tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73556278526171537502024-03-05T09:39:03.290-08:00Hiking Into ShapeHow can a middle aged man get into better shape without spending countless boring hours in the gym?Hal Summershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965194515510712303noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355627852617153750.post-34717566018381390812012-02-25T18:17:00.007-08:002012-02-26T18:20:26.982-08:00Palm Canyon Falls<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Tuesday, I had a whole six hours to go hiking. I wanted to do something different so I decided to go out and find a waterfall in Palm Canyon that I'd heard about but never been to. It's about six miles from the Trading Post and requires some cross country travel to get to it but that's my kind of thing so I was excited to go. Since I'd never been there I didn't want to burden anyone else with a possible wild goose chase so I went it alone. That way I can never complain about the company.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEOfN-Rvb7B4CEr7gpYT3KeHB6v-xXy2-f2DPeQBbN0VvQviJH1RpvFf3q5jqz0PGS9E5RLadKLMU3Wj3hP5AMDIQBdh204_y7ytu5osxvRJjW-caCLfE8mPfWHlWE_F5PanwFyR7t37tg/s1600/100_4213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEOfN-Rvb7B4CEr7gpYT3KeHB6v-xXy2-f2DPeQBbN0VvQviJH1RpvFf3q5jqz0PGS9E5RLadKLMU3Wj3hP5AMDIQBdh204_y7ytu5osxvRJjW-caCLfE8mPfWHlWE_F5PanwFyR7t37tg/s400/100_4213.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>I took off from the Trading Post in the Palm Springs Indian Canyons and it was a perfect day. Sunny, bright, warm with just a few high clouds and the high was expected to be a bit under 80º. What more could I ask for?</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7VLCoTrgfw-EQ44x3rz9F6jk6uB9AXVBrZXONjOQxwCijIuQEp422nmGmTkY1uAv3uLhREZoG7wmElZ72oQnIXg7uQgUdrK4HD0QcT05v22Tpc5wRD2ogCm0AvHn_o92Zcu1huLxoJGt_/s1600/100_4216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7VLCoTrgfw-EQ44x3rz9F6jk6uB9AXVBrZXONjOQxwCijIuQEp422nmGmTkY1uAv3uLhREZoG7wmElZ72oQnIXg7uQgUdrK4HD0QcT05v22Tpc5wRD2ogCm0AvHn_o92Zcu1huLxoJGt_/s400/100_4216.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>I've always loved this little spring in the Indian Canyons not too far from the Trading Post. Anyone know its name? And don't tell me "Palm Canyon Spring".</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8z3g6PViS3EYRBGdMuh8HnJrTsjQBzCtn3hu-eYA5X77pI5osCWjyeXEbYNKvpckhlUO1AqRi04D3xzXqL-DoXPaTfqTttFRytvQWk2ew-4p00AcBliPArmSsF1xxuWeuH0yWMQVKCqwi/s1600/100_4217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8z3g6PViS3EYRBGdMuh8HnJrTsjQBzCtn3hu-eYA5X77pI5osCWjyeXEbYNKvpckhlUO1AqRi04D3xzXqL-DoXPaTfqTttFRytvQWk2ew-4p00AcBliPArmSsF1xxuWeuH0yWMQVKCqwi/s640/100_4217.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The San Jacintos—Tahquish Heki or Home of Tahquitz to the Cahuilla—tower above the canyon and seem only a short hike away. Don't be deceived, though. They are thousands of feet above the canyons and would require many arduous hours to ascend.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrM-YYdoaOrEJJmPnlV1g4xgIekgdARObPvMEddAvc3v6KVm43boqPWdLk06qdzaCETsFT8aWS_jw83unwCsqHvRLNxODg-gV42GmFohJ8gpM_QALXhg3LPVbvxm0JQ0DG745ArgJvDZUB/s1600/100_4226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrM-YYdoaOrEJJmPnlV1g4xgIekgdARObPvMEddAvc3v6KVm43boqPWdLk06qdzaCETsFT8aWS_jw83unwCsqHvRLNxODg-gV42GmFohJ8gpM_QALXhg3LPVbvxm0JQ0DG745ArgJvDZUB/s640/100_4226.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>In a short time, I make it to the a place where the trail splits and I take the fork heading toward Indian Potrero, an old village site. Off to the right of the trail are a group of nondescript rocks that are important in the history of the local Indians and a special archeological site.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0kMSj1xDbzFUQkbxHIoo4weISBlL3hvSlHTWUH_aV-xhCDGFg95n9TtpfQn4B7FmJhCW9d1x5aYMWfs1vzej0poRs0_bsHb54C2JAkucfOhnsLCIPsQJfZjaKZhS745BHpDpXTBiPnVZV/s1600/100_4227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0kMSj1xDbzFUQkbxHIoo4weISBlL3hvSlHTWUH_aV-xhCDGFg95n9TtpfQn4B7FmJhCW9d1x5aYMWfs1vzej0poRs0_bsHb54C2JAkucfOhnsLCIPsQJfZjaKZhS745BHpDpXTBiPnVZV/s640/100_4227.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>These rocks are covered with cupules, a primitive form of rock art that were used extensively in fertility rituals and are often associated with area that were used for giving birth. A local BLM ranger once explained to me that this area was believed to be an area where women came to give birth. </i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyqBsBbOV-Wrx30KvZ_yR_M8ZpMk3k4hzf31GSWpiMVYX3Rf0b8N_aMG24FnlS6RHmdmdQBqTwMKgtA7plp28UDZcLosPTXZqw1I_hoE4wQBXQOlS9jhXBmEWVQdQRxTlSgtAdwE8_-59f/s1600/100_4228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyqBsBbOV-Wrx30KvZ_yR_M8ZpMk3k4hzf31GSWpiMVYX3Rf0b8N_aMG24FnlS6RHmdmdQBqTwMKgtA7plp28UDZcLosPTXZqw1I_hoE4wQBXQOlS9jhXBmEWVQdQRxTlSgtAdwE8_-59f/s640/100_4228.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Here is a closer look at some of the cupules.</i></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Doesn't this look like a a good possible birthing spot? Remember, they didn't have epidurals, either.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOUR7dUecKe5skHPq-UalvBrUe1aGnkMvMOUrSa-BUUCm4fMHBvcN4SRs8LqvlA4JnA_ztz2beThhdsE5-vgXEWqZ0fDoTXlqBENbSR3r3ITpcpGUvFftYVZZwoD4kZTh8FzgcxwoY0u-F/s1600/100_4239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOUR7dUecKe5skHPq-UalvBrUe1aGnkMvMOUrSa-BUUCm4fMHBvcN4SRs8LqvlA4JnA_ztz2beThhdsE5-vgXEWqZ0fDoTXlqBENbSR3r3ITpcpGUvFftYVZZwoD4kZTh8FzgcxwoY0u-F/s640/100_4239.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>As I cross the creek heading toward Indian Potrero, there's a decent flow of water but it's not real strong. I'd hoped for more water but let's see if there's more upstream.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVlkqagyIIcgl_A8F5mKyzR9CeUnnKU6WaBeQaF4NIqX1MjUOc9cLwvsM_HpK_D-nGRuBK4g0PQz9u1HMG0EbKO4690_bpVz5T5xZ4xWJmHLXg4tnmSWRYkCp9OwewHpLAIIxW375I1MgY/s1600/100_4241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVlkqagyIIcgl_A8F5mKyzR9CeUnnKU6WaBeQaF4NIqX1MjUOc9cLwvsM_HpK_D-nGRuBK4g0PQz9u1HMG0EbKO4690_bpVz5T5xZ4xWJmHLXg4tnmSWRYkCp9OwewHpLAIIxW375I1MgY/s640/100_4241.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>I leave the trail instead of heading straight up to Indian Potrero.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinI8OtM5fwAvoQmJtC2j32s5-CR7nk2zF-l42lpe6yniSV4KqYdhNEb9RVmHi17nV1YKFOaDiAgDLYZIu2VwlEnz2pFF2JtJXHfUlww1PjSHHra7DlRklVcrPjyPGz1ZU2fJ-_GqRhaUBy/s1600/100_4242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinI8OtM5fwAvoQmJtC2j32s5-CR7nk2zF-l42lpe6yniSV4KqYdhNEb9RVmHi17nV1YKFOaDiAgDLYZIu2VwlEnz2pFF2JtJXHfUlww1PjSHHra7DlRklVcrPjyPGz1ZU2fJ-_GqRhaUBy/s640/100_4242.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>There are a few pools up stream that would be fun to take a dip into if I weren't on a real tight schedule.</i></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBQ3ejl_HxPhMH9Jwq6yggYO06WlCijmdfO8FHgfjUnzJ4h7JKxlDxQG3hZjb1R2w5KSX46dpBPj3QxFeuQv59d9JrNEOPnR36iIgTKQbiWGx5z8WNZZl7dgZxvFe1MMuaYQYbSZ_mnHmr/s1600/100_4251.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBQ3ejl_HxPhMH9Jwq6yggYO06WlCijmdfO8FHgfjUnzJ4h7JKxlDxQG3hZjb1R2w5KSX46dpBPj3QxFeuQv59d9JrNEOPnR36iIgTKQbiWGx5z8WNZZl7dgZxvFe1MMuaYQYbSZ_mnHmr/s640/100_4251.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Palms line the canyon for miles.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcd8ZDDEWpKM-N2WNg9BIdy5WvGUa0HIA3WH5nLHN38uEeGZ_JKpr6HUm0h7PPELJ1jdnouBDMs9hLp34qIulW7vxK20PYMiQOhsigWg9TcqIthzuAX_9SnHXlhM7Kmdb7bgv24RtC1Brv/s1600/100_4258.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcd8ZDDEWpKM-N2WNg9BIdy5WvGUa0HIA3WH5nLHN38uEeGZ_JKpr6HUm0h7PPELJ1jdnouBDMs9hLp34qIulW7vxK20PYMiQOhsigWg9TcqIthzuAX_9SnHXlhM7Kmdb7bgv24RtC1Brv/s640/100_4258.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>And there are many pools of cool water. This one is about thirty feet below me and I'd be tempted to jump into it but I have no way to get out, so I keep going.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDRrHyVMZ0dna8Xi5KgTNKhMhgAOsX5RnPMzK8iIDAq7FKJ_qR7QuxF42u9KYVTQOfPn_2sHl3nA-HHzzkZly6A3nGf7byUr2BOmPMH2mp9HVsXiIevCCfmAevxNmBnxQp6F1g7Av1tEBN/s1600/100_4260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDRrHyVMZ0dna8Xi5KgTNKhMhgAOsX5RnPMzK8iIDAq7FKJ_qR7QuxF42u9KYVTQOfPn_2sHl3nA-HHzzkZly6A3nGf7byUr2BOmPMH2mp9HVsXiIevCCfmAevxNmBnxQp6F1g7Av1tEBN/s640/100_4260.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>But this little slot canyon would be fun to come back and explore sometime.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj22jqKa4ycyxb_04dYByJqoh6eX8QmV3T_e9vcUI2uQfS4ofhl8P8n91Ko9u8vggch8dnVeHsLP91_KLWPgbTB1VBJHNqzlMBjRmFctPDNqimC_QjQYK3nwYOk78Wh5Ag4byTw8Ntk5aIV/s1600/100_4267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj22jqKa4ycyxb_04dYByJqoh6eX8QmV3T_e9vcUI2uQfS4ofhl8P8n91Ko9u8vggch8dnVeHsLP91_KLWPgbTB1VBJHNqzlMBjRmFctPDNqimC_QjQYK3nwYOk78Wh5Ag4byTw8Ntk5aIV/s640/100_4267.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>And as clear as the water looks downstream this is where it comes from. Would you really want to drink this?</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZY5U-o5A-mpqsWyLmHfKE4DvXNQQ5cqSOlHodSHwag5SnfxKAfjGHsHsvy9cLJkMAcJeDHTeVwSZekb0Zcu88Z9ySFTS6fRpMxG75IiT37cPm8bnk3w68MTwBYNdJf4XlIv2K3euo95zk/s1600/100_4272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZY5U-o5A-mpqsWyLmHfKE4DvXNQQ5cqSOlHodSHwag5SnfxKAfjGHsHsvy9cLJkMAcJeDHTeVwSZekb0Zcu88Z9ySFTS6fRpMxG75IiT37cPm8bnk3w68MTwBYNdJf4XlIv2K3euo95zk/s640/100_4272.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>I head up to Indian Potrero and it's easy to see why this was a major village site. It's level with good drainage, good food sources nearby and wonderful views.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjroLozyYnf2PjRdA4IerlUQnUS1Bd9aacQSCSO3vUol3VV43XfeJhyphenhyphenWXT6uu0ynvvPGv0jCNm_klyEXdtRpFsYszZPd6lC-xll6c7SX8LuOl_bmldnaAexrSr5XNpVxquY14cvTH-DsdFZ/s1600/100_4274.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjroLozyYnf2PjRdA4IerlUQnUS1Bd9aacQSCSO3vUol3VV43XfeJhyphenhyphenWXT6uu0ynvvPGv0jCNm_klyEXdtRpFsYszZPd6lC-xll6c7SX8LuOl_bmldnaAexrSr5XNpVxquY14cvTH-DsdFZ/s640/100_4274.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>It also offers multiple baths.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih78eGAGGgNEkBrLQfLwuc__cBzjcoTsZW2AnXXpzAhZgJsVCPTW-G1kZmJSREiJE7XJpxn2bWpjo-nPA3yTrrMHIT50HhMrqN442qm8-QCGzoTQpZnpvK9OdP5tfZngs2RPSPD9KL40el/s1600/100_4279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih78eGAGGgNEkBrLQfLwuc__cBzjcoTsZW2AnXXpzAhZgJsVCPTW-G1kZmJSREiJE7XJpxn2bWpjo-nPA3yTrrMHIT50HhMrqN442qm8-QCGzoTQpZnpvK9OdP5tfZngs2RPSPD9KL40el/s640/100_4279.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>I continue on to Mesquite Flat where the trail bisects a huge mesquite patch. This would have been a major food gathering area for the Indians. Thinking of this makes me hungry and when I stop to get a bite to eat, I realize I left my lunch on the kitchen table at home. When I plan on doing a fast hike, this is not quite what I have in mind.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw_Otr9vqme063IvI27wxmY8Yv5CjVjnSqUlfIT_ERysuFh_NebPLN1h0gyxsbzBhyGrGsKh3QNz5Pn4Qc7OWcn8hyphenhyphenr2qjx_MN9zSIhj39YCXQvF8TBSIxQHjNhBgBjckvnTGUz1isrbUA/s1600/100_4288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw_Otr9vqme063IvI27wxmY8Yv5CjVjnSqUlfIT_ERysuFh_NebPLN1h0gyxsbzBhyGrGsKh3QNz5Pn4Qc7OWcn8hyphenhyphenr2qjx_MN9zSIhj39YCXQvF8TBSIxQHjNhBgBjckvnTGUz1isrbUA/s640/100_4288.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>A bit further on, I come to the fork that leads off to Little Paradise. This is the way I go.</i></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>There's a fantastic little campsite just before coming back down to the creek.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9zTPpPEbyQQnGu7nfCjWQNeVO5pulqlneN81TztYxJJHwwaNl2OxZuIebm68avQNM2XtKkTFTNTI0tunScVxoRzK7m16WRM-Hh4nIqIdT3N8izCCFThLv1Q9k_T4DJtJrJhsw-xnN_QPu/s1600/100_4292.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9zTPpPEbyQQnGu7nfCjWQNeVO5pulqlneN81TztYxJJHwwaNl2OxZuIebm68avQNM2XtKkTFTNTI0tunScVxoRzK7m16WRM-Hh4nIqIdT3N8izCCFThLv1Q9k_T4DJtJrJhsw-xnN_QPu/s640/100_4292.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>It's obviously been used for a LONG time.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-gMCfxK_d1VcmZ9_0zfYFTwfLywEzoNKV8goIjsEvT8MWZwcvu8KyqmhiKFErCmRBk8cbEVrrf7etPvUgF62QJUytf5Lf9XGSTVoq1Al_HqdpZyG5kg6qP0U2j3Ejiv9AVBISBde997Cx/s1600/100_4295.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-gMCfxK_d1VcmZ9_0zfYFTwfLywEzoNKV8goIjsEvT8MWZwcvu8KyqmhiKFErCmRBk8cbEVrrf7etPvUgF62QJUytf5Lf9XGSTVoq1Al_HqdpZyG5kg6qP0U2j3Ejiv9AVBISBde997Cx/s640/100_4295.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Although the water source here leaves a bit to be desired.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7hzeXkC8SMpQu3ZiWUc4Z8bEzOqlLaSuSY4jYQ9dt-K-371hGT_h01JlSgNTUFSwx4eK6SoWf7OAtyD2cGs7qKGjzsm2PO8yoLnlkWnEKsxR4dmc3d2k-jssifitOhL-QM2pWPfnKLba0/s1600/100_4304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7hzeXkC8SMpQu3ZiWUc4Z8bEzOqlLaSuSY4jYQ9dt-K-371hGT_h01JlSgNTUFSwx4eK6SoWf7OAtyD2cGs7qKGjzsm2PO8yoLnlkWnEKsxR4dmc3d2k-jssifitOhL-QM2pWPfnKLba0/s640/100_4304.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>More cross country travel brings me into Little Paradise. The name is a bit deceiving because it's an area chocked with brush although it's obvious that some building went on here, perhaps by early ranchers using this area to graze their cattle.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTYGDcvGi-1YzK3hsAU0AWZlgMKB9BfegsG1LX_EjXqsG-JvG9NaO7MTZASptPGxhlEAhi6e8d8CGROCyVGpSw8hSU2ggN36RcIKj-lYyAmHvgOC6EquLIRmYqQ3Tsn_CgDZFm3jEqf5lv/s1600/100_4306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTYGDcvGi-1YzK3hsAU0AWZlgMKB9BfegsG1LX_EjXqsG-JvG9NaO7MTZASptPGxhlEAhi6e8d8CGROCyVGpSw8hSU2ggN36RcIKj-lYyAmHvgOC6EquLIRmYqQ3Tsn_CgDZFm3jEqf5lv/s640/100_4306.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Looks like they left some bags of concrete out in the rain.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br />
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</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; display: inline !important; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW9decPliBAzyOplfZBzWKdYFWyxeA7GB-DRvH8bD9S7LAvsSBDzAbTEM4G7xeMMQLEjaLjKesxzN3IQzwGQXLlUf3bVW_F96lIM0PcA8oAdsjfAJ6v3LHYeIwpgyoT7jMG8pxtd8Ckk8b/s1600/100_4307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW9decPliBAzyOplfZBzWKdYFWyxeA7GB-DRvH8bD9S7LAvsSBDzAbTEM4G7xeMMQLEjaLjKesxzN3IQzwGQXLlUf3bVW_F96lIM0PcA8oAdsjfAJ6v3LHYeIwpgyoT7jMG8pxtd8Ckk8b/s640/100_4307.JPG" width="640" /></a></i></div><i></i><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; display: inline !important; font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><i><i>They also left the remains of this old cot.</i></i></div><br />
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</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5wsmFSDbYfDd5F5x8wxBJD5c0z57GOZWv4-Y0z6qupXlfqT92xWfN0YH4oQKC0wQpwUZAmo0V6aLPJQOCOh_C3NIWZ1DQPyGV5RCa-mMxs6gl8hFOOYfF0xCA4xpoHrgUioI1Xd-qYTVw/s1600/100_4310.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5wsmFSDbYfDd5F5x8wxBJD5c0z57GOZWv4-Y0z6qupXlfqT92xWfN0YH4oQKC0wQpwUZAmo0V6aLPJQOCOh_C3NIWZ1DQPyGV5RCa-mMxs6gl8hFOOYfF0xCA4xpoHrgUioI1Xd-qYTVw/s640/100_4310.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <i>Now I just have to drop back down into the canyon. It's steep, loose and filled with leg shredding vegetation. Looks like fun.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinJUCB39XIP_F4xBxX-GgoKhv_ZYvnDfcNYCBsZmxNTc7vF6C9Jj-oAgyO-WO7r1UVu-JJUXfK57ha0hv3XOYhbwX9488vNqS2YevTrjfx8XDfZH5rMAbFwoJN6v8NG_HtCARfQliXGDtE/s1600/100_4311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinJUCB39XIP_F4xBxX-GgoKhv_ZYvnDfcNYCBsZmxNTc7vF6C9Jj-oAgyO-WO7r1UVu-JJUXfK57ha0hv3XOYhbwX9488vNqS2YevTrjfx8XDfZH5rMAbFwoJN6v8NG_HtCARfQliXGDtE/s640/100_4311.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Part way down I get to where I can see the falls. They appear to be about 100 feet tall but there's not a lot of water.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwjiunr4or_h3NT1-7ole6SJREmIocHJtSWT8ESwNOh7pRBWsoWd8yuqGxnyrc-hIlJr_dVS5Dd0rEb_q75oKkO5XDiTU8zaYm54KCOYXOc0W_hoymVbcgzqyIxyPIDi-RsKzMsaz9pQbt/s1600/100_4317.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwjiunr4or_h3NT1-7ole6SJREmIocHJtSWT8ESwNOh7pRBWsoWd8yuqGxnyrc-hIlJr_dVS5Dd0rEb_q75oKkO5XDiTU8zaYm54KCOYXOc0W_hoymVbcgzqyIxyPIDi-RsKzMsaz9pQbt/s640/100_4317.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>I get into the canyon bottom and start working my way toward the falls but don't get too far. The going is difficult with lots of growth in the canyon bottom and a lot of rock hopping.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJafCz3UqUoVxeVSXODx5aBm25LMuirSkevVuEBKpv8vXv-IzhHCq6hVaTuIIMZF-pYV8a_m1sWL7hXfEO8uCj2CnSRv4oOtJGYvJdEmcEUpQZ1B6pj17UKmvXajVgXYCwJgekv34LwcP0/s1600/100_4324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJafCz3UqUoVxeVSXODx5aBm25LMuirSkevVuEBKpv8vXv-IzhHCq6hVaTuIIMZF-pYV8a_m1sWL7hXfEO8uCj2CnSRv4oOtJGYvJdEmcEUpQZ1B6pj17UKmvXajVgXYCwJgekv34LwcP0/s640/100_4324.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>I have to turn back before I get to the base of the falls. When I set out on this adventure I set myself a solid turn around time and I've already gone past it. I've got a kid to pick up at school so I've got to go. This is as close as I get but I'll be back. </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDOEPe3wzyH9ry9bmW1-RT2NBh3Qfwacg7vj1LAiVG1EkuMYJhKSPkvLdzDIHq_SrMoAFMQGFJdCIxxmzPdnEWvty3iRQlpr5qkw7yIgnoc7djcdezIiuF8D4WeB9Bmvu77zGLfj3UIukQ/s1600/100_4326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDOEPe3wzyH9ry9bmW1-RT2NBh3Qfwacg7vj1LAiVG1EkuMYJhKSPkvLdzDIHq_SrMoAFMQGFJdCIxxmzPdnEWvty3iRQlpr5qkw7yIgnoc7djcdezIiuF8D4WeB9Bmvu77zGLfj3UIukQ/s640/100_4326.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>It's a beautiful little spot filled with Cottonwoods and maybe a bit later in the season we'll have some more water coming over the falls.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjduEFA3c1LCq3OTUfPuJvIqopWeQ7HmibM1QZRj87G8B5kIz0FLk3BjtAgo7qln1twjwKJcb_Aysk4sdXK8LMEQBgA-jIgVWrUdGdk_2KDzQO7BeWLkuZuFqt2pC2antkVRN7CJ2-gYyP4/s1600/100_4329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjduEFA3c1LCq3OTUfPuJvIqopWeQ7HmibM1QZRj87G8B5kIz0FLk3BjtAgo7qln1twjwKJcb_Aysk4sdXK8LMEQBgA-jIgVWrUdGdk_2KDzQO7BeWLkuZuFqt2pC2antkVRN7CJ2-gYyP4/s640/100_4329.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>If only I could drive here like this guy did. OK, this probably just washed down the canyon. There are areas here with debris over 15 feet above the canyon bottom. When the water is that high that's got to be crazy to see.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfgIvgPa1_T1MQk2_4KDFWLan4IrxrIerrdqkgcATGRa2XJLlJwnlSdYBoAYYzf6vdfqv6DlA05ZkPZhcfadzLLT3rNjGI1IsC3tRvfryeauQQ12jvCRPm1CYMoKqYx6THlBxBdIMrSt7F/s1600/100_4333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfgIvgPa1_T1MQk2_4KDFWLan4IrxrIerrdqkgcATGRa2XJLlJwnlSdYBoAYYzf6vdfqv6DlA05ZkPZhcfadzLLT3rNjGI1IsC3tRvfryeauQQ12jvCRPm1CYMoKqYx6THlBxBdIMrSt7F/s640/100_4333.