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.

Suitable For Framing

Day Twenty Six

The Palm Springs Desert Museum is a local museum that has been here in the desert since 1938. It is set up against the San Jacinto Mountains and is the starting point for the aptly named Museum Trail.  This trail is short but steep.  It climbs directly up the mountain face and joins both the Lykken Trail and the Skyline Trail.  

I found the trail to be in not very good shape.  A lot of hikers use it to access the Skyline Route and, in an effort to make time, have created several of their own use trails by cutting the switchbacks on the official trail.  This has caused considerable erosion and difficulty in finding the actual trail.  Far worse than going up this trail is coming down.  Due to the erosion, there a large number of loose rocks on the trail and the potential of tripping and falling are great.  While I highly recommend the trail, I would suggest that unless you are extremely sure footed to consider coming down the Lykken Trail and then walking the surface streets back to your parking area.  That's just my take.  

On the drive over I stopped to take a picture of the Desert Angel.  See it?

Maybe this will help.

The beginning of the Museum Trail.

Think someone is trying to get a message across here?

OK, we get it already!

Steep and rocky.

Some picnic tables make a great place to stop anytime for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

A warning about the Skyline Trail.  Each year, several people ignore the warnings and are rescued.  At least, the lucky ones are.  Some hikers have died on this trail.

Another more potent warning.

The Museum Trail affords some of the best views of Palm Springs available.  It just needs a little work.  Maybe we can get a infrastructure grant in the government's forthcoming stimulus package to handle this.