2011 - 05 Ladder and Painted Canyon Loop

This is the last hike I have planned in the Mecca Hills for this winter.  I was reading more about this area and was surprised to find that the hills were formed by a violent upheaval along a spur of the San Andreas Fault.  This is the major fault of the merging of the North American and Pacific Plates.  The rock you see in the photographs have been worked over for centuries of earthquakes and is 600 million years old. 

The loop trail was about 5 miles long and had an elevation change of 800 feet. 



After we walked about 1/2 mile from our vehicles we entered the Ladder Canyon.  We had to do a bit of a rock scramble over the more recent rock fall.



Some of the ladders are made of wood but most are aluminium.  There are many different ways that they are negotiated.



I was a little nervous about hanging my camera over the edge for this photo.




Part of the attraction is walking and climbing in such a narrow space.  If you feel claustrophobic you can always look up and see the sky.




A view of the hills facing toward Palm Springs.  There was also a view of the Salton Sea from this point.




We had 13 in our group and as you see by the cairn many more people have left their rock to say I made it through the ladders.

 Once we made it to the top of Ladder Canyon we walked along a ridge to the top of the Painted Canyon. A short descent from there and we were at the canyon floor.  The canyon has wonderful colours, shapes and in places you do get the impression that someone did paint the canyon.



Zebra rock





This rock looks like petrified wood




This view shows the last of the ladders on the painted canyon.




Three different colours of canyon wall. How did that happen?



2011 - 04 Murray Canyon Trail

Today was one of the best hikes to date.  Murray Canyon is located on First Nations land (Aqua Caliente - Band of Cahuilla Indians) called Indian Canyons.  This hike was listed as moderate and had a destination feature, a waterfall 2 miles from the parking area. After our group walked across an open plain we descended into a small valley that winds upward with an elevation gain of 500 feet.

The canyon has some steep sides and the rain that we had in December has the Murray Creek quite high making the hike a challenge to make it across the rocks without dipping your feet our any other part of your body.

The terrain was so green that the rocks stand out sharply between the earth and sky.



This is the first view of Murray Creek. Cool and inviting after walking in the hot sun.




This view shows the higher mountains in the San Jacinto Range




Lizards were everywhere and some thought if they stood still they would be safe.




The large rock chunk at the base of this hill calved off quite recently.  You can see the fresh colour unlike the rusty patina created over many years by water, sun and wind.





Excitement is based on how wet and how far the rocks are placed apart.  Crossing the creek was also an opportunity to prove to the ladies on the hike that chivalry was not dead.




This photo shows the piles of debris left by December's rain. The piles are at least 5 feet high.





Looking back down the trail from our steepest ascent




Destination Waterfall





Leave me alone or I will give you the evil eye





The way back to the parking area had it's rewards.  If you hike a loop trail you have to remember to turn and look back so you can see the view behind as well as the one ahead.




Just back along the plain and we will be back to the cars.

After we finished the main hike we drove over to the Trading Post in another part of the Indian Canyons.  There were more trails, creeks, another beautiful waterfall and of course the Trading Post to buy a treat or souvenir.  


Water has sculptured the rocks like a piece of fine art.




I had to add a picture of my sculptured body to match the rocks.  The hat is practical in the hot sun and as my mother would add "you aren't a fashion plate!" 



2011 - 03 Never Ending Canyon Loop

The Never Ending Canyon is described as a maze turning left and right, right and left as you gradually increase elevation to the top of the ridge.  Toward the top many hikers were wondering if we would get out of the canyon.  
I used the book '120 Great Hikes' as a reference and it described keeping to the left as you pass the rusty icebox and then you will pass a rusted old car wreck... These are about the only pieces of junk and the rest of the hike had great views. 

Global Position System plot of our hike. Note the zig zags on the way up (counter clockwise)




Borrego Aster showing it's first blooms even though the old flowers are still on the stems

 


One of the many slot canyons.  You can chose many canyons but some come to an abrupt end.

 


The last rainfall loosened the wall of the canyon and we had to make a detour over the pile of debris.






View from the top

 



Shadows and ridges go on and on

 

 The book describes the above photo: From here, begin climbing down the gentle slope that marks the next canyon on your left. This stair-step decent is relatively easy and is not marked by excessive steepness or thick bush.
I think the trail could be described as deteriorated in places.  One of our hikers had a bit of a fall here but thankfully no injury.



Almost back to the vehicles, just taking a shady break.

   

2011 - 02 The Living Desert

The Living Desert is located in Indian Wells against the background of the Santa Rosa Mountains.  One of the mountains is the Eisenhower and there is a trail from the Living Desert that loops through the base of this mountain.  Anyone who wants to hike it will have to wait a month as it is under repair due to the recent rains.

After Linda and I arrived at the park we thought we would take a guided tour and were sitting on a bench.  We were interrupted by a chitter in the bush behind us.  I started looking and found this small fellow preening.  After viewing the bird we decided to strike off on our own and these are our photos.



Hummingbird with a case of morning bed head

  

Hummingbird preening - I have never seen this before!

There were many sculptures and examples of how the Locals (Chahuilla tribe) lived and foraged in the area.  Most of the indigenous plants are labeled and there are some native animals that roam naturally through the park.  They also have caged areas for birds and animals that aren't able to be returned to the wild.  It was hard to witness their incarceration but some would say it is better than death.  We saw a green heron sitting in the trees adjacent to an aviary trying to talk to the guys inside.  Maybe he was trying to arrange a prison break.

American Goldfinch

I wondered why they were in such large numbers and realized they were being fed

Screwbean Mesquite
These pods are shaped like a screw and full of seed

Desert Marigold

Monarch Butterfly

Baja Fairy Duster
Looks very similar to a Bottlebrush

Plants with mountains in background

Yellow-winged Cacique

Mexican Cholla

Nice shot with the sun highlighting the needles

Another mix of vegetation

Pond reflections
Smoke tree [Smokethorn (Psorothamnus spinosus)] and reeds





There is even a miniature railroad depicting the history of rail in the Coachella Valley