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>On my way out of canyon I spook two deer who lead me on the best path out of here. </i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit1EC4jRBXicV0lXn8BWuEVLTPAEO1xckP4Ss9FoO6HJo1zYtkjzM6qOARtrDWdv_p5_eNxrp_Y2CWlXLWnNQexmW-RNXzFRBl_LNU9fM4mZTdxSb0aIfz5Sj-ihWNezcZV0lbGi9KFcNP/s1600/100_4343.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit1EC4jRBXicV0lXn8BWuEVLTPAEO1xckP4Ss9FoO6HJo1zYtkjzM6qOARtrDWdv_p5_eNxrp_Y2CWlXLWnNQexmW-RNXzFRBl_LNU9fM4mZTdxSb0aIfz5Sj-ihWNezcZV0lbGi9KFcNP/s640/100_4343.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>I've got to hoof it out of here so I can get back on time. It's only 4 ½ miles from here.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOkb94iCUYvMlN_vp65Xxmb8aIXc4zTxeVM0C6bDYAJQndnlcHu4UqnRbBYSuFFgnVn8J1IHsZlYIrFX0UdGdGNIiklGArh4uzuchDBZOWpqgUbvr-KcoQoCUBc0bVcs0KK8iRm6h5TYTg/s1600/100_4345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOkb94iCUYvMlN_vp65Xxmb8aIXc4zTxeVM0C6bDYAJQndnlcHu4UqnRbBYSuFFgnVn8J1IHsZlYIrFX0UdGdGNIiklGArh4uzuchDBZOWpqgUbvr-KcoQoCUBc0bVcs0KK8iRm6h5TYTg/s640/100_4345.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Note to self: take the Indian Potrero fork of the Palm Canyon Trail at all times in the future. Despite beautiful views such as this one, the other fork is mostly boring washes and has more hills.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The Falls are a special place and I plan to get back there many times in the future. I just have to remember to give myself more time—maybe overnight—and to bring some food next time.</div>Hal Summershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965194515510712303noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355627852617153750.post-48476420295656199162012-02-19T17:48:00.000-08:002012-02-20T17:46:31.143-08:00Lost Indian Village Site<div style="text-align: justify;">I went out about a week ago to hike with my friend, Mike, to a site out near the Salton Sea that was once a place the Cahuilla Indians used to hang out a bit. There is still lots of evidence of their being there including pottery sherds, petroglyphs, bedrock mortals and stone walls of sleeping circles. For anyone interested in the history of the local Indians, it's an amazing spot.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge_89tAJ3CjnZM5_MwfRdTNsKnuEMPpqSaRjjUXXWdaiAnjgby7BW_h6jBP5U0P3z8U72WuroH3hWTsP6OE_LZ_wBxM8Fd8tyjPGAQJm-sJVrofC-7H-jtekfABuFgnEe30BVw0cd8eZNf/s1600/100_4157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge_89tAJ3CjnZM5_MwfRdTNsKnuEMPpqSaRjjUXXWdaiAnjgby7BW_h6jBP5U0P3z8U72WuroH3hWTsP6OE_LZ_wBxM8Fd8tyjPGAQJm-sJVrofC-7H-jtekfABuFgnEe30BVw0cd8eZNf/s400/100_4157.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>There's a trail that leads to this site but it's in the middle of nowhere. I have no idea how I actually found it and if I tried to explain to you how to get there I'd have to make sure Search and Rescue is ready for when you get lost.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8isqCPyid3fhLuWvRPpXPbb__V6jhX3pskaEHLnVrj27V10C_-VIzy7NKh8nfZ2TwrAJFPpBeKlN5rBNhSfmngBqUIx-16-Ox2dImiOf5Ve1CRnM7-Zf8yCcHl569oHmUzuHzOjDmHqaT/s1600/100_4158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8isqCPyid3fhLuWvRPpXPbb__V6jhX3pskaEHLnVrj27V10C_-VIzy7NKh8nfZ2TwrAJFPpBeKlN5rBNhSfmngBqUIx-16-Ox2dImiOf5Ve1CRnM7-Zf8yCcHl569oHmUzuHzOjDmHqaT/s400/100_4158.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Of course, if I got lost I'd have my trusty hound, Kahlua, there to help me find the way back.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLJiFeGgLhUhg3XxmQoA7dDIoANxlkt7SfZGGmlFAHLImBGZ7S7jbHiVDvzPMaI3Zw7lRAkhDyHBUTCG6POZvu46zEzg-vwmyis_BUyymFY6q3SBwZtlKC_Yi3p4Mx37yAkDT8x1ZAC7Kp/s1600/100_4159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLJiFeGgLhUhg3XxmQoA7dDIoANxlkt7SfZGGmlFAHLImBGZ7S7jbHiVDvzPMaI3Zw7lRAkhDyHBUTCG6POZvu46zEzg-vwmyis_BUyymFY6q3SBwZtlKC_Yi3p4Mx37yAkDT8x1ZAC7Kp/s400/100_4159.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>You follow the trail past these rocks and a few other subtle markers until you get to the site of what was once a village, albeit a small one.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br />
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</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXkyGCpy0vRqDq2PGdf_be3i18JcPlOLTc5OyrlJfLxWpHFi5jgqVyAcXyLWzTMGXeB6AVmcjPsOEQu_ybLtk6Dw_PyAzpJUJHg_56L1-4VYdj4CBHsDkw15UuM379bmBhVpuxiJhMgxy5/s1600/100_4029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXkyGCpy0vRqDq2PGdf_be3i18JcPlOLTc5OyrlJfLxWpHFi5jgqVyAcXyLWzTMGXeB6AVmcjPsOEQu_ybLtk6Dw_PyAzpJUJHg_56L1-4VYdj4CBHsDkw15UuM379bmBhVpuxiJhMgxy5/s640/100_4029.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Why this place is a question that anyone would ask when coming here and the reason is simple. Food and water. With mesquite bushes all around there was plenty of food and a non-native date palm testifies to water just below the surface. It's unbelievable that out in this seemingly barren wasteland that people could not only survive but thrive. Most of us would last a few days before giving up and heading to the supermarket. The Cahuilla lived out here for generations. It never ceases to amaze me.</i> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1G30-2tNBcbpknjSnl8bPFqc6Cfg4ILXBhBdSjubD59ZAepV3vI7wWsaf4yoIDKSazLvLEy9RhxCro__07hzMKZ5Z9t2EFvzWmfJl_6qJKpMGPBxJILfEUmtMUmdO7YoYkRrVpKoOHIQ7/s1600/100_4163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1G30-2tNBcbpknjSnl8bPFqc6Cfg4ILXBhBdSjubD59ZAepV3vI7wWsaf4yoIDKSazLvLEy9RhxCro__07hzMKZ5Z9t2EFvzWmfJl_6qJKpMGPBxJILfEUmtMUmdO7YoYkRrVpKoOHIQ7/s640/100_4163.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>On the banks of the wash there are some cleared out areas that were once sleeping circles.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv3tzpQTTe6v6mzh_bl72z_xX7HkTzlOmsini1UY1uJIVTPO7QMQZFhximH0-ZRZK_Nw-GAYKPeMtg9AqzLmHkVf_I4GiY8_fk7li8pbd3UHnFgSGF5GHiZQ3bzLRIov5ZLiB_Pdw17d8-/s1600/100_4168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv3tzpQTTe6v6mzh_bl72z_xX7HkTzlOmsini1UY1uJIVTPO7QMQZFhximH0-ZRZK_Nw-GAYKPeMtg9AqzLmHkVf_I4GiY8_fk7li8pbd3UHnFgSGF5GHiZQ3bzLRIov5ZLiB_Pdw17d8-/s640/100_4168.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>The area is strewn with mortars where the Indian women ground the mesquite pods for food.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMKX3T9CuDljoGLMWCBuWXZGfoNqpZXTSjRn1NvYLPZJdAZbQ4fbl9v_gpl4J6dHto-Wcf-5fnuVpeIcZmyd-YexVFn2MPKNyvsY500EXstYCsrhldYX19JR-5AnjlQkTnwNrD0-eik9dK/s1600/100_4169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMKX3T9CuDljoGLMWCBuWXZGfoNqpZXTSjRn1NvYLPZJdAZbQ4fbl9v_gpl4J6dHto-Wcf-5fnuVpeIcZmyd-YexVFn2MPKNyvsY500EXstYCsrhldYX19JR-5AnjlQkTnwNrD0-eik9dK/s640/100_4169.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>And despite the fact that no one lived here in over one hundred years, walls remain where families slept night after night and kids played. There were once walls made from branches and foliage but now only the rocks are here. And here they'll stay.</i></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7-067KXfobDaaErcJN9dQrde0FBJRivl1T6ljAMD7bLwvpjGsZUiseNEIW2wpOXtd9rxAzn1WiHKn8o1mLInKQRPFt-bV9wa1j5tevZHs4bBOC4jD_Rpjscv-LU5gXHMXXD_VbKAy2MvH/s1600/100_4178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7-067KXfobDaaErcJN9dQrde0FBJRivl1T6ljAMD7bLwvpjGsZUiseNEIW2wpOXtd9rxAzn1WiHKn8o1mLInKQRPFt-bV9wa1j5tevZHs4bBOC4jD_Rpjscv-LU5gXHMXXD_VbKAy2MvH/s640/100_4178.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>There is a profusion of mortars all along the wash so you know that people lived here for quite some time.</i></div><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEAe9UHPU5iWFoI63fFoSYAar_Y68s2QW2QzcxizeeBvJqNIQW70iBEbRAbt_qf4Hn-c0HnXiQOeOFM1oKpjXJu_Mz_FXgEPKCVaWV14GvA5wxlD-l-7jh5tKxFWHbAhgLIQ7_AVo-9qyx/s1600/100_4181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEIAlYiErqxioVN5qawWkMp2mzHcA26SvKpNRo_ujAL-WeRsDeJ0vVVjLhUERW74x_0vQVag3q4_kahiwsYaEHZnovsjrlXvJM0bE4ckyduwIHXPRMU40MC2SWg3JL8GzyBCRmudJkYnpr/s1600/100_4179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEIAlYiErqxioVN5qawWkMp2mzHcA26SvKpNRo_ujAL-WeRsDeJ0vVVjLhUERW74x_0vQVag3q4_kahiwsYaEHZnovsjrlXvJM0bE4ckyduwIHXPRMU40MC2SWg3JL8GzyBCRmudJkYnpr/s640/100_4179.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>I spot what looks like a mortar that's become filled with sand and decide to check it out.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEAe9UHPU5iWFoI63fFoSYAar_Y68s2QW2QzcxizeeBvJqNIQW70iBEbRAbt_qf4Hn-c0HnXiQOeOFM1oKpjXJu_Mz_FXgEPKCVaWV14GvA5wxlD-l-7jh5tKxFWHbAhgLIQ7_AVo-9qyx/s1600/100_4181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEAe9UHPU5iWFoI63fFoSYAar_Y68s2QW2QzcxizeeBvJqNIQW70iBEbRAbt_qf4Hn-c0HnXiQOeOFM1oKpjXJu_Mz_FXgEPKCVaWV14GvA5wxlD-l-7jh5tKxFWHbAhgLIQ7_AVo-9qyx/s640/100_4181.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>So I get to digging…and digging…and digging.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj29gkVE9W3joJq44ig3o3KIoPEw5imtRLqQB278r20gv4fSbIR61Uqpmvu6W16fzy2wOzTHL6iAcgpnjz17hDw-wchbwscxEVGRD94rj5yEyPj8ejm19fGJ-j1DLxZwnb9vO2IfSE0anus/s1600/100_4182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj29gkVE9W3joJq44ig3o3KIoPEw5imtRLqQB278r20gv4fSbIR61Uqpmvu6W16fzy2wOzTHL6iAcgpnjz17hDw-wchbwscxEVGRD94rj5yEyPj8ejm19fGJ-j1DLxZwnb9vO2IfSE0anus/s640/100_4182.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>And it took some time to get to the bottom because this mortar was well over a foot deep. That took a long time to make. A long time.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge4xLhjlGyfXxvks9jQyliX3RTsxMpAHfEtfpMt34RF7lGFGkBZD3uqwY1wv81xLph6ObONc0HnuXh2ZxA9MMDwwEj7wb1hhKl0Rg2N2H-YHW6wHMTJDSNHCpLjjC7pyUIpYzRqugGD9ne/s1600/100_4203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge4xLhjlGyfXxvks9jQyliX3RTsxMpAHfEtfpMt34RF7lGFGkBZD3uqwY1wv81xLph6ObONc0HnuXh2ZxA9MMDwwEj7wb1hhKl0Rg2N2H-YHW6wHMTJDSNHCpLjjC7pyUIpYzRqugGD9ne/s640/100_4203.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Another testament to how long people lived here is the profusion of pottery sherds in the area. It seems like you can't hardly take a step with spotting some. They were everywhere.</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigr9s5R941dlNkNTxKwF8wJ-48v_ZAHzCaTXbH8aQiZVaxRaG9WrnUwKH8xzpENIHslVUBNSNU3Rr-8alyXXzrtoNALSHm3gh_cSWTIWCsu5_PIxRSMO-NCE9YP18ELuNXDI19BpK5N-8P/s1600/406421_3333898745754_1217121667_3479319_76168179_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigr9s5R941dlNkNTxKwF8wJ-48v_ZAHzCaTXbH8aQiZVaxRaG9WrnUwKH8xzpENIHslVUBNSNU3Rr-8alyXXzrtoNALSHm3gh_cSWTIWCsu5_PIxRSMO-NCE9YP18ELuNXDI19BpK5N-8P/s640/406421_3333898745754_1217121667_3479319_76168179_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Mike took this picture of Kahlua checking out the petroglyphs in the area, too. </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA7WO5-dNJZsJFLfANgRUt3Bze_f1m5mIdhmtT6N0Ul4EhT82puImeY2sFvsOWhontuvyD8jporQMzNnqBRP0DPAp26_CKorwQPwAidY2h_R179jgAilBEl8wE7qxb8Us-Vs37vj3KI8-R/s1600/100_4012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA7WO5-dNJZsJFLfANgRUt3Bze_f1m5mIdhmtT6N0Ul4EhT82puImeY2sFvsOWhontuvyD8jporQMzNnqBRP0DPAp26_CKorwQPwAidY2h_R179jgAilBEl8wE7qxb8Us-Vs37vj3KI8-R/s640/100_4012.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>There are some really interesting panels out here.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyQDyLpkRv73HwzAnC2lI53AtZ2ZYwBStt4MK5L4xCiVaWOnDglvYl51e2dZvjsaPzlJEMTmQxJK1N8JmjCPXFTtWUyicdP5ixh1971lrmRX9ITWdFTAmn0Djmozz3rmU5s3y_blAy9jVF/s1600/100_4014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyQDyLpkRv73HwzAnC2lI53AtZ2ZYwBStt4MK5L4xCiVaWOnDglvYl51e2dZvjsaPzlJEMTmQxJK1N8JmjCPXFTtWUyicdP5ixh1971lrmRX9ITWdFTAmn0Djmozz3rmU5s3y_blAy9jVF/s640/100_4014.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Including this one of what appears to be one of the earliest basketball games ever recorded.</i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG4zG4idxmnPtEy4dJJLAg99YS_FVPxjV-Hr8Py2yykm2JZXyqJk8TaNEexATN_M_2j5bRlB-PmH4us7nUYTnKQlMwK3a1Qyfjs0huoEd-sWyk-3vEsVK4dXulnwYGP0uGjsiKtUu8C4Wy/s1600/100_4205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"> </span></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG4zG4idxmnPtEy4dJJLAg99YS_FVPxjV-Hr8Py2yykm2JZXyqJk8TaNEexATN_M_2j5bRlB-PmH4us7nUYTnKQlMwK3a1Qyfjs0huoEd-sWyk-3vEsVK4dXulnwYGP0uGjsiKtUu8C4Wy/s1600/100_4205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG4zG4idxmnPtEy4dJJLAg99YS_FVPxjV-Hr8Py2yykm2JZXyqJk8TaNEexATN_M_2j5bRlB-PmH4us7nUYTnKQlMwK3a1Qyfjs0huoEd-sWyk-3vEsVK4dXulnwYGP0uGjsiKtUu8C4Wy/s640/100_4205.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>I love the rugged beauty of the desert, where life grows right out of the rocks.</i></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>And I'm awed by the fact that magical places like this still exist and are seldom ever seen, even though they're right here in plain sight. It's why I never get tired of exploring.</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>Hal Summershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965194515510712303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355627852617153750.post-9086763809823663462012-01-28T17:29:00.000-08:002012-01-29T09:37:40.817-08:00Feeling Better: Hiking Sheep Mountain<div style="text-align: justify;">I'm well on the road to recovery. My back is 90% better and the toe is healing. In fact, it's well enough that I went with some friends on a little 9+ hour hike this past week.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I've also been dieting a bit and have lost 23 lbs. since the day I went to the doctor for the surgery on my toe.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I've done about one hike a week but today's was special so I thought I'd better write about it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh74ErOzffIUzqv0R7Fis5VBTSrUZcQPNCNkil84co9YvOfQT-6OsXCwiXuUIYf-u7CqzaY0dMKLlTjuLG978vHBmMNNIZud1GOl-I6yfoGvO5Mcms-3Iy9eBUw6BKmFyQbUiGJxxGJs7vf/s1600/P1000522.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh74ErOzffIUzqv0R7Fis5VBTSrUZcQPNCNkil84co9YvOfQT-6OsXCwiXuUIYf-u7CqzaY0dMKLlTjuLG978vHBmMNNIZud1GOl-I6yfoGvO5Mcms-3Iy9eBUw6BKmFyQbUiGJxxGJs7vf/s320/P1000522.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>We started off by hiking up the Boo Hoff Trail at the top of the La Quinta Cove.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLtmtAKJ5Nw1n_28QjWZ-3_VEhBd9jewNZnQeP7B4bkL3smOwU_1HTQEb1DnfK6O8i_Hgl5sITc7hjdpp-iLwdAjEd57QmxMajqEzwDVlTWWRkf8dA_9ijQvIUblHG_sYZlcHawdv5sjAt/s1600/P1000533.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLtmtAKJ5Nw1n_28QjWZ-3_VEhBd9jewNZnQeP7B4bkL3smOwU_1HTQEb1DnfK6O8i_Hgl5sITc7hjdpp-iLwdAjEd57QmxMajqEzwDVlTWWRkf8dA_9ijQvIUblHG_sYZlcHawdv5sjAt/s320/P1000533.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>This trail ascends fairly quickly and soon we connect the Guadalupe Trail that will take us up to Devil Canyon.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgroFjO5oQiGyxo3cvzR0uh5MoSnnADEADULpRMdID3G-Oef5Y6rEPwU-UcqmXp_dnfd_IhX3CWBd4HmS_Yz3aKH0iHktYgFWFeFtWGeyXOfHc0D8bj9DxpaDaI_Zj_5rnxWD0gYpMRB3qL/s1600/P1000542.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgroFjO5oQiGyxo3cvzR0uh5MoSnnADEADULpRMdID3G-Oef5Y6rEPwU-UcqmXp_dnfd_IhX3CWBd4HmS_Yz3aKH0iHktYgFWFeFtWGeyXOfHc0D8bj9DxpaDaI_Zj_5rnxWD0gYpMRB3qL/s320/P1000542.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>No matter what type of shoes I wear these cholla balls just seem to love me. </i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh4OhCBV3CJHLxdjF7MnnGytZ8-7jWETdqESOOFgqq3Ve4trQ_CB7Y8In4zGv5q0FOUQttYJK_N5uuLafJeakwwGy1D4vTq_BFseoJIipVHB9PXuUiDA_ESoySCUg8NSiTZz8GJC9I-ZZt/s1600/P1000544.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh4OhCBV3CJHLxdjF7MnnGytZ8-7jWETdqESOOFgqq3Ve4trQ_CB7Y8In4zGv5q0FOUQttYJK_N5uuLafJeakwwGy1D4vTq_BFseoJIipVHB9PXuUiDA_ESoySCUg8NSiTZz8GJC9I-ZZt/s640/P1000544.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Alberto and Carl, a couple of old hiking buddies came along for the adventure. Once we got to Devil Canyon we headed out to the Northwest toward Bear Creek. I'm sure at this point both of them are wondering, "Where is he taking us to now?".</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhztMnNOws3sWKlu4XgwvXZ0mavlUVzY6455pOt752cch7qR5Sa0LSn0XICIpOH7pCs3Eb1Dio3C96g4aGq8z9opUqObMe3D_Gmcpqd1DyOhm835NmiKrCvc1lnofxR_FM3sYKeZStg3UWW/s1600/P1000545.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhztMnNOws3sWKlu4XgwvXZ0mavlUVzY6455pOt752cch7qR5Sa0LSn0XICIpOH7pCs3Eb1Dio3C96g4aGq8z9opUqObMe3D_Gmcpqd1DyOhm835NmiKrCvc1lnofxR_FM3sYKeZStg3UWW/s640/P1000545.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Up here we have nice views looking down over Palm Desert and the western part of the Coachella Valley.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC6IzDQrfNAXvClDMkoD4ZCD3acboQC2uaS8H0_vpj1WcDGfO0W4juvu0WzwKeYhd93D0yPhtKjSCP-g0BoiYpcur-Dsl2ORhhMC6koUjR0XUKKhEObO1sfoOJ3OchOoMuizIVhyphenhyphenpNiYl4/s1600/P1000556.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC6IzDQrfNAXvClDMkoD4ZCD3acboQC2uaS8H0_vpj1WcDGfO0W4juvu0WzwKeYhd93D0yPhtKjSCP-g0BoiYpcur-Dsl2ORhhMC6koUjR0XUKKhEObO1sfoOJ3OchOoMuizIVhyphenhyphenpNiYl4/s640/P1000556.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Alberto finds a deer antler. I had told the guys there were lots of deer up on this mountain and now we have some evidence. This is the first of two antlers we will find today.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br />
