Cahuilla Mountain Trail

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND SEVEN

Most of my hikes I do alone. It's tough to get hiking partners when your schedule varies and when you hike in temperatures over 100º. I don't understand why but that's how it is.

Well, I got a friend request on FaceBook from someone I hadn't seen in about eight or nine years and he then asked if he could go along on my hike on Sunday so I was thrilled to have company today. What made it even more enjoyable is that I'd planned on doing a hike neither of us had done and that was at a higher elevation so we wouldn't have to deal with the heat.

After I got off work, we drove up to the town of Anza and went to climb Cahuilla Mountain. This peak is easy to spot when driving Highway 371. Reading the sign, however, is a bit more difficult. Time for a new one, don't you think?

This sign, probably last updated in the 70s, warns you to be cautious on the trail. It also tells me that a lot of people go shooting around here.

Cahuilla Mountain looms overhead. Without a trail it would be unreachable since it is surrounded by impenetrable chaparral.

The trail climbs quickly and you can see how it cuts a swath through the bushes. Without it, this section that we covered in minutes would probably take hours.

Even still, there are a few sections that are overgrown.

Someone doesn't have difficulty moving through the chaparral.

Some steps along the way.

As we get toward the top, the trail goes through classic California Oak Woodland, with Oak interspersed with Pines.

Next to the trail we come across this interesting sign. It looks like it has some spring or shock absorber on it. It's the first sign I've ever seen with used car parts.

Oh SPRING. I get it. This little trail leads to a spring.

Here's the spring. I'm sure this is a very important water source for animals in the area. The trail leading to it has numerous deer tracks on it.

Trees in the area a pockmarked with Wood Pecker holes.

And those holes are filled with acorns being stored for future use.

From the top of the mountain, we get a nice view of Lake Riverside. Mount Palomar is seen in the background.

Here's Cameron at the summit.

Now that we've achieved our summit goal, we can take some time to smell the flowers on the way down.

This is a huge plant, over six feet tall.

It has a beautiful white and green flower on it,

One that bees like very much.

We also spot this delicate little purple flower.

This was a great hike in a great setting with great company. I couldn't have asked for a better day. Thanks, Cameron. Looking forward to our next adventure.

The Valley of The Shadow of Death

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND SIX

Hiking in the desert in the summer can be deadly. Three people have died on the Lykken Trail in Palm Springs so I gave a great deal of thought to going there this afternoon. All three hikers died due to the heat on the trail and we know two were descending during the heat of the day. I would not repeat their mistake.

There were large thunderclouds over Mount San Jacinto but they didn't bring any rain. Without any rain to cool things down the temperature at the start of my hike was 105º. But by late afternoon the trail is completely in the shadow of Mount San Jacinto.

The trail climbs up a series of switchbacks and it is a popular trail so it is easy to follow.

There are also numbers and white dots painted on the the rocks that have been there for as many years as I have been hiking this trail.

The switchbacks continue up the hill and there are a few sections where people have cut them. Cutting switchbacks is a major cause of trail erosion and should be discouraged.

After hiking a ways up the trail I come to a trail sign. That's one weird thing I've found about trails out here. There are several where you have to hike a mile or more before you come to a trail sign of any kind.

Of course, it might be a good thing this sign is not at the beginning of the trail. They spelled the name of the trail wrong. It's Lykken, not Lyken.

If it weren't enough to have three deaths this summer, we also have a reminder of someone else's death.

There's a large rock pile at the intersection of the Lykken Trail and the Museum Trail.

It's at this point that the Skyline Trail starts its climb up San Jacinto.

The warning is probably a little exaggerated as far as the time goes--it's never taken me longer than six hours--but it correct in regards to water. There is none nor is there any shade. Due to that, it is necessary to carry between 4-6 quarts of water just to make it. And once you start, there's no going back as the hiker deaths have shown us this summer.

The trail continues on past Tachevah Canyon, aka Dry Falls, but I won't be going there today.

The Museum Trail leads down to some picnic tables and a great view overlooking Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley.

A view from near the picnic tables.

By waiting til the sun is behind the mountain limits the amount of time I can spend on the trail so I've got to get back to the trailhead before dark. I don't think this moon is going to help me at night.

Southern Comfort

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND FIVE

This morning I was planning on getting up at 6 again to do my hike. When Early Bird (THE wife) woke me up she said it was really cloudy outside and not TOO hot. Awesome. I'm sleeping in. I set the alarm for 7 and looked outside. Still cloudy so I'm sleeping some more. I finally got up and got ready for my hike. The thermometer showed the outside temperature to be less than 90º. Awesome. What it failed to show, however, was the humidity. Walking outside was like walking into a damp sponge. It felt like I was in Georgia.

The cloud cover protected me from the of the desert sun but it adds to the humidity level. While the humidity is ONLY about 40%, it feels very sticky to this desert rat.

We go and hike the Kahlua Trail. I will be doing this a lot because creating a trail is not easy. I could bring equipment and work the trail but that feels like cheating. The wilderness ethic is to leave only footprints and that's how I intend to create this trail, with footprints.

Of course, a pick ax and shovel might work better on this terrain.

I know people have been here before because I find this ancient fluid transport device.

I wonder whether to go down here.

Or maybe up would be better. I'll figure it out eventually.

Someone has been here and left this rock monument. I won't be leaving any of these or any cairns. Once I figure out the best path, I'll be able to follow it instinctively.

Looking back I wonder if maybe going high might not have been a better choice.

I'll let Kahlua ultimately decide. After all it's going to be her trail.

One thing we are going to do, though, is make the trail too tough for mountain bikes. They rip trails to shreds and I don't want that for Kahlua.

This terrain is so tough it tore someone's boots to shreds. That's why a trail will be so nice.

On the way back I spot something conspicuous in the wash.

It's a water meter cover. They'll charge for everything in this town.

I bet next they'll charge this guy for parking.

I enjoyed a respite from the intense heat but I don't think I'd like this weather all the time. When I finish the hike my shirt is soaked with sweat. That never happens on a normal desert day. It's usually too hot and too dry and I'm sure it won't be too long before it's both of those things again.

Sleepwalking

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND FOUR

This morning my lovely wife, aka Early Bird, woke me up at six a.m. so I could go out and hike. At 6:30 she came back in a said, "Alright lardass, get your lazy butt out of bed and get moving". OK, she didn't actually say that but her tone did. Or maybe I was just dreaming. Anyway, I got up. The wonderful angel that my wife is, she made coffee but I turned it down. Even though I was going hiking I wasn't quite ready to get up.

I brought Kahlua and headed over to the hills near our house in the La Quinta cove. We were going to head up this steep little trail when a lady was coming down. Instead of hiking away she turned around to head back up. Good exercise for the gluts, I thought. Not that I looked or anything.

As I head across the hill, you will notice from the picture the shadow of the mountain. That is going to be a major requisite for hikes in the desert for the next few months: shade.

I'm going to head down to that little crease where you can see that shade. There's a trail there. Of course to get there I'll have to venture out into the sun. Ugh.

Some people think I'm a bit crazy to go hiking every day and they may have a point but do you know what I think is crazy? Getting up before the sun to go out and play golf. Those people should go see a shrink.

We get to the canyon and go up just a ways. I hear someone calling me and realize it's my pillow so we turn around before reaching the top.

There are lots of ducks along this trail for me to knock over but I don't have the energy. I've been out for an hour and still haven't woken up yet.

The clouds offer some respite from the direct sunlight during the walk back.

Someone built this rock circle and I'm tempted to lay down here and take a little rest but the sun reappears. I'll just have to settle for my own bed instead. Good night!