Boo Hoff Trail, La Quinta

DAY THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY FIVE

The Boo Hoff Trail in La Quinta is the closest major trail to my house. I have actually walked to the trailhead from home but my time is limited these days so driving there gives me more time to enjoy it.

Starting at the trailhead, you follow the main rock lined road until you get to a split.

Instead of going to the right or the left continue straight toward the base of the the ridge seen to the right of the Palo Verde tree here.

Once you're past the rocks on the flood control berm, continue to walk toward the same ridge and you'll eventually find a trail. That trail will take you to that ridge, drop into the wash and then onto the Boo Hoff.

Once you are on the trail it is easy to follow. It climbs continually until you are well above your starting point.

Looking to the west I can see that snow covered peak of Mount San Jacinto and, through binoculars, what looks like a trail on a ridge above Bear Creek Canyon.

At the top point of the trail someone has built a campsite with a fire ring.

I don't know what they found to burn up here but you can't argue with the view.

I'll never understand, though, why people can bring up full bottles and cans but are somehow unable to remove the empties. They not only weigh less when empty but from here it's downhill.

It's a good thing that my pack is mostly empty. I'll get this trash out of here.

Someone also left some chonies up here but I'll leave those here for the wind to take care of. Civic responsibility only goes so far.

I won't make it back before dark but I brought my headlamp and I'll be good. I don't mind hiking in the dark; it's very peaceful and let's my mind focus on nothing more than my next step. I need that sometimes. In fact, I think we all probably do.

Put On A Happy Face

DAY THREE HUNDRED AND FORTY FIVE

Today I wanted to go and hike an Indian Trail that I discovered this summer that goes from the southern section of the Boo Hoff Trail down toward the Martinez Landslide. I got out there and an equestrian was out exploring the area exactly where I wanted to go and, not wanting to walk through horse manure, I decided to go elsewhere.

Instead of hiking the Indian Trail to the landslide area I just head out across the open desert.

I don't head straight over to the landslide but instead go up a little ridge to the west. On the ridge I see a surveying stake and wonder what it's for.

I think it could be a wilderness marker but right near it I see this little hole and wonder if it's some Indian roasting pit or something.

Hiking along the ridge, I find several more little holes just like the first one I saw.

Some are even surrounded by rocks but I've no idea exactly what they are or why they're here.

I drop down the into the large wash between the ridge and the landslide and head over toward the base of the landslide to see what I might find over there.

There's a small area that has been used to grind some seeds.

There's a little canyon but it yields nothing interesting.

There are so many great, big, cool rocks in this area I'd love to spend more time here until I am able to cover the whole thing.

This rock looks like it got karate chopped by a giant.

Here's another rock with some rubbing spots on the top. I didn't find the trail I was looking for but I did find some other things of interest, just like I always do out here.

There's so much out here to discover that it always puts a smile on your face.

Boo Hoff Bear Creek Loop

DAY TWO HUNDRED NINETY SEVEN

People ask me about hiking all the time and sometimes they even ask if they can come along. They don't often go beyond asking but on occasion we even make plans. Today I was expecting to get a call from a guy at work to go hiking with me down in the Mecca Hills. I'm still waiting for that call.

I waited as long as I possibly could and then headed out near home instead of driving to the Mecca Hills. It actually ended up OK because I did a very enjoyable hike that I'd never done before although I've walked past it a hundred time, at least.

I headed up to the Boo Hoff Trail but instead of continuing up the trail I turned right and headed toward Bear Creek Canyon.

I should have taken one of two trails that left the canyon I was in before I hit the Boo Hoff Trail but this is my first time. I'll know better next time.

This is looking back toward the Boo Hoff Trail. You want to head to the right well before that dark brown outcropping.

There is actually a trail that encircles the mountain that separates the Bear Creek Wash and the Boo Hoff Wash. It's faint and no one's been on it for a while but it's there.

I'm very excited when I get to the point where I can see the Cove in La Quinta. I feel like I've discovered yet another new hike in my own backyard.

From the trail you can look right into Bear Creek.

Now that I've hiked around this little mountain I think the only thing left to do is climb it.

Just not today; I want to do that when I haven't spent my best daylight hours waiting around on some flake who never calls.

Falling Forward

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND SIXTY FIVE

While the calendar now says Fall the weather didn't get the message. It is still over 100º here but we're getting close to the end of the season of suffering. The overnight lows are getting into the 60s so it is nicer in the morning that it has been. This morning when I first woke up it was 64º. By the time I got out it was 75º but that's still better than a few weeks ago. It's almost nice.

