Between Devil Canyon and Martinez Landslide

DAY THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY SEVEN

There's an Indian Trail that heads from Devil Canyon in South La Quinta over toward the Martinez Landslide. I know it's there because I stumbled on it months ago while returning from another hike. I went out today to try and locate it.

By the time I get to my starting point, the area where I plan on hiking is already well in the shade. In the summer, I would have greatly appreciated it but right now it's a tad chilly.

I get to the trail and ascend onto the little mesa area above the wash. The trail quickly dies out. I may have taken the wrong path.

I hit a few intermittent trails along the way but none of them last for very long. I am certainly not on the path that I intended to travel but it's too late to go back now. I know where I'm going so I'll just continue on.

In addition to the little trails I find something else that lets me know that I'm not the only one who comes out here and wanders around.

Hiking over to the landslide area is about a couple miles. It doesn't look that far but the terrain is challenging with lots of up and down travel and rocks. I finally make it over to the base of the landslide and then go to explore an area with these large rocks. Not much to see here.

The only thing I find is this little small mortar.

But there is a trail. I am going to follow it for a while because there is no way I am going back the way I came, over the rocks, in the dark.

I follow the trail until I come to a road, which I will follow until I hit an old vineyard.

There's an old tumbledown shack and lots of trash. Anyone who doesn't think that recycling makes a difference has never seen a big pile of old cans like this. I've seen several of these around the desert. Now that cans are worth money there will never be another pile like this. Someone would pick these up and cash in.

There's not enough moonlight to walk without a headlamp but it's a beautiful evening and I make it back knowing where the trail is not and a better idea of where it is for the next time. Hopefully, I'll be able to start a bit earlier then.

Magnesia Falls Mine and Bighorn Sheep

THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY FOUR

Magnesia Falls Canyon in Rancho Mirage is only open three months of the year, from October through December. It is really a shame because the canyon is a special place and spring is the best time to visit it.

Lots of people hike the canyon but I'm sure very few of them know there's a trail that leaves the canyon and heads up to a mining site. It's not a large mine, only some trenches and one pit short shaft about fifteen feet deep. I also think there's got to be a trail that leads to Cathedral City from the canyon. I haven't been able to follow it all the way but I know it's there. I'll find it yet.

After the hike in along a flood control ditch, you get to the fun stuff.

Climbing this big dry fall is much easier than it looks.

Someone has been up here and done a little work since I was here last. Either that or the rain just washed this clean and it looks new.

I hike up the canyon until I get to a big mesquite thicket. This is the site of Magnesia Spring. One thing I've learned from years of hiking in the desert is that where there is mesquite, there were sure to be have been Indians. It was a main food source for them.

I don't have to look far until I find some evidence of Indian activity.

With a little more exploration, I find a trail. I thought I saw this the last time I was in the canyon but it's nice to be sure.

I gain the ridge and see a couple of hikers in the canyon below.

The trail is mostly easy to follow but there are a few sections where I have to backtrack.

I notice from above some diggings in the earth and discover the mining area. I'd been here about twenty years ago but did not remember exactly how to get here.

I don't know what was mined up here but the earth has a different look to it.

There are several large trenches and this one vertical shaft about ten or fifteen feet deep.

I leave the mining area and start to head over in the direction of Cathedral City, hoping to find a distinct trail. What I find are several trails.

Some of which I'm sure were made by this guy.

He stands as if he is sizing me up for a while and then moves and crosses the slope below me.

He finds a good vantage point and stops again to check me out.

He's not really in a hurry to get anywhere which is good because it gives me time to get a few more pictures. One of these days I'm going to have to get a better camera, though.

It is amazing how well his body color matches that of the surrounding landscape. There have been times I have tried to point Bighorn out to groups of hikers where they couldn't be seen until they moved. They can be very well camouflaged.

I know some of the trails were made by the Bighorn but I doubt that they made this.

