Cougar Sighting

DAY THREE HUNDRED AND FORTY TWO

After the snow yesterday, the mountains were spectacular, majestic, awe-inspiring. I had to get to a spot today to where I could possibly get some pictures of them. There was only one problem: I didn't have much time. 1000 Palms area was out, too far away; likewise, Palm Springs. South Palm Desert wouldn't give me any views of the mountains nor would La Quinta. That left only one option: the notorious Bump and Grind Trail. It's boring but reliable.

I'm always amazed by the popularity of this trail but I have to say that there are times that it may be the best option around. Maybe 1% of the time, I'd say.

The rain did a little damage to the trail where they widened it unnecessarily earlier this year. That sure was a waste of money.

There is a significant amount of snow on all the surrounding mountains with the snow level down to around 4000 feet.

Other than the snow capped mountains, the one thing I notice on this trail--and I've noticed it before--is that the vast majority of hikers on this trail are middle aged women, cougars. If I were a younger guy looking for the ladies, this is were I'd be.

I don't know why this is the place they come to but they're here. Bump and Grind is such a lame name for a trail; the Cougar Trail I think sounds better and is more fitting. For most hikers, this is the only chance they'll ever get to see a cougar in the wild.

Meeting Up In The Moonlight

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND FORTY SIX

The vast majority of my hikes I do alone. I like hiking by myself because I can travel at my own pace, change my destination on a whim, not worry about making conversation. On occasion I've gone with a friend or two and sometimes I've taken some kids along but tonight was a different thing entirely.

I had someone contact me about a group going out on a moonlight hike and he asked me if I'd like to come along. He was leading a group of hikers coordinated over the internet on the meetup.com website. I'd never done anything like that so I thought it might be fun for a change.

The group, The Palm Springs and Inland Empire Hiking Group was meeting behind the Target in Palm Desert and doing the Bump and Grind Trail similar to what I'd done last month. I wasn't able to make their actual meeting time so I showed up as soon as I could.

By the time I arrived almost an hour after the group started, they were well on their way up the trail.

And the moon was already on the rise.

Of course with the moon coming up so high on this cloudless night I'd have no problem seeing my way and I was able to leave my headlamp in my backpack and depend entirely on moonlight.

But the group left a little glow stick at the trail junction just in case.

It's a good thing, too. If someone were coming late who didn't know their way, they may have ended up going to wrong direction and found themselves at the Palm Desert Cross instead.

Tonight was quite humid for here, somewhere in the 30% range. The tropical moisture from Tropical Storm Jimena has not brought any rain but it's certainly brought some stickiness. I made my way up the trail and caught up to the group at the top of Bump and Grind.

Everyone was standing on the edge of the plateau enjoying the view of the lights below.

It was a very good sized group for a Thursday night. They'd considered doing Friday but since the group is based in Riverside they didn't want to fight Friday night traffic coming out here and who could blame them?

After enjoying the view and conversation, the group headed down the road section back to the parking area. It's always nice to meet other people who enjoy hiking and if you're looking for a group to go out with you should check it out. And if hiking in the moonlight sounds like fun, Friday is the true Full Moon.

Fully Committed

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND THIRTY NINE

Today was the hottest day of the year in the desert, perhaps the hottest day in several years. In my mind I was back in Lake Tahoe, or at the beach, enjoying cool breezes and cooler water, anywhere but here. My body, however, was here and that's where I had to hike today. I figured I'd just go for a short hike on the Hopalong Cassidy Trail in Palm Desert and be done with it. I knew I'd be alone because no one else would be crazy enough to go hiking on a day like today; it would be pure suicide. But I found out there are a lot of nutjobs out there.

I get to the parking area to go hiking expecting to see it abandoned but instead it's as packed as a cool winter day. What is going on here? Has the whole world gone insane? I think those are people on the trail up ahead so these cars must belong to hikers and not back to school shoppers at Target.

Good heavens, people! It's 113º! What are you doing here? I guess insanity loves company.

I start up the trail and notice that the people I saw earlier have now vanished. Were they really here? Has the heat gotten to me so quickly and caused me to hallucinate? What happened to those people?

