2011 - Whitewater Preserve

The following two paragraphs I grabbed of the website so if it sounds too well written that is the reason.

The Whitewater Preserve is 2,826 acres surrounded by the Bureau of Land Management San Gorgonio Wilderness and includes the year-round Whitewater River. Rich riparian habitat hosts the endangered Southwest willow flycatcher and Bell's vireo and provides the opportunity to see migrating summer tanagers and vermilion flycatchers. The canyon has a robust population of bighorn sheep, deer and bear and is an important wildlife corridor between the San Bernardino and San Jacinto Mountains. The Wildlands Conservancy purchased an additional 3,200 acres in the Whitewater corridor that was donated to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). These donated lands include sand dunes that are home to the endangered fringe-toed lizard at Windy Point at the confluence of the Whitewater and San Gorgonio Rivers.

The Whitewater Trout Farm's historic building has been transformed into a visitor facility and ranger station. Other visitor facilities include individual and group picnic areas and campgrounds that are overshadowed by steep vertical cliffs where bighorn sheep are often spotted. There is a trailhead leading to the Pacific Crest Trail and paver paths around the ponds for the elderly. Fishing is limited to organized catch and release programs for kids in which all equipment is provided.

I am sorry to report I didn't take any photos of the trout ponds as the original intention was to hike the Canyon View Loop Trail (3.5 mile loop).  We started out well but blasted past the turnoff to the loop thinking it was the southern entrance but no it was the northern entrance so we ended up within spitting distance from a spot called the Red Dome before we decided we had hike passed our turn.  This hike was very enjoyable and gave us wonderful views of the Whitewater Wash. We walked approximately 4 miles and had an elevation gain of 348 feet but the hike back was all downhill.

The Pacific Crest Trail borders Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land and so one of it's many uses is hunting.  As we were hiking the near the west side of the canyon we heard a guy very close by firing a shotgun.  After we got back we asked the rangers and they said they could hunt in those areas but weren't allowed to fire across the trail.  Of course that answer doesn't sound all that reassuring especially if the guys is hiding in the shrubs and gets disorientated. I guess he was hunting quail funny we didn't see many birds on our hike.

We stopped by the turn off for the loop and confirmed that I should have asked for directions but I'm a guy and we just don't ask.

Whitewater River - actually this is one of two main streams that make up the river.

It would be easier crossing if the guy taking the picture would untangle his dog

After the dog jam things got easier but we were delayed by our team doing the Japanese tourist imitation

View of the Ranger Station/Fish pond area in their fall colours

East side of canyon

My interesting plant shot.  Anybody know it's name?

2011 - Horsethief Creek Hike

We started our excursion by leaving Indio at sea level and travelling 40 km up the winding mountain highway #74 into the Santa Rosa Mountains, parking at 1230 meters above sea level. 

Our hike was rated as easy/moderate and we walked about 7.6 km (4.7 miles) and the elevation change was about 203 meters (666 ft.).  The trail took us beside an old dolomite mine and on through a valley with many hill crests formed from the surrounding hills.  We had the impression that we were going downhill more than up and of course on the way back to the truck it became very obvious that we were expending far more energy getting back.

This is the vertical profile of our hike.  The start point is on the top right and the creek is at the bottom left.

The trail started off as an old road to the dolomite mine.

 

As we crested the hills it was a great opportunity to take a photo of the next section of valley and as we got closer to the creek we hoped to see a creek.



The hillsides are showing evidence of extreme geological activity

Horsethief Creek Valley - This is the most colourful time of year as the cottonwoods are changing colour.

Horsethief Creek

We saw many animals but unfortunately were only able to get a photo of a small lizard.  There were squirrels and other rodents. We also saw some birds close to the water filled streams.

He blends into his surroundings quite well.



The scenery was made more spectacular by the abundance and variety of vegetation.  Different species of plants were clustered together and thriving. 