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</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV31KpqDc8eI3lNJeWzSqQ3ZzN-U_zeTdEQNoiEjrbXx3RcnYNzRmARqvj3FnRblCosMNxuhO3ghg71-XDyypW7ieKKSfacAlc-Fsi1r4FVQCPsDv1hdkgXoAqt2Uwt93Ab3LESDJxIcWj/s1600/P1000565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV31KpqDc8eI3lNJeWzSqQ3ZzN-U_zeTdEQNoiEjrbXx3RcnYNzRmARqvj3FnRblCosMNxuhO3ghg71-XDyypW7ieKKSfacAlc-Fsi1r4FVQCPsDv1hdkgXoAqt2Uwt93Ab3LESDJxIcWj/s640/P1000565.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>This is what we came for. Exciting, isn't it? This little crease in the mountain is a place that holds water and has a lot of vegetation. I thought that perhaps it might be a place the Cahuilla Indians used as a campsite or a gathering place.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIDYYq9XoZs1NO1te77Gc0u6qMIgT9HUZLeLC3L2Bp36nAxWAZyi1AxJ7QwYknuH6Ys3UQl2aceEhuQpB6IWtix-_DDU-O6w8wRlfVJkyS_QwcElD9L-zkJI9J1zoYnwT_YVWlkgdNEFik/s1600/P1000577.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIDYYq9XoZs1NO1te77Gc0u6qMIgT9HUZLeLC3L2Bp36nAxWAZyi1AxJ7QwYknuH6Ys3UQl2aceEhuQpB6IWtix-_DDU-O6w8wRlfVJkyS_QwcElD9L-zkJI9J1zoYnwT_YVWlkgdNEFik/s640/P1000577.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Unfortunately, there really isn't too much flat area in which to make a decent campsite. There may be some evidence of Indian occupation here but we were unable to find it. We don't have a lot of time to look, however, because we've got a lot of miles and over 4,000 ft. vertical to head back down.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3T51MFRVzbdajFWf4Q2jviG4VFVhTnv6UeZCnMkPgk0ognDndOzf55GhAVkKeJAfwglEVJIFIlT66olErKl22wYpAatAn-ymlMFgwKGny-OFvs_t6-PA4s-L9WRD41mJhbOatp_YK3OWS/s1600/P1000581.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3T51MFRVzbdajFWf4Q2jviG4VFVhTnv6UeZCnMkPgk0ognDndOzf55GhAVkKeJAfwglEVJIFIlT66olErKl22wYpAatAn-ymlMFgwKGny-OFvs_t6-PA4s-L9WRD41mJhbOatp_YK3OWS/s640/P1000581.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>But the views up here are spectacular. </i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVS5_aWlALpeCyudJJpzpULpxfU_MBABFQkS0kVW4ZMkPE89XJyyr5pbJ7TVMwavV4YkjZaWrOYCJKOJHFjE_aMetRHkvbSNzDmlZAvloRAmGaXiqQpC9cjxxFujbMZl8M8oorTGibKwN2/s1600/P1000583.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVS5_aWlALpeCyudJJpzpULpxfU_MBABFQkS0kVW4ZMkPE89XJyyr5pbJ7TVMwavV4YkjZaWrOYCJKOJHFjE_aMetRHkvbSNzDmlZAvloRAmGaXiqQpC9cjxxFujbMZl8M8oorTGibKwN2/s640/P1000583.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>But that's where we need to get to.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQsAW4aSu683NUAdRh81veIkdnirv6WEfJbI7odszTjD3Xuw7l4BTwNcA5523XrkDBG2JPc26iyvHl8vdXncc-304O0dfK8leHZRdXiLrGK9kDGHxOF-xbXZJlruwBb1Er4mA6IF8Pk6ZW/s1600/P1000592.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQsAW4aSu683NUAdRh81veIkdnirv6WEfJbI7odszTjD3Xuw7l4BTwNcA5523XrkDBG2JPc26iyvHl8vdXncc-304O0dfK8leHZRdXiLrGK9kDGHxOF-xbXZJlruwBb1Er4mA6IF8Pk6ZW/s640/P1000592.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>On the way down, we meet a new friend.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAxHD4XDQo5A-XvRHj0wibiU-bg8F9RV-mjE3mAzPwtA30v7uwRivRwOyio4vCdNon8myus3h3QxLd72vPTyhBPYaG7aJs17ItIr8J_KBXC8ipZaaGSZziPCZ1aSnzWneqOG2e4t0Uw40F/s1600/P1000595.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAxHD4XDQo5A-XvRHj0wibiU-bg8F9RV-mjE3mAzPwtA30v7uwRivRwOyio4vCdNon8myus3h3QxLd72vPTyhBPYaG7aJs17ItIr8J_KBXC8ipZaaGSZziPCZ1aSnzWneqOG2e4t0Uw40F/s640/P1000595.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>But he's not really too happy to meet us. Carl mentioned that this is the first time in his 40 plus years of hiking in the desert that he's ever seen a rattlesnake in January. </i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJWOx7E3FNICeRNlGoTuOdQ9Xmu4VOiSnr3169JOB-H9aUOAQ9KPInwcSAeB-gd6R6fRnJTS9hl9ntZritlpRn3MHCVsCjZZ_EqlRRBoel2iyoP7g5S8BIvObT7i2p6_-6PybVynG2F4L-/s1600/P1000596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJWOx7E3FNICeRNlGoTuOdQ9Xmu4VOiSnr3169JOB-H9aUOAQ9KPInwcSAeB-gd6R6fRnJTS9hl9ntZritlpRn3MHCVsCjZZ_EqlRRBoel2iyoP7g5S8BIvObT7i2p6_-6PybVynG2F4L-/s640/P1000596.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>We make our way down as the sun retreats across the desert. It actually feels good to be in the shade. The hike up was just a little to warm for so early in the year.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-YeMqf-M9bEMH1E6TY0y7JjxhEUh-4fGpJLqT989bha1PKj1r23qJxdazltG2PSSQjQUwtI3l7mFi2T5O0VZIkoKFaVPUCBaUC9o-9FjTPdUmR8et82vDr8P_zlEe3TqTCGjkvNbktrP1/s1600/P1000602.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-YeMqf-M9bEMH1E6TY0y7JjxhEUh-4fGpJLqT989bha1PKj1r23qJxdazltG2PSSQjQUwtI3l7mFi2T5O0VZIkoKFaVPUCBaUC9o-9FjTPdUmR8et82vDr8P_zlEe3TqTCGjkvNbktrP1/s640/P1000602.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>We say goodbye to the sun.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVkY6iaSSrGSZvQFO28hfEI-LJtCADnjkWgHWaYnIzFIfe5iMfK4egcWF-q8g3A6VMUpKb1asVIAa17XXJDPRb5IShWP6kyRjw09R0bqlFEyHTY5ZgA3LW4jViclnGAsjf2pfigKDFu2Le/s1600/P1000606.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVkY6iaSSrGSZvQFO28hfEI-LJtCADnjkWgHWaYnIzFIfe5iMfK4egcWF-q8g3A6VMUpKb1asVIAa17XXJDPRb5IShWP6kyRjw09R0bqlFEyHTY5ZgA3LW4jViclnGAsjf2pfigKDFu2Le/s640/P1000606.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>And hello to the moon.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvbZYOWskxiVC1df1TedZhOMspqICHl-H4Oo6mqa1c3WTHp2kO8h5YyQFmfrxq5nUb6cnLU3DyLFdiqUhIInvlBZcLPgl6kLefmWeZsJP1v1ROSTzIj2PExNEO8ZAuIalBdfikV1p30JgD/s1600/P1000607.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvbZYOWskxiVC1df1TedZhOMspqICHl-H4Oo6mqa1c3WTHp2kO8h5YyQFmfrxq5nUb6cnLU3DyLFdiqUhIInvlBZcLPgl6kLefmWeZsJP1v1ROSTzIj2PExNEO8ZAuIalBdfikV1p30JgD/s640/P1000607.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Why is it that all of my favorite hikes seem to end in the dark?</i></div>Hal Summershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965194515510712303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355627852617153750.post-25326348059993024802011-12-20T14:11:00.001-08:002011-12-20T14:11:48.246-08:00On the Road To Recovery<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;">I had my toe worked on last Friday and hopefully it'll clear up the ongoing problem I've had with ingrown toenails. If you've never had ingrown toenails it probably doesn't sound like that big a deal but it's very painful. It's like having a toothache in your toe. Two nights before I went in to get it fixed I was up at 2:30 in the morning because the pain wouldn't let me sleep. Here I am trying to do something to alleviate the pain just so I could get back to bed. It was very annoying.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;">I also went to physical therapy for my back and that's getting better, too. I'm hoping 2012 will be better than 2011 and I can get back out on the trail…or off it.</div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfP-fBtO-JlJPA2T4QjjlJC8S643FAKGyP5N7Wr9zSnpuj8MzgGRQkba-r-hagAJrrStDMzrIe7_DzUJxk4q3vDUxm3AN3snbjYA-v4Ylaw70lRrXGq5UJS6qOieZwheYpPpGOM9c3FF7t/s1600/375972_10150539758731119_694501118_11546063_1873973343_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfP-fBtO-JlJPA2T4QjjlJC8S643FAKGyP5N7Wr9zSnpuj8MzgGRQkba-r-hagAJrrStDMzrIe7_DzUJxk4q3vDUxm3AN3snbjYA-v4Ylaw70lRrXGq5UJS6qOieZwheYpPpGOM9c3FF7t/s320/375972_10150539758731119_694501118_11546063_1873973343_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div>Hal Summershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965194515510712303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355627852617153750.post-77387503202655490142011-11-17T15:11:00.001-08:002011-11-19T08:31:59.794-08:00Just what the doctor ordered.So I finally went to the doctor. He gave me some drugs, referred me to a physical therapist and told me to come back in 6 weeks. I've got an appointment next week with the torture chamber, i.e. Physical therapist and I also got referred to a podiatrist to try and fix my toe. I'll let you know how it goes. <br />
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I did a nice hike in 1000 Palms yesterday for about two hours and the back was fine. Hiking feels good. I would credit the meds but I took them this morning and the back is acting up again. <br />
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Maybe I'm just allergic to work.Hal Summershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965194515510712303noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355627852617153750.post-85176015591667278992011-11-09T14:01:00.000-08:002011-11-09T14:01:46.236-08:00EPIC FAIL<div style="text-align: justify;">I guess it's time to call an end to this experiment. It's months later and my back still hurts. I've kept hoping, foolishly, that my back issue would resolve itself but it hasn't and I'm going to finally head to the doctor. I figure six months of suffering is enough. Why did I know go earlier? I don't know. Fear, stubbornness, time constraints all conspired against me to cause me to delay getting proper care. There was probably a dose of unrealistic optimism in there, too. I just kept hoping it'd just go away. But it didn't and I'm at the end of my patience with my weak flesh.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I'll let you know how the check-up goes. I've got a list of minor maladies for the doctor to check on while I'm there. Might as well get everything fixed at once. With a new year coming on, who knows what I'll come up with the try and challenge myself. I've got a bit less than two months to get better. </div>Hal Summershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965194515510712303noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355627852617153750.post-37159225111688344002011-06-22T07:53:00.000-07:002011-06-22T07:53:00.166-07:00Birthday GreetingsOK, so this hasn't quite turned out how I hoped it would. It's my birthday today so I'm really feeling old. I haven't been doing any hiking and I figured it was a good time to tell everyone why.<br />
<br />
First, I got really busy at work and didn't have the time to go out and do any interesting hikes. It's not like when I was hiking every day and I'd post whenever I hiked whether I had anything to say or not. Here I only wanted to write if I had something to say.<br />
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Then, I got an ingrown toenail and it was killing me just to walk. I hate going to the doctor so I avoided that and just suffered. That wasn't a good idea because my hobbling caused my back to go out and now I'm suffering from Sciatica, which is intensely painful and doesn't make me want to go hiking any time soon. But I think the back is starting to get better and the heat of the desert is filling me with desire to head up to the mountains ASAP.<br />
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I'm putting a date on July 1 to hopefully get started again. Wish me luck.Hal Summershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965194515510712303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355627852617153750.post-26365243165175381292011-04-02T20:55:00.000-07:002011-04-02T21:54:05.609-07:00A Couple Easy Hikes<div style="text-align: justify;">OK, so I didn't lose over 50 lbs. in the past month by eating bacon and drinking vodka. It would've been nice and I could have started a new diet fad but it was not to be. I hope you all had a nice April 1st, though.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I did a couple nice hikes this week. I'll update them later because I've got some bacon and vodka calling my name.</div>Hal Summershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965194515510712303noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355627852617153750.post-33981542778520752872011-04-01T20:06:00.000-07:002011-04-01T20:28:28.135-07:00An Incredible Month Of Hiking and Weight Loss<div style="text-align: justify;">I had a fantastic month of weight loss in March due to the combination of long, difficult hikes and a diet that consisted primarily of bacon. I've discovered that eating six meals a day—about two pounds of bacon per day—and drinking two ounces of vodka during each meal is the secret to quick and lasting weight loss. Hiking up to 40 miles a day also burns the over 4800 calories I've been consuming. I can only hope that April goes as well. I've never felt better.<br />
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When I'm done with this I just may write a book about it.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBddfSggnNmQGtyXbmc1pW3U56teaOIiL384iNYI3BPVWdVvbZmfqZtu9dCq9LPedL2RUg876FOCe0Xd-EHanQRgTQzyewzXA9AgTbHU30A6dgIRUfUEDwSqzE7iOn5XOmkN_Ty1k7w-Dy/s1600/IMG_0344.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBddfSggnNmQGtyXbmc1pW3U56teaOIiL384iNYI3BPVWdVvbZmfqZtu9dCq9LPedL2RUg876FOCe0Xd-EHanQRgTQzyewzXA9AgTbHU30A6dgIRUfUEDwSqzE7iOn5XOmkN_Ty1k7w-Dy/s320/IMG_0344.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>Hal Summershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965194515510712303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355627852617153750.post-38611992115982847162011-03-26T10:24:00.000-07:002011-03-26T14:04:58.916-07:00A Brand New Ancient Trail<div style="text-align: justify;">Recently, I've really developed a desire to go and explore the great wealth of alluvial fans down at the southern end of the Santa Rosa Mountains. There are two reasons for this:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">One: Hundreds of years ago, when the ancient Lake Cahuilla filled the lower part of the Coachella Valley, this area was a hotbed of Cahuilla Indian activity. Generations of Indians lived near the banks of this great lake and flourished due to the richness of life it created. Even after it dried up, its basin became a large repository for salt which was then traded with other Indian tribes throughout the region. I know there have to be lots of trails remaining in the area that mark these ancient people's routes of travel.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The second thing that attracts me to the area is that nobody goes there. Even in our great National Parks and Wilderness areas you will find signs that people frequent even to most remote locations and the highest peaks. In this place, except for the trails of Ancients, there's no sign anyone has <i>ever</i> gone there. Except me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUAFVH4c128CIhoImeUAzsmXRq-k4es7KbyjdmsafAy0IqXqs6W7kxWPBGt4PMh5tute45vClKbmHpu132Fy6W_FOWu0-57VNJfqO-WANpFZyIWLe6dNoxbk-svTqkBknm_SIFYf4qNAnn/s1600/100_3804.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUAFVH4c128CIhoImeUAzsmXRq-k4es7KbyjdmsafAy0IqXqs6W7kxWPBGt4PMh5tute45vClKbmHpu132Fy6W_FOWu0-57VNJfqO-WANpFZyIWLe6dNoxbk-svTqkBknm_SIFYf4qNAnn/s320/100_3804.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>After wandering around for a couple miles I come upon what looks like start of a bedrock mortar. I think this is probably a good sign.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH90aQ1RMgObaXY3pHZZwYEhcjANakNoom4WMZz27QS0OfGmmUT2EZ1Ec71YgR4DWIAvUMVGHnyTzDyC2jI-0y74LDnErpEpSET-An8eO1Ouk1V1n1eMFyTDW1kcS-jktFIag-PB1kdv9F/s1600/100_3806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH90aQ1RMgObaXY3pHZZwYEhcjANakNoom4WMZz27QS0OfGmmUT2EZ1Ec71YgR4DWIAvUMVGHnyTzDyC2jI-0y74LDnErpEpSET-An8eO1Ouk1V1n1eMFyTDW1kcS-jktFIag-PB1kdv9F/s320/100_3806.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>I jump up onto a nearby bluff and find a faint but followable trail.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoF_NhRj9PR4haDI-n6yEPiMtEYPz4wFZxpeAk_yHaMGAnRAd7-T_QPX1RKtUaZlXIQ79QDO8PSFRWRzlOA4VA280tzoIP3AuGH-lOr2acryYhzo2nUAE_lnQE-9atAuCwDoqP7xFqZAxL/s1600/100_3813.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoF_NhRj9PR4haDI-n6yEPiMtEYPz4wFZxpeAk_yHaMGAnRAd7-T_QPX1RKtUaZlXIQ79QDO8PSFRWRzlOA4VA280tzoIP3AuGH-lOr2acryYhzo2nUAE_lnQE-9atAuCwDoqP7xFqZAxL/s320/100_3813.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>There are sections that are actually quite distinct— like this one--while other parts are barely discernible.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioaHpUs624r_4Jw-lLoPtQ1BELoy1GL-2h8yF6hBz3eKd-jc3DSAk4mDftV_VUhnS75M28XX-NEvxdxpZahMKcdpywwmBPBMJtiJedyTpqtyQXVlw5szJILxG-j0k0f5kv4RA9oMZ48cLZ/s1600/100_3815.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioaHpUs624r_4Jw-lLoPtQ1BELoy1GL-2h8yF6hBz3eKd-jc3DSAk4mDftV_VUhnS75M28XX-NEvxdxpZahMKcdpywwmBPBMJtiJedyTpqtyQXVlw5szJILxG-j0k0f5kv4RA9oMZ48cLZ/s320/100_3815.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Other than the trail, I have found no other sign of human inhabitation except for this little pile of rocks. It's not much but they did not get this way on their own. Someone had to do this.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj34BDVxoJv-Rs0Z8DftlVg03V-GCZjJF72i8_Y4eB7xjrxG5gA0AAqSW1G0bLv39mY66QsA_gujY-2sY66t9tYAFCz_56eM2MOm10IzuuG-AstO7fFyTmognxegYzeYQF0nNHn7ep7sO4l/s1600/100_3816.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj34BDVxoJv-Rs0Z8DftlVg03V-GCZjJF72i8_Y4eB7xjrxG5gA0AAqSW1G0bLv39mY66QsA_gujY-2sY66t9tYAFCz_56eM2MOm10IzuuG-AstO7fFyTmognxegYzeYQF0nNHn7ep7sO4l/s320/100_3816.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>The trail becomes more difficult to follow so I wonder if maybe I should head up to this ridge to see if I can spot anything.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiRFjV54QN377ysI0CcaJeK1cUjKJAFgcmUNPYftsbRcyuDEYs8enqp2pBw5UYtU3H8NJAemZwHRbuZWWYY2TmiisSSweqIqLeR9yyfODio10T-8-B5zuTg0ebjnsZuBJyDukB1a4bwwGm/s1600/100_3817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiRFjV54QN377ysI0CcaJeK1cUjKJAFgcmUNPYftsbRcyuDEYs8enqp2pBw5UYtU3H8NJAemZwHRbuZWWYY2TmiisSSweqIqLeR9yyfODio10T-8-B5zuTg0ebjnsZuBJyDukB1a4bwwGm/s320/100_3817.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>It's obvious that there's not a trail here but maybe I can see something interesting.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizMllMQc-1f5rvnEodWMcyIvAiUYaFZtoYBChsNgzLHtlHiSQAhpZacr6Fw6ZtjEjiRhzdiVwSNeYUlnaIlpCyHm8hK6QG_mjIa-Sd039zQLmV1YCEuvx2j0FAVYCbWrLEXKIMy1hBRELW/s1600/100_3821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizMllMQc-1f5rvnEodWMcyIvAiUYaFZtoYBChsNgzLHtlHiSQAhpZacr6Fw6ZtjEjiRhzdiVwSNeYUlnaIlpCyHm8hK6QG_mjIa-Sd039zQLmV1YCEuvx2j0FAVYCbWrLEXKIMy1hBRELW/s320/100_3821.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>I wander up the ridge a bit and looking down I see a large boulder covered with petroglyphs. Had I just continued on the path I was on I'd be there already.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs2xEmFtbyloTDLIsQeAgJWMMseHf8YS_9shv6lc90ds-FsuM2UxCiSB0XLWKLE98Y6jggUPQ61b7eKRZAce6SrJONH5J8kJXFRhS7Nn2C958ZtJf_xJP_xrBxDN8_gENj64ZkxnQF8X58/s1600/100_3824.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs2xEmFtbyloTDLIsQeAgJWMMseHf8YS_9shv6lc90ds-FsuM2UxCiSB0XLWKLE98Y6jggUPQ61b7eKRZAce6SrJONH5J8kJXFRhS7Nn2C958ZtJf_xJP_xrBxDN8_gENj64ZkxnQF8X58/s320/100_3824.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>There are petroglyphs on a few boulders here but this is the largest. </i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzeq83AQ4KTViBbV_k_YBA_18gFo86Gzuk9dXmXWZF185AWmgY4TfgMeFGRQjtmH40UUINHgmub-LgN-M-vcbUyg6R66JseKu3f3KRzfJwQ0vfJAsSBUABnIYGG5lJ6nKgFkPtDgKyOhpQ/s1600/100_3827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzeq83AQ4KTViBbV_k_YBA_18gFo86Gzuk9dXmXWZF185AWmgY4TfgMeFGRQjtmH40UUINHgmub-LgN-M-vcbUyg6R66JseKu3f3KRzfJwQ0vfJAsSBUABnIYGG5lJ6nKgFkPtDgKyOhpQ/s320/100_3827.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>I always love finding new places and I wonder, with a hillside full of boulders, why the Indians chose these to create this rock art on.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNfOxp478YkhTM4K3cRdrTNFhJVyyNmsD6CeWrlvnb22PDGVB240lFVlrc3uhJZFzIZze8cpiE763g6TFQUWA-12OmvSJoIgTRXUmkBP-RbSuAl7AcIf3Z2W_VWhtBUsT3YopdxF1KSkp2/s1600/100_3828.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNfOxp478YkhTM4K3cRdrTNFhJVyyNmsD6CeWrlvnb22PDGVB240lFVlrc3uhJZFzIZze8cpiE763g6TFQUWA-12OmvSJoIgTRXUmkBP-RbSuAl7AcIf3Z2W_VWhtBUsT3YopdxF1KSkp2/s320/100_3828.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Another etching.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwlG9wrjOgw4raz4fLSueOihZqmR8Ok1E8I31xf2zzrA5NBrgjnQoCDq3TmZHhfXlVr1E4-nOfmxsCKivMeWmjoalSsbJxZWXeHKVG0GHoFdndCAkGgIjv9eHLQwtxUnI4t3vrXXZpgsFn/s1600/100_3833.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwlG9wrjOgw4raz4fLSueOihZqmR8Ok1E8I31xf2zzrA5NBrgjnQoCDq3TmZHhfXlVr1E4-nOfmxsCKivMeWmjoalSsbJxZWXeHKVG0GHoFdndCAkGgIjv9eHLQwtxUnI4t3vrXXZpgsFn/s320/100_3833.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>In the distance it looks like there's another large boulder which may have some more art on it. I hike over to it but it just a rock.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWPny3CjHYrmOxrnvEIB1tUJNl2MRHeJLpRMjQ19a7fjOMp8XUwHa83ZTDfHaOAA2zQmGmcLh95-EMoFyPfGU-OkYTRO9RkmlKW1zD6mphf-5OSgPfo6LWQ5ljkPJrIQoaAU5gvh8LeMX6/s1600/100_3837.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWPny3CjHYrmOxrnvEIB1tUJNl2MRHeJLpRMjQ19a7fjOMp8XUwHa83ZTDfHaOAA2zQmGmcLh95-EMoFyPfGU-OkYTRO9RkmlKW1zD6mphf-5OSgPfo6LWQ5ljkPJrIQoaAU5gvh8LeMX6/s320/100_3837.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Here's another shot of the main boulder.