Bob Hope's Palm Springs Home Hike

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHTY SIX

Today the knee is much better but psychologically it's still tender. In other words, it feels good but I'm still thinking about it. I have no idea why it tweaked out on me but I have some big hikes planned for later this month so I'll be babying it until I know for sure that it's 100%.

Looking for an easy trail that's not covered with rocks brought me to the Araby Trail this afternoon. The Araby Trail is the trail that leads right up Bob Hope's home, the famous dome shaped house on the hills above Palm Springs. If you've never done this trail, it is easy to get to. Just drive on Highway 111 (East Palm Canyon) to Southridge Road. Turn onto this road and take an immediate right. Park here in the obvious parking area on the dirt. Walk up Southridge Road less than 100 feet and the trail will be on the left.

Dogs are allowed on this trail! Kahlua will be thrilled.

The trail has some incline but nothing major and it is not covered with rocks. Perfect.

I love the amount of wildlife you can see on any given day in the desert. A hawk swoops across the sky looking for one last morsel before bedtime.

A halo is draped above Mount San Jacinto. Even the mountains will be rooting for the Angels in the ALCS.

The Hope Dome comes into view part way up the trail. It is the most recognizable house in the Palm Springs area and one of the most in Southern California.

While it is storming elsewhere in the Southland, here in Palm Springs we are just gifted with a few beautiful clouds.

The trail goes within a few hundred feet of the house. I've always wondered why they kept all these tanks out here uncovered. It really detracts from the whole allure of this property.

This pile of rocks is better looking than those tanks behind the Hope place.

I can't complain about the view, though. The weather up here is perfect, as well, as clouds blow in through the Pass.

As darkness begins to fall I head down to really test the knee. It passes with flying colors.

Eagle Canyon, Palm Springs

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY FOUR

The Santa Rosa Mountains south of Palm Springs are loaded with trails. This area is very popular with mountain bikers due to several old Jeep roads that traverse the area and there are plenty of trails to interest the hiker as well. Mountain bikers refer to these as the "Goat Trails" although there are not any goats in these hills nor have there ever been. I guess they meant sheep, unless they're just referring to some of the old goats who live in Palm Springs. That would make sense.

The easiest way for a hiker to access these trails is the road to the east of the Von's Rimrock shopping center. Bypass the gate and head toward the two large water tanks.

Once past the water tanks, the trail is on the right.

At the top of the hill you get a nice view of Murray Peak. There is a trail from this direction that reaches the top of Murray Peak. I'm looking forward to doing this once it cools down just a little more, about another 25º.

There are sections where it is necessary to hike on sections of the various road that are up in these hills although never for very long.

Sticking to the trails when possible and heading in the direction of Murray Peak brings me to the palm-filled Eagle Canyon.

At Eagle Canyon you can head down into the canyon or uphill around it. I decide to take the high road. Yes, to the surprise of some who know me it is possible.

The trail continues beyond the canyon in the direction of Murray Peak, where it meets up with more trails.

The sun vanishes behind Mount San Jacinto.

The Tram light shines atop the mountain and tells me it's time to get out my headlamp.

Rather than going back the way I came I head up this trail in order to do a little loop.

The McManus Trail? That's a new one to me. I have no idea where it goes.

I won't be finding out where it goes tonight; that'll have to wait for the future when time and temperature aren't a factor.

The Original Skyline Trail: Hidden in Plain Sight

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY FIVE

The other day I was reading a local hiking forum (Mount San Jacinto) and someone asked about the Skyline Trail and where to pick it up. They posted a picture of the trail going through some houses off of Chino Road in Palm Springs instead of the normal route starting at the Lykken Trail or the Museum Trail. Looking closer at the satellite view I noticed some actual trails near the homes and thought I'd go investigate.

I headed over to Palm Springs but I forgot that Thursday is VillageFest and parking was a joke. I'd been hoping to park at the Museum Trail but no luck there. I got a nice little warm-up for my hike, though.

Wouldn't you know it? I park and hike to the trailhead and then someone leaves the moment I get a few hundred feet up the trail. See that one empty space down there? That shoulda been mine!

Anyway, I get a few hundred feet more up the trail and spot another trail leading off to the right. Where does this trail start? I've hiked this trail for over twenty years and have never noticed this little trail. I guess I've always just had my head down plugging away. I cannot believe this thing is here.

And here's where it starts. It is slightly shrouded by a Brittlebush and a Creosote but it is a well laid out trail. How did I miss this?

