDRED AND NINE

People often say that communication is the key to a successful marriage. If that's the case I have no idea how I've been able to stay married to the wife for over 21 years. Even after all these years she's still unable to read my mind and divine what I have planned. It gets very frustrating.

Today my son, Nikolas, was still sick and needed to be cared for. On Thursdays, the wife goes to a women's prayer meeting--to pray for forbearance, I'm sure--but I figured that today she'd know I needed her to come home and watch Nik. I had a great hike planned. At no time did I actually tell her this but I imagined she'd instinctively understand that she was needed. Women are usually good at this. Or, at least the try to make us think they are.

Since the wife is seriously lacking in her mind reading skills I am forced to hike at the only time I have left, after dark. I really don't mind it; I just don't want to do it all the time but with the time change and it getting dark so early some days there may not be any other option.

This sign is pointing to another trail but I'm sure the one I'm going on is also open.

I'm glad there are lots of signs like this but they really should be reflective.

I climb up the trail and get to where I can look down at Target. The great thing about hiking in the dark is that I am the only one on the trail. Come during the day and it has more traffic than Highway 111.

I was enjoying the howls, yips and cries of some coyotes on my way up but that got old quickly. After a while they just sounded like a dog in the neighborhood that would just not shut up. I wanted to throw rocks in the direction of their incessant vocalizations but they were a bit too far away. Instead I turned on the iPod and enjoyed Astral Weeks by Van Morrison.

And as I make my way up the trail the lyrics fit the moment.

You breathe in, you breathe out

And you're high on a high-flying cloud

Wrapped up in your magic shroud

As ecstasy surrounds you

This time it's found you

No Safe Way To Cross

DAY THREE HUNDRED AND EIGHT

I had big plans this morning. OK, maybe not big plans but a medium plan; alright, a plan. I'd hoped to take a drive up Highway 74 and hike cross country over toward Deep Canyon. This canyon is largely inaccessible but I wanted to see if I could follow a hunch and get down to it but life got in the way. That tends to happen when I try to make plans.

My son, Nikolas, woke up this morning with a fever, sore throat and other symptoms of a bad cold. Instead of going out and doing what I wanted to do, I hung out at home and kept an eye on Nik. There's not much you can do for a sick kid other than offer him something to drink and make sure he's comfortable so it's very frustrating. You wish you could do something but you really can't. So after I made sure he was comfortable I went on a little hike.

I couldn't go too far so I thought I'd try to find the start of the trail that goes to the cross on the west side of the La Quinta Cove. I've hiked to this cross before and one time I found a trail that someone put up here but never was able to find out where it started or finished. Hopefully, I'd be able to find that out today.

I head up a faint trail and see where I think a trail goes. See it?

Once up on the ridge the trail takes a bit more shape.

And even further up it gets even more distinct. It goes like this but then I get to a problem spot.

At this point it gets really sketchy. The trail goes across this section where one misstep would send me falling about twenty feet onto the rocks below. I decide that today it's not worth the 0.1% that I might not make it across. No one knows where I am in case I fall and get hurt, I've got a sick kid sleeping at home and the last time I was up here I was attacked by a swarm of bees. Going home seems the sensible thing to do.

Even the way back doesn't look too good at least if I trip here I won't fall to my death.

So far I've tried to get up to this cross three times and made it once. Sometimes the most direct route turns out to be the best.