Between Devil Canyon and Martinez Landslide

DAY THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY SEVEN

There's an Indian Trail that heads from Devil Canyon in South La Quinta over toward the Martinez Landslide. I know it's there because I stumbled on it months ago while returning from another hike. I went out today to try and locate it.

By the time I get to my starting point, the area where I plan on hiking is already well in the shade. In the summer, I would have greatly appreciated it but right now it's a tad chilly.

I get to the trail and ascend onto the little mesa area above the wash. The trail quickly dies out. I may have taken the wrong path.

I hit a few intermittent trails along the way but none of them last for very long. I am certainly not on the path that I intended to travel but it's too late to go back now. I know where I'm going so I'll just continue on.

In addition to the little trails I find something else that lets me know that I'm not the only one who comes out here and wanders around.

Hiking over to the landslide area is about a couple miles. It doesn't look that far but the terrain is challenging with lots of up and down travel and rocks. I finally make it over to the base of the landslide and then go to explore an area with these large rocks. Not much to see here.

The only thing I find is this little small mortar.

But there is a trail. I am going to follow it for a while because there is no way I am going back the way I came, over the rocks, in the dark.

I follow the trail until I come to a road, which I will follow until I hit an old vineyard.

There's an old tumbledown shack and lots of trash. Anyone who doesn't think that recycling makes a difference has never seen a big pile of old cans like this. I've seen several of these around the desert. Now that cans are worth money there will never be another pile like this. Someone would pick these up and cash in.

There's not enough moonlight to walk without a headlamp but it's a beautiful evening and I make it back knowing where the trail is not and a better idea of where it is for the next time. Hopefully, I'll be able to start a bit earlier then.

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.

Bedeviled and Bewildered

DAY THREE HUNDRED AND THIRTY TWO

A few weeks ago I went south of Devil Canyon in La Quinta and discovered a new--to me--Indian Trail. I saw two Bighorn on that hike but didn't have my camera so had to take pictures with my iPhone which didn't turn out that great. Today I went back over there hoping to see those sheep again and this time I not only had my camera but I also brought a camcorder.

As exciting as it is to see sheep, what really thrilled me about that trip was the new trail. I followed it as far as I could but lost it. I'm hoping I can pick it up again and see where it goes.

This afternoon was perfect for hiking. Cool, overcast and with some rain falling in the distance.

There are some dark clouds up in the direction that I'll be going; I hope they don't decide to start dumping on me. All I have on is a cotton shirt.

It's amazing how easily I find the trail. I gain elevation and can see the rain really coming down over near the Indio Hills. I kinda wish I were over there.

This trail is one of the most well defined in this area. I just hope I can find out where it goes.

Today there are no Bighorn although they've definitely been here. This well used sheep den has some fresh droppings.

I look high to see if I can find the continuation of the trail. No luck here.

I look across the hill but there's nothing there, either. I have no idea where this trail goes and it's very frustrating.

Another frustration is how little time I have to look. The clouds and the night descend quickly and I've got to get out of here.

How such a well defined trail just diminishes into nothing is a mystery. Where does it go? Why can't I find it?

What I really need to do is come up here with a full day so I can make as many wrong turns as I need in order to find the right way.

If there is one.

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.

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.