As I go up the trail the people don't reappear but this trail does. I've never seen this before and I wonder if it actually exists. The only way to determine that is to take it.

The trail steadily climbs and seems to be going in the right direction. It's steep and as I climb the heat burns the inside of my nostrils with each breath. It is so dry I may have to start packing saline nasal spray in my pack along with my other survival gear.

But it soon vanishes, like those mysterious people that I saw earlier.

Oh wait! I think those shadowy figures on the next ridge are people, or are they?

The "trail" I took gets even more non-existent so I just have to guess which direction to go.

Even though the "trail" is not here any longer it's better than hiking this scar on the land.

And someone has definitely been this way before.

I just have to make it over this ridge and I'll head down the trail back to the cars. So much for hiking the Hopalong Cassidy Trail today.

The trail I took today came out just at the part where the newer south trail hits the Bump and Grind Road. I only have to walk a few feet on the road before I hit a real trail. So there's not a trail here yet but when it gets used a bit more it'll be a good way up this hill without having to walk that boring road.

So I'm off down the trail and back to the car before I do any permanent brain damage. Or maybe it's just a little too late for that.

I'm still wondering, what ever happened to those people?

Bumpin' and Grindin' In The Moonlight

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHTEEN

If you've read my blog for a while you'll know that I'm not a big fan of the Bump and Grind "trail" in Palm Desert. It's crowded, boring and, for a large portion of it, a road. However, there is one time of the month that the trail becomes one of the best choices for a hike in the desert: during full moon.

For those who don't know, the trail starts behind the Palm Desert Target. If you come here during the day, this place is packed--even during summer. Tonight, though, I am the only one here. It's the first time I've ever been alone on this trail. It's kinda creepy.

The moon creates an incredible amount of light and except for a few areas where the trail is in the shadow, no other source of light is required.

The Mike Schuler Trail is the trail that connects to the Bump and Grind "trail". The start of the Hopalong Cassidy Trail is also at the same location but this is the only sign. I don't know why but maybe Mr. Schuler being the trail master had something to do with it.

The trail has been widened since the last time I did it but to get a picture of it requires a flash. You can see it well with the naked eye but the camera just can't do it without help.

I don't follow the trail to its highest point because even at night the trail is a little bit boring. Next month, I am going to put out an open invitation and, hopefully, I can get some company to come along. The next full moon is Friday, September 4. Mark your calendars.

Like Pulling Teeth

DAY ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY THREE

I went to the dentist this morning and then went hiking right after that. Thankfully, the dentist visit was painless--I was just having a crown cemented back on--and I must admit the hike was, too. I went to see what kind of work was done on the Bump and Grind Trail. They were supposed to widen it because some whiners didn't like hiking on a trail and wanted it more like the road section higher up. The work got done but I don't know if it makes that much of a difference.

As I get ready to start up the trail, the temperature is ONLY 90º. But alarmingly, I see an agent of the Department of Fish and Game. He's on the phone talking to the office and informing them of this "new" trail. I think he's referring to the Hopalong Cassidy Trail that is a couple of years old since that's the one he starts hiking up. I figure with the budget crisis going on in the state, DFG really have to work hard to keep their jobs so they're probably looking for more trails to close and monitor.

I think the trail has been widened here. I can't really tell but it seems like it.

Here's a section that's been updated. I can tell because there's a part that no one has walked on. I think they just added a few new sections as passing lanes.

Here's a picture of some of the rock work that they did.

I wasn't real fond of this trail to begin with and the new work doesn't make a difference but there is one thing this "trail" has going for it: you do get a nice view.

I have finished the first six months of my quest to hike every day for a year. I'm halfway home! Tonight I will post my six favorite hikes of the first part of the year. Be sure to check it out.