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAIKz14QC2eS4iizKwc5xlnaqtQrEMsKSuyOWQI_O6NsqEthfKFR2sJ_l4shDJC87mnD30k3Rt2qQ0w1U4nz6-8qKpab36SL61SoDeD07KlBcZNvg3BcnPh_NpJzaZ_GCG-j1PW29PxWW8/s1600/100_3838.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAIKz14QC2eS4iizKwc5xlnaqtQrEMsKSuyOWQI_O6NsqEthfKFR2sJ_l4shDJC87mnD30k3Rt2qQ0w1U4nz6-8qKpab36SL61SoDeD07KlBcZNvg3BcnPh_NpJzaZ_GCG-j1PW29PxWW8/s320/100_3838.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>I find this nice little petroglyph of an early model sports car. Those Indians were sure ahead of their time.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX3lmBSMeeJeFBTpe62dwPmaY6oMQFN86QzY0Wiizuo4uOzmq08cgDjLQ68N9dHuOXAaqitkaiidCcE7oUq8M00JBLzmUsQvkZoc9aQ441wSx0mBecYMp9plEyP-Rp9lEZQrSJJ62ezzGd/s1600/100_3841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX3lmBSMeeJeFBTpe62dwPmaY6oMQFN86QzY0Wiizuo4uOzmq08cgDjLQ68N9dHuOXAaqitkaiidCcE7oUq8M00JBLzmUsQvkZoc9aQ441wSx0mBecYMp9plEyP-Rp9lEZQrSJJ62ezzGd/s320/100_3841.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Beavertail Cactus flowers</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLFfUlbG-3FRkVflRWaqptgn7fcJ5W-46ibrEN4ZKm1_qR6rAoOGzPR_wBU7v2H0NQNt64Rnun6qQ6UGC9r5Rg_ilCef721fLEhaBEdjChyphenhyphenHzdhmmpy5T2j1iIF1FZSWAWPvHzlOh-vnld/s1600/100_3842.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLFfUlbG-3FRkVflRWaqptgn7fcJ5W-46ibrEN4ZKm1_qR6rAoOGzPR_wBU7v2H0NQNt64Rnun6qQ6UGC9r5Rg_ilCef721fLEhaBEdjChyphenhyphenHzdhmmpy5T2j1iIF1FZSWAWPvHzlOh-vnld/s320/100_3842.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>I find this piece of what at first glance appears to be pottery.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRfSr9eVkf3yuhxdP788gbQt03ixDa-6E_T7uLSOtinK91C05UDqVC3DBJW9eQgjIHnlU0JR5ULKOfNBtsqg_T0tHgbD8YnV38RUGfLQ9AvWHS86upmOCtPoQMAFjTSrSvGMb1TUDU-E0S/s1600/100_3843.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRfSr9eVkf3yuhxdP788gbQt03ixDa-6E_T7uLSOtinK91C05UDqVC3DBJW9eQgjIHnlU0JR5ULKOfNBtsqg_T0tHgbD8YnV38RUGfLQ9AvWHS86upmOCtPoQMAFjTSrSvGMb1TUDU-E0S/s320/100_3843.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>But it ends up just being a rock.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvsXhGVl8hITj4svcS9ynOOt66BVGbn9d7TxwL-IALX3joApXZ1T7MQU9JURtX6A6n_7IiyW1_BdqwEEWQTuQ8h0O_xgksFRUgNEkum_JepsNhvVks2IqAd3bd6zbOJjzzCUP7BYWAffC2/s1600/100_3847.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvsXhGVl8hITj4svcS9ynOOt66BVGbn9d7TxwL-IALX3joApXZ1T7MQU9JURtX6A6n_7IiyW1_BdqwEEWQTuQ8h0O_xgksFRUgNEkum_JepsNhvVks2IqAd3bd6zbOJjzzCUP7BYWAffC2/s320/100_3847.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Silver Cholla cactus flower</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsl0koIZ4zjqDKoeXEisOjsBjwBJBteU1zPDq8VfxMFcyanxUoB-jur-5YpBDGptr0DFCMkh-jfsi3HeLloZIbsMJX9_n0wePwQLLQhg4q2w2pr-wGcZARxnGtxNKeID1HEkRFO99hjGu7/s1600/100_3851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsl0koIZ4zjqDKoeXEisOjsBjwBJBteU1zPDq8VfxMFcyanxUoB-jur-5YpBDGptr0DFCMkh-jfsi3HeLloZIbsMJX9_n0wePwQLLQhg4q2w2pr-wGcZARxnGtxNKeID1HEkRFO99hjGu7/s320/100_3851.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Now this IS pottery. There are several pieces of what was probably a dropped pot. I'm sure someone got in trouble for this.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhes_K8MWq3igNSkJL5dvD3sueyOFtgDKI0PBgF1XH5A0Df5tUTqSEddRiXLqKhv-cJxd7EFq8gPtkYM7fE12FQjkOy58a-BmDe6bIYWBZNDnOqyOMe2NzVBsq5iyQRSchL4HjpGZQUJfpb/s1600/100_3852.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhes_K8MWq3igNSkJL5dvD3sueyOFtgDKI0PBgF1XH5A0Df5tUTqSEddRiXLqKhv-cJxd7EFq8gPtkYM7fE12FQjkOy58a-BmDe6bIYWBZNDnOqyOMe2NzVBsq5iyQRSchL4HjpGZQUJfpb/s320/100_3852.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Another piece.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMQ_XX5FV-aGUtdw4ze3vhZwCzTZK25Q7w3BXdf5Sy_b_JPTFJRev3fM-5YHiI7QMbBy2O5gdVeJrL0GxQGVeWIB48cUUJctuWdNBqfhePMHKpvy5P9GF-AdUyziJSQk2OJqd-CXgfW_VD/s1600/100_3854.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMQ_XX5FV-aGUtdw4ze3vhZwCzTZK25Q7w3BXdf5Sy_b_JPTFJRev3fM-5YHiI7QMbBy2O5gdVeJrL0GxQGVeWIB48cUUJctuWdNBqfhePMHKpvy5P9GF-AdUyziJSQk2OJqd-CXgfW_VD/s320/100_3854.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>And yet another.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCfuD6LSvwIN7qQ-pu0dhOquWGkNJX9lluYXoUQMzdQKXuI-eQ_6reXGqzYEELo_eIOFtNd8HLDJtRgvU-VDigyEpfzLgUw-ALpMB10zdUxFGkwPrwAgaFmoh2QYGHrhQlD3nrO6nlffxz/s1600/100_3857.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCfuD6LSvwIN7qQ-pu0dhOquWGkNJX9lluYXoUQMzdQKXuI-eQ_6reXGqzYEELo_eIOFtNd8HLDJtRgvU-VDigyEpfzLgUw-ALpMB10zdUxFGkwPrwAgaFmoh2QYGHrhQlD3nrO6nlffxz/s320/100_3857.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Making my way back to my Jeep I come upon this section that looks like it's an old cobblestone wall. The water coming down this wash has sheared off this section so cleanly that it looks like someone built it here. This area is so full of fascinating finds that I'm really surprised that no one ever comes out here. That's OK with me, though; I'm glad they don't.</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>Hal Summershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965194515510712303noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355627852617153750.post-87260445499101771522011-03-20T14:56:00.000-07:002011-03-20T15:05:28.619-07:00Boo Hoff Trail, La Quinta<div style="text-align: justify;">I went on a nice little hike last Wednesday but didn't post anything because I didn't take too many pictures. It wasn't a hike so much as a mission of mercy. One of the gals at work asked me if I'd take her father in law who was visiting from Canada and loving the weather and the great hiking here in the desert. He was taking her and their family on a wealth of adventures and, quite frankly, wearing them out. I only had a few hours but I did my best to get even for them.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Here's a GPS track I took of the hike on my iPhone.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip/1042239">Boo Hoff Trail</a><br />
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</div>Hal Summershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965194515510712303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355627852617153750.post-56251410471106083862011-03-10T23:47:00.000-08:002011-03-11T08:20:50.819-08:00Sheep Canyon Trail<div style="text-align: justify;"> I live in the most amazing place. Literally within minutes I can leave my house and get into the wilderness, a completely different world. I drive past country clubs, farms and ranches to get to places where people once lived on nothing but what they could hunt or gather. Most modern men could not survive out there for but a few days but the Cahuilla Indians lived here for generations. To many people, the desert is a lifeless wasteland, full of nothing but venomous creatures that sting, bite or kill and evil plants that inflict a multitude of lacerations. Sometimes it's those things to me but more often it's a place of wonder, inspiration and tranquility. There is no better place on earth.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibMlqvwhiTvsjwHOOQQHk2-oalRQfOyn16G9uJvPkC2dsQkS_u4StIZ_zJH2jWi-1Cw6LOPOufMLQy1jGcz4RpI4nwX_1Q64C_vJopiryGdDZE8FQzq_kOmnVOaS-z1gSXxNmoVnqP1bx_/s1600/100_3694.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibMlqvwhiTvsjwHOOQQHk2-oalRQfOyn16G9uJvPkC2dsQkS_u4StIZ_zJH2jWi-1Cw6LOPOufMLQy1jGcz4RpI4nwX_1Q64C_vJopiryGdDZE8FQzq_kOmnVOaS-z1gSXxNmoVnqP1bx_/s320/100_3694.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>I head out to Sheep Canyon to do a little exploring. I only have a few hours and I think I really need a few months to fully explore this whole area.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihs38DEOu0xIwMTReUNvHKpwB5yodeDJNLF5mXVxNMzoyEgOn1IS6Yhx4vWSNJQfzhEhb9j2L6eZi-UrSgPJaA20NrvY4oj-lR10MU4X1Z_FTfK79ZAzaFRJ8sOfDS5y5-NXfTtfvD9HWI/s1600/100_3698.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihs38DEOu0xIwMTReUNvHKpwB5yodeDJNLF5mXVxNMzoyEgOn1IS6Yhx4vWSNJQfzhEhb9j2L6eZi-UrSgPJaA20NrvY4oj-lR10MU4X1Z_FTfK79ZAzaFRJ8sOfDS5y5-NXfTtfvD9HWI/s320/100_3698.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>There's plenty of water flowing in the canyon. And people say this is a desert.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr8nP7VgUFVnfXLrMh0P3qIYmJEsg6Hp-Z3iTg_C8KZK_B9NkMalZ1P-a_t3veptqCSxKD0QhIFMAj27_6oT6rg5wxGkzmlwSdYEGtGekjK09Ox7btIE5wUdQ0TjddqC-3JqW06G7rSGuR/s1600/100_3702.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr8nP7VgUFVnfXLrMh0P3qIYmJEsg6Hp-Z3iTg_C8KZK_B9NkMalZ1P-a_t3veptqCSxKD0QhIFMAj27_6oT6rg5wxGkzmlwSdYEGtGekjK09Ox7btIE5wUdQ0TjddqC-3JqW06G7rSGuR/s320/100_3702.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>On the left of the canyon is a campsite that I'm sure was used by the Indians as well as more recent visitors.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKEM_Erj-E0Lgt80vlhot0hiZYptD4Dfs3SiQZZ2kiU3N7-LCZKB9JXWCvu_NjEeS6KL1OwCgintbg3dxo82UgtTaFvGsxK1FtQtNz_d2hggENjfxeaM-5w2mWTUWP6U-hx2LnjEWFRKgK/s1600/100_3705.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKEM_Erj-E0Lgt80vlhot0hiZYptD4Dfs3SiQZZ2kiU3N7-LCZKB9JXWCvu_NjEeS6KL1OwCgintbg3dxo82UgtTaFvGsxK1FtQtNz_d2hggENjfxeaM-5w2mWTUWP6U-hx2LnjEWFRKgK/s320/100_3705.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>This is one of the more interesting spots I know of in these mountains. The rocks here are like concrete. I'm sure there are other sections like this but this is the only one that I've personally found.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguuEwRuOJBNvUhqXBbkbgk3_T5kdfJPmrY012eg2zmOkKtvrbtLh8yAnkwoSbdloPgU0ugByTdjx3TqmX8mLAvp80LkkSezyvXCp-PyhrMD_3WS4o55G1nvQqDBCl3wegQlAIh29gAzKOW/s1600/100_3708.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguuEwRuOJBNvUhqXBbkbgk3_T5kdfJPmrY012eg2zmOkKtvrbtLh8yAnkwoSbdloPgU0ugByTdjx3TqmX8mLAvp80LkkSezyvXCp-PyhrMD_3WS4o55G1nvQqDBCl3wegQlAIh29gAzKOW/s320/100_3708.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>I really like this rock and the shade it provides. I wonder what it would take to get it moved to my yard?</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSmQQFf03hrqY5ngCQq4p0Y2uuoL6iyP-vQzru_MPxnRgmXDpm3uGgcuz9iY1XtOBCSa2I9plJUSlLq83PkkxBuaY8GGlc8hyphenhyphenwrF5ftTVqzTmfSTom0fAG_n1-K1_LgYwYkpT_syRJsb93/s1600/100_3709.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSmQQFf03hrqY5ngCQq4p0Y2uuoL6iyP-vQzru_MPxnRgmXDpm3uGgcuz9iY1XtOBCSa2I9plJUSlLq83PkkxBuaY8GGlc8hyphenhyphenwrF5ftTVqzTmfSTom0fAG_n1-K1_LgYwYkpT_syRJsb93/s320/100_3709.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>The shaded area made for a very good kitchen. A few of many bedrock mortars on this slab.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXVqRgDQh-1mUHIDnSqGXM5LwyqLk4EZwKIP0DPjyA8jO9yAWXTnM1PnUjYSzTIODczojkGiqWCaIcnSHFZWV2-NklxhqbngQM6KilHogtLcdt5QPAY9Ke4sZXhM55wFUhncvlQfdH4FBp/s1600/100_3713.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXVqRgDQh-1mUHIDnSqGXM5LwyqLk4EZwKIP0DPjyA8jO9yAWXTnM1PnUjYSzTIODczojkGiqWCaIcnSHFZWV2-NklxhqbngQM6KilHogtLcdt5QPAY9Ke4sZXhM55wFUhncvlQfdH4FBp/s320/100_3713.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>The geology of this canyon is fascinating.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYw1SQ-6lCS2K054oQvaD3Nyss6B09APt58pPczjNUz6UDvM5nHc5KVGgbi0as9VVfk1nahXy0ObipGdyYWCv7obUYHq6_RJdJlIwIx6rdCYna8vtnart-H4USWP2Z2Da8Xu7A2kGcRmB_/s1600/100_3714.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYw1SQ-6lCS2K054oQvaD3Nyss6B09APt58pPczjNUz6UDvM5nHc5KVGgbi0as9VVfk1nahXy0ObipGdyYWCv7obUYHq6_RJdJlIwIx6rdCYna8vtnart-H4USWP2Z2Da8Xu7A2kGcRmB_/s320/100_3714.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>There are many layers and different types of rock.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-JCof94Wy8JiPh-lPzRjVRNu3CJfUrKWA3cuVGXphF8Zh_FL478acbR1u8o6ZjFY4ordRyrGmyyO1nzVtsX7_x_i2LHADbRSE2d4JcObPOuQOFIeRUVnq-64Fh6KecMa8uEbUWuTeDf_P/s1600/100_3716.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-JCof94Wy8JiPh-lPzRjVRNu3CJfUrKWA3cuVGXphF8Zh_FL478acbR1u8o6ZjFY4ordRyrGmyyO1nzVtsX7_x_i2LHADbRSE2d4JcObPOuQOFIeRUVnq-64Fh6KecMa8uEbUWuTeDf_P/s320/100_3716.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>And, as I said, water is plentiful.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1tskcBMHcoBK1fJjI7fg8VE1JPkG35dW-yh6FWslYAFBAymCVPm6cqAgGHnfnky6SmYJjdRCOwiUQUu2OnAV3Fmu2xdHJ87Fliv0ERIwYzykQfh2hmlbAexFJjcRSoCtUtSrpimrvNQiX/s1600/100_3718.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1tskcBMHcoBK1fJjI7fg8VE1JPkG35dW-yh6FWslYAFBAymCVPm6cqAgGHnfnky6SmYJjdRCOwiUQUu2OnAV3Fmu2xdHJ87Fliv0ERIwYzykQfh2hmlbAexFJjcRSoCtUtSrpimrvNQiX/s320/100_3718.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>I get to a place where I am actually able to leave the canyon so I opt to explore above.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh58wwk8kXh9-EavFGhGVHiAkqBKL63ZCh2jOgkz6SZEXPicJIx33hUBsawKzWsNMtZA5ZztenTeyzI165gpHnM9x5IJ4e2pDn-akwZf68jLKvd7RIQONNgGxtBGq1-6OR78GrFHkOP3YWI/s1600/100_3720.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh58wwk8kXh9-EavFGhGVHiAkqBKL63ZCh2jOgkz6SZEXPicJIx33hUBsawKzWsNMtZA5ZztenTeyzI165gpHnM9x5IJ4e2pDn-akwZf68jLKvd7RIQONNgGxtBGq1-6OR78GrFHkOP3YWI/s320/100_3720.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Beavertail cactus blooms</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOFvcrORRThT5BmFEH93sIw5t93j1KfEgSpsA0YMXYqCCdRYFAUU62P13p0ReIrAsqII7bMGUypgU9puIMi2mvy895LALFziEjxTDHj_M76lTpplclEG2bHuxmJkXHyWJHQnG9zNt8cIyr/s1600/100_3724.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOFvcrORRThT5BmFEH93sIw5t93j1KfEgSpsA0YMXYqCCdRYFAUU62P13p0ReIrAsqII7bMGUypgU9puIMi2mvy895LALFziEjxTDHj_M76lTpplclEG2bHuxmJkXHyWJHQnG9zNt8cIyr/s320/100_3724.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Click to enlarge</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHDs8SwI1HMVwxwBfst9e1-7vyJ0IUZvSKGSTc20BSgjKDxzluCIEEGDUhUq-ekK6WEu4qspzBuDHyc3q_EYS723yHT5oXLHEiDwAQBFjINDVv8G1S6OFjQUzom_s0Hyg2_l_Ix8fYr3c3/s1600/100_3726.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHDs8SwI1HMVwxwBfst9e1-7vyJ0IUZvSKGSTc20BSgjKDxzluCIEEGDUhUq-ekK6WEu4qspzBuDHyc3q_EYS723yHT5oXLHEiDwAQBFjINDVv8G1S6OFjQUzom_s0Hyg2_l_Ix8fYr3c3/s320/100_3726.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>I get to a nice flat spot above the canyon, an area that seems like it would make a terrific campsite but find nothing of interest.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE-HKq6Dze3IkCkyDAtE6ztRBZVL5K5t-A-jnufgC2dtDADOpjhp6iS6KDyvMx0GcFL230tPDW1hq0XEO1RaVkxuQlWVcAXERYW7W7s6uA88LgA43HTx-LVxZNOkL_oy5KrSPc8zgA_g9I/s1600/100_3730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE-HKq6Dze3IkCkyDAtE6ztRBZVL5K5t-A-jnufgC2dtDADOpjhp6iS6KDyvMx0GcFL230tPDW1hq0XEO1RaVkxuQlWVcAXERYW7W7s6uA88LgA43HTx-LVxZNOkL_oy5KrSPc8zgA_g9I/s320/100_3730.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>A little more exploring leads me to what seems to be a trail.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW_jqHOQMwrKY8f2g3n-ntK-bmJGA2uExBHqSxKlVLpqQEUL25QCiM2NGq4C7SzUuRnHOluCVxB4HIMOqqL96yddHDrr7z4cwapNyV2pedidwWHYgB2DgqsyHw7iEmbUFfTDMES3tlwjM-/s1600/100_3732.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW_jqHOQMwrKY8f2g3n-ntK-bmJGA2uExBHqSxKlVLpqQEUL25QCiM2NGq4C7SzUuRnHOluCVxB4HIMOqqL96yddHDrr7z4cwapNyV2pedidwWHYgB2DgqsyHw7iEmbUFfTDMES3tlwjM-/s320/100_3732.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>It is a trail and a pretty good one at that.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP6I3VMGItCwfI7-I-tGD38pucMzRua5QS6kHsCqEoSwQA98-JiHK7S7LG78fs5lvlv8zdGsnw8HY4E7G88k3hlJL9tR54F3Plu3zY5duLKqQs9mJu8WT2mbknezJG_dkTWvqQWjqLkH_m/s1600/100_3736.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP6I3VMGItCwfI7-I-tGD38pucMzRua5QS6kHsCqEoSwQA98-JiHK7S7LG78fs5lvlv8zdGsnw8HY4E7G88k3hlJL9tR54F3Plu3zY5duLKqQs9mJu8WT2mbknezJG_dkTWvqQWjqLkH_m/s320/100_3736.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>It leads to another nice little flat area and this rock circle. </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYOQFuvVBfri7R6ZoM5ncTDxovGkArj6VM3X4b1VP-Crxe6JXPRKLoQSu65ipFBrtTv3u_Aa8E3zqlbTk2FEiOdtKpW6doiCrWWkky5YDQVYcEFxZxpLagMq7O6dJIcZnpsYxhOe4woXsb/s1600/100_3737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYOQFuvVBfri7R6ZoM5ncTDxovGkArj6VM3X4b1VP-Crxe6JXPRKLoQSu65ipFBrtTv3u_Aa8E3zqlbTk2FEiOdtKpW6doiCrWWkky5YDQVYcEFxZxpLagMq7O6dJIcZnpsYxhOe4woXsb/s320/100_3737.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>The trail then leads uphill.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy11yzPqnit1liUySzzILzMh1xI_ApvZRs69BujNie2C7zy6O9bvVTTd3cgfHApNgd2hbpE4fRuOpocDanQ4Qe7MgsJCkVkOSYjWy3QnJh7MRpC_EmmKVEQmiCMaAU2dmoZiB7znPbyGhY/s1600/100_3738.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy11yzPqnit1liUySzzILzMh1xI_ApvZRs69BujNie2C7zy6O9bvVTTd3cgfHApNgd2hbpE4fRuOpocDanQ4Qe7MgsJCkVkOSYjWy3QnJh7MRpC_EmmKVEQmiCMaAU2dmoZiB7znPbyGhY/s320/100_3738.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>I prefer the travel up here to what's below. It looks like the canyon gets a little more chocked with brush. When I come back I'm going to have to wear long pants and a long sleeve shirt. Gloves would probably be advisable, too.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHNJ3yxKJQQYdTY0JaUndqtvnxWftK_0qER5d5PCjeHzlPiTlxrqMStw4yCG6AZ7t_Xs76uV83gOMPooxRNEqJNR1R854pwgENOQ0IsTV8gYRhsLvxfO5xIzZQLeu3Ph2_tBbnFNUB4_WZ/s1600/100_3744.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHNJ3yxKJQQYdTY0JaUndqtvnxWftK_0qER5d5PCjeHzlPiTlxrqMStw4yCG6AZ7t_Xs76uV83gOMPooxRNEqJNR1R854pwgENOQ0IsTV8gYRhsLvxfO5xIzZQLeu3Ph2_tBbnFNUB4_WZ/s320/100_3744.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>The trail leads up to some expansive views of the Coachella Valley and the Salton Sea.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-mUoljxOI-SGC8-lWCYhIMy8Ru9-peG2Pnm-nkZIlMF95Dxso11QogBD3LSUxYajf0Rg1Mzfo_L3ujssnUDsQlewZ2W9EfDAnfmYSPN1eqPXnbQ2FK_GD4RIc5bj5rmSOgejT0VbP-Ply/s1600/100_3745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-mUoljxOI-SGC8-lWCYhIMy8Ru9-peG2Pnm-nkZIlMF95Dxso11QogBD3LSUxYajf0Rg1Mzfo_L3ujssnUDsQlewZ2W9EfDAnfmYSPN1eqPXnbQ2FK_GD4RIc5bj5rmSOgejT0VbP-Ply/s320/100_3745.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>It traverses around this little hill but I'm out of time and need to get back. But even a couple hours of adventure does wonders to restore one's soul.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyjBvRqH4R72Uburh6SYq-7q90GE68jYiHlahKsdJvS9y_yJwXi0DJ9TiDd8LdzKPfvyZpjlEi2VHm8n4YIUUpeYkWAtfi23U2arfycuW6GmswPN_zxex2TlR3s8Rq5Pyq0P9ZjEHmhmBY/s1600/100_3746.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyjBvRqH4R72Uburh6SYq-7q90GE68jYiHlahKsdJvS9y_yJwXi0DJ9TiDd8LdzKPfvyZpjlEi2VHm8n4YIUUpeYkWAtfi23U2arfycuW6GmswPN_zxex2TlR3s8Rq5Pyq0P9ZjEHmhmBY/s320/100_3746.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>This is a recurring theme on many of my hikes lately. Restoring one's soul can sometimes take a toll upon one's body.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVkoBs4AVcoh48FE2IBbaNg0reQ_N3mK9qztFXuyN7DeCH5-HHX8oS0HF-PvmdaIdHhzAEFH6UTpLjqlWf1N9eo4Z3VBEm7miXTAO5HRPODNmnw4dbZtVJ_KCGK34TPi5Zf2utazxRrTWM/s1600/100_3747.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVkoBs4AVcoh48FE2IBbaNg0reQ_N3mK9qztFXuyN7DeCH5-HHX8oS0HF-PvmdaIdHhzAEFH6UTpLjqlWf1N9eo4Z3VBEm7miXTAO5HRPODNmnw4dbZtVJ_KCGK34TPi5Zf2utazxRrTWM/s320/100_3747.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>I take a different route down and come upon some more evidence of those who lived here long ago.