Ramon Canyon, Palm Desert

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND SEVENTY NINE

This afternoon was sunny, wonderful, perfect. It was one of those days that any hike I did would be delightful, even if it were not to a great place. That was a good thing, too, because my destination was only OK. It was another of those rock filled canyons that the desert is full of but with nothing to make it really stand out. It didn't matter, though. I could have gone hiking across the Walmart parking lot and enjoyed it. Maybe I'll save that for tomorrow.

My hike started on the trail that leads up to the Palm Desert Cross.

This new palm frond shade structure is a welcome addition although the last one was torched by some pyro. Hopefully, this one will last.

Climbing the trail I take a left at the first junction.

Then I take a right.

I follow the trail along the fence line near the bankrupt Stone Eagle Golf Club. There is a great trail that leaves to the right and climbs the mountain but today I'm sticking to the fence.

It's a good thing we have a fence here to keep those golfer types out of the hills. They've already done enough damage by the mere existence of their golf course.

You follow the fence until you get to the first major canyon on the right. This is Ramon Canyon; it's on the topo map.

The canyon is full of loose rocks, cacti, cat's claw and other assorted plants that inflict pain upon humans. As I make my way up the canyon I keep expecting to come upon a rattler, cougar or angry Bighorn Ram. Lucky for them, none appear.

Around every corner I keep expecting to come upon a palm oasis with no luck. Unlike most of the other named canyons in the area this one has no spring or water. Maybe that's why no trail leads into this canyon. Neither animals nor Indians would have any reason to come here.

And, honestly, neither do I except that it's a beautiful day, great to be outdoors.

One Happy Pup

DAY ONE FIFTY ONE

Our pooch, Kahlua, has become a hiking fiend. She LOVES to go hiking with me. Yesterday, when I was getting my pack ready to go on my hike, she started jumping up and down against our sliding glass door like some crazed kangaroo. I thought for a minute that she might break through. Unfortunately, I was unable to take her yesterday because I was going to 1000 Palms and it is a nature preserve; no dogs allowed.

Today, I was not going to disappoint her again. Since we've pretty much covered all the trails available to dogs here in La Quinta, it was time for a road trip all the way to Palm Desert. I don't think Kahlua has ever been that far so she was very excited. So am I. The entire hike is in the shade since the sun just set behind the hill.

We head over to the Homestead Trail because this is a trail where you are allowed to take your dog off leash. Kahlua hates the leash.

Before we head off, we make sure we get a poop bag. Thankfully, I won't need it.

These steps are the only steps on the whole trail. I don't know why they're here but I guess to help keep erosion at bay. If nothing else, they're a cool way to start.

Up the trail a hundred yards or so is the picnic table and water fountain. You know that saying about leading a horse to water but not being able to make them drink? The same holds true for dogs.

Kahlua can't really figure out which trail to take. Too many choices.

We look down on the long and winding trail. I bet trail makers get paid by the foot.

We encounter three hikers with three dogs and after sniffing one another we go our separate ways. OK, we left the sniffing to the dogs but they all passed inspection.

We see another couple of hikers with a dog below us. In all, we saw seven hikers and five dogs on our little excursion. Every single one had a smile on their face.

We make our way all the way around to the Herb Jefferies Trail. This isn't a trail split; the little trail to the left leads into a canyon I call El Baño Canyon. I'll let you figure out why.

We drop down the Herb Jeffries Trail and walk back to our parking area along the flood control ditch. It's not a pretty way to finish a hike but I think Kahlua is tired and will appreciate the flat ground. This is the longest hike she's done; she'll sleep well tonight.

It used to be that you could take your dog on almost every trail here in the desert but they've become quite restrictive due to the Bighorn Sheep. But if you're looking for a good place to hike with your dog in the desert, this is probably your best bet. Kahlua loved it.

Cross Walk

DAY SEVENTY NINE

Today is the day of the Vernal Equinox. the first day of Spring. From now until Summer, the days will be getting longer and the weather warmer. The seasons in the desert are different than the rest of the world because most places look forward to spring as a harbinger to summer. Here, we see it as a transition out of our perfect winter weather into our season of perdition. While the weather is still not the hellacious blast furnace of June, July and August, it can get warm during the next couple of months and today was one of those days, over 90º.

I decided to that on the first day of Spring I'd do the hike that I did on the first day of the year. I just didn't do it at sunrise this time. Who really wants to get up that early? I already did it once this year.

To get to the trailhead to the Palm Desert Cross, take Hwy 74 a little over a mile from Hwy 111 and turn right on Frontage Road. Take a quick left on Thrush. Then, follow Thrush until you go over a little bridge.

Once over the bridge, you will see this sign. Turn right and park in one of the two parking areas.

From there, the Homestead Trail is quite obvious.

There's a little picnic area with a palm frond topped shade structure. There is also water available here.

There is another picnic table just up the first part of the trail, currently without a shade structure. Someone torched it and the city has yet to replace it with a new one. Hopefully, they'll make the new one out of a non-combustible material.

This is one of the few remaining trails where you can bring your dog along. They have to be leashed at this point but I think that's mainly to help pull you up the hill.

You notice a stark difference between the North and South facing slopes in this area. The slopes which receive direct sunlight seems almost devoid of life while those with less direct sun are full of green plants and flowers.

From the cross, you can look up to Santa Rosa Mountain, the place I hiked yesterday.

The cross is guyed down with cable and has a camera to prevent vandalism. Maybe they could try one of those cameras by the palm frond structure. Then the pyros won't be so tempted.

The hike to the cross is a nice little climb that offers great views. It's easy to access and has plenty of parking. Bring the family, bring the dog and bring a picnic lunch. If you haven't hiked the Palm Desert trails, now is the time to go because before you know it, summer will be here and even this short hike will seem like eternity.

And not eternity in a good place.