Beyond The Quarry

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND SEVENTY EIGHT

I'm tired and sore today. Not because of my hike yesterday or work. On my way home from hiking I stopped off at the park for a little football with my teenage son and some of his buddies. One of the kid's dads and I taught the youngsters a football lesson but it's been a long time since I sprinted and hiking doesn't really prepare you for that. Last night I could hardly walk and my back was killing me but thanks to modern pharmaceuticals and a hot, hot shower I'm feeling better today. And this afternoon's hike also helped.

I pulled behind the Quarry Golf Club to explore a little canyon that I saw on a hike earlier this year. Instead of hiking to its flank I will go up from the bottom of the canyon.

There's a little trail that passes south of the country club and heads to the canyons beyond.

Kahlua is wondering why I'm moving just a little slower than usual today.

This is the canyon I'm looking for. There are about 20,000 little no name canyons in the Santa Rosas and all of them have the potential of holding something interesting.

This canyon has seen a lot of erosion. The water that comes down here must be incredible considering the size of some of the rocks that have been washed down this canyon.

The side of the canyon has lots of interesting geology; too bad I haven't had a class in geology in about 30 years. I think this to the left is composite or something.

Some of the erosion has given Kahlua little places to play. There are some nice animal beds out here but no sign of any critters.

There's nothing like a little hike to eliminate a little post football soreness. I feel much better now than when I started.

But even though Kahlua wants to keep going we've got to get back because it's the wife's birthday and we've got to go help her eat some ice cream. Happy 29th, honey!

Cathedral Canyon Trail

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND SEVENTY SEVEN

After work I went out driving after work, looking for some place to hike. I settled on the Cathedral City cove area figuring I could go up Cathedral Canyon or maybe hike up Dunn Road and see where that would take me.

I start at the top of the Cathedral City Cove and start hiking toward Cathedral Canyon. I quickly come to this sign prohibiting motor vehicles. There's not much area here for motor vehicles so I don't see why this is necessary but whatever.

Rather than going up the canyon I spot this old road going up the hill and decide this might be good so I take it.

It turns out to be a good decision. This little road is STEEP and I gain a couple hundred feet in elevation is about five minutes. It leads to a little level area and then from there is really nice trail. And the best thing about the trail is that it has NO footprints on it, none.

It is somewhat windy and a Red Tail Hawk takes off and enjoys the breezes. I don't mind the wind because the weather is perfect and it makes me feel like I'm flying.

Looking over at Dunn Road I wonder if maybe this trail leads over to it. If it does I'll go down that way.

There are a couple of palms growing in this little cleft in the mountain. There are a few of these little pocket oases up here.

The trail takes me high up above the Coachella Valley and offers nice views.

The trail eventually leads up to where it leads down toward Palm Canyon and the San Jacinto Mountains. I don't have time to head this way today but it's good to know this access point.

It connects to Dunn Road which I'll follow back to the start. There are no footprints here but there are plenty of mountain bike tracks. This is probably the most popular mountain bike route in the area and has been for years.

The road, which was illegally built many years ago, will take me back to the my starting point. It's not as nice as the trail but not having to hike back the same way is a good option. And speaking of options. I saw another trail a bit east of the one I came up that I want to follow next time. I just have to find out where to access it.

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.

Evening Soul

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND SEVENTY FIVE

More often than not I hike alone. I enjoy the solitude, the time to think, soaking in the beauty, serenity and strength of desert landscape. Sometimes, however, there are moments of such sublimity and grace that it's a shame that they cannot be shared with someone else, a person you love. Tonight was one of those nights. I am only sorry that my pictures cannot do it justice.

Sometimes it is the physical exertion that makes a hike enjoyable, while other times it is the scenery, tonight it was the temperature. Every cell of my skin soaked in the absolute perfection that surrounded it. The intense heat of summer has finally come to an end.

After yesterday's long hike, a short and flat hike to Willis Palms was just what I needed. Instead of hiking to the Palms themselves, though, I climbed the hill behind them from the backside up an old abandoned and eroded road that is now used as a trail.