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT3SBnJkpLNaheDjsPoTbYFNgyq6E0T8KpnkDnFnldLehTJKAm-y1vaFu4yOrMxNntWzsZ799iTloM1j3BGHrm48XBX4Lc7KE0iUVZk74P-Qjs_9HAjCY4i3NaHmmYk-m6qr_YPVMKfUuP/s1600/100_3748.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT3SBnJkpLNaheDjsPoTbYFNgyq6E0T8KpnkDnFnldLehTJKAm-y1vaFu4yOrMxNntWzsZ799iTloM1j3BGHrm48XBX4Lc7KE0iUVZk74P-Qjs_9HAjCY4i3NaHmmYk-m6qr_YPVMKfUuP/s320/100_3748.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Yet another mortar.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii4ywCxXf9h-n5-dW0yjdrUrMpVSUHJGBcbGuqGl3S2qvxnruwJ8T1SuCFslZE-AINI7QsICtAJwaIDtE8GgaBJFeixzkmBTYSt-rAdAQ-sytcSBQs9LC9p9pu5MVozBgs2GTID1Z9xmxz/s1600/100_3751.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii4ywCxXf9h-n5-dW0yjdrUrMpVSUHJGBcbGuqGl3S2qvxnruwJ8T1SuCFslZE-AINI7QsICtAJwaIDtE8GgaBJFeixzkmBTYSt-rAdAQ-sytcSBQs9LC9p9pu5MVozBgs2GTID1Z9xmxz/s320/100_3751.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>I look to see if I can go down this canyon but it looks nasty. Loose dirt, steep dropoffs and more plants that poke. I'll try another route.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>This one is not much better. It is one of the worst hillsides I've traversed in, well, a couple weeks. In the canyon bottom, you can see that white concrete-like slab.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtFwIZFO9WxPuBeoIt64FAbqdbIPu7ajzO2K6DdEm65cVcmHkOuNFAjiiXbAa1n5_HFTuVDCTShlPyh116X7Qd0UXMEeZW5TmiFqS15acpoahfKLQWHG657j8CWkXKOIwdoba4Un5hLqIB/s1600/100_3757.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtFwIZFO9WxPuBeoIt64FAbqdbIPu7ajzO2K6DdEm65cVcmHkOuNFAjiiXbAa1n5_HFTuVDCTShlPyh116X7Qd0UXMEeZW5TmiFqS15acpoahfKLQWHG657j8CWkXKOIwdoba4Un5hLqIB/s320/100_3757.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>After precariously downclimbing yet another hillside of crap I get to some flat, albeit rocky, ground. All I have to do is walk directly to that little hill in the upper left of the picture. That's where my Jeep is parked. It looks like a straight easy shot.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnb0pFn0Knj3nopn1Fpltz0DLkLFgen22329wHxsWkHF1eLiiIprFhE4qhNfZ31y6CVGqw78JQFIB4Ug34qnpXshqHN5aueCs7-eQNfgSdnl2-O5v_g06nFrcYRmvE6b3v0dNR4QuR4By_/s1600/100_3758.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnb0pFn0Knj3nopn1Fpltz0DLkLFgen22329wHxsWkHF1eLiiIprFhE4qhNfZ31y6CVGqw78JQFIB4Ug34qnpXshqHN5aueCs7-eQNfgSdnl2-O5v_g06nFrcYRmvE6b3v0dNR4QuR4By_/s320/100_3758.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Of course, nothing out here is easy. It's just a little hundred foot deep sheer canyon in the way. Piece of cake. If traveling out here in the desert were easy, everyone would be doing it but then instead of hours of solitude in a breathtakingly beautiful setting I'd be assaulted with crowds and noise. No thanks. I like it just the way it is.</i></div>Hal Summershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965194515510712303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355627852617153750.post-31492964738128759762011-03-07T21:12:00.000-08:002011-03-07T21:12:00.366-08:00Heading In The Right Direction<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I was going to write a big philosophical tome about how thing are going but I'll just let the number tell the story. So far, I've lost over twenty pounds this year and I haven't had nearly the amount of time to hike as I'd have liked to. Imagine where I'd be if I got out on the trail more often.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgonZr6TQmf0rqNUzHri4NuHAlXdEzeb4Pz62FHzMKsCh0QX95zdpVgc0dSs0gU6cAzAh8QfTVVhaxDxoSfNJ4BF2om3hg4nlHLc_CcV21Stgl_Yziccgx6lQ8lEqWVWlq2MWHT4BbVYZ5X/s1600/IMG_0331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgonZr6TQmf0rqNUzHri4NuHAlXdEzeb4Pz62FHzMKsCh0QX95zdpVgc0dSs0gU6cAzAh8QfTVVhaxDxoSfNJ4BF2om3hg4nlHLc_CcV21Stgl_Yziccgx6lQ8lEqWVWlq2MWHT4BbVYZ5X/s320/IMG_0331.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Hal Summershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965194515510712303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355627852617153750.post-59504478747252131722011-02-28T22:07:00.000-08:002011-02-28T22:11:01.981-08:00Murray Peak — Palm Springs Best View<div style="text-align: justify;">Today I had a later shift at work so I'd have time to go out and do a little hike in the morning. I wanted to get a little elevation gain in so I chose to do Murray Peak—also known as Murray Hill—in Palm Springs. The trailhead is a bit of a drive from my house but the hike is so good it's definitely worth it. I'd have to rush so I could get home and shower before work but I've run to the top in less than an hour before so I figured I'd be OK. Of course, back then was a bit more fit, younger and, let's say, a tad lighter in the weight department. If nothing else, this will be a good gauge of just how old, fat and out of shape I've become.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfftsa4ZoRyX285tr-PD8ZN9-2ngjh3tc77Sj-TTtqTgkJub0LowFu5wyESOTZsoADZzB292CTtnN_yT9FmdR6tB2BGBwi_F7N5iuCV3r5dlF_sJcQ06nk98hVIiCaNlKwjZxO0Q6Uru4a/s1600/100_3652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfftsa4ZoRyX285tr-PD8ZN9-2ngjh3tc77Sj-TTtqTgkJub0LowFu5wyESOTZsoADZzB292CTtnN_yT9FmdR6tB2BGBwi_F7N5iuCV3r5dlF_sJcQ06nk98hVIiCaNlKwjZxO0Q6Uru4a/s320/100_3652.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>The trailhead is at the end of S. Barona Rd. in Palm Springs. It's a little cul de sac with just two houses off Bogart Trail.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg63oMSBJ5unQ_spgeMtbdhMeCUF3aJ9BNrftzOK2Dklx_Ht2yuhld_LCcNZvAi4Or6PeWVvUmqh4x9Klxa8TG1cWdMEy16oNbqUZWPaySTMvRnzkmvuczA2dYOydl_J6pSqik-sSoUrd8a/s1600/100_3654.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg63oMSBJ5unQ_spgeMtbdhMeCUF3aJ9BNrftzOK2Dklx_Ht2yuhld_LCcNZvAi4Or6PeWVvUmqh4x9Klxa8TG1cWdMEy16oNbqUZWPaySTMvRnzkmvuczA2dYOydl_J6pSqik-sSoUrd8a/s320/100_3654.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>The trail's been around for quite a while but this sign is relatively new.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyc01YfzBvte4q9P6ARz_ckkkk-mi080s7agA6lLbT4uUTxfBho91YmP3Vv3I7a6AH8k5ciid17BHbBL7YuSkeVM9j026-n3y481SheRRSxbQP2wZU2xoDSGztu3_Xf2japgJkRMgc8CQI/s1600/100_3659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyc01YfzBvte4q9P6ARz_ckkkk-mi080s7agA6lLbT4uUTxfBho91YmP3Vv3I7a6AH8k5ciid17BHbBL7YuSkeVM9j026-n3y481SheRRSxbQP2wZU2xoDSGztu3_Xf2japgJkRMgc8CQI/s320/100_3659.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>The trail quickly gains elevation and gives you breathtaking views of the San Jacintos.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxj5TtCPEfkdTq0G9MnIi2gu_2qoe1-GliLkLovhkwiY69wKEh1l5UKX4p-HrO22lxWgHznl9bwOgWDg4-EEwE-GFb_JQUd1n4EiOHUnjHckwCEwoJpsRYEWfA9PmsUd7sQaRkbPwe9AJQ/s1600/100_3660.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxj5TtCPEfkdTq0G9MnIi2gu_2qoe1-GliLkLovhkwiY69wKEh1l5UKX4p-HrO22lxWgHznl9bwOgWDg4-EEwE-GFb_JQUd1n4EiOHUnjHckwCEwoJpsRYEWfA9PmsUd7sQaRkbPwe9AJQ/s320/100_3660.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Although it may be the switchbacks and not the view that is taking my breathe away.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7m8wKsXs8quw4jFSsZd1G7i3v12sv9Ng9Vzjo8YrPDYb2lAvXRmUbanL09qWfNbtG4DnU1is2-LpOUVzx71btfCkuu5uwYeoaUAEfYCMHVJ1LM1zHQlsUXu2WwG4TOQXzVtNlPoSOg0HT/s1600/100_3661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7m8wKsXs8quw4jFSsZd1G7i3v12sv9Ng9Vzjo8YrPDYb2lAvXRmUbanL09qWfNbtG4DnU1is2-LpOUVzx71btfCkuu5uwYeoaUAEfYCMHVJ1LM1zHQlsUXu2WwG4TOQXzVtNlPoSOg0HT/s320/100_3661.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Murray Peak, my ultimate destination, is the pointy peak in the distance.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKRzOFpsTTUepIj76i5eML2-QcaUAsBbm1czGM9oqO47Rh3Qu2_pSSv-gZeyTwVmYxYnbfhzdrOGBjQcdDnU_LR3H9jpLRfM1aLNKaJWaBMLNoEIcE597c5vejgyQt9U408CsWSrEuxc1c/s1600/100_3663.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKRzOFpsTTUepIj76i5eML2-QcaUAsBbm1czGM9oqO47Rh3Qu2_pSSv-gZeyTwVmYxYnbfhzdrOGBjQcdDnU_LR3H9jpLRfM1aLNKaJWaBMLNoEIcE597c5vejgyQt9U408CsWSrEuxc1c/s320/100_3663.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>I'm sure glad this trail sign is here because without I very well could have missed the trail.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVGMFOIvXp6Spn7F4WoUCS9r6GQKiLZNM8Bcb94zOajZhw4X-KsBHVU-PsdKRDAN7RQXNdpxvuGxot5z1V__WUAVaRC6nHfHowHNLJOc1pIBnhkWMFj0MyS8xr46ihu9pVzqeWE2DJkjsg/s1600/100_3669.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVGMFOIvXp6Spn7F4WoUCS9r6GQKiLZNM8Bcb94zOajZhw4X-KsBHVU-PsdKRDAN7RQXNdpxvuGxot5z1V__WUAVaRC6nHfHowHNLJOc1pIBnhkWMFj0MyS8xr46ihu9pVzqeWE2DJkjsg/s320/100_3669.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>The trail is shared with mountain bikers and it's easy to see why some hikers are resistant to allowing bikes on a lot of trail. The trail degradation here is pretty significant.</i></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>It's nice to see the snow while hiking in perfect 70º weather.</i></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>You have to leave the Garstin Trail and head onto the Wildhorse Trail before hitting the Clara Burgess Trail to the top of Murray Peak.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpEhJ-kntr2-tAncdUFPf10hMq6q83MW8KoQOs20Hc3usryaJvumV_gujhJdXrjiUKOa2WCoczpXDxw19XAHVqf0K9eRsgJhh6-PZtKM9fHrSQ4NnShCUDMGVQCfEVU84GNGqCiZdnHoML/s1600/100_3675.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpEhJ-kntr2-tAncdUFPf10hMq6q83MW8KoQOs20Hc3usryaJvumV_gujhJdXrjiUKOa2WCoczpXDxw19XAHVqf0K9eRsgJhh6-PZtKM9fHrSQ4NnShCUDMGVQCfEVU84GNGqCiZdnHoML/s320/100_3675.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>The trails here all well marked and well traveled.</i> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQD0LhheN8GLu3AmLMM8XhY5zAR7XP_hF7_I1uSvK_kKfHMipymoG-mnTKAPYFnXO8IL5sBUlUkbBp3iWyGhgN5EsRXm05KwacrFBXZoxy3Ol3YXfonj-6XzNZhnRRK-s1swXxJ_lm_9ex/s1600/100_3676.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQD0LhheN8GLu3AmLMM8XhY5zAR7XP_hF7_I1uSvK_kKfHMipymoG-mnTKAPYFnXO8IL5sBUlUkbBp3iWyGhgN5EsRXm05KwacrFBXZoxy3Ol3YXfonj-6XzNZhnRRK-s1swXxJ_lm_9ex/s320/100_3676.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>There are picnic tables at the top of Murray Peak but I won't have time to sit down and enjoy a nice lunch today. I've got to get back. No getting to the top in less than an hour for this old man.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinfSQxU_u-XKYrOc8SEjtNy8yBIviLbHJqVAbUlQR7nc1gMFZ40fI1g97yOLwsdiyXRUpOAE79eVEoIXmsLCUS1QF1K7Lpt_mpi_9OBzkGG3XRDdOa7lfpZF89JTHnjV3cO7A7WmyDz8ub/s1600/100_3677.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinfSQxU_u-XKYrOc8SEjtNy8yBIviLbHJqVAbUlQR7nc1gMFZ40fI1g97yOLwsdiyXRUpOAE79eVEoIXmsLCUS1QF1K7Lpt_mpi_9OBzkGG3XRDdOa7lfpZF89JTHnjV3cO7A7WmyDz8ub/s320/100_3677.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>From the top you can look east over the Cathedral City cove and beyond.</i></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>To the south your view takes in Dunn Road, Martinez Mountain and Santa Rosa.</i></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>To the southwest is the Desert Divide. Bullseye Rock can be seen by clicking on the picture to enlarge it.</i></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Fobes Saddle, Spitler Peak, Apache Peak and Antsell Rock are visible in this picture.</i></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>To the west is the Wildhorse Ridge and Mount San Jacinto</i></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>San Gorgonio is to the North.</i></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>I run a bit on the way back to make up time but feel a slight twinge in my right quadricep. I've seen too many old guys pull hamstrings pushing it a bit too hard and I don't want to join that club so I take it easy the rest of the way down. My body ain't what it used to be but my mind is still OK. Didn't the sign below say the Garstin Trail was dedicated in 1951? Then how come this one says 1966? Maybe it's a test for old guys and if that's the case I passed. </i></div>Hal Summershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965194515510712303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355627852617153750.post-50926411399436316672011-02-21T21:51:00.000-08:002011-02-21T22:00:30.403-08:00Pizza Penance<div style="text-align: justify;">Last night, my wife brought a pizza home when she when she got off work at Ciro's. Her parent's started the restaurant back in the 60's and sold it when they retired. It then was sold again to an absentee owner but now the second owner got it back and my wife's helping them return the place back to its former glory. It's a long story and I won't get into it but I wanted to see if the pizza had returned to how it was back in the day, when they won Best Pizza in the Desert Sun poll every year.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Now, I have been very good with following my diet since the beginning of the year. No sugar, no starches, lots of vegetables, limited fats. It's paid off. I've lost weight and I feel better. But, I've got to tell you, that pizza was GOOD. So good, in fact, that when no one was looking, I had a second piece...and a third. I felt like Jimmy Swaggert after a night with a hooker. "I have sinned, oh Lord".</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This morning, I set out to do penance. I've been busy on my days off lately and I won't be able to get out hiking on my next day off so I had to do something. So, this morning before the kids got out of bed I went out for a run. I wasn't long--only a mile--and it wasn't fast--around nine minutes--but it helped me escape my Pizza Purgatory. I have been redeemed!<br />
<br />
While certainly not as satisfying and enriching as a long hike in a rugged wilderness, my run was quite enjoyable. I am going to have to add similar fun runs to my regular agenda. Of course, how regularly I run will all depend on how often my wife brings pizza home from work. A man can only resist temptation for so long.</div>Hal Summershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965194515510712303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355627852617153750.post-17500460169408570882011-02-16T20:12:00.000-08:002011-02-17T07:33:29.718-08:00Martinez Canyon, Santa Rosa Mountains: Atop the South Bluff<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Many of life's adventures are measured in years: marriage, parenthood, the Lewis and Clark Expedition, a Jr. High School dance. Some adventures take weeks or months but, for me, these days my adventures are measured in hours. I just never have enough time to really go exploring in the manner I'd like to. Of course, it could be worse. It's Monday and everyone else I know is working or going to school. I should be grateful for the few hours I have to be outside on a perfect winter day.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbbUNS8AVdNPcynOxUNF4GAGldQYhrhjT4n6qmeBJZvEvWPYrVqw31Mi08O516jSFrT6uhojZJd3JNGlBwuEL_JfmsrX0SnLZvx9Uq0wjO0_OvdN4JdL-TU5WDOpzD3KK4rarPFvNHBHmS/s1600/100_3595.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbbUNS8AVdNPcynOxUNF4GAGldQYhrhjT4n6qmeBJZvEvWPYrVqw31Mi08O516jSFrT6uhojZJd3JNGlBwuEL_JfmsrX0SnLZvx9Uq0wjO0_OvdN4JdL-TU5WDOpzD3KK4rarPFvNHBHmS/s320/100_3595.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>I head up Martinez Canyon for the 3rd time this year. This really is my new favorite place. There is so much to explore and since I only have a few hours at a time to get up here it could take years to exhaust all the places left to discover.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2iSlpk-jl2QYR3E0QURhTcvgIUtQ8RazXpecakXLzsA3fRqWmXSVGmIY08wGdX9zN5SftHBf4Dnj81_46wTiOfbHBQz2TYiUHrndAiD9qjvW9vU6z83vactHSZKvCv65hzf4UftOjWxaX/s1600/100_3598.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2iSlpk-jl2QYR3E0QURhTcvgIUtQ8RazXpecakXLzsA3fRqWmXSVGmIY08wGdX9zN5SftHBf4Dnj81_46wTiOfbHBQz2TYiUHrndAiD9qjvW9vU6z83vactHSZKvCv65hzf4UftOjWxaX/s320/100_3598.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><i>I brought a pair of hiking poles with me this time because they will really help in the rocky terrain and they also make it much easier to topple the unnecessary route markers that someone put up. </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKodkAjHNJsPvFTG1VhmE4CpDuiinlFol0heXJNqzax90T5BGgfPsJBCCYTpvWo0juxlHBxrQAzDYmJSRvM0ykC8OvvwHwc0-8dnS_OAWB2xXsqEtkrlQTkn_-QQ5XbRxp9lXI3e4Yc0UZ/s1600/100_3599.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKodkAjHNJsPvFTG1VhmE4CpDuiinlFol0heXJNqzax90T5BGgfPsJBCCYTpvWo0juxlHBxrQAzDYmJSRvM0ykC8OvvwHwc0-8dnS_OAWB2xXsqEtkrlQTkn_-QQ5XbRxp9lXI3e4Yc0UZ/s320/100_3599.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><i>In the center of this picture is a big bluff that caught my attention the last couple times I came down this canyon. Today, this is my destination. I want to see if perhaps there is a trail on top of it.</i> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM6HFrVfO6S3hd78waw3IXNyxuqUzzMeHJTmCT6KC-nFzIgfP-dKuEOqFa8-IuVPOmeu-efkYCLFMDL3L4I7DQmcbfrXi4-_ydgEsBATmLcvuDpJCEqHQ5kZzfZ1J_TG4_Bycc7LF0CZ6Y/s1600/100_3602.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM6HFrVfO6S3hd78waw3IXNyxuqUzzMeHJTmCT6KC-nFzIgfP-dKuEOqFa8-IuVPOmeu-efkYCLFMDL3L4I7DQmcbfrXi4-_ydgEsBATmLcvuDpJCEqHQ5kZzfZ1J_TG4_Bycc7LF0CZ6Y/s320/100_3602.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>I am in luck. Not only is there a trail leading up to the top of the bluff but it's like an interstate highway as far as Indian trails go. I am getting really excited.</i> </div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjScjEHK2Q0CgH1wgS7FshGLdhVAdZiolTTtcpS28V7sE5YuzEctLX7XfmW5ornuzLxVFSzJ0QFua0yfNujUQGf7nHzszEixjky8F4MkdYveqhdKbgM2qxL5DF4V5zox4udDmQ3FFo18X8E/s1600/100_3606.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjScjEHK2Q0CgH1wgS7FshGLdhVAdZiolTTtcpS28V7sE5YuzEctLX7XfmW5ornuzLxVFSzJ0QFua0yfNujUQGf7nHzszEixjky8F4MkdYveqhdKbgM2qxL5DF4V5zox4udDmQ3FFo18X8E/s320/100_3606.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>And then I got to the top. The trail just seemed to vanish. I hunt around for it but just don't seem to be able to find out where it headed. I don't have much time to stay around and look so I just start traveling cross country. In doing so hopefully I'll find some evidence of previous habitation.</i></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Although this is not really what I was hoping for.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM2-r2J7sNbV9FeTzqiKdIXOwfADfa7vYKhgiLzSIz0R7lOzBrLOZN5AcZE2VTWRboYkpmHvO68C53lGvSUf3i_4f_O9cKbUGj8pWhR14OkLtx1UN9EObIzdtDRuD8GIgFEjhhBFp85JGH/s1600/100_3610.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM2-r2J7sNbV9FeTzqiKdIXOwfADfa7vYKhgiLzSIz0R7lOzBrLOZN5AcZE2VTWRboYkpmHvO68C53lGvSUf3i_4f_O9cKbUGj8pWhR14OkLtx1UN9EObIzdtDRuD8GIgFEjhhBFp85JGH/s320/100_3610.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>How is it that these things always seem to find me? Just once I'd like to go on a hike where I don't get scratched, poked or shish kabobed. The odd thing is that one of my hiking poles flicked this thing up into my leg. Murphy's Law. </i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4uIxM5gm4Opxtn6jbJH-0enWPLLW1MFa-JG_CjECT19yLUOQCZwaAQYZKbtuHqGYU1g2lEiyPYMTmyhtTd10YnwAkocKoUOfkmAI77nfgdbekKUdUOscQgG4iho2UjIwNh1i_GFUHq08r/s1600/100_3611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4uIxM5gm4Opxtn6jbJH-0enWPLLW1MFa-JG_CjECT19yLUOQCZwaAQYZKbtuHqGYU1g2lEiyPYMTmyhtTd10YnwAkocKoUOfkmAI77nfgdbekKUdUOscQgG4iho2UjIwNh1i_GFUHq08r/s320/100_3611.