New Hemet Bell Mine

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY NINE

After reading about my hike on Saturday up to the Gold Hill area near Garner Valley, a friend of mine from work called me and said he wanted to go up and check out mines in the area. I really enjoyed my hike in the area so I didn't mind going back so soon.

Here's Charlie, fired up and ready to go.

We hike up past the boulder fields that I went through on Saturday.

On the other side of Gold Hill, I find an arrastra. This was used to grind ore into gravel so that gold could be extracted. It means we're on the right track.

There are so many boulders up here that I wonder if anyone's ever come up here climbing.

I quickly discover that the answer is yes. This bolt is placed in the rock to protect a climber. I spot another one higher on the boulder and I'm sure there are plenty more.

Old trucks and cars are left where they died, just like in the desert.

As we hike up the road/trail we can tell we are getting closer.

Mines always seem to accumulate lots of junk that is left behind once the gold runs out. This junk is known as historical litter and helps tell the story of the mine.

Here's our first mine! This one is not the Hemet Bell Mine. It is on the map but is not named.

Let's see what's inside.

A tunnel! The mine goes back a way but I don't go to the end. When I get a couple hundred feet back a bat starts dive bombing me. The ground is not really smooth and the ceiling is low overhead so I decide I can't keep my eyes on the bat and everything else so I bail out. There are lots of little frogs in here and I don't want to step on them, either.

I don't have to worry about stepping on this guy who's taken up residence in the door frame.

We head up to the next mine, which is the Hemet Bell.

This mine has been cleaned out a bit more than the first one and is easier to travel in. The floor looks almost like it's been swept out.

The tunnel goes back a few hundred yards and has a shaft coming down from the top. I'd hate to be walking above here and come upon this open shaft. A fall down here would probably mean certain death. The tunnel itself is fun to explore but this shaft should be sealed.

The temperature in the mine is wonderfully cool but it's time to get back to the light of day and then head on home.

There's a lot of mining paraphernalia like this rock crusher around. You can see that a lot of work went into these two mines.

On the way back we are going to explore one more mine but we see an interesting area of the trail and decide to explore just a bit more.

It's another mine; this one is not on the map. It doesn't go back very far so I guess not much was ever found in here. There are no bats, either, which is good.

We head over to look at one last mine before we move on. There's this nice foundation and fireplace left from the miner's cabin and we both think this would be a great place to live or at least camp for a couple of days.

The mine here is the shallowest of the lot. It probably only goes back into the hillside about thirty feet. There's a bat inside but he's just hanging on the wall. Unfortunately, I was unable to get a good picture of him. I guess I'll just have to come back sometime.

On our hike out we come upon another old homesite. There's a spring nearby and ample water but living out this far is not for everyone and obviously not for the people who left all this stuff here.

This was also left behind. If anyone knows how to get a hold of Tom Hanks, tell him we found Wilson.

They did leave one thing we were very happy to see, though: an apple tree. The apples are pretty ripe and mighty tasty. I'd imagine in a few weeks they'll be ever better. I wonder if I can wait that long to come back.

Gold In Them Hills

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY FIVE

Garner Valley is a beautiful large meadow in the San Jacinto Mountains between Palm Desert and Idyllwild on Highway 74. It is populated with horse ranches and large homes on 1 acre plus lots. On the western end is the Garner Valley Cattle Ranch, the Hurkey Creek Campground and Lake Hemet. On the north is the Desert Divide and the Pacific Crest Trail. My hike today took me to an area in the northeastern section of the valley. The area is called Gold Hill and there are a few mines according to the topographical map although I didn't have time today to go and look for them.

When I get to where the directions tell me to start hiking all I find is this road.

And this doesn't look too promising but my directions tell me to hike up the road and make a left at the T where the pavement ends so I continue.

At the T I take the left as instructed and follow this old fire road.

At this gate there's a walk through with plenty of footprints and even more hoofprints. It appears that lots of equestrians utilize this area.

The trail continues along the last of the ranches and heads out into the backcountry.

The chaparral is very dry up here and the fire danger is extreme. The area would make a very nice, easy to get to camping spot but campfires are out of the question.

The only thing back here that wouldn't burn are the incredible Joshua Tree-like boulders that sprinkle the area.

There are a few trails to explore and, hopefully, I can get up here soon because the weather this afternoon is just about perfect. At home it's over 100º and here it's in the mid 70's.