The trail goes across the hill above the O'Donnell Golf Course and one section heads down to this road. I don't need to go there.

Heading over the next hump I come upon the road again. This is no good. I look up at the hillside but there's nothing there. This would be a nice place to put a trail so I don't have to walk this road but since it's all I have now I guess I'll see what's up here.

Off to the left I find another little, faint trail. It's very steep but it looks doable.

It fades out but I go cross country until I hit yet another trail. Let's see where this goes.

It looks like one section goes down very steeply to the road.

Another section goes down to these houses off of Chino Road. It appears that this was the Skyline Trail before these homes were built. Google Maps still shows the trail going this way but that hasn't been the case for decades. It's interesting to know, though. Since I don't want to end up in someone's backyard, I decide to go up and see where they head on the upper end.

The trail climbs very steeply but is in great shape, far better shape than the Museum Trail. The Museum Trail has been so beat up from people essentially running up the Skyline Trail and shortcutting the switchbacks. I fear what will happen to that trail when we get a good thunderstorm up there.

The trail eventually connects with the picnic tables above Palm Springs and I have to hoof it down the hill to get back before dark. Going down the Museum Trail is death defying enough in the daylight, I really don't want to do it in the dark.

It sure would be nice to have another trailhead in Palm Springs but unfortunately with houses in the way I don't think this one is going to be feasible. It would be great if the trail across the hill could continue above the road and give access to the original Skyline Trail and create a nice little loop but landownership could be a problem. Of course, if someone wants to donate it to the city, that'd work.

Back in the Saddle Again

Day Sixty

I have to admit I was a little sore this morning after taking my tumble yesterday. But not bad enough to even consider not going on a hike. My niece was visiting from Orange County so I decided to take her to Murray Canyon in the Indian Canyons. Too bad I didn't know about the Hike for Hope taking place there today.

The Hike for Hope is a fundraising event where people hike to raise money for Breast Cancer Research. I guess it's been going on for about ten years. Now that I know about it, I think I might participate in the future. It's certainly a worthy cause. Find out more about it here.

Anyway, on our way to Murray we met up with about a hundred hikers--I'm not kidding--heading out of the canyon. Oh well, Murray has never been much of a wilderness experience anyway.

Here are some hikers waiting in line to cross the creek.

A couple of little bedrock mortars along the trail.

There was a very good flow coming out of the canyon and the water was COLD.

The first of the seven sisters.

A young woman was injured in some way and required rescue from the local Search and Rescue team. I didn't take any other pictures, although I could have, because I know if I were in that situation I wouldn't want a lot of gawkers taking pictures of me.

Murray Canyon is always a nice hike, especially when the water is flowing as much as it was today. It was great to see so many people out hiking for a good cause and I hope to join them in the future. I am also grateful for the Search and Rescue workers. Hopefully, I'll never need their services and I pray the young woman they brought out of the canyon today is doing well.

Two months down. I'll share some thoughts on it later this week.

Go East, Young Man

Day Forty One

Mount San Jacinto looking sublime under a fresh layer of snow.

The mountains were spectacular today with their new coat of fresh snow.  I was already to go up  and spend the day snowshoeing but one thing got in my way: life.  Yes, things do not always work out the way I want them to.  

First, I had to take the kids to school.  Then, the Tram does not open until 10 a.m. so I'd have to wait for that.  Finally, I had to be at work at 12 so my time was somewhat limited.  What to do?  I hightailed it east where I couldn't see all that snow.  I  went out by the Hayfield Dry Lake and I hike out to a little canyon there.  

After a couple of wrong turns I get to  the edge of the wilderness and head up toward the canyon I want to visit.

I see this large boulder with some petroglyphs on it.  Seems like I came to the right place.

Up high on this hillside, it looks like an old mine.  I'll have to come back and check that out another time.

As I enter the canyon I see this little dugout area and wonder if it's a mining test dig or has some other significance.

Just inside the mouth of the canyon is a nice panel of pictographs.  Pictographs are painted onto the rocks rather than etched into the desert varnish like petroglyphs.  They are under a little overhang and so have not been washed off although some have faded.

On this rock in the wash, there are two nice size bedrock mortars.  There is also a lot of sand on this rock.  I wonder.....

After a bit of excavation, I find other bedrock mortar, larger than the other two.

There are also a number of petroglyphs in the area.  Hopefully, when I get more time I can come back and explore a bit more to see what else I can find.

On the drive home, I get a full view of the beauty of our snow covered mountains.  I missed playing in the snow today but I got to explore a special place that I'm looking forward to returning to soon.