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>This is truly amazing. It looks to me like it's the fossil of a breaching Humpback Whale.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_XbqoasG8CoWvNqBipVr7WS_oY3Ee2ld_ujCpsDH9jb0WTBmhRDmUrJzQAo5QHtqLY92vJlxEzp7J4UgyyWKoOWXO5JEik1-bYZr8kteIB7tX1XLm0Wg_boz7PxEesVsBaBxHBWmuOwup/s1600/100_3614.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_XbqoasG8CoWvNqBipVr7WS_oY3Ee2ld_ujCpsDH9jb0WTBmhRDmUrJzQAo5QHtqLY92vJlxEzp7J4UgyyWKoOWXO5JEik1-bYZr8kteIB7tX1XLm0Wg_boz7PxEesVsBaBxHBWmuOwup/s320/100_3614.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>I don't really stumble upon the trail again--I'm sure it's up here somewhere--and I wonder if I'd have just done better to follow the canyon up.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjitxBx_Z0xa26pY8VcJ5yiOy-8lM0Ldp8Qe0DFOO_CceRX773oh5S4AGjPmGAcv25qmusJ_yPMvfSIYAIBruRoLm3hw4LkbBVDM9zuFUMMnXxCadmgC7E9yOjtSIyC0z7t173UaZrYa4wb/s1600/100_3616.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjitxBx_Z0xa26pY8VcJ5yiOy-8lM0Ldp8Qe0DFOO_CceRX773oh5S4AGjPmGAcv25qmusJ_yPMvfSIYAIBruRoLm3hw4LkbBVDM9zuFUMMnXxCadmgC7E9yOjtSIyC0z7t173UaZrYa4wb/s320/100_3616.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>I guess I just had to go a bit farther. There a pretty significant grinding area near the back of the plateau and more.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFbmTxD8bh1JLz1vvjEUdz5vo_q1w8PCY90_U_cUde82_2WZepCwKVPkw8JXcEdppvVNoOCTaNjDUNAHIOZjaSBk7ODJhUzyMGE1G3tvP7nqf3FjnccXmNl64nrUynvyMuepWF8WojlTDs/s1600/100_3617.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFbmTxD8bh1JLz1vvjEUdz5vo_q1w8PCY90_U_cUde82_2WZepCwKVPkw8JXcEdppvVNoOCTaNjDUNAHIOZjaSBk7ODJhUzyMGE1G3tvP7nqf3FjnccXmNl64nrUynvyMuepWF8WojlTDs/s320/100_3617.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>This mortar is a good six inches deep.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8QtFpKV0kC4sP7Rrlndyhz6V8PKG-eJva8uoxv3LUXp-leovTC-2iUR3VfG9zVrOScZFYiGAUKiBZmQMuI9c1B_tB86TySL6Eq5THsC7v3ju5QFFbSZQU0VJQwCuM6cVBODdwiKWv5xrn/s1600/100_3619.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8QtFpKV0kC4sP7Rrlndyhz6V8PKG-eJva8uoxv3LUXp-leovTC-2iUR3VfG9zVrOScZFYiGAUKiBZmQMuI9c1B_tB86TySL6Eq5THsC7v3ju5QFFbSZQU0VJQwCuM6cVBODdwiKWv5xrn/s320/100_3619.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>And oddly, it seems like coyotes used it as a toilet. Scraping the scat out of the mortar I discover it has some palm seeds in it. That is a very positive sign. There have to be palms somewhere up here. And that means water.</i></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmmfuqPEQ1bGTtGBR-izicPnDCJMglOfgxMubBT66Ya3iJ_TtmM0q8nEt1lgKhX77d8lgdQaQnSTzhwuj-XuHSt1JwMBRrEh7roAjOlBiwFR4TW-8cqTw7G04MfQTiZh1l0Ww0y1h5bTRL/s1600/100_3623.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmmfuqPEQ1bGTtGBR-izicPnDCJMglOfgxMubBT66Ya3iJ_TtmM0q8nEt1lgKhX77d8lgdQaQnSTzhwuj-XuHSt1JwMBRrEh7roAjOlBiwFR4TW-8cqTw7G04MfQTiZh1l0Ww0y1h5bTRL/s320/100_3623.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>More grinding areas</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj7LlDA17VPpsN6qxx1Zj9Do8_99WCL6b1lYG6MnB0CHMk5HZBGC0KoB73PdleS43pN0M9iKH26QEnn1Q0kVf12BZf1QcSw1Q0zN6kF6jjF41OK_uI88G7kIiiaoti3gWRTOoKcRJs0yLb/s1600/100_3626.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj7LlDA17VPpsN6qxx1Zj9Do8_99WCL6b1lYG6MnB0CHMk5HZBGC0KoB73PdleS43pN0M9iKH26QEnn1Q0kVf12BZf1QcSw1Q0zN6kF6jjF41OK_uI88G7kIiiaoti3gWRTOoKcRJs0yLb/s320/100_3626.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>And more.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzibczt-PqdAz7zNC6c1Yj21rSnL1NpYKqOnt33_DcB5SIVm10TG52K7yRyctx30_9ktcjnrb-zEjg6129Xj_2_tegjtZrnmeiAE1mMuhAWYRnn8p9a-OP-_2CGfEWQ0aa75a10Eytrown/s1600/100_3632.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzibczt-PqdAz7zNC6c1Yj21rSnL1NpYKqOnt33_DcB5SIVm10TG52K7yRyctx30_9ktcjnrb-zEjg6129Xj_2_tegjtZrnmeiAE1mMuhAWYRnn8p9a-OP-_2CGfEWQ0aa75a10Eytrown/s320/100_3632.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>With these grinding areas at the top of the bluff there has to be a food source somewhere near by. I look and see significant greenery on the hillside and suspect there may be a spring. But I've run out of time and have to start back.</i> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwKF9iveylUxU4sgHmGwkmG6hxvhkGXaVTxr2GbjfOqdOIyjOamGQbw_VdTUHH4hbDeODzT69E_T3n9v0ZCOoCTYuBqRUGyTJXIL8Nu7H07jyd1KHZOwLThdrDw3bJa4BxGHgNPOccYBAv/s1600/100_3637.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwKF9iveylUxU4sgHmGwkmG6hxvhkGXaVTxr2GbjfOqdOIyjOamGQbw_VdTUHH4hbDeODzT69E_T3n9v0ZCOoCTYuBqRUGyTJXIL8Nu7H07jyd1KHZOwLThdrDw3bJa4BxGHgNPOccYBAv/s320/100_3637.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>I look farther up the canyon and can only wonder what's to be found up there. My missing trail, perhaps?</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib-eR1v0c6Q5AjkC_qO_UIR4h5GmWUfbA_K-II8AUjfxmMY2Iau4j7nz4fLsyhqYub3BFNi8s_vJVHgr0DIqS2gkrswVI5iO3alHX0V03Z1J63_UfACDGJ6f4e4W2WFZR1cVbbsgqDZRkZ/s1600/100_3636.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib-eR1v0c6Q5AjkC_qO_UIR4h5GmWUfbA_K-II8AUjfxmMY2Iau4j7nz4fLsyhqYub3BFNi8s_vJVHgr0DIqS2gkrswVI5iO3alHX0V03Z1J63_UfACDGJ6f4e4W2WFZR1cVbbsgqDZRkZ/s320/100_3636.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>On my way back I decide to take the wash to the east of the plateau. It's clear of vegetation and looks like it'll be pretty easy going.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwkYS_c2SNMNeHpprA1etfsS7qyKfOa4TatUQxE8ZPOoKoMQvqfE_kskw4LJ8dmsyfRlUTxxF9PuNjY6v-MSxfyW_Piq5O_2A0iHhyphenhyphenQzETMIRyRQ2PxSnZQNeyPOPmUcBXTq6-SiwfTKIL/s1600/100_3639.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwkYS_c2SNMNeHpprA1etfsS7qyKfOa4TatUQxE8ZPOoKoMQvqfE_kskw4LJ8dmsyfRlUTxxF9PuNjY6v-MSxfyW_Piq5O_2A0iHhyphenhyphenQzETMIRyRQ2PxSnZQNeyPOPmUcBXTq6-SiwfTKIL/s320/100_3639.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>And except for a few rocky sections it is. Of course, following my little adventure boulder hopping in Joshua Tree, this is a breeze.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRz6AO7B5DnPBJ0xE5HtEtqOtJUuaOIdQLtTKvFB_y78YX7B1ZU0QetA4lvkVjZhKJgXb3fwj_qvd8Q1LQYxwqv_KdBaH7zegcs8EXMVXTPKuyuq5uBbv38Gbwk1jDNa50oCqQWB0U106z/s1600/100_3645.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRz6AO7B5DnPBJ0xE5HtEtqOtJUuaOIdQLtTKvFB_y78YX7B1ZU0QetA4lvkVjZhKJgXb3fwj_qvd8Q1LQYxwqv_KdBaH7zegcs8EXMVXTPKuyuq5uBbv38Gbwk1jDNa50oCqQWB0U106z/s320/100_3645.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I get back to the Jeep with time to spare. I actually got down about thirty minutes quicker than I imagined I would. I'll have to remember that for next time. And, for me, next time can't come soon enough. </i></div>Hal Summershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965194515510712303noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355627852617153750.post-8896797844959673652011-02-12T20:44:00.000-08:002011-02-13T19:42:45.567-08:00Rattlesnake Canyon, Joshua Tree National Park<div style="text-align: justify;">My entire body aches. I went out for a hike in Joshua Tree National Park today and it was more like a scramble than a hike. My arms are sore from climbing up and over rocks. My skin hurts from all the various scrapes and scratches. But despite my sore and battered body I am exultant; I had a great day.The day would have been perfect but I forgot my camera at home--again. Thankfully, I have my phone and while the pictures certainly aren't as good as a regular camera they'll have to do. My friend, Cameron, came along and took some pictures. When he sends me a link to where they're posted I'll put that up.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_R7cmv_619r-s3_hzAG2M_79FHXyBUGNPXjtyTwyZCuPCEj4HTXykJNtY-YMtU72yrjllKk19QMtZzSjIRFxzVjQBofruFwwPHZffz0BdzILK_zEtjQIWlsaso68xnf7cnTponJfZh7xj/s1600/IMG_0229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_R7cmv_619r-s3_hzAG2M_79FHXyBUGNPXjtyTwyZCuPCEj4HTXykJNtY-YMtU72yrjllKk19QMtZzSjIRFxzVjQBofruFwwPHZffz0BdzILK_zEtjQIWlsaso68xnf7cnTponJfZh7xj/s320/IMG_0229.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Rattlesnake Canyon is a boulder strewn crease on the northern edge of the park near the Indian Cove campground. It's a bit too cool yet for rattlers but there are plenty of other hazards to be found up there.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ygukUx6tiSn2LqVTqeTzuijJmS5qlFNjyqxadrNIdgkONyPrD1wxuehUiBnZIGJ-bGFllsw_UbThcxxR2KM4JVY8WMUb5dAela93fUXVnrN62p3NRCPP5l2J6mUZaeytlGniciBxol2L/s1600/IMG_0234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ygukUx6tiSn2LqVTqeTzuijJmS5qlFNjyqxadrNIdgkONyPrD1wxuehUiBnZIGJ-bGFllsw_UbThcxxR2KM4JVY8WMUb5dAela93fUXVnrN62p3NRCPP5l2J6mUZaeytlGniciBxol2L/s320/IMG_0234.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>We barely get into the canyon and find there's quite a bit of water flowing.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO7Q29NspIsyTfcj_4hvktdE7NxGkiBCAexiit-v6a-U3dlr8tk00UjuX3VIeR38jMYWhZZ7Xfb-0xqpmMguVF-8pt8NsAa7dZYUx0RGrgslM2BCSauM9WwQt0fSBnvkd3Tko1vIE94T87/s1600/IMG_0236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO7Q29NspIsyTfcj_4hvktdE7NxGkiBCAexiit-v6a-U3dlr8tk00UjuX3VIeR38jMYWhZZ7Xfb-0xqpmMguVF-8pt8NsAa7dZYUx0RGrgslM2BCSauM9WwQt0fSBnvkd3Tko1vIE94T87/s320/IMG_0236.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Cameron, who's an expert rock climber brought his 19 year old daughter, Charlene, along. It's obvious she got his genes because she has no difficulty negotiating the many boulders we are required to climb in the canyon. I am not quite so young and lithe. </i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDP7iV1TcNYu_DO2nbaS94KtPQTNR4rThEzQrRvLXPfOGA_Qtnp-xPNQNceZL6JYTMEdClL3T1MuSf7EQFrd7egxzVAEA0PjI-4E93gLcGyH8kR1Bvr-wG1F0CTg3J-432-I4KpWH_B44_/s1600/IMG_0238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDP7iV1TcNYu_DO2nbaS94KtPQTNR4rThEzQrRvLXPfOGA_Qtnp-xPNQNceZL6JYTMEdClL3T1MuSf7EQFrd7egxzVAEA0PjI-4E93gLcGyH8kR1Bvr-wG1F0CTg3J-432-I4KpWH_B44_/s320/IMG_0238.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>There is no trail in Rattlesnake Canyon. You have to find your own way among the boulders and make sure you pay close attention. If you misstep it's a long way down.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHb5sWPp8d6noaY4t04aqNAY-_e9f2unX3uGEapG6bZ6Ad0oLUQYVRhXqfY9nC81Y4bg20qJmGsfBmzvzhnQ81fQ-rP3MbynIrHhrI1b_DqOOhDW4jckVLZRDSaqcsT79gaM9Z4qYBT9UX/s1600/IMG_0240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHb5sWPp8d6noaY4t04aqNAY-_e9f2unX3uGEapG6bZ6Ad0oLUQYVRhXqfY9nC81Y4bg20qJmGsfBmzvzhnQ81fQ-rP3MbynIrHhrI1b_DqOOhDW4jckVLZRDSaqcsT79gaM9Z4qYBT9UX/s320/IMG_0240.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Besides climbing over the rocks it is sometimes required to squeeze through a few. I'm a bit too large for this gap so I go around.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO4x13lZ9QV_r2ijXv8Y5HKWyQ0UDu12bNGv8BVfKzrCz-VEfJ8OLKtzZBy25Fy4g8YubPBHBWV-70BmZ4WQJbkit3Ykr7ZbhjPNUU0_FRylhU-6NFGbl2RSVZQN6iJ3V_5VacGTy_ANXS/s1600/IMG_0246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO4x13lZ9QV_r2ijXv8Y5HKWyQ0UDu12bNGv8BVfKzrCz-VEfJ8OLKtzZBy25Fy4g8YubPBHBWV-70BmZ4WQJbkit3Ykr7ZbhjPNUU0_FRylhU-6NFGbl2RSVZQN6iJ3V_5VacGTy_ANXS/s320/IMG_0246.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>The hiking, at least at this point, is fun, walking along big boulders along the stream.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig1yPGr1CP47QFm2fZok8MowAbbHNtjbAfk4cGCvRxtGCSOWZvcIRItReSpYkxuV8kAG7OE9HZWP88OQVvYVZkkJrIyKFrE_YKnr07f2TxrtTqnABAXm7w9eIYP0kwJqjGXcW-VRwaVpIM/s1600/IMG_0247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig1yPGr1CP47QFm2fZok8MowAbbHNtjbAfk4cGCvRxtGCSOWZvcIRItReSpYkxuV8kAG7OE9HZWP88OQVvYVZkkJrIyKFrE_YKnr07f2TxrtTqnABAXm7w9eIYP0kwJqjGXcW-VRwaVpIM/s320/IMG_0247.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>The geology here is amazing. How did this boulder end up stacked on three little rocks?</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuJ0OjM3GKO3j929phwiGnghgnRZIE2KcbKyN1cGI-F9X-USUeG24e9FQc2ztq9-N_PPRa4Yqy_QsqUIA2EwKs0FLJ-ENsaoMJffZYOGVF9M2PA9cZXIGCx8Mkgo_GaIdt-bJtXg2POF9l/s1600/IMG_0250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuJ0OjM3GKO3j929phwiGnghgnRZIE2KcbKyN1cGI-F9X-USUeG24e9FQc2ztq9-N_PPRa4Yqy_QsqUIA2EwKs0FLJ-ENsaoMJffZYOGVF9M2PA9cZXIGCx8Mkgo_GaIdt-bJtXg2POF9l/s320/IMG_0250.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>We pick up a couple of stray Marines from Twentynine Palms who are looking for a cave. Cameron offers to show them but it's too far up the canyon. They come along so Cameron can show them a challenging shortcut back to the parking area.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Y-EosXI3CMc0BRm5a3IQFUWlGVe0GMW5X6MAapzOT9aWyTdccLhsgcxZ_fn0tQ2_W7C_feozTYJWXvs6qX95ExWprMHvccSImrPVM8ETbGLLFl0GjXSwUNqbPc1z3m_30Iy2Yqriv5mN/s1600/IMG_0252.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Y-EosXI3CMc0BRm5a3IQFUWlGVe0GMW5X6MAapzOT9aWyTdccLhsgcxZ_fn0tQ2_W7C_feozTYJWXvs6qX95ExWprMHvccSImrPVM8ETbGLLFl0GjXSwUNqbPc1z3m_30Iy2Yqriv5mN/s320/IMG_0252.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>A delicate little arch.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj-i71uitGvcBqzYZLi-ykaV0Nu_SWTZ1INf4ZmyH4g8wp5bd63lpoyozZhQoLcB6KD1gmcO1mWnZR0BtZfsbLbG2AnnAbswhA5yUoshggX6bTbjZPHiGuxnxwQOWuJrxivX2opadE-keT/s1600/IMG_0256.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj-i71uitGvcBqzYZLi-ykaV0Nu_SWTZ1INf4ZmyH4g8wp5bd63lpoyozZhQoLcB6KD1gmcO1mWnZR0BtZfsbLbG2AnnAbswhA5yUoshggX6bTbjZPHiGuxnxwQOWuJrxivX2opadE-keT/s320/IMG_0256.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Here's the shortcut--called the Gunsight--that the Marines are going to take back. Good luck, guys.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg9qdTWpf07Tu8XQVGhdk58O5gVts2MgwlXE7_tIxN10_jEy6RFlDVF00owTaeF3ERIDqL0T1_GGNIdLUMUdE7YBgicCPCohbKkj4PLjVQF6t9b5oMMTsUc5Xr12bgXwU_FtT0nisDoEGn/s1600/IMG_0260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg9qdTWpf07Tu8XQVGhdk58O5gVts2MgwlXE7_tIxN10_jEy6RFlDVF00owTaeF3ERIDqL0T1_GGNIdLUMUdE7YBgicCPCohbKkj4PLjVQF6t9b5oMMTsUc5Xr12bgXwU_FtT0nisDoEGn/s320/IMG_0260.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>The canyon is a place of many wonders and the weather is perfect today, about 72º.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeoMt92gcWDK5Xtqt2RWlq_RAm8Q3QBA4fJpW-fRRlDw7S3gfRqCpXxjjuTCu-9GjMnz4FVRV3UOl99HG0vJiWnUZb1Zl5X8W2fgwJfsOzbsGxlEVJLouiedUJuXiounIv3h9Wr-mBrQ_F/s1600/IMG_0266.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeoMt92gcWDK5Xtqt2RWlq_RAm8Q3QBA4fJpW-fRRlDw7S3gfRqCpXxjjuTCu-9GjMnz4FVRV3UOl99HG0vJiWnUZb1Zl5X8W2fgwJfsOzbsGxlEVJLouiedUJuXiounIv3h9Wr-mBrQ_F/s320/IMG_0266.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Another tight squeeze.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhvmElfl3f0qbD2blhFb-dSjBTlxCeyU-lSMuFg8VkAMmgLh66S1UKBs5pLmcK1o9Knd6xCo8SDu8Va7wmmQMk5cThojjXUv-SDNWN5uohNLPIzax0NK6gpBSvFVZXO4Wghdyx-AhhcWkN/s1600/IMG_0269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhvmElfl3f0qbD2blhFb-dSjBTlxCeyU-lSMuFg8VkAMmgLh66S1UKBs5pLmcK1o9Knd6xCo8SDu8Va7wmmQMk5cThojjXUv-SDNWN5uohNLPIzax0NK6gpBSvFVZXO4Wghdyx-AhhcWkN/s320/IMG_0269.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>This rock reminds me of a Picasso sculpture.</i></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>We spend a good portion of the day out of the direct sun but sometimes it cuts through the boulders.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6PF8KyaPThECg5YDib3BryFEHxQ5JMuhIZEcXO5Oa3D0txckyTdgQeboGNZMFFrj3eU77-dfsXUKGULqlJyx1rQEmIBN2ghEnTDFQRaKHSz_pCtXIf-efZ0Yqr1uV6B9edTyGUT6q1Wrd/s1600/IMG_0274.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6PF8KyaPThECg5YDib3BryFEHxQ5JMuhIZEcXO5Oa3D0txckyTdgQeboGNZMFFrj3eU77-dfsXUKGULqlJyx1rQEmIBN2ghEnTDFQRaKHSz_pCtXIf-efZ0Yqr1uV6B9edTyGUT6q1Wrd/s320/IMG_0274.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>But there are some places the sun never shines. We head into the cave that the Marines were looking for. There's not much to see in here. It's dark.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCB4ghZrpl0FMdo-te3bxnRE0k5y1AXYYCnaBGmcEbnQ3G07ZbrHrQpb-0lZDXHLqut0sjZJnc_Ej5hQRH3hIlucqDhUW0ZpUpHFOZKdna6ujl_xPOPbFEZqKTtjT1MYznJm2M0NDjR4Jj/s1600/IMG_0281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCB4ghZrpl0FMdo-te3bxnRE0k5y1AXYYCnaBGmcEbnQ3G07ZbrHrQpb-0lZDXHLqut0sjZJnc_Ej5hQRH3hIlucqDhUW0ZpUpHFOZKdna6ujl_xPOPbFEZqKTtjT1MYznJm2M0NDjR4Jj/s320/IMG_0281.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>We get up to the head of the canyon and decide that rather than going back the way we came we'll do a little cross country travel and make a loop.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfUMO0DQJB63N3rkN8FY6jFbdzMmiC8tgztem04do-NKL3Wq4Mo3kNe9cUo9t5gVF8Jq_hmIaMm5DXP2cNAxy0aIATzFiy_Y26RZKEPCsrqH1kQe1wsZKJsNfxTB4CCnCVErBTnLeworEY/s1600/IMG_0283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfUMO0DQJB63N3rkN8FY6jFbdzMmiC8tgztem04do-NKL3Wq4Mo3kNe9cUo9t5gVF8Jq_hmIaMm5DXP2cNAxy0aIATzFiy_Y26RZKEPCsrqH1kQe1wsZKJsNfxTB4CCnCVErBTnLeworEY/s320/IMG_0283.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>The going was rough to get here but it's nothing compared to our trip down.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicg2hMAyvUKxcE-cmm2hWi-MTC4jPehi3gv-bsf3CcvLHKDHv94VpJ3SYMCu_5t-98aYJO6TAv1q_bQQG-OZ7j3xFiE3POMfyrxtQYjET3fVH_ELLFyg_Sm2zx4TyYEhkmK4jX-QrPYio3/s1600/IMG_0296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicg2hMAyvUKxcE-cmm2hWi-MTC4jPehi3gv-bsf3CcvLHKDHv94VpJ3SYMCu_5t-98aYJO6TAv1q_bQQG-OZ7j3xFiE3POMfyrxtQYjET3fVH_ELLFyg_Sm2zx4TyYEhkmK4jX-QrPYio3/s320/IMG_0296.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>The way down is much steeper than the way up.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjITsrNbk1zwVM-hYTH-JRcKRfgYeQP9TnlBIEYaDQO37B0adkheW6rWUy03ZiQee5eONgh9Fbccs_XKMzgi9b8VB8xWtc7dqtY-Exs5GBhaaMAt06ZJUV2xMhXFQceINY9dKW5iNc9GywE/s1600/IMG_0297.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjITsrNbk1zwVM-hYTH-JRcKRfgYeQP9TnlBIEYaDQO37B0adkheW6rWUy03ZiQee5eONgh9Fbccs_XKMzgi9b8VB8xWtc7dqtY-Exs5GBhaaMAt06ZJUV2xMhXFQceINY9dKW5iNc9GywE/s320/IMG_0297.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>The going is slow and arduous but still fun. </i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDhvwYcOfllklLXzW-9tUZD6VZqwQtB4xHUqbvi4w_w15CaoIw28AfJ9lBKY_ZXgC9UQEmU_lVY_uRGju3_1I2nwjpLE0_IZQx4v48R0SrCrTtTKVY8whuWSuDTpixLOj1irq_7RHDWEr3/s1600/IMG_0298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDhvwYcOfllklLXzW-9tUZD6VZqwQtB4xHUqbvi4w_w15CaoIw28AfJ9lBKY_ZXgC9UQEmU_lVY_uRGju3_1I2nwjpLE0_IZQx4v48R0SrCrTtTKVY8whuWSuDTpixLOj1irq_7RHDWEr3/s320/IMG_0298.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Cameron scouts ahead to find a way down. </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6xAXaADDrTIH3GMsERE6_SYNWFBdUsmq_uaYv_S7n9pw7uJbt4crXwIyeHeCYFKepeHWnfB1oIR-UMCdITQWbHz1flNyORAqLxatupmBD5QQRSsECPLD9EfIX4JXHldoXgqSesXLSdbNa/s1600/IMG_0302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6xAXaADDrTIH3GMsERE6_SYNWFBdUsmq_uaYv_S7n9pw7uJbt4crXwIyeHeCYFKepeHWnfB1oIR-UMCdITQWbHz1flNyORAqLxatupmBD5QQRSsECPLD9EfIX4JXHldoXgqSesXLSdbNa/s320/IMG_0302.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>There is not one easy step going down this gully. One moment of inattention could bring about another scratch, a bad fall or death.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR_k7rw7SX84tsFhpuEjrsOYtWhyh4-gVIoVr_zmWkUb_YBP5kFwEtObPAy4bN2VQVWAK2_cj0Zbjq4DuZibMCN6q_uKg_yT40NF-xj_ogaNxm0zmgLIUgkZXcDBchykHeeYqlsEQOXJod/s1600/IMG_0307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR_k7rw7SX84tsFhpuEjrsOYtWhyh4-gVIoVr_zmWkUb_YBP5kFwEtObPAy4bN2VQVWAK2_cj0Zbjq4DuZibMCN6q_uKg_yT40NF-xj_ogaNxm0zmgLIUgkZXcDBchykHeeYqlsEQOXJod/s320/IMG_0307.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><i>Cameron coaches through some tough sections just to make sure his baby girl is safe. He says he's feeling tired and we'll have to start heading back. She does not know he's joking and almost has a coronary. </i></div><div><i><br />
