Rocking With The Boys

DAY THREE HUNDRED AND TWENTY NINE

Dead Indian Canyon, in South Palm Desert, is a great place to take the kids. It's pretty, it's short, it's interesting, there's lots of rock scrambling and there's a good chance you may see a Bighorn, especially if you go late in the afternoon.

One of the great features of this canyon is the rock scrambling involved. The boys don't waste any time when it comes to starting climbing.

The boys do some quick inspection on the rocks along the wash. All geology classes should be held outside. Kids might be interested then.

This little rock shelter make the guys wonder if some animal lived here.

The fun really starts when we have to climb the rocks in order to get to the palm oasis.

Making our way through the palm thicket requires more balance than climbing over the rocks.

Up near the top of the canyon is another little spot to explore.

It doesn't go back very far and ends at this skylight.

We should've brought a lunch because this is a great spot for a picnic.

Climbing up the rocks isn't the only fun thing in this canyon. Nik gets big air on the way down.

If you've got some kids that are "bored" sitting around watching TV or playing video games all day, Dead Indian Canyon is a great place to take them. There's no boredom allowed here.

Black Mountain Fire Lookout

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND ONE

I went on the Palms to Pines drive today and stopped off for some short hikes on the way. Palms to Pines travels from the desert up to Idyllwild then down to Banning and then back. I did it in reverse but it's the same thing. I took the boys and we stopped at Cabezon to buy them some shoes. I knew they wouldn't be up for a long hike that I'd like doing so we did a few short ones instead. Our first hike was to just walk around Lake Fulmor. That took about twenty minutes. Lake Fulmor is a small little lake with a nice picnic area just off Highway 243. I didn't get any pictures of it because the batteries went dead on my camera and I left the phone in the car. It's a nice spot to take families to. Just don't go on a weekend when it's a total zoo.

After the lake, we went to this little overlook. Nice views but not nearly as nice as some we were going to get to later.

We took the Black Mountain Road up to the Boulder Basin Campground. The weather in the mountains was spectacular. At Boulder Basin the temperature was in the 70s.

From the Boulder Basin Campground we hiked up the road to the Black Mountain Fire Lookout. There is a nice trail that climbs up to the lookout that I would have preferred to do but I know the boys were not ready for an eight mile hike today. This hike was much easier, so much so, in fact, that Nikolas was able to wear his Crocs.

After a bit of hiking we get to the point where you can see the lookout above.

This area is very scenic with lots of trees and big beautiful boulders.

We get to the lookout and head up this paved path.

The Black Mountain Lookout

The Lookout Plaque

The boys head up the stairs but we find the tower is closed and locked.

We're there just a little late. Next time we'll get an earlier start.

Down below you can see Lake Fulmor. The view from the lookout area is spectacular and I bet it's even better from the top. Next time.

We headed up to the Fuller Ridge Trailhead looking at the various yellow post campsites which we'll hopefully return to sometime before summer is out. At the Fuller Ridge Trailhead the temperature is 68º, about 40º cooler than it is at home. On the way down we spot another lookout and go check it out.

The view is incredible. The boys enjoy looking over at Mount San Gorgonio and down to the Banning Pass.

They also enjoyed the cool weather, as did I.

The Buck Stops Here

DAY ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY TWO

Every day the forecast for the desert shows a high of over 110º. Whenever possible I will be going to higher elevations for my hike. Luckily for me today, I was able to.

The closest place I can get to that is out of the heat is the Pacific Crest Trail. The temperature there is almost 90º but compared to home it feels cool to me.

Mercifully, a lot of the trail is in the shade so that helps make it very comfortable. Kahlua doesn't know what it's like to hike in such nice weather. She runs around and tries to catch anything the moves: butterflies, blowing leaves, ants and a baby rabbit. I'm happy when the rabbit gets away.

I hike up the trail a bit and see this clearing has been cleared out a bit. I don't know if it's been logged, if it's being cleared as a fire break or if development is on the way. Whatever is going on, it is a shame that it has to happen within the view of the trail. In my opinion, the trail corridor should be kept as pristine as possible.

