With Hope Unwavering

DAY THREE HUNDRED AND SIXTY FOUR

Way back in January when I started this endeavor I went and hiked up the hill behind Saint Francis of Assisi Church here in La Quinta. There's a cross at the top of the hill and I thought that would be fun to hike up to. I was wrong. The hillside was mostly loose rocks and not fun at all. The view was good but that was about all. On top of that, I lost my keys. I went back a few times to try and find them but no luck. I figured I'd try one more time.

Find the original story here.

I'm looking up the chute that I have to climb and I feel like I've returned to a bad dream. These rocks are not made for climbing. They are loose and unstable, not fun.

The climbing goes quickly and I get to where I have to traverse to the cross. I won't be going down this way and I'm glad.

I traverse over to the cross and climb the final slope to the top. This is terrible climbing with loose rocks on top of loose dirt. I have to commend whoever it was that hauled a cross up here.

The view, however, is wonderful.

I hear a screech from the north and see a couple of Red Tail Hawks dancing on the breeze.

I watch them for several minutes until they disappear into the heavens.

I know my keys are somewhere on this face but I am not looking forward to the climb down.

I did come better prepared this time, though. I brought a collapsible ski pole to help my balance on the way down. I also say a prayer as well, just in case.

I hike down the face and get to the cross just above the church parking lot and while I saw old cans and tatters of mylar balloons there are no keys. I leave to hike down to the parking lot and wonder if it's really worth another trip up here. I get to where I'm about fifteen feet above the parking lot and realize I'm off route. I start to move over to get back on course and...

Oh My God! It's a miracle! I cannot believe what I am seeing but it is my keys. They are here in plain view and I cannot believe that I nor anyone else ever spotted them. They have been sitting here, exposed to the elements, for almost a full year. Even more unbelievable is when I get home the keyless remote still opens The Wife's minivan.

I have just one day left and I will have succeeded in hiking every day for this entire year. It's been an incredible experience and one I don't plan on doing again...like this hike. When you've done what you've set out to do, why do it again?

That doesn't mean I don't have plans for next year and beyond. Stay tuned for what's next. Hiking every day for a year is only the beginning.

Counting on a Miracle

Day Sixty Nine

There are many stories in the Bible about things that are lost. There's the story of the Good Shepherd and the lost sheep. There's the one about a lost key. And the prodigal son was probably lost in some way. Moses and the Israelites were lost in the desert for forty years. My story is the story about the lost keys.

A couple of months ago I lost my keys on a hike behind the St. Francis of Assisi Church in La Quinta. Today I went--again--to look for them. Again, I came up with nothing. But don't worry, I'm not a quitter. I will try again.

There's this cool overhanging rock in the back of the church near where I go up the hill. I've always wanted to have a huge boulder in my backyard. I think it would be better than a jungle gym.

Looks like this cross got a new paint job. I keep hoping someone will find my keys and lay them by one of these crosses on the hill. Not today, though.

The climb is a lot of steep and loose rocks. I am extra careful and watch every step. With the great weather I'm also wary of snakes. I don't want to put my hand on a rattler.

There are a lot of flowers on the hillside. Beside the usual Brittlebush are these Rock Daisies.

There are also tons of these Notch-Leafed Phacelias.

How come I can find a rusty old can from 1965 but no keys?

I hate coming down this steep dirt section near the top. It's tempting to want to slide down it on your butt. However, I don't scoot on my butt like a dog with worms. I may go down on my head sometimes but on my butt, never.

There is a terrific view from up here. It looks like lots of people are enjoying tennis at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. That would bore me to tears but I'm glad they're here. We can use the business.

There's also a nice view of still snow covered Toro Peak.

After my climb I go to the church to see if someone has turned my keys in to lost and found. There is a time to search and a time to give up as lost, Ecclesiastes says. The time for giving up as lost hasn't come yet, but it's close. Real close.

Keys to the Kingdom (updated)

January 11, 2009

Day Eleven

There are some hikes that only need to be done once.  Today's was one of them.  I did it twice, however, and am going to be doing it again tomorrow.  

Why?  

I lost my keys.

I should know better.  It's not the first time.

Years ago, I lost a set of keys on hike and have been very careful with my keys ever since. Today, though, I was in kind of a hurry and just clipped my keys onto my belt loop with a carabiner and went.  I didn't want to take a pack so I figured that was enough.  Wrong!  It's a terrible feeling when you get to your vehicle to discover that you do not have your keys.

I backtracked and did the whole hike in reverse without any luck.  But the light was getting dim and I always carry a spare key so I gave up the search and will return tomorrow.  Hopefully in broad daylight I'll have better luck and will be able to find them.  I will post pictures tomorrow because right now I'm just a bit too tired and disgusted with myself to do so.

I really had a great hike planned for Monday but that's going to have to wait.  I may be spending my day with a locksmith.

Update with pictures:

No, I didn't find my keys even though I have now done this little hike three times.  My wife tells me that my neighbor has a metal detector and I may borrow it before I go again.  I know they're there and I don't give up easily.

This is where I went up.  There is a cross on the hilltop behind the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in La Quinta.  Can you see it on the top?  Me, neither but I know it's there so I'm be scrambling up this loose, steep gully to get there.

Success!  I don't know who put this up here but thanks a lot.  Unless this cross was here, there i is no way I'd consider humping it up this nondescript hilltop to nowhere.

At least there is a nice view from the top.

As I make my way down, I come upon another cross.  Maybe I'll kneel here and pray I find my keys on my NEXT trip up here.

Well, now that I've made it down, look what I get to climb up again!!  Since it hasn't killed me, I guess it's making me stronger.

This actually would've been a pretty fun little adventure if not for my key mishap.  If I ever do find my keys, I'm going to start looking the the Lost Dutchman's Mine and 

Pegleg Smith's gold.