This is Gold Hill and while I'd like to climb it and add it to the list of peaks I've done I have to get back home. From the look of the hill I think when I come back I'll wear long pants.

And maybe I'll bring some rock climbing shoes to do a little bouldering.

Even without going to the one of the mines I feel like I've found a real hidden treasure.

Fobe's Trail to the PCT

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND THIRTY SIX

One of the toughest things about coming home from a trip is the nagging feeling that you left something behind. Even though I work in a hotel I have left things behind that were never recovered. It's very annoying.

When I was preparing for this last trip I found a couple of things which I believed were lost forever so it is not totally hopeless. Things do sometimes find their way home.

Well, it seems like I am not the only one who leaves things behind. The wife's father, aka Papa, left his fishing gear in the mighty minivan when he unloaded his gear. I don't have any idea why he'd have been so hasty in getting his stuff. It's not like he was in a hurry to get in his house after a week traveling with us or anything.

Wonderful husband that I am volunteered to make the road trip up the hill to bring him his gear back and left the boys with the wife and off I went. It's the kind of sacrifices I have to make sometimes.

I decided to do the Fobe's Ranch Trail to the PCT. I hadn't done this trail yet this year and its three miles round trip distance was about all I'd have time to do today.

I think this decrepit sign is in need of a replacement. I don't know if I need a permit on this trail because I can't read the sign. Oh well.

The trail itself is in pretty good shape as it steadily gains elevation. It's never really steep but it doesn't have any downhill section, thankfully.

Along the way I spot an old water tank that's probably still in use.

There's also a fairly new gate.

And a really new sign telling me to keep it closed.

As I near the PCT I start to get to some larger trees and a bit of shade. Kahlua likes the area so we take a short break. Very short.

At the junction of the two trails there are some nice big boulders.

And while the view is not evident directly from the trail, we hike a little bit and get a view of the Coachella Valley below, sweltering in 100+ degree heat.

In addition to the new gate sign there are also some new trail signs. At least they weren't here when I came by on the PCT a few years ago. If you look real close you can see where someone wrote directions on how to find H2O. Spitler Peak looms in the background.

There's also another little sign directing you to water in case you missed the hand written directions.

The trail is not really tough and is a quick and easy way to access the PCT and get a high view of the Coachella Valley. Despite that someone left this reminder that even an easy trail is tougher than a walk in the park.

Cedar Spring Trail, Garner Valley

DAY ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY THREE

This afternoon I left the desert and went on one of my favorite little hikes to Cedar Springs. It leaves Garner Valley and climbs up over the Desert Divide to a little spring high in the San Jacinto Mountains.

You start toward the end of Morris Ranch Road and are quickly met by several signs. I think it's obvious that the Oak Grove Trail is closed to the general public.

This gate leads to the Cedar Springs Trail and is the first of four you pass through.

Blah, blah, blah

It's nice that the landowners allows people to cross their property.

This sign is new. I don't think it is really necessary but putting it here gave someone a job and we need more of those these days.

Another new sign and this one is en Español.

Yet more signage. Since I didn't start hiking until after 4:30 I think I'll limit my adventure to going to Cedar Springs. Since the Toll Gate closes at 5:00 I don't think I'll make it there in time.

Another of the gates. Cattle have been known to roam these hills so it's important to close all these gates when passing through them.

There's a picnic table here for the unadventurous hiker. It is only about twenty minutes from the trailhead to get here.

Only adventurous hikers should proceed beyond this point. I have a water bottle and a camera so I'm prepared.

They have another mileage sign because the one I came to 1/2 mile back probably wasn't enough.

At the top of the trail, you cross the Pacific Crest Trail and we have yet another sign. This one has seen its better days, though. The wind up here has beaten it up a bit.

The view from up here is fantastic with the Coachella Valley thousands of feet below.

After a quick mile of downhill, you come to Cedar Springs.

It is a different world from the surrounding chaparral and oak woodland. It's more like a forest here.

It is also a popular campsite.

It has running water.

Although I don't think they have to worry about people washing in this basin.

Or this one.

Near the campground is one of my favorite lunch spots in the San Jacintos. The view is amazing.

And with four bedrock mortars like this one, it's obvious that I am not the first to enjoy this view during a lunch or dinner break.

Cedar Springs is a great little excursion for an afternoon or overnight trip. I ran into a Pacific Crest Trail hiker on his way to Canada who stopped for some water and to enjoy the serenity of the area. It is easily one of the nicest water stops in Southern California and a fun little day hike.