California Scrub Oak

Desert Fuchsia

Juniper bush loaded with berries

The environment overwhelmed this tree

And this tree seems to be overwhelming this rocky hillside

Century Plant - is part of the Agava family and is misnamed as it only lives 10 - 30 years.
This one sent up a large bloom and then died finishing its life cycle. 
You can see a new plant just behind
this one, probably a sucker off the original plant.

As we finished our hike the sun was shining on this hill covered with a selection of green and rust coloured plants and dotted by tan coloured rocks.

2011 - Morro Bay

Before we went to Morro Bay we spent a weekend in Gilroy CA.  We had our friends from San Francisco area come down and visit.  We had an opportunity to visit a few wineries and also headed out to the coast to Moss Landing to sample a famous seafood restaurant, Phil's Seafood Market.  The food was great and we also had a walk in on the beach to get a bit of an appetite. 

We also had some RV work to do and so my friend and I were off to Camping World to get supplies.  I was very surprised that they let people ride around the store.  I was even more surprised when the clerk threw me the keys and said I could take it for a spin.  I only 'almost' hit a woman at the end of an aisle.

Morro Bay has a long history and the rock that stands 576 feet has drawn many different people to it and the entrance of the harbour.  First it was the Chumash Indians as early as 47 centuries before Christ and then Spaniards in 1542 and then surfers, power para gliders and just ordinary beach walking tourists like ourselves today.

In the 1800's they were quarrying the rock for breakwaters but thankfully the citizens got together to stop the practice in 1968 and it is now a refuge for Peregrine Falcon.  We also saw many other birds in the tidal waters.

 

This morning there were a dedicated bunch of surfers enjoying the waves that the wind kicked up overnight.  You can't make them out in the photo but they are just off to the right in the picture below.

Lin and I went for a drive through town  and saw they had many tourist shops, bakeries, restaurants and places you can rent boats or charter for fishing.  We hit the coast at a perfect time, lots of sunshine but the wet weather is on the way so it is time to start heading to the desert.

Morro Rock

Power Para Glider learning takeoff and landing.

Sunsets around here usually have a large audience.

2011 Another Journey Starts and Crater Lake

We left Parksville BC on the morning of the 25th October and the weather was beautiful.  The ferry ride from Duke Point in Nanaimo over to Twassawan (Vancouver) was great.  The strait was almost like glass and just before the ferry docked we had our lunch.  Lin picked an excellent spot at the front of the ferry right beside the floor to ceiling windows.  Nothing like munching on a White Spot burger watching our destination coming into view.

Lin enjoying the view as she knits.

After three nights in Vancouver we headed across the border and on the 30th of October we stopped between Grants Pass and Medford Oregon at a place called Gold Hill at the KOA.  It is an older park but it had all the services we require and it is right beside the highway leading to Crater Lake's western entrance.

The next morning the weather report was favourable and the web cam at the lake showed sunshine on the crater rim so we were off on our long awaited adventure.  I have wanted to visit Crater Lake since we started snow birding in 2003. 

The trip to the park took almost one and a half hours through farm land, forest and beside creeks and rivers.  The fall colours are out and in one spot in the forest the deciduous trees were on display below the pines that towered above them.   As we neared the park entrance the pine trees were glistening with water drops as the sun had just melted the frost on the needles.  I only wished that the sun had done as good a job on the road.  It was very slippery in some sections and the visitor center parking lot was a sheet of ice.

After buying the obligatory T-shirt we were off up Mt. Mazama to the crater's edge.  The elevation is around 2165 m (7100 ft) as you get to the top of the West Rim Drive and I was amazed to see such a huge lake.  The lake width is 4.5 to 6 miles wide and is 1,943 feet deep.  It is the deepest and cleanest water in USA as it is has no streams or rivers feeding it.  The water is supplied by rain and snow.  The colour was a dark steely blue that reflected the sun like a mirror.

We visited a number of turn-outs along the 33 mile rim road and took pictures and breathed in the crisp fresh mountain air.  We also noted that there was an absence of sound and then to ensure we hadn't gone deaf you could hear a plane overhead. 

Wizard Island

Crater Lake Panorama

Phantom Ship in distance

Mill Falls on drive back to Gold Hill