Bad Moon Rising

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND SEVENTY SIX

Throughout the ages people have believed that the full moon has adversely affected people. The term lunacy is derived from the Latin word Luna because it was believed that the moon caused mental illness and insanity. People swear they know when the full moon is happening without even looking at a calendar because weird things happen. I've never believed any of it, until today.

I had hoped to take a trip up to Joshua Tree today to enjoy that mystical landscape under the full moon. So when I went out to get a bite to eat before leaving I noticed lots of smoke from a fire covering the Little San Bernardino Mountains and thought there might be a fire up there. I couldn't find any news report of it and the Park Service did not answer their phone so I decided to play it safe and not go. I later learn that the fire was near San Bernardino but the smoke would have ruined my hike anyway so I figure I made the right call.

Next I told the wife that I'd be hiking near home due the smoke and she said she wanted to go along. Excuse me, I said. Do I know you?

I took this picture of the smoke over Joshua Tree. The full moon also affected my camera, which went on the fritz. It's the second time this year. I really like this camera, a Canon PowerShot S3 but its reliability, or lack thereof, is a major drawback. Or maybe it's just the full moon.

Kahlua leads the way up the trail and is thrilled to go hiking no matter what the phase of the moon. I just hope she doesn't turn into a wolf.

The embankment above the wash has eroded a lot since I was last up here. I heard it rained when I was in Lake Tahoe so the erosion must have happened at that time. Someone has put a rope down the hill to assist climbing it. Looking at the rope I don't think it'll be much help.

The moon makes its awaited appearance.

The camera I have only has a 4X zoom lens but it looks like my other camera will be going back to the Canon Repair Department....again.

We hike up to the junction of this trail and enjoy the full moon before turning back.

The light from the moon fully illuminates the trail and it is a good thing. The headlamp we brought it malfunctioning and not giving us as much light as we'd like to make it down a short steep section near the trail's end. I've always loved going out in the full moon but after tonight I don't know. Maybe there's something to all those superstitions after all.

Meeting Up In The Moonlight

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND FORTY SIX

The vast majority of my hikes I do alone. I like hiking by myself because I can travel at my own pace, change my destination on a whim, not worry about making conversation. On occasion I've gone with a friend or two and sometimes I've taken some kids along but tonight was a different thing entirely.

I had someone contact me about a group going out on a moonlight hike and he asked me if I'd like to come along. He was leading a group of hikers coordinated over the internet on the meetup.com website. I'd never done anything like that so I thought it might be fun for a change.

The group, The Palm Springs and Inland Empire Hiking Group was meeting behind the Target in Palm Desert and doing the Bump and Grind Trail similar to what I'd done last month. I wasn't able to make their actual meeting time so I showed up as soon as I could.

By the time I arrived almost an hour after the group started, they were well on their way up the trail.

And the moon was already on the rise.

Of course with the moon coming up so high on this cloudless night I'd have no problem seeing my way and I was able to leave my headlamp in my backpack and depend entirely on moonlight.

But the group left a little glow stick at the trail junction just in case.

It's a good thing, too. If someone were coming late who didn't know their way, they may have ended up going to wrong direction and found themselves at the Palm Desert Cross instead.

Tonight was quite humid for here, somewhere in the 30% range. The tropical moisture from Tropical Storm Jimena has not brought any rain but it's certainly brought some stickiness. I made my way up the trail and caught up to the group at the top of Bump and Grind.

Everyone was standing on the edge of the plateau enjoying the view of the lights below.

It was a very good sized group for a Thursday night. They'd considered doing Friday but since the group is based in Riverside they didn't want to fight Friday night traffic coming out here and who could blame them?

After enjoying the view and conversation, the group headed down the road section back to the parking area. It's always nice to meet other people who enjoy hiking and if you're looking for a group to go out with you should check it out. And if hiking in the moonlight sounds like fun, Friday is the true Full Moon.

Bumpin' and Grindin' In The Moonlight

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND EIGHTEEN

If you've read my blog for a while you'll know that I'm not a big fan of the Bump and Grind "trail" in Palm Desert. It's crowded, boring and, for a large portion of it, a road. However, there is one time of the month that the trail becomes one of the best choices for a hike in the desert: during full moon.

For those who don't know, the trail starts behind the Palm Desert Target. If you come here during the day, this place is packed--even during summer. Tonight, though, I am the only one here. It's the first time I've ever been alone on this trail. It's kinda creepy.

The moon creates an incredible amount of light and except for a few areas where the trail is in the shadow, no other source of light is required.

The Mike Schuler Trail is the trail that connects to the Bump and Grind "trail". The start of the Hopalong Cassidy Trail is also at the same location but this is the only sign. I don't know why but maybe Mr. Schuler being the trail master had something to do with it.

The trail has been widened since the last time I did it but to get a picture of it requires a flash. You can see it well with the naked eye but the camera just can't do it without help.

I don't follow the trail to its highest point because even at night the trail is a little bit boring. Next month, I am going to put out an open invitation and, hopefully, I can get some company to come along. The next full moon is Friday, September 4. Mark your calendars.

Midnight at the Oasis

DAY ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY EIGHT

While the full moon was last night/this morning at 2:21 but tonight will be close enough to full for me. I've learned from my earlier full moon excursions and will not be going out too early. Tonight I'll be waiting until the wife and kiddies are in bed and be going out late. I don't know how good of pictures I'll be able to get but the light will be better. No flashlight will be required.

I took this picture of the moon coming up on my way home from work this evening. It will be significantly brighter later.

I'll update later when I get back.

11:51 p.m. Just got back and it was beautiful tonight. The weather was perfect and the light bright and energizing. There was even a nice breeze. My son thought I was crazy when I told him I was going out on a hike and called me and idiot but he's a teenager. I thought my dad was an idiot when I was that age, too. It's part of growing. Of course, if he keeps calling me an idiot, I don't know how much older he'll get but tonight I wasn't too worried about it. I don't need my son's approval to do something.

The moon lit the whole sky. I tried to get a picture of the shadow of the mountains but no luck. If anyone has a Hassleblad they'd like to donate, then I'd be happy to learn how to use it.

I did manage to get a little better picture of the moon with my digital zoom.

There were actually a few other people out enjoying the moonlight. One young couple and some dude just standing staring up at the moon. I didn't want to interrupt either party so I just did my hike and headed back.

The lights of the city below was more memorable than I've been able to collect an image of. Actually, the same thing can be said of the entire evening. It's a wonderful experience walking in the light of the full moon. Next month, why not come along?