Geo's Journal

Sunday, November 10, 2013

2013 - Winter Season Begins

Another Snowbird season has arrived and it seems that each year we get here a bit sooner. This year we were here on the 26th October and three days later I was out on the Bump & Grind. It is named that because a section of the trail climbs about 800 feet in almost a scramble. I took a small detour by mistake and ended up scrambling.

I have had two other hikes, Garstin/Henderson and Whitewater/Red Dome. The last one was the longest only because we hiked across the valley to find out where Whitewater River had gone. One of the tributaries had dried up.

The Garstin trail is quite steep and is used by many as a fitness trail as you can really get the heart beating going up the path. I love to look into the subdivision at all the beautiful homes.

Love the property but the privacy from hikers might be an issue.

This lot is actually two with a beautiful garden on one.

North to Palm Springs

View of the lower part of Indian Canyon. All the trails in the upper canyon are closed because of flood damage incurred during September rains.

View of the airport, middle left of photo

Our next hike was to Whitewater Preserve and was certainly an easier hike as the elevation changes was only about 200 feet. This is the first time I have hiked here when there was no water near the Red Dome.

Monarch butterflies are attracted to this blooming Rabbit Bush

Red Dome

Picture taken from the bottom of the dry river bed

We found the water on the other side of the valley but not a huge stream.

This picture shows the hills plunging into the valley making a very zig-zag course for the river.

We returned back to the preserve ranger station to find a group of students on tour of the old hatchery. They had a great time feeding the fish.

Ranger Station

Sunday, March 10, 2013

Murray Canyon

Murray Canyon is one of the most popular hikes in the area, second only to Andreas Canyon. The hiking trail was very busy with hikers of all shapes, sizes and abilities. It was a near perfect temperature and warm enough for the chuckwalla lizards to be sunning themselves in spite of the heavy flow of traffic in front of their home.

The trail is two miles long and has some steep rocky sections to navigate but the crossing of the creek that runs through the bottom of the canyon is a greater challenge for some. The hiker must cross the creek at least 15 times up and of course 15 times on the way down. Balance is key and after 29 crossings you would think mastered but on the last one, in she went. We were all relieved that our friend landed away from any rocks and then with no injuries but pride had to endure a few comments.

Trail head looking southeast up Indian Canyon

The hills are covered with the slab shaped rocks covered in a rusty patina.

Murray canyon starts with a beautiful cluster of palms

First crossing of 15

Trail is wedged between the trees and the canyon walls

The water is deep enough here for a swim but the water is ice cold

Desert Canterbury Bells?

Of course we had to meet people at the narrowest, steepest point

Chuckwalla looking at the tourist marching past...

OK had enough of this I'm going to hide (Thanks for the closeup, Tom)

The top of the trail is a series of stone pools called 'Seven Sisters'

Great views on the way back down the trail too.

We were almost back to the car park but got passed by some horses. We then had the increased hazard of stepping in their fresh scented effluent.

Sunday, March 3, 2013

Lost Palms Oasis

This hike was closed over a year ago by a flash flood that exposed mining waste but the trail was in great shape. To visit the Oasis and return it was just under 8 miles and an elevation change of about 540 feet. As one hiker said why did we have to walk so far to see a few palm trees.

The hike starts at a parking lot beside the Cottonwood Oasis and headed southeast across a scenery of boulders and desert plants before dropping into a valley that has the largest grouping of palm trees in Joshua Tree National Park.