Summer Session

DAY ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY SIX

Sticking close to home I went to a place I've been quite a few times this year: The Coachella Valley Preserve. Today, though, was quite different than any other time I'd been so far this year.

The first thing I noticed is that there were no cars in the parking lot. None! This is the first time I've ever been to the Preserve when I had it all to myself.

The next thing I noticed is that the mesquite were in full fruition. The mesquite pods were long and green and almost ready of harvest. I'd like to see how these taste since they were a food staple of the Cahuilla Indians.

Finally, I noticed that the place is closed down tight. No wonder there are no cars here; there's no one to greet visitors. I don't mind that because I do my own thing anyway but sometimes it's nice to have company.

Not only is the Visitor's Center closed but the McCallum Grove, my favorite short hike, is also closed. I don't know what type of work would require four months to complete but let's hope they don't try to turn it into Disneyland. Just keep it simple.

While they're doing summer maintenance I hope they do a little trimming since the reeds are already starting to take over this walkway.

Finishing the walkway would also be nice. This project started several months ago and it looks like it's on hold. I don't know but maybe they should finish this before starting on the pond. The pond seemed OK last time I was there.

A little trimming around the trail would be good, too. Maybe I can bring loppers next month when I come.

Well, the pond is definitely closed and there a couple of trucks with workers there.

I decide to go to the vista point instead. I can't go to the grove but at least I can check it out from above.

On the way back I see the unmistakable track of a Sidewinder. I pay very close attention to every step from here on out. I definitely don't want to accidentally step on this guy.

Although I don't see another soul on this hike, I see enough critters out on the trail so I know I'm certainly not alone. It's only the tourists who leave in the summer; we locals are still around.

A Trail For the Future

DAY ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY FIVE

As I mentioned yesterday, due to work I am stuck in town for the next few days and won't be able to do something out of town until the weekend. So I figured I'd just head up to the top of the La Quinta Cove and do a lap around the trail up there.

At the top of the cove are lots of signs. This one for some vigilante group is adjacent to the trailhead.

I decide to walk toward this mountain to start my lap on some trail I've hiked before. Where the trail abuts the mountain there is a concrete water diversion that is covered with graffiti. Maybe I should report it to the Top of the Cove people although I wonder why they don't know about it already.

As I get to where the trail heads up I see this wash over on the right and decide to go this way instead. Since I have to go to a place I've already been, at least I can go a way I've never gone.

The wash doesn't go very far so I decide to head up to the alluvial fan above it.

There is no trail here but someone's been here. This is perfect for Kahlua even though the locking mechanism doesn't work. I take it with me.

I go up toward the mountain and hang a right. This would be a nice place to a trail for people to walk their dogs. There's a little elevation gain, there's a nice view and there aren't any sheep here.

There's a nice view looking down toward the wash that leads to the Boo Hoff trail.

Here's where it could connect with the existing trail.

I don't know if this "new" trail would get as much use as this trail but it wasn't that long ago that this trail didn't exist, either.

So this is where the next trail in La Quinta should go, up along the base of this hill. It would make for a nice loop and be a great addition to the trails here. Next time I have to do a lap here near home I know where I'm going.

Summer Reruns

DAY ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY FOUR

As much as I like to do a different hike every day it's just not possible, especially in the summer. Most people take vacations in the summer but my work is busy right now. It used to be that the season happened, well, during the season. Now the summer is the season. Of course, people don't come here to hike in the summer. And that's OK. I don't like crowded trails.

I headed up the trail and mercifully it is fully engulfed in shade. The air temperature is 100º but it actually feels very tolerable, even comfortable.

Right near the top of the trail someone has started to build this little rock circle. I used to build forts when I was a kid and this is sorta the same thing.

I'm going to head up to this little canyon. I went there a few months ago with Nikolas and his friend, Jakob. This time it is just Kahlua and I.

This trail sign has been replaced since the last time I was up here. Kahlua gives it a sniff but she's a female so it doesn't get christened.

It even got a new sign in addition to the new pole.