</i></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR5XbqcRIfJrTYB4mxFcOcLqDSHvSYxUEeKsAaVHx0JBKpVzY49qBt9kcmPcNdJNdR0E9nC1MnX5w3_m4k82vXId-09gUJp2CdV3DwgzUWyeK-4Y_oemht8oGPAHvl30xILmVM04uTXu7w/s1600/IMG_0308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR5XbqcRIfJrTYB4mxFcOcLqDSHvSYxUEeKsAaVHx0JBKpVzY49qBt9kcmPcNdJNdR0E9nC1MnX5w3_m4k82vXId-09gUJp2CdV3DwgzUWyeK-4Y_oemht8oGPAHvl30xILmVM04uTXu7w/s320/IMG_0308.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>We just negotiated some incredibly interesting and difficult terrain. In over five hours we went a little over three miles.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs1qNwOpBt2eG-FvtTObrv5NfNcOtee_VYIRMw5HdFkrHMYsrMEP0qfub_37Hg6m7dmpT4e7agwk35ncIei9n1QTrM8Gp81hKdmpMpigEkURmNqS5PqrChz7C8V-6noJlJ7Qbmu6EMt7Nq/s1600/IMG_0309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs1qNwOpBt2eG-FvtTObrv5NfNcOtee_VYIRMw5HdFkrHMYsrMEP0qfub_37Hg6m7dmpT4e7agwk35ncIei9n1QTrM8Gp81hKdmpMpigEkURmNqS5PqrChz7C8V-6noJlJ7Qbmu6EMt7Nq/s320/IMG_0309.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>We are finally almost down.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOodnwxPMKQBavz_rnPcGt1vSXbQYLCnBgUDjJTfEmR8ObLlexrASwhyN3HpDj6oTXtII3n8X6b1pMqZq5pB4BQEvquHixNCRXiWTj7eNU3ISIKNFzr8d_kHeoM8bt-ETepFaafvg2xhs3/s1600/IMG_0313.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOodnwxPMKQBavz_rnPcGt1vSXbQYLCnBgUDjJTfEmR8ObLlexrASwhyN3HpDj6oTXtII3n8X6b1pMqZq5pB4BQEvquHixNCRXiWTj7eNU3ISIKNFzr8d_kHeoM8bt-ETepFaafvg2xhs3/s320/IMG_0313.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Thank you, JESUS! It never felt to good to be on solid ground.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Hal Summershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965194515510712303noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355627852617153750.post-79001975799511072012011-02-10T20:16:00.000-08:002011-02-11T07:37:38.241-08:00Biskra Palms Trail<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">A friend of mine called and asked if I could take her husband, Harry, out hiking while they were in town. I had a few hours on Wednesday and said that I would be happy to. I only had to figure out where to go. As I was looking through some old pictures of a hike I did in the Indio Hills, I noticed what looked like a trail behind one of the palm oases that I'd never done. There are few things more exciting to me than a new trail so I figured I'd go out and give it a look.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilfS5fiG6yxCUMnD0tVd65g92KF0Q29rC3ul44iRzSfyzFAk00sei7ROudgAUvQKqpsuvC5W7pfjOg2wg8mJTIUNdpJ-PscMhU-3v-wL9jEA73cQcsXEAf8yD9L8_iX2Lr_Ck1cDNIuX7i/s1600/100_3539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilfS5fiG6yxCUMnD0tVd65g92KF0Q29rC3ul44iRzSfyzFAk00sei7ROudgAUvQKqpsuvC5W7pfjOg2wg8mJTIUNdpJ-PscMhU-3v-wL9jEA73cQcsXEAf8yD9L8_iX2Lr_Ck1cDNIuX7i/s320/100_3539.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>To get to Biskra Palms is one of the many oases along the San Andreas Fault and it requires a Four Wheel Drive or at least a car with good clearance to get there. No problem for me but if you're thinking of going out there keep that in mind.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxIXhLc1jkS-2ez3iPERN4hdgKm-hp5Dfj54zSADf-sXF4fTA1OjTQnelENc2MdEe8i6fDvK_qnmS6AO2LQqHs0czLKUdAOhZmLyvW9jyiScr1pqdvnh6gR1IioKtMLwEI47UnM1Jbgzkb/s1600/100_3540.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxIXhLc1jkS-2ez3iPERN4hdgKm-hp5Dfj54zSADf-sXF4fTA1OjTQnelENc2MdEe8i6fDvK_qnmS6AO2LQqHs0czLKUdAOhZmLyvW9jyiScr1pqdvnh6gR1IioKtMLwEI47UnM1Jbgzkb/s320/100_3540.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>There is a trail to the East of the oasis but this is not the one I am going up today. Today's trail is West of the oasis.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKEsqgL_xlHStqebNdQyLu2maSx1XX2CtBcfMX0hz_-ynnvgMEqqFrn8LXoxt30fvbIyhsNIAdApbyW0d5NDBEhoskHAhc4o40UHtZiei-xY4TJZIuW2ndfqqhaG7HV2Uk60k4dmkPR9_S/s1600/100_3544.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKEsqgL_xlHStqebNdQyLu2maSx1XX2CtBcfMX0hz_-ynnvgMEqqFrn8LXoxt30fvbIyhsNIAdApbyW0d5NDBEhoskHAhc4o40UHtZiei-xY4TJZIuW2ndfqqhaG7HV2Uk60k4dmkPR9_S/s320/100_3544.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Once on it, we discover that the trail is incredibly well made. There are sections where rocks were stacked to buttress the trail on the otherwise loose and rocky hillside.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwUQK-JuGCA_54jw4Hh2derfv-OLecD5FL3d6OKvwyFAAXp19G97kducTaxXyfuWn8XzvE4hB6RXp-K4aM2yfAlNjmG40Lr9Rh2l_E3sXoAnu9cINvkE5beTxKmyWGlDiNl4D8XM1F9FHX/s1600/100_3545.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwUQK-JuGCA_54jw4Hh2derfv-OLecD5FL3d6OKvwyFAAXp19G97kducTaxXyfuWn8XzvE4hB6RXp-K4aM2yfAlNjmG40Lr9Rh2l_E3sXoAnu9cINvkE5beTxKmyWGlDiNl4D8XM1F9FHX/s320/100_3545.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Overall, the trail appears to be in good condition although these has been some erosion.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHh-JvpzbWbzCKxwPqLxfo8XYHVKNR07QTKptKr1OrAvfj3oWlpdow5Ba2qm4UF4BtbGYQJOTt2QQwDzxqt3pFzu-jJdHD_XzIgc4aLzxgKRCgvdxV_gLHEozFAWzujFidDUaUNcaTSuaR/s1600/100_3548.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHh-JvpzbWbzCKxwPqLxfo8XYHVKNR07QTKptKr1OrAvfj3oWlpdow5Ba2qm4UF4BtbGYQJOTt2QQwDzxqt3pFzu-jJdHD_XzIgc4aLzxgKRCgvdxV_gLHEozFAWzujFidDUaUNcaTSuaR/s320/100_3548.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>That is, until we get a little higher up. In this section, there has been MAJOR erosion and the going is very precarious. One mistake here and you'd slide a long way down a steep rocky slope. We are very careful going through this.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh3UUCcd3pFDo2xSpI8idquKxgW3NBRWzSrK4Y-SHVkoWQUSN9Ja2YItzmbahYnn7kTj3MUKSy4rPH7lk83ATs9BNjuSS9Yj7PJ750fg87zag1m_el5-GmupCNjwh7aCq1H4aQn5Q8pquQ/s1600/100_3552.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh3UUCcd3pFDo2xSpI8idquKxgW3NBRWzSrK4Y-SHVkoWQUSN9Ja2YItzmbahYnn7kTj3MUKSy4rPH7lk83ATs9BNjuSS9Yj7PJ750fg87zag1m_el5-GmupCNjwh7aCq1H4aQn5Q8pquQ/s320/100_3552.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>But we get past it and are rewarded with fantastic views of both Mount San Gorgonio and Mount San Jacinto.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguvZAC6GmM38MrMJhkZnKu_8e6Xc6i-ZmDwYmhuW95kXt7IcsgrS7sDydqjPvBrNavrpgIV9Pv_B2ZRDri4cl2mYg8g5uPkItiQBdWQSTZ8w47Dx2z3yvqYnw9cdpd5B1tH96fy9qi99rd/s1600/100_3556.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguvZAC6GmM38MrMJhkZnKu_8e6Xc6i-ZmDwYmhuW95kXt7IcsgrS7sDydqjPvBrNavrpgIV9Pv_B2ZRDri4cl2mYg8g5uPkItiQBdWQSTZ8w47Dx2z3yvqYnw9cdpd5B1tH96fy9qi99rd/s320/100_3556.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>We get a little higher on the trail and discover this little meadow-like basin. It's a very interesting little clear section that is completely free of rocks in these otherwise rocky hills.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVEk6nj67DW7ma-0RlgIVYsveMevVmxfOjgHDqEwC9hCRFQuHYIls0Vuw3hy-14nrwvK_KUFtSpE2Nyw3NKK5vA2hz0BmTQeg70WhAqr9KXHJFf2iqqjSK9FemniUZh6DWIT9R-3pq4eQg/s1600/100_3558.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVEk6nj67DW7ma-0RlgIVYsveMevVmxfOjgHDqEwC9hCRFQuHYIls0Vuw3hy-14nrwvK_KUFtSpE2Nyw3NKK5vA2hz0BmTQeg70WhAqr9KXHJFf2iqqjSK9FemniUZh6DWIT9R-3pq4eQg/s320/100_3558.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>The higher we get, the more we are rewarded with outstanding views of the Coachella Valley.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAKpxDPXjxDGCO1cF5xsxze16ytFGZO51pQ0Dp7WZAG68NsYSXbwEV2J34r_Z4PKYLxluy3vegxyrmhtQBqdzM9C1rtji0wEl9RtjCPeUQFlH9l2dbB4KsUhHpTRXLqhV0ohy-U-vB57cl/s1600/100_3562.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAKpxDPXjxDGCO1cF5xsxze16ytFGZO51pQ0Dp7WZAG68NsYSXbwEV2J34r_Z4PKYLxluy3vegxyrmhtQBqdzM9C1rtji0wEl9RtjCPeUQFlH9l2dbB4KsUhHpTRXLqhV0ohy-U-vB57cl/s320/100_3562.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>You are able to see the Salton Sea very well in the distance.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQpaquHP7AZn-GKZ2zXyZrBo74dRFppqZFF0GEeM3Tt50SI1lJAigGAvrTQUVvrOyCYR0sQE7XHtp58QsAUYouEjksq63YiFAWElEgSwM-Bj0HoxQ0LyRqB-v5UaxgjYwJeGa-Pd3X7hy6/s1600/100_3567.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQpaquHP7AZn-GKZ2zXyZrBo74dRFppqZFF0GEeM3Tt50SI1lJAigGAvrTQUVvrOyCYR0sQE7XHtp58QsAUYouEjksq63YiFAWElEgSwM-Bj0HoxQ0LyRqB-v5UaxgjYwJeGa-Pd3X7hy6/s320/100_3567.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>We continue upward and find sections of trail although for the most part the trail ended at the basin area.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRh1v5xfTQPO4VKdQtxM-38dZSRWN45vZ4KrHzgI-P3OTjv7DubE4E7re19wu3iYcnZ1VPGvc1kAr3UZtotUy2RWVvAUdiQEBuujt48ZphyphenhyphenvDpXDO2XMpoH7YKzT3p_2OiqnN1Sms_hB2b/s1600/100_3576.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRh1v5xfTQPO4VKdQtxM-38dZSRWN45vZ4KrHzgI-P3OTjv7DubE4E7re19wu3iYcnZ1VPGvc1kAr3UZtotUy2RWVvAUdiQEBuujt48ZphyphenhyphenvDpXDO2XMpoH7YKzT3p_2OiqnN1Sms_hB2b/s320/100_3576.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>There is another basin area just below the top. Mount San Gorgonio pokes through.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ateNr3_xsOJUxe8YJpG5XHvbAs6iDSoOIOptF7W-ycpPL_yw8C4vpCvP9Dq7QdvYutR-TE1DoUX8tNGz5HcDCMFljRqLIwNmXrXsql-UevzN1JaiRhmu1l2X4XOal5VoLzV8gAfwWMCt/s1600/100_3577.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ateNr3_xsOJUxe8YJpG5XHvbAs6iDSoOIOptF7W-ycpPL_yw8C4vpCvP9Dq7QdvYutR-TE1DoUX8tNGz5HcDCMFljRqLIwNmXrXsql-UevzN1JaiRhmu1l2X4XOal5VoLzV8gAfwWMCt/s320/100_3577.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>The top.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOTcs3iOH6A9Ag6Ys1Kq-6V9ZG6lgdgBSJF9oxRueP_o-TWOEFCoGi43bR7cMGK0CZhheISSeqD-ye3h2lpE9qC0VkGCbQyQN5Xk1ShndL0rWBJ6cPWSaFR4EVYIuSjYxGYIUb2rSFQyuA/s1600/100_3579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOTcs3iOH6A9Ag6Ys1Kq-6V9ZG6lgdgBSJF9oxRueP_o-TWOEFCoGi43bR7cMGK0CZhheISSeqD-ye3h2lpE9qC0VkGCbQyQN5Xk1ShndL0rWBJ6cPWSaFR4EVYIuSjYxGYIUb2rSFQyuA/s320/100_3579.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Since we didn't wear out lead underwear, we won't be going too close to the radio transmitters.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjre1DOTJy2k3pdqJQ6nv805oneGAi6lvmkqaUOYirAywNUm1lDTr7AbY08ocSwcjB6lWGgNTd1imy27iLoGxR1W4gkx1hw3rFcL9HlNQD8G_cEZpXVrhm2vhPKOFDj9zYWZYUDgbfLR6sX/s1600/100_3580.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjre1DOTJy2k3pdqJQ6nv805oneGAi6lvmkqaUOYirAywNUm1lDTr7AbY08ocSwcjB6lWGgNTd1imy27iLoGxR1W4gkx1hw3rFcL9HlNQD8G_cEZpXVrhm2vhPKOFDj9zYWZYUDgbfLR6sX/s320/100_3580.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>This benchmark is dated 1931 and instead of the usual USGS markings it is labeled Metropolitan Water District. I guess they put the first towers up when they were building the Colorado River Aqueduct.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHTv_eOnjQTE9_AiK65v24uVlzQKLox-A4mBEzTo8sCNIVfFPw4b5Bhiro9O6HrKgsGYfB1cDKMmwRKTHPNxW5E8Dkma25PPQeVt74ugYSlrE6ED54c9NKQq-bDJzU9HBMw9wmqVEAn4dZ/s1600/100_3583.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHTv_eOnjQTE9_AiK65v24uVlzQKLox-A4mBEzTo8sCNIVfFPw4b5Bhiro9O6HrKgsGYfB1cDKMmwRKTHPNxW5E8Dkma25PPQeVt74ugYSlrE6ED54c9NKQq-bDJzU9HBMw9wmqVEAn4dZ/s320/100_3583.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>We take a different, more direct ridge down and are rewarded with outstanding views the entire way.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_DX2n58rC8gUDLUbSlqP1GYr9dc2xVVuRyjiZMfv8Jx3IRXa-QoPN6zBSA5GAdunzfSkRerlOPpncPgUlzk_XwofIE-jNZyNGk_wfjhFmAJxarhzMjL09u4MBcqtYQFK3HmpzPTeQR5vJ/s1600/100_3588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_DX2n58rC8gUDLUbSlqP1GYr9dc2xVVuRyjiZMfv8Jx3IRXa-QoPN6zBSA5GAdunzfSkRerlOPpncPgUlzk_XwofIE-jNZyNGk_wfjhFmAJxarhzMjL09u4MBcqtYQFK3HmpzPTeQR5vJ/s320/100_3588.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>At the last moment, we veer down this rocky side canyon as a shortcut.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho_G9Slzz-7QSzB2uF78rBKnyokLcCDR06QdrYoiIPRNf1qv7kAcjApaD66higiDs3czfRrxg09qXzVby738NJh17-bnuWMVI0JO4cERB2Tg8ZFHoVeJ9DQtLA6Z39mXdlqRwa9NFdGBTY/s1600/100_3589.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho_G9Slzz-7QSzB2uF78rBKnyokLcCDR06QdrYoiIPRNf1qv7kAcjApaD66higiDs3czfRrxg09qXzVby738NJh17-bnuWMVI0JO4cERB2Tg8ZFHoVeJ9DQtLA6Z39mXdlqRwa9NFdGBTY/s320/100_3589.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>There are some fascinating things in these hills and there's so much more to be discovered. I can't wait to come back.</i></div>Hal Summershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965194515510712303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355627852617153750.post-38770842037913645482011-02-06T22:00:00.000-08:002011-02-06T22:00:47.819-08:00Not Much To Say<div style="text-align: justify;">The other day, a guy I work with mentioned that I should get out and hike more. Tell me about it! I had plans to go out and explore another area that I've been eyeing for a while but life got in the way. My lovely wife needed my help so I took a family trip up to Anza that left little time for hiking. It was nice to spend a Saturday with family. Now if I could only get them to go hiking with me it'd be perfect.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I have been going out on little hikes around my house with my dog but nobody really wants to hear about that. I know I'm not interested in writing about it. I do have some interesting spots on the agenda and all I need to find is the time. I <i>hope</i> I can get to at least one this week. Even though I hiked every day for a year in 2009 I believe there are still some trails in the area that out there yet to be discovered. There have to be.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The running hasn't happened yet but I've thrown in some exercises to help strengthen my core and I'm getting myself mentally ready for a couple big hikes coming up, including a 35 mile section of the PCT. Now if I can only tell the rest of life to leave me alone for a while. I've got hiking to do.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>Hal Summershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965194515510712303noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355627852617153750.post-67339100482246354512011-02-02T08:20:00.000-08:002011-02-02T08:20:39.583-08:00I May Start Running<div style="text-align: justify;">I'll lost more weight in the past couple weeks but not at a very quick rate. I figure I need to up the ante and start doing a little running on the side. I've always enjoyed running and have actually run a marathon and several half marathons but I've gotten away from it in recent years. I just have to remember to start SLOW. I don't want to get injured. At my age--and weight--it would be all too easy to pull a hamstring, or get shin splints, turn an ankle, tweak my knee, have a coronary...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS9dGOhFZhHRxh1izpLA90p9_u3KFG8aPa6E6aULX5V5BQm6IMnb0ii12JpIKqphmkuNZ1-2iXEuilXRoXtiXInla3QjU7N7IQTAGewVBtXOxAlIWZlQbnbv0nlHkO1P5Bu2k8esqYDuw8/s1600/IMG_0218.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS9dGOhFZhHRxh1izpLA90p9_u3KFG8aPa6E6aULX5V5BQm6IMnb0ii12JpIKqphmkuNZ1-2iXEuilXRoXtiXInla3QjU7N7IQTAGewVBtXOxAlIWZlQbnbv0nlHkO1P5Bu2k8esqYDuw8/s320/IMG_0218.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>One month and almost 14 pounds down.</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQTkIUDsoExExVJ-2jhgwnYy3xlM3Yaw2FuHw0nMf4kxbjnFRHMuK4d2YuOPJaRl4KM4Xk10vGbEGpUxYZEOYKYylO7cddwDhriMtCrQeNduFQ3h30e8v-WygQ5oGIaVnZauIzhBwbWMaG/s1600/IMG_0217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQTkIUDsoExExVJ-2jhgwnYy3xlM3Yaw2FuHw0nMf4kxbjnFRHMuK4d2YuOPJaRl4KM4Xk10vGbEGpUxYZEOYKYylO7cddwDhriMtCrQeNduFQ3h30e8v-WygQ5oGIaVnZauIzhBwbWMaG/s320/IMG_0217.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Monday I had this thorn in my side removed. This is part of the Agave I fell into. There are still a few spines still in there but they'll just have to work their way out on their own. This was the big boy. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span id="goog_1969722126"></span><span id="goog_1969722127"></span></i></div>Hal Summershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965194515510712303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355627852617153750.post-86493260428865373682011-01-30T12:06:00.000-08:002011-01-30T19:59:05.092-08:00Another Martinez Canyon Adventure<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">A couple weeks ago I went on an adventure to Martinez Canyon with by buddy, Mike. The area is filled with a wealth of things to discover and it very seldom visited. Judging from the footprints in the canyon, since we were their two weeks ago only one other person has hiked there. I'm hoping we can find a trail leading from the village site we were at a couple weeks ago but you never know what you'll actually discover on one of this expeditions. The joy, however, is in the looking.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2SSGUmHe6rBScM9CHWeyS2BpBW4J6EZi8LRkeDKe5wfDji1072_JpDE-iwUt-6oLs2EiledZAgUoAsKCVBiSgt3uXdyfhB_vvVPAkuTUcfYpq2OBpiR87OWSrqVBkHE4L1c61zQ4_BSJM/s1600/100_3475.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2SSGUmHe6rBScM9CHWeyS2BpBW4J6EZi8LRkeDKe5wfDji1072_JpDE-iwUt-6oLs2EiledZAgUoAsKCVBiSgt3uXdyfhB_vvVPAkuTUcfYpq2OBpiR87OWSrqVBkHE4L1c61zQ4_BSJM/s320/100_3475.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>I always feel that you cannot have a truly great adventure until you draw blood. This day is starting off just right.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXZ06FPn2qqEWwMw6i5VDTnZ7RNvxfJcdqtNGpMj48zMZdBqsHnoIvzo4ute5vPxc3s8x7l9_ggYmB_OgiWodS241AgBb6K5igc-r2i1vOUxeE40y5oPjSKth1JuaZAKjM8ytglbrO-hba/s1600/100_3478.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXZ06FPn2qqEWwMw6i5VDTnZ7RNvxfJcdqtNGpMj48zMZdBqsHnoIvzo4ute5vPxc3s8x7l9_ggYmB_OgiWodS241AgBb6K5igc-r2i1vOUxeE40y5oPjSKth1JuaZAKjM8ytglbrO-hba/s320/100_3478.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>We leave the canyon after a couple miles to see if we can find an easier path overland on the mesa above the canyon. We don't find a trail but we do discover that other's have been here before us.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXlNpv2sJTA0tc589qohb8Mowtu52OiFAijhHxmlR5o9zNwmDnfV0ZXKaiV61jGxrut4bQH8BdeEYmqB7PofKW60q8P7Pm-uprVionWRbILJDdlnvQnUN8o9su4V4BAmmf_vYBYlUqoIqH/s1600/100_3479.