The sun is setting as I get to the top of the hill.

A concrete slab rests where a homestead once stood.

And while no one now lives here, in some ways it feels like home, the place I belong at this moment.

The moon rises and brings its magical light.

As the last light of day falls on the hills in the distance and the moon kisses it goodnight I head home to those I love. My only wish is that they were here instead.

Pushawalla Plateau Joshua Tree National Park

DAY TWO HUNDRED AND SEVENTY FOUR

Joshua Tree National Park has a number of mining districts within its boundaries. There were several gold mines and some of those mines produced a significant amount of the precious metal, especially the Lost Horse Mine. None of the mines within the park are in operation but several can be visited for their historic value. The Pushawalla Plateau Mining District is one of the park's mining districts and that's where I went today.

The mining area is in the Pinyon Well area of the park, just off the Geology Tour Road. A road reached into the area from the Coachella Valley but our access point was from within the Park. I previously hiked into the area on August 8 but did not hike all the way up to the mining area. Now with the much cooler weather and my friend, Charlie, along in case I fell into a mine I decided to go all the way.

The last time into the Pinyon Well area I saw the recently deceased carcass of a Bighorn. There is nothing in the original site of the body but parts of the skeleton are now strewn around. The only thing close to the original site is this skull.

Cement tanks at the site of Pinyon Well.

We stopped by the Water Guzzler and fixed the pipe that was still broken.

Looking down from near the water guzzler I see this chair-like rock.

Further up the wash are the horns from a Bighorn. It is doubtful that they were carried up here from the original location by coyotes so either these are the horns of another Sheep or someone brought them to this location.

We make our way up an old road that is not on the map to a mine and some ruins. We look all around but cannot find the mine. I tromp around, frustrated, unable to find the tunnel I'm looking for. Charlie wonders what I've gotten him into. He figures I've taken him on yet another Hal hell hike to nowhere.

"I found it! It's down here! See I'm not crazy." OK, that last part is debatable but the tunnel is down here.

A small mine, very well disguised, in the middle of nowhere.

The tunnel is not very deep. It goes back only about 70 feet or so, if that.

Above the mine tunnel, we come upon some remains of an old cabin.

Exploring further up the hill I discover the kitchen with its well constructed chimney.

Since we don't have anything to make for lunch I utilize it as a lookout point.

There is a nice view from the kitchen but it's nothing compared what we'll be treated to later.

As we make our way across the hill to another road on the way to more mines, we see Mount San Gorgonio.

We make our way up another old road--this one is shown on the map--to an area with several mines. These rocks are the only remnant of any dwelling that we are able to find.

The first mine we come to is a shallow tunnel that only goes back about twenty feet. We don't even bother to go in.

Then we come to a mine that goes into the hill at about a 45º angle. Charlie wants to check it out but I demur. Not knowing what lies beyond the first few feet we decide not to explore this one without a rope.

The next mine is not an option. It is a deep vertical shaft and extremely dangerous. I do not want to get too close to the edge of this one.

This is as close as I can get without fearing falling in. Even then I hold the camera out to try to get a picture of this abyss.

Charlie loves these mines and wants to return with a rope to go and explore them. I, however, am more interested in the outdoors and, if I came up here with a rope, would be more interested in climbing this wonderful thirty foot spire.

Beyond the mines is a view unequaled in Joshua Tree National Park. To the south it looks out at the Coachella Valley and the Salton Sea. To the north is the Queen Valley and Malapai Hill. West lies the San Jacintos, Banning Pass and San Gorgonio and in the east lies the outer reaches of the Little San Bernardino Mountains. The view itself is worth the effort to get here.

There is so much interesting landscape here that I wish I could stay longer.

Even the old cans up here are interesting.

Click on this photo and you can see how far the views stretch. From the road down I catch a picture of the Geology Tour Road and you can even see my Jeep miles away and over a thousand feet below.

I love hiking in Joshua Tree and am planning on coming up to another part of the park on Saturday, October 3, to enjoy a hike in the full moon. If you'd like to come along, send me an email.