When I first hiked this trail about 20 years ago it was barely detectable. Now it is easy to follow. I feel two ways about this. One, I'm glad that people are getting out and appreciating the wonderful wild areas in the desert. But then I also am worried about what that might bring. There are already some signs of abuse like graffiti on some rocks and beer bottles and cans left along the trail. Some people just don't know how to treat wilderness.

Kahlua is very excited to go into the canyon. You never know what you might find. Of course, sometimes it's nothing.

Or nothing much. Someone built this little dam to catch water. It probably hasn't held any water in months but I'm sure it would extend how long water stays here by a couple of days.

This dry fall had a little water coming down it the last time I was here but this time it is completely dry. One day I am going to try to explore this canyon to the end but I need to do so when the weather is cooler and with someone else along. There are a LOT of loose rocks to climb and it would be better to have someone along just in case.

There is just a little moisture remaining in the sand here and a colony of bees have decided to build a home in the sand. I'm not going to get too close. I'm still just a tad skittish around bees right now.

While this canyon feels like it is so isolated and wild, it is just a short distance from civilization.

And as much as Kahlua loves going hiking, she's glad to get back and get some water.

Happy Birthday to Me

DAY ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY THREE

I've done some great hikes on my birthday. Once I hiked the PCT from Hwy 74 to the Tram, well over thirty miles. I've done a traverse of San Gorgonio from Fish Creek to Angeles Oaks, about 28 miles. Today's hike was nothing like that. That doesn't mean I didn't have a great day; I just didn't do a marathon hike.

I went with my son up to the Mount Palomar Observatory. There's not a lot up there except the telescope and a little gift shop. It is still very cool and there's a trail there. That'll be my hike today.

The trail heads down through the Sage and Oak and I guess it goes up to the back side of the Observatory. There's not really a map at the trailhead.

Some people may use this bench but we don't need it; the trail is easy.

The trail crosses this little bridge and there is actually still some water in this little creek.

The landscape is pretty in sections and the weather up here is beautiful. There are a far amount of bugs, though, and I'm a little skittish around bees for some reason.

The trail just keeps going and while I'd like to get to the end of it, Nikolas is anxious to get on to the Wild Animal Park which is our next stop so we turn around before the end.

Although the trail doesn't actually go to the Observatory we do get a view of it through the trees. Sort of.

Here's a better view of it just because.

We headed on to the Wild Animal Park and probably did more walking there than we did on the trail but I won't count that. Mount Palomar is a very cool area and I hope to get back again and finish this hike and try some of the other hikes on the mountain. The Wild Animal Park was fun and that's another place we have to go back to. But now I'm just gonna enjoy some cake.

Trail of our Fathers

DAY ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY TWO

The Cahuilla Indians inhabited the desert for thousands of years before Europeans came to America. They were the original desert rats and the first trail builders in and around the Coachella Valley. In a sense, they are the fathers of all of us who hike here.

I went to go and hike by the Martinez landslide area but found the gate closed and locked. No Trespassing means "find another way" to an adventurer.

I parked on a road over by the Torrez Martinez reservation and walked along the flood control dike until I got to this little canyon near the water line of ancient Lake Cahuilla.

Down below the dike there is a lot of old junk from farmers in the area. Most of what's here are fire pots for keeping crops warm on freezing nights.

After leaving the junk yard I walk along this little trail toward the nearest canyon. I am aware that this was underwater at one time. Notice the travertine covered rock on the left and the waterline up ahead.

I know there's a trail on the hillside but I don't know where it starts on this side of the hill. It starts by the fish traps on the other side but here is harder to determine.

I decide to hike up toward this canyon instead.

It's a good decision because I quickly find a trail monument.

There are several all along the hillside and while the trail is not distinct it is pretty easy to follow. There are three trail shrines in just this one picture.

There are also a few sections where the trail really stands out.

I can't follow the trail very far and get to a place where I can't determine where it goes. It could continue up the canyon or steep up the side of the hill toward the ridge. It probably was not a good time to go exploring late on a Sunday afternoon in late June in the desert. How far did I think I could go?

Heading back down toward my vehicle I imagine how this area must have looked with a giant lake filling this entire basin. It had to have been incredible.