Coyote Gap

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHTY TWO

There is no shortage of places to hike in the desert; there's a shortage of time. I've wanted to hike up to the Bear Creek Palms in La Quinta but just haven't been able to put together enough time when I don't have other plans. I'd hoped that today would be the day but it won't work, either. Maybe next week but I wont' count on it.

I returned to the trail that I hiked with the wife during the full moon just last week.

I started at a different place and will be hiking much further, all the way up to the saddle that separates La Quinta and Palm Desert.

The fall usually doesn't have much in the way of foliage in the desert but if you look closely you can see life, like this Ocotillo starting to sprout.

I make my way all the way up to the saddle in a bit less than an hour. The trail is tough to follow in spots but goes most of the way to the top.

I get to the top and get a nice view of Palm Desert.

I could easily hike down there but if I had that much time I'd have gone to Bear Creek Palms. The view includes the Santa Rosa Mountains, San Jacinto and San Gorgonio.

From the gap, you can climb to the north to Indio Mountain.

Or to the south and Coyote Mountain. Both of these mountains offer even better views and lots of terrain to explore. The ridge heading beyond Indio Mountain heads all the way to Eisenhower Mountain.

But with time restrictions I'll just have to head back down the way I came. I found a couple of trail sections that I'd missed on the way up so when I come up to do the traverse to Eisenhower it'll be that much easier. Now I've just got to find the time.

Boys Day Out

DAY EIGHTY SEVEN

This morning I asked my son, Nikolas, where HE wanted to hike. He chose the Living Desert. I told him we were going to hike if we went there, not just walk around and look at the animals and he said OK.

He asked if he could bring two of his friends, Eddie and Jakob, along and I said OK. We stopped at the store to pick up a few Lunchables and off we went.

We get to the Living Desert and head straight for the trail.

Well, almost straight for the trail. Nikolas has to stop for a picture with the goofy cutout near the Butterfly and Hummingbird exhibit.

And so does Jakob.

And Eddie.

We hike up the main tourist trail to get to the trailhead of the Eisenhower Trail. There's a lot to read on this board but let me sum it up for you. They named the mountain and trail for a President.

The boys get right to it. Their parents are going to be SO happy tonight when they are ready to crash at about 8:30. It's warm so I just let them go and am content to bring up the rear.

There's a plaque part way up honoring Bill Cook. I bet that's who Cook Street is named for.

This is really a nice trail. I can't believe I've never done the whole thing before. There are tremendous views of Indian Wells and beyond.

The boys are getting tired out and want to stop. I keep pushing them and they are happy when we make it to the halfway point, a picnic table and SHADE.

They try to catch this Desert Iguana, Dipsosaurus dorsalis, and I am secretly pleased when they don't. They'd want to bring him home and I'm sure he'll be much happier up here where he belongs than in some aquarium.

The boys are overjoyed when they see the trail stretching out before them: downhill all the way!

Even still, with the temperature close to 90º even downhill can be taxing so they stop for one last water break before finishing up the hike.

After the end of our hike, we stop in the Living Desert cafeteria for some soda and air conditioning. Rejuvenated, the boys want to look around a bit so we do. We check out the train, the reptiles (a Living Desert employee is doing a hands-on for the kids with an African Boa), the African animals and the petting zoo in the Village Watutu. I finally have to force them to leave since my other son, Harrison, has a baseball game I have to get to.

Don't worry, we'll be back.

It's Alive!

DAY SEVENTY THREE

Today I went and hiked on a local trail that I have never done, the Eisenhower Loop at The Living Desert. I don't know why I've never hiked this trail but it's probably because every time I've gone to the Living Desert no one else wanted to. Today I went with my youngest son, Nikolas, and I didn't give him a choice.

After paying admission to the Living Desert--I bought a Family Membership, which for $75 gives your family admission for a full year and two guest passes and is a great deal--you walk through the park following the signs to the hiking area.

They are very cautious, warning you of the possible extreme weather. Today, however, the weather was wonderful, a nice 80º.

The trails are wide and well maintained. Even grandma and her walker could handle this part.

You will find numerous shade structures and seating areas along the trail. This trail is definitely certainly created with Zoo goers in mind rather than real hikers. Not that hikers won't enjoy it, of course, but it's hardly a wilderness experience.

There are good directions and maps to be found along the way. Not that you could lost the trail anyway. It's HUGE.

And there are little interpretive signs to tell you about what you're seeing.

Now the real hiking begins. You get to a place where the trail enters this canyon and requires a lot of boulder hopping, which I love. My only problem is Nik really wants to go back and look at the animals, the incredible train set they have here and get a Dr. Pepper. But I have a year pass now! I can come back whenever I want and finish the trail on my own! I'll have to do it before it hits the 120º the big sign warns about. I hate the heat.

Hiking back you get a great view of the local mountains and desert terrain. The view in itself is worth the price of admission.

Super Sunday

Day Thirty Two

I get off work with just enough time to do a short hike before watching the Super Bowl.  It's about 45 minutes until kickoff so I figure can do something quick, close to home, and then get back before the game begins.

So I start over at what I call Golf Course Gully.  This is the area that leads to where you overlook the La Quinta Mountain Course.  I figure maybe I can pick up a few stray balls before the game starts.

But then I see this trail heading AWAY from the course and wonder where it goes.  I'll just go check it out and then go by the course.

It looks like it goes to this little prospect where someone did some kind of digging.  

But there's only one problem.  The trail keeps going, but where?

I look back and wonder if I'll make it home for kickoff now.

The trail keeps going up!  I wonder why on earth someone would put this trail here and I think maybe Cahuilla hunters where the first and then some adventurous hikers.  Who knows?

I find some fresh sheep scat which lends credence to the hunter idea.

I've gained quite a bit of elevation and now I've missed the Super Bowl kickoff.  Oh well!

I get to the top and find that someone has put a stick in the ground to mark what seems to be the end of the trail.

I must have gained a thousand feet and can look down on the course in La Quinta

And up to Eisenhower.  I wonder how long it will make it there from here but now I have to hoof it if I want to make it home by halftime

I missed whole first half and who knows how many commercials? It's a good thing I couldn't care less about either team but I have to make it home before Springsteen comes on.  And while it was close I made it home just in time for the Boss!