The trail I'm following, though, is heading more toward the Thunderbird Cove area in Rancho Mirage and not into Cathedral City as I'd hoped.

I'm going to have to do some more exploring in order to find the route that I want.

But it will have to be another day since the sun is already behind the hill and I've got a long way to go to get back and down the dry falls before dark.

Thankfully, I make it. Climbing up this fall during the day isn't too bad but I don't know how climbing down in the dark would be. I'm happy I don't have to find out.

Red Canyon and Gucci Spring

DAY THREE HUNDRED AND THIRTY SEVEN

Some days I have no idea where I'll end up when I set out to hike and today was one of those. I had several ideas about place and I ended going to none of them. For some reason I was drawn to head down Interstate 10 heading toward Arizona. There were options on a number of outings that I've done but just not this year. The Lost Palms Oasis, Victory Palms or Carey's Castle were possibilities. I chose none of them. Instead I headed out to an area south of the Orocopia Mountains. I don't know why. That's just where I ended up.

It is important that you pay close attention to where you're driving down here. There's something about live ordnance that could really wreck your day.

I decide to drive back near this giant sand castle and see what's around.

A 4WD is pretty much necessary to get access to most of the places around here.

But there are some places even a Jeep can't go. The canyon ends pretty soon here at a dry sandstone waterfall that I will not attempt to climb alone. I think it's climbable but, in case it's not, I like having a spotter. So I'm off to somewhere else.

There are a ton of little canyons in these mountains so I'll have to be coming back again but today is just an exploratory trip, anyway.

I hike up a steep old Jeep trail and look down on where I came from.

There is no real place that I have to go and see but I can tell there are a couple of old foot paths that lead out of other canyons that may be worthy of future exploration.

It's obvious that I'm not the first explorer in these parts.

After taking in the view I decide to head off someplace else.

Now this is a place I just have to check out.

After a hike up a wash I come to the site of Gucci Spring. I think Prada Spring and Dolce and Gabbana Spring are right around the corner.

The water is cold and clear.

The white minerals left on the surface by the water looks almost like a thin layer of snow.

Looking around a bit I come upon a trail leaving the spring and heading east. The earth here has a rich brown color that looks like milk chocolate.

The trail continues onward but to where? When was the last time this trail was in regular use and where did the trail users live? I will definitely be coming back here. In just a short afternoon I found several interesting canyons and a couple of trails that I never knew existed. Imagine what I might find in a weekend.

Bedeviled and Bewildered

DAY THREE HUNDRED AND THIRTY TWO

A few weeks ago I went south of Devil Canyon in La Quinta and discovered a new--to me--Indian Trail. I saw two Bighorn on that hike but didn't have my camera so had to take pictures with my iPhone which didn't turn out that great. Today I went back over there hoping to see those sheep again and this time I not only had my camera but I also brought a camcorder.

As exciting as it is to see sheep, what really thrilled me about that trip was the new trail. I followed it as far as I could but lost it. I'm hoping I can pick it up again and see where it goes.

This afternoon was perfect for hiking. Cool, overcast and with some rain falling in the distance.

There are some dark clouds up in the direction that I'll be going; I hope they don't decide to start dumping on me. All I have on is a cotton shirt.

It's amazing how easily I find the trail. I gain elevation and can see the rain really coming down over near the Indio Hills. I kinda wish I were over there.

This trail is one of the most well defined in this area. I just hope I can find out where it goes.

Today there are no Bighorn although they've definitely been here. This well used sheep den has some fresh droppings.

I look high to see if I can find the continuation of the trail. No luck here.

I look across the hill but there's nothing there, either. I have no idea where this trail goes and it's very frustrating.

Another frustration is how little time I have to look. The clouds and the night descend quickly and I've got to get out of here.

How such a well defined trail just diminishes into nothing is a mystery. Where does it go? Why can't I find it?

What I really need to do is come up here with a full day so I can make as many wrong turns as I need in order to find the right way.

If there is one.