This sign dictates how I'll be hiking for the next several days. I won't have much time this week to go anywhere but the local area so I'll have to make the most of it. Work is busy and will be taking a lot of my time. I need to get a job hiking.

Up in the Cove Oasis area here in La Quinta they've put up a new sign. I've always thought these signs were terrible and this one is no different. Of course, I'd prefer a hiking sign with a decent map (not that I need it myself). Then I thought maybe this sign is directed to its tourist targeted audience who might not know how to read a real map.

It has a highly reflective plexiglass cover that makes it hard to read.

On the back side are some instructions for hikers, general use trail rules.

Someone put an arrowhead made out of rocks here since my last visit.

I head down these rocks instead of going out of my way to hit the trail.

And it looks like someone did the same thing in their vehicle, unsuccessfully.

At the top, I head out across the open desert. Not much to see today but I'm enjoying the "cooler" weather.

I'd like to head up to the Boo Hoff Trail but work awaits.

It's so nice today I run back and when I get to my Jeep it's only 85º. It sure beats the 110º of just a few weeks ago. I love Fall.

Hiking into the Past

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY SIX

Modern trails in the Coachella Valley, like most places, have history. While there are trails that are purely of modern origin, a good many trails in the areas were at one time Indian trails. These trails were the only means of transportation for the people who lived here. They had no roads, no vehicles, no horses. They walked wherever they wanted to travel and travel they did. The Indians were largely nomadic and traveled throughout the area, establishing campsites in varying elevations depending on weather and food supply. They also engaged in trade with other tribes throughout Southern California. In addition to trails that have been reworked and utilized by modern hikers, there are still trails in their natural state that haven't seen much use for decades. I love to go out and try to find them.

Today I thought I'd go out and see if there might be a trail that connected Devil Canyon, south of La Quinta with the area near the Martinez Landslide. I know there was a Cahuilla Village in the area and there must be a profusion of trails reaching into the high country. I'm sure when the weather got hot, the Indians headed up the eastern face of Martinez Mountain. The question is, where?

It's obvious that this VW bus never made it out of this area but I wonder how on earth it ever got back here. This terrain is extremely rugged and no place for the predecessor to the mini van.

I don't have to go far before I hit a trail. This probably connected the trail where the modern Boo Hoff Trail makes its way into Devil Canyon with other trails heading east, or at least I hope.

The trail dumps into a wash and I cannot locate another trail heading east. I find a trail I previously hiked that heads south but that's it. Maybe my hunch is incorrect and the Indians just walked down the wash to get to the Landslide area.

I decide to walk along the alluvial fan instead of in the wash because even without a trail it's easier going. Plus, if there is a trail that heads from the wash area up toward the mountains I will be able to spot it from up here.

While I don't find a trail I do come across this interesting rock sitting on a boulder.

It's travertine like down by the Salton Sea. Someone had to transport this up here.

A close up of the rock.

There's a section of heavily varnished boulders on the hillside that stands out. To me this would be a good place to meet or to hang out if I lived out here but I explore around and don't find too much of interest. There are no fire pits or petroglyphs or anything that would suggest anyone had much interest in this area. I guess there are plenty of brown rocks to choose from around here, so why should these be special?

I realize I'm not going to make it to the landslide today because my light is fading and I want to get back before it gets too dark. I have a headlamp but would rather not travel off trail through rocks and Cholla in the dark. I figure I'll head down to the wash and walk that back up to where I started.

But as I head down to the wash I find these two odd rock piles. There's nothing else in the vicinity, no fire rings or litter of any kind, just these.

Not too far away I see this rock pile that has a grave-like shape. It could just be a naturally occurring pile of boulders but it doesn't look to be. It looks as though the rocks were stacked here and the size is similar to graves I've seen elsewhere. OK, now I really want to get back before dark.

Heading down toward the wash what do I come up upon? The trail I'd been looking for in the first place. It heads straight toward the landslide area but now it's too late to head there now. Thankfully, cooler weather is on the horizon and I won't have to start my hikes so late in the day to avoid the heat. This area will be high on my list of places to come visit.

The trail heads right up to Devil Canyon and now I know where it meets the wash near my starting point. Now I can follow it to the landslide area and, from there, who knows where? This adventure is only beginning.