Following the Herd

DAY ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY SIX

Does anyone out there have any suggestions on getting me some sponsorship? I have so many wonderful hikes I'd love to do all over this beautiful country of ours but there's only one thing stopping me: I have to work to pay my bills. Because of that simple fact there are some of my hikes that are quite frankly just a bit boring, like today. Wouldn't it be great, though, if I could travel around the country, do incredible hikes along the way and get paid for it? I'd still post the pictures for you to enjoy and you could sense a certain amount of awe and wonder while YOU sit in your cubicle at work and read about all the great places I get to visit. So think about it and leave me any suggestions in the comments section.

Since I was going after work I couldn't be too picky. I had two things I required of a hike today. One, it had to be in the shade and two, it couldn't be on a road. So I headed to the "hiker's" hangout behind Palm Desert Target and headed up the start of the Hopalong Cassidy Trail. Most people who hike it think it is the Bump and Grind Trail but they would be wrong. Bump and Grind is the road. This new trail has a different name although it's not posted. There still is some sun on the trail but by the time I get up there it'll be gone so I'm good.

I'd only hiked this section of trail in the dark this year so this is my first time seeing it in full daylight. It's a well engineered trail, not too steep.

As it heads up the ridge, it gets a little steeper. It's not too bad, though. You can see where people have cut the switchbacks. It may not be a problem now but if we get a couple of good thunderstorms this summer, it's goodbye, trail. The erosion could be incredible.

It's a good thing I didn't choose the hike to the cross today; it's in the sun.

You get to a point where the trail traverses across the hill but that's so boring. I can only stay on the trail for so long. This canyon looks interesting, though.

Over to the left of the canyon I find this little trail. I guess I'm not the only one with this idea.

The trail peters out quickly and I end up having to climb some rocks. It won't be the first time or the last.

I think about going up to the top of B&G but decide against it because I'd have to walk the road and it looks like it's in the sun. I decide to go another way.

It won't be this way, though. I could go down this hill to the trail I came up but it's just a bit too steep and a bit too loose and a bit too rocky. I'll find another way.

After wandering around a little, I hit the trail and head back down. I still don't understand the popularity of this area but I think I have an idea that makes sense. While most people who come up here say they are hiking, they are not. They are working out, just like you'd do in a gym. In fact, the majority of the people here do not even wear hiking clothing or shoes but wear workout attire. I doubt very many of them have ever hiked another trail and that's OK. There are days when all I can do is follow the herd but on the days I want to get away from it I am happy that they won't be following me. I can't say I had a very good hike today but I did get an OK workout and some days that's all I can do. At least until I get a sponsor. Work on that for me, will ya?

By the Light of the Silvery Moon

DAY NINETY EIGHT

With the full moon coming tomorrow, a night hike seemed appropriate. Especially since I worked all day and would not have a chance to get out any other time. Trying to figure out what trail to do was easy. I wanted a trail with a clear view to the East and one where the mountains would not block the moon. That left me with pretty much two choices: the Lykken-Museum Trail in Palm Springs or the (ugh) Mirage Trail aka Bump and Grind in Palm Desert. Since my time was limited, by default, it would have to be the B&G. I've made no secret of my disdain for this "trail" but tonight it seems like the best choice.

I drove straight over from work and got ready to join the crowds. I feel like putting a trail map on cars at this place telling people there are better trails around.

The sun has set but there is still plenty of light. It is pretty windy and clouds are hugging the top of Mount San Jacinto.

I am not ten minutes up the trail when I turn around notice the moon is already up. I know it always comes up a bit early before the full moon--which is tomorrow--but I didn't expect it to be up this early.

I didn't bring a flashlight because I figure I'll have ample light for my hike down.

I look over at the Palm Desert Cross and think I could have hiked there but the mountains probably would have obscured the moon coming up, like they do the sunrise.

I'm up toward the top of the trail as it starts to get dark and the lights are going on in the city.

I follow the trail down and by moonlight it really doesn't seem so bad. The glow of the moon sort of acts like lunar beer goggles.

Plus the view of the city below is magnificent.

My rudimentary photo skills cannot fully capture how well the trail is lit by just moonlight.

But I make it back to the car without mishap and without any source of light but this.

I really enjoy the peacefulness of a full moon hike and I think I'm going to try to do one every month. I think everyone should.