There has definitely been some logging going on.

And this road is new.

Here is what is creating this destruction. This little area would make a nice yellow post campsite but I doubt that is what's going on here.

We decide to do a little investigation so we walk up this road to see what's up here.

OK. This sign is persuasive at getting me to turn around. If I ever had some property that I didn't want people to come onto I'd get a sign like this. Explosives and lasers! Adios.

We decide to go back and see if the road we're on takes us back to Hwy. 74. In the meadow, I see this buck grazing.

He's very wary. He takes a couple of bites and looks up. I think he senses Kahlua running up and down the road although I don't think he can see her with all the vegetation. Shortly after this he heads off into the woods.

We continue up this road, through this open gate, putting distance between us and the lasers and explosives.

There's a sign showing the Forest Service boundary. Unfortunately, we are on the wrong side of the fence.

We work our way to a place where we can hop the fence and get back to Highway 74. It'll be an easy mile to get back to the parking area and the Jeep.

The sun is going down just as we reach the parking area.

Kahlua enjoys are well deserved drink. She's not bottle trained but this bottom of a Del Taco cup works very well. For her birthday, though, I think I'll get her a real doggie hiking bowl. She's earned it.

On The Lookout, Part Two

DAY ONE HUNDRED AND TWO

This morning I got up at my father in law's, drove down to Indian Wells and went to work, drove back up Hwy 74 and went hiking. I went back to climb Lookout Mountain and this time I was going to make it to the top.

You start the hike where the Pacific Crest Trail crosses Hwy 74. Head south.

Be on the lookout for headless horsemen.

Follow the trail to the left at the small little saddle about a 1/2 mile from the start. Don't get caught looking at the view or you'll miss it.

The trail climbs up through the Ribbonwood. Literally.

I didn't see any human footprints going up but I saw this hoof print from a deer.

Someone put this nice bench up on the trail. It faces west and I would imagine you can see some pretty nice sunsets from up here.

When you get to the top, you will find this red can with a logbook inside.

But the elements have gotten to it and the logs were waterlogged. I didn't bother to sign in.

While there are plenty of bushes on top of this little mountain, you have great views all around. Here you can see Thomas Mountain on the right and Cahuilla Mountain on the left.

Looking down toward Garner Valley and up to San Jacinto.

The hike up Lookout Mountain is not a great hike by any means but it is well worth the modest effect to get to the top just for the views. If you're ever driving up Hwy 74 with a bit of time to kill, you should consider it. Just go on a cool day.

Car Crash Canyon

DAY NINETY TWO

With the bottom of Carrizo Canyon closed, I decided to see if I could get to the middle of the canyon without having to hike all the way down from the top. There used to be trails that went up the hill where Highway 74 now goes and I'm wondering if I might be able to find one.

I drive part way up Highway 74 and park near this big long turn. There aren't many places to park on this stretch of the highway so you take what you can get.

I head over to the guard rail and start to make my way down the steep, loose, rocky hillside.

I quickly realize that I've picked up a hitchhiker.

Going down the hillside I see this vehicle that was probably last seen by its owner when he dropped it off at valet parking. I wonder, "Did I set my parking brake?".

For the second time in two days I see a wayward hat. If I needed a hat I might venture down to get it but I'm good with hats right now.

I make my way down to the canyon and while it's not Carrizo Canyon maybe it'll lead me where I need to go.

No luck going this way. The canyon is totally choked with bushes that scratch and I wore shorts today. I've given blood before so I don't need to do it today.

This way doesn't look any better.

I look down canyon but all I can see are steep cliffs, loose rocks and certain death.

I make my way up the hill and try to find another possible route but I stumble upon this instead.

Someone got very artistic with this. Maybe one of their kids painted these.

I look around some more and while I spot a trail WAY below me, there is no getting to it from here. I will just have to find another way, another day.

I walk back by the stone wheel and wonder why someone decided to build it here. All I can think is maybe they were inspired by the sounds of car tires on the highway.