2011 - Painted and Ladders Canyons Revisited

Hiking in the Mecca Hills is never the same especially if you get a large amount of rain between visits.  When it rains these narrow canyons intensify the force of the water. The water has no place to spread out.  Mother Nature did her work reshaping ladders, canyon walls leaving new views in some locations. 

Ladders Canyon - Gap in cliff straight ahead

The Ladders Canyon trail near the start was re-routed again.  The previous year the whole side plugged the canyon and now a water course has reshaped that collapsed area.  It has also reshaped a ladder as well. 

New ladder added

Old Ladder modified by water

 Some of these ladders have seen better days but still hold my weight.  They are a bit short for anyone under 5' 10" in height as you have to scramble a bit

The view south to the Salton Sea.  It was a bit hazy today don't think it was smog coming over from Los Angeles.

What better reason not to brush up against bushes that are close to the trail. This one is an Ocotillo cactus.

Photos below: Painted Canyon never ceases to amaze the eyes with all the colours and patterns in the cliff faces.

First the pack sack is thrown down and then you repel down on a rope.  This was quite a surprise to us all!

Where did the ladders go? They were here last year!

Here are the ladders! Looks like the raging water took them apart on the shrub.  Also looks like the shrub took a hit too.

The reward for all the hiking and rope dangling is a date shake.  I am smiling now but moments before I was experiencing brain freeze.

The hike was over 5 miles and the elevation change was about 700 feet.  We also did some geocaching along the route and found two out of three caches.