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXlNpv2sJTA0tc589qohb8Mowtu52OiFAijhHxmlR5o9zNwmDnfV0ZXKaiV61jGxrut4bQH8BdeEYmqB7PofKW60q8P7Pm-uprVionWRbILJDdlnvQnUN8o9su4V4BAmmf_vYBYlUqoIqH/s320/100_3479.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>There are a number of grinding slabs in the area where Cahuilla made their meals.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFaL_dAEHKkwoHUxwYe4RNmVMq__OsVwhyrjJhchhLWOjHFR-yKcLJHmTl6FwZQv-P8MGGRs1JBghm1sz-H-aTIavMhBH5cqjNdO6ppvhJ4HAf4oNFe8eVelSUYVX5uUD0g4urveezsAg1/s1600/100_3485.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFaL_dAEHKkwoHUxwYe4RNmVMq__OsVwhyrjJhchhLWOjHFR-yKcLJHmTl6FwZQv-P8MGGRs1JBghm1sz-H-aTIavMhBH5cqjNdO6ppvhJ4HAf4oNFe8eVelSUYVX5uUD0g4urveezsAg1/s320/100_3485.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Pottery sherds are also quite prevalent.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw61rgwwKLW4jGIPeNo-WJ8KqQOJpcjWbwRyZ1HBH1-DyY7gHUTvpiBEzhu875ZAz1xmAmEf228ThhqmPikAGbuDxuY5QJ1XM5fir0d4voKqZGZjdsAqev6ejB1yB5KZCoI_2vUMm_C4Ox/s1600/100_3487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw61rgwwKLW4jGIPeNo-WJ8KqQOJpcjWbwRyZ1HBH1-DyY7gHUTvpiBEzhu875ZAz1xmAmEf228ThhqmPikAGbuDxuY5QJ1XM5fir0d4voKqZGZjdsAqev6ejB1yB5KZCoI_2vUMm_C4Ox/s320/100_3487.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>This large flat stone would be the perfect kitchen table.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3EOla2OU0jXJ_xM8BQh4Oqzn6D59WSPBIstp4WJxjag6OVHgeneBdOnxLablGlcX0tDKW3eoREuZcDpI3khebw07ycVMZuTGrrS2cplczZw4sfL0kXhihiljT3b8Wb3HlvvA2cHRZ-Ng-/s1600/100_3489.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3EOla2OU0jXJ_xM8BQh4Oqzn6D59WSPBIstp4WJxjag6OVHgeneBdOnxLablGlcX0tDKW3eoREuZcDpI3khebw07ycVMZuTGrrS2cplczZw4sfL0kXhihiljT3b8Wb3HlvvA2cHRZ-Ng-/s320/100_3489.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>This area would have been the master bedroom.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhITKhqBla05TeHCpPjULbwmeMV-K_h9r15XiSIEyz14yAJ22mM6CmP-fmBuKJtGHIOsQTNBR6pZeRIW3pbMXPUZ8K9CJbWi5Iqc9ERhi4-ZY-M_kDfT8IFqSQeGqRSSMCiw6P-39WBDOMX/s1600/100_3490.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhITKhqBla05TeHCpPjULbwmeMV-K_h9r15XiSIEyz14yAJ22mM6CmP-fmBuKJtGHIOsQTNBR6pZeRIW3pbMXPUZ8K9CJbWi5Iqc9ERhi4-ZY-M_kDfT8IFqSQeGqRSSMCiw6P-39WBDOMX/s320/100_3490.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>This would have been the kid's room. After traversing the entire mesa we decided to go up instead of down into the canyon. We thought we might find an easier pathway down to the place we wanted to go.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvbuV1REXNutBK7ogSVV_K-C2l5IH2Vghd84QpT3OyZWx_eX_5sMrKPU5QRTEI2dCB0E08Y2UEacGg7BY_aVQihGqBQLzgPfmesW_iCvDFIKoG9Ah8ZTtxYWfahQpl4C42cwGuM4JkIIeb/s1600/100_3497.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvbuV1REXNutBK7ogSVV_K-C2l5IH2Vghd84QpT3OyZWx_eX_5sMrKPU5QRTEI2dCB0E08Y2UEacGg7BY_aVQihGqBQLzgPfmesW_iCvDFIKoG9Ah8ZTtxYWfahQpl4C42cwGuM4JkIIeb/s320/100_3497.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>We didn't. It's a LONG way down</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrxshxpmzraWBbbzzJfKOXWpa62JVSr00hGhSsXnPptYQO0vWlFot27KBrH_uh6Q6QeBpcYlC3_-0IgoucmVSNbq7_LQQViXyTe35sjj21VDxwZCeZ4aWwqPR26CivXCM5GFRvgZB_0tXI/s1600/100_3499.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrxshxpmzraWBbbzzJfKOXWpa62JVSr00hGhSsXnPptYQO0vWlFot27KBrH_uh6Q6QeBpcYlC3_-0IgoucmVSNbq7_LQQViXyTe35sjj21VDxwZCeZ4aWwqPR26CivXCM5GFRvgZB_0tXI/s320/100_3499.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>But the Ocotillo are starting to green up and the views are outstanding. We also know which way NOT to go.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq_wwnR7qhzq3L7yJGINhUdtK1Jn8vnRTJPvzIog2NQpK73t9p2C1c9_jHKE2iG5Cx3TUquvGHnxmiePa_5ZEScqz439QrJBNILOKT8Gnpn7XTphjgSvBNeAwVFFfB4okCHz-mviIUsMiw/s1600/100_3505.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq_wwnR7qhzq3L7yJGINhUdtK1Jn8vnRTJPvzIog2NQpK73t9p2C1c9_jHKE2iG5Cx3TUquvGHnxmiePa_5ZEScqz439QrJBNILOKT8Gnpn7XTphjgSvBNeAwVFFfB4okCHz-mviIUsMiw/s320/100_3505.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>When we finally make our way back to the canyon--after I have a nasty encounter with an agave--we find remnants of a recent visitor. With all the things out here that can stick and cut you I don't know why anyone would want to leave their clothing behind.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq6IUM75RKon2eiA0eeWQv2Xzh6birSm8uogUakgzrM26Z-2K4fhLsMao97Wrr0BT0kHGmcQ9R15A3LfN4eQF4RrjkBePIbI-9B620WNZ2GirsaE2_QsusSMHdC4S2wg_Mxxn82HntkfP9/s1600/100_3508.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq6IUM75RKon2eiA0eeWQv2Xzh6birSm8uogUakgzrM26Z-2K4fhLsMao97Wrr0BT0kHGmcQ9R15A3LfN4eQF4RrjkBePIbI-9B620WNZ2GirsaE2_QsusSMHdC4S2wg_Mxxn82HntkfP9/s320/100_3508.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>More recent remnants of inhabitation are some barbed wire fences that we used to keep stock.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj43Mge_z37U12sLi-3lMZsXjE7CaMcMaLXtAtBxVplv79-gfvxchQScE2jL0aXch7spr4G4iv8EF-RddwRR7pMfnoP__a21E1yvEDIxnyyvUiDlEi-PrORQzSKsrdqdAfr8qUPhVyhYXBb/s1600/100_3513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj43Mge_z37U12sLi-3lMZsXjE7CaMcMaLXtAtBxVplv79-gfvxchQScE2jL0aXch7spr4G4iv8EF-RddwRR7pMfnoP__a21E1yvEDIxnyyvUiDlEi-PrORQzSKsrdqdAfr8qUPhVyhYXBb/s320/100_3513.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>This area is an incredibly rich in archaeological interest. Pottery sherds are everywhere.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH3yc_GqO-kW7HTJu_DEVmeyHHvCKEgUY8jwtCe_FFw5REeXRqAhWmjlGddX7s6DbQtfycRfJLBNEgdJGeeX8KZJw33ynv7L08EI5TNx1ZknaeIeg2r_5SpU4yQQZBY7crzR6wdbgEE_z7/s1600/100_3514.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH3yc_GqO-kW7HTJu_DEVmeyHHvCKEgUY8jwtCe_FFw5REeXRqAhWmjlGddX7s6DbQtfycRfJLBNEgdJGeeX8KZJw33ynv7L08EI5TNx1ZknaeIeg2r_5SpU4yQQZBY7crzR6wdbgEE_z7/s320/100_3514.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Old and newer litter abound.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYVtUmxifoVmJeo2vHUEFN3PziNAOu2ugNvmTRruHttlOP3YErwJsCPfbzCfq425thyphenhyphenawfoK07ha6xkhrkGo49YS6ZSdnCOinOaMKudmj-6Yser2FgQ6MYLChSdHUy4RHxFzxhlczdb7ZP/s1600/100_3515.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYVtUmxifoVmJeo2vHUEFN3PziNAOu2ugNvmTRruHttlOP3YErwJsCPfbzCfq425thyphenhyphenawfoK07ha6xkhrkGo49YS6ZSdnCOinOaMKudmj-6Yser2FgQ6MYLChSdHUy4RHxFzxhlczdb7ZP/s320/100_3515.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>The newer ones will doubtlessly disappear due to rust. The Indian remnants will remain.</i></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>We make our way back up to the site we were at two weeks ago to look for a trail. I have a new respect for Agave like those pictured here. I've got some new body piercings and a few of the tips still remain in my flesh. My wife tried to dig a couple out last night to no avail. I'll have to wait until they work their way out, I guess.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3zRnlORvfs1WAr8ZjYlLUN-KEILAZkXO3W3gcSBkqQntvCW_DJiqyDYuVTQ2DqWqMelaEzIxQRYCTU96vvubeb7G1sDKTPtneW4E1kR4aO9yQSaqTBGzuDSfg-3LvrniyWsyfTonKox01/s1600/100_3527.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3zRnlORvfs1WAr8ZjYlLUN-KEILAZkXO3W3gcSBkqQntvCW_DJiqyDYuVTQ2DqWqMelaEzIxQRYCTU96vvubeb7G1sDKTPtneW4E1kR4aO9yQSaqTBGzuDSfg-3LvrniyWsyfTonKox01/s320/100_3527.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Although we saw over a dozen bedrock mortars at this site we come upon a few more that we missed.</i></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>We work our way up a ridge but, alas, no trail. All we're met with is wonderful views in every direction.</i></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>We've barely tapped the potential of this wonderful section of the Santa Rosa Mountains. As we leave today the only thing that's exhausted is us. I'm looking forward to many, many explorations in this remarkable area.</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>Hal Summershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965194515510712303noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355627852617153750.post-39401036578978344422011-01-22T14:03:00.000-08:002011-01-24T09:00:13.810-08:00South Of Sheep Canyon<div style="text-align: justify;">Wednesday, I had a few hours between dropping off my son at school and having to pick him up so I decided to go for a little adventure south of Sheep Canyon. If you are unfamiliar with Sheep Canyon I am not surprised. It's a small canyon south of Martinez Canyon in the Santa Rosa Mountains. Not many people go there. Access is difficult and if you ask me how I got there I would not be able to tell you. I just drove down some dirt roads until I got to where I wanted to be.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The reason I wanted to visit this little side canyon is because the last time I was in the vicinity I thought I saw some palm trees in the distance. If there are Palm Trees that means there's water. Where there's water there were probably Indians and in places the Indians visited there are probably trails. I love finding new trails.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtbZpRPoJpaRxfxrnknejKPQR-zFf7OYGcnMC3FwWA9JV6qk520HOQtvghb4TqxyNNHhOjO1TLhFT4-X-I6Zxgz3NoqT7PQ0pCuZULCyPd3-vGgcpcFBPfIp06HYUifQ5SwMdRCMbY3bL4/s1600/IMG_2109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtbZpRPoJpaRxfxrnknejKPQR-zFf7OYGcnMC3FwWA9JV6qk520HOQtvghb4TqxyNNHhOjO1TLhFT4-X-I6Zxgz3NoqT7PQ0pCuZULCyPd3-vGgcpcFBPfIp06HYUifQ5SwMdRCMbY3bL4/s320/IMG_2109.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>This is Sheep Canyon. Once I drop down into it I will take an old Indian trail into the canyon I want to explore today.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3nEi1GHjVp6saxc0Flv9OpDptZm04W4oVN7ltVD_3P4PRzkULXfsQvXNGtP5_-kt1MtIsNnFe9E4sRa0BGODXWww8KMKgygyPrhCriPkwvk63MoqB5TeNQXFuHyMO7bobYVE-RecIVgXV/s1600/IMG_2110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3nEi1GHjVp6saxc0Flv9OpDptZm04W4oVN7ltVD_3P4PRzkULXfsQvXNGtP5_-kt1MtIsNnFe9E4sRa0BGODXWww8KMKgygyPrhCriPkwvk63MoqB5TeNQXFuHyMO7bobYVE-RecIVgXV/s320/IMG_2110.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>As you get back into the canyon the walls become tall and vertical. I can only imagine the amount of water that was required to cut these walls so cleanly. In places the walls are almost 40 feet high.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizUjR7fqt62kJdJ84bwuvabG8gwsSt7MTu1eeLLM5OsLGZ6X50Vm3f4GSFQ_dFLeNCrLSBf35AFwY82y4IrsHOn87tuSnolhTNZXd2jPhDiwtaYllrUC94f7pL0pcqsACpLxYd2oiOuwqM/s1600/IMG_2115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizUjR7fqt62kJdJ84bwuvabG8gwsSt7MTu1eeLLM5OsLGZ6X50Vm3f4GSFQ_dFLeNCrLSBf35AFwY82y4IrsHOn87tuSnolhTNZXd2jPhDiwtaYllrUC94f7pL0pcqsACpLxYd2oiOuwqM/s320/IMG_2115.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>As the canyon narrows, I take off on the Indian trail on the left side. I know you can't see it but trust me, it's there.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhru9uCvr53jrGt-CkjFbomme3_5yADDFrOjE1hHQe5orDlNAwMOq-4xbJz95GNnftcg6UjTsdv89nGJBx79fEp9LkGGWKjJSbe-4_3H1FgJYPbfsKm3eNKLgWedaoxN2acVkxXl52sF23u/s1600/IMG_2117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhru9uCvr53jrGt-CkjFbomme3_5yADDFrOjE1hHQe5orDlNAwMOq-4xbJz95GNnftcg6UjTsdv89nGJBx79fEp9LkGGWKjJSbe-4_3H1FgJYPbfsKm3eNKLgWedaoxN2acVkxXl52sF23u/s320/IMG_2117.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>The trail is never very distinct but it is at least visible enough to follow.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXIOm35a1iMwr5_XY3Z7Bv27Cw_4HC2p4IaayPI9nntTYLeuQUwd20vQ8lgkdut8SZy8s-xBJEbhJez23cyE1CUvzM_s3OueLWpdcA_zqFnYxzSmLez2bRbyqG7Dl9oHq578RhM-rFlWR0/s1600/IMG_2118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXIOm35a1iMwr5_XY3Z7Bv27Cw_4HC2p4IaayPI9nntTYLeuQUwd20vQ8lgkdut8SZy8s-xBJEbhJez23cyE1CUvzM_s3OueLWpdcA_zqFnYxzSmLez2bRbyqG7Dl9oHq578RhM-rFlWR0/s320/IMG_2118.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>As I drop down into the canyon I came to explore I can see the effects of the rain we got last month. The Ocotillo are full of leaves and soon flowers will be blooming all around the desert.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgcXIKnofrukHXZAwQk4phspcD80hq-vr2uRjztMsmeF7mzkxUfIty9j3eqGLn-ALmqXeplXxK-aWfDrlfDQ37edrgJuotmhmbrIYPsySJvUF_coOHTV0FKqOzs7R2Q_gJ7AG0JmtTAEQB/s1600/IMG_2119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgcXIKnofrukHXZAwQk4phspcD80hq-vr2uRjztMsmeF7mzkxUfIty9j3eqGLn-ALmqXeplXxK-aWfDrlfDQ37edrgJuotmhmbrIYPsySJvUF_coOHTV0FKqOzs7R2Q_gJ7AG0JmtTAEQB/s320/IMG_2119.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>This is the canyon I came to explore. No evidence of a trail down here.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSAmfkOTZxxXYMLLvaOwSVmVWA1M1xCBie6JVjfCZdc6izJ61JATp7z7m31wZagf_Nwu7SDRJe8zEspmSaladdNFnUnnfbNv6M7nuX-pQxm_NbDNalq6sElGO4CTsN7dgfDALUSwAWgejP/s1600/IMG_2127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSAmfkOTZxxXYMLLvaOwSVmVWA1M1xCBie6JVjfCZdc6izJ61JATp7z7m31wZagf_Nwu7SDRJe8zEspmSaladdNFnUnnfbNv6M7nuX-pQxm_NbDNalq6sElGO4CTsN7dgfDALUSwAWgejP/s320/IMG_2127.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>But there is evidence of how remarkable the desert is.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVzQcvSWCnrwQgPQlD6GexF-mJdbMmObRhHrYrp2C8ithb0bjKlpzFYUhkZgvCnYab8lAnQ0YaK0nKWannVASfKs3QcHA2GC-1J3x0i3PdXtrKLSGrRHUBKZZFk1eLot-_0LgLzdCITGE1/s1600/IMG_2128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVzQcvSWCnrwQgPQlD6GexF-mJdbMmObRhHrYrp2C8ithb0bjKlpzFYUhkZgvCnYab8lAnQ0YaK0nKWannVASfKs3QcHA2GC-1J3x0i3PdXtrKLSGrRHUBKZZFk1eLot-_0LgLzdCITGE1/s320/IMG_2128.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>After navigating a canyon filled with sand and rocks, it becomes chocked with brush and my legs are not happy. Note to self: next time up here, wear long pants.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEVFbPBy5ZgJXrk7hGk5HFN1wFHRj5C5s2aw5anghL5gaflXkK9BK1JYhnzO0TAf91oB7519BJAmquHY3EXABnPn7dNZSsDvfWWK-3hL0xiNerWhFEpXU8QsoKOUxD1y7DBrdDCuGqei0J/s1600/IMG_2136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEVFbPBy5ZgJXrk7hGk5HFN1wFHRj5C5s2aw5anghL5gaflXkK9BK1JYhnzO0TAf91oB7519BJAmquHY3EXABnPn7dNZSsDvfWWK-3hL0xiNerWhFEpXU8QsoKOUxD1y7DBrdDCuGqei0J/s320/IMG_2136.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>It turns out that those Palms I saw were, in fact, Cottonwood trees. They are dead from winter but their green leaves are what caused me to think Palms were up here. It really doesn't matter because Cottonwoods also require constant water so the possibility that Indians were here and trails exist is still valid.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwKEnxOvbX1WYgJMN-87nNB8sKRIfWWSAEK8FejDf8OY4tk8kNc2GaZXiLdcjrkfIZBsVWPFabRWCl3C8lMw6JqUyRVxkHBSdryfjKsKPDRGTpk9MvQ_pC3lBF9YyKujX7Ht9PkKW6KvVr/s1600/IMG_2139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwKEnxOvbX1WYgJMN-87nNB8sKRIfWWSAEK8FejDf8OY4tk8kNc2GaZXiLdcjrkfIZBsVWPFabRWCl3C8lMw6JqUyRVxkHBSdryfjKsKPDRGTpk9MvQ_pC3lBF9YyKujX7Ht9PkKW6KvVr/s320/IMG_2139.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>But I run out of time and easy passage.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBfQkNiwAN8_vxpI7kVTC9hw4UmzaTklu2EFB6NIRjL9c45XUup_ShsMGOAxyH3YvLPZNOlZBy6eNCmy7cXZGKyiYmUIFNvve5wXGdntLlr9oT8kFTR5IPDMnZAo75FiqswNakc2TBxzxX/s1600/IMG_2143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBfQkNiwAN8_vxpI7kVTC9hw4UmzaTklu2EFB6NIRjL9c45XUup_ShsMGOAxyH3YvLPZNOlZBy6eNCmy7cXZGKyiYmUIFNvve5wXGdntLlr9oT8kFTR5IPDMnZAo75FiqswNakc2TBxzxX/s320/IMG_2143.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Looking further up the canyon I see a Palm Tree but oddly it's not a native but a Date Palm. Intriguing. There's no way I can get to it without long pants, a machete and more time. But I'll be back because this canyon holds possibilities.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDp1aSKhMClD-Hml2cqZnUMOz4UJpJhMr06Jn2SCqxueAcHC2D_uIRRD6_8poQ152FX9pnZ0hkHIFIehNeSYrm2REHPU93V8i4wQlr2pgnlQTEdx-FbIttWZdk4Ta5MhAeWmR_nSoo2sF1/s1600/IMG_2147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDp1aSKhMClD-Hml2cqZnUMOz4UJpJhMr06Jn2SCqxueAcHC2D_uIRRD6_8poQ152FX9pnZ0hkHIFIehNeSYrm2REHPU93V8i4wQlr2pgnlQTEdx-FbIttWZdk4Ta5MhAeWmR_nSoo2sF1/s320/IMG_2147.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Lots of possibilities.</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>Hal Summershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965194515510712303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355627852617153750.post-17341812888173219942011-01-16T22:28:00.000-08:002011-01-17T08:23:12.147-08:00Martinez Canyon Cahuilla Village Site<div style="text-align: justify;">Saturday, I had the entire day to go hiking and made the most of it. A friend of mine, Mike, knew of a possible Indian village site up Martinez Canyon and promised to show me where it was. We've talked about it for a while but since we're both busy and Mike has a new baby at home, it's been difficult to put together an adventure. This is one I've looked forward to a long time.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVFopASmjpRiZJ6Axdltpq1kPBcwXrtifO58eMKUv73XaO1SmD4ZXOT02WODN4iQfJ1B736L2h7BlqPThba2Pq2nyEQEas5TXhgENAHnhkeUhXF_Gw4DARGHkpEymd372gRsmoDCkgoOsF/s1600/IMG_4432.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVFopASmjpRiZJ6Axdltpq1kPBcwXrtifO58eMKUv73XaO1SmD4ZXOT02WODN4iQfJ1B736L2h7BlqPThba2Pq2nyEQEas5TXhgENAHnhkeUhXF_Gw4DARGHkpEymd372gRsmoDCkgoOsF/s320/IMG_4432.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>We drive as far as possible in Mike's monster truck and get out to start our adventure on foot. The canyon is very rocky and it's a welcome relief to be on solid ground.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8e1O_2kc9xiSmEAblRRj8JyX851-WNKCF6MOFevzBB-NWImEsIfa7XWMuEM4kwakk2FZe2oiLaxNh6sy0IOZ7scXmHP8dWfeWf7_FY1XiMs2FHq1va25342L57OaRZpATodee-9GzhssJ/s1600/IMG_4435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8e1O_2kc9xiSmEAblRRj8JyX851-WNKCF6MOFevzBB-NWImEsIfa7XWMuEM4kwakk2FZe2oiLaxNh6sy0IOZ7scXmHP8dWfeWf7_FY1XiMs2FHq1va25342L57OaRZpATodee-9GzhssJ/s320/IMG_4435.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Instead of just going right up the canyon, like a sensible person would, I want to go and investigate the sides of the canyon to see if we can find any trails.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirljHxnRU5WcnYR1kN7kKE_ni4_1MdR5jnmYPUI4JtMntUf5RFlqKempiMLBHpqK7TRoCnrVVxWssylE_IWQNZFVkI4jjWc3KNPY9rLlyZl0Jg0TI2rFlaiunp22AqEbu8QYYtmaFxq2Vd/s1600/IMG_4437.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirljHxnRU5WcnYR1kN7kKE_ni4_1MdR5jnmYPUI4JtMntUf5RFlqKempiMLBHpqK7TRoCnrVVxWssylE_IWQNZFVkI4jjWc3KNPY9rLlyZl0Jg0TI2rFlaiunp22AqEbu8QYYtmaFxq2Vd/s320/IMG_4437.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>We don't.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAoELWsbqMUguH-3Q2uNAjzf3XmpbFUEf7WqlnZE_mdcWhyphenhyphenYYOshMoH1l0pwNUWA_5Pp5x6PbtHzVpjXd0x2pdwHG8s-bgijhDGEYuad8PjAonDBK3kVi9QdwTSEk_USHt2j5xjQID4Heo/s1600/IMG_4439.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAoELWsbqMUguH-3Q2uNAjzf3XmpbFUEf7WqlnZE_mdcWhyphenhyphenYYOshMoH1l0pwNUWA_5Pp5x6PbtHzVpjXd0x2pdwHG8s-bgijhDGEYuad8PjAonDBK3kVi9QdwTSEk_USHt2j5xjQID4Heo/s320/IMG_4439.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>But it's not long until we find some evidence of prior Indian inhabitation.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxGyzHivsDFx350k6M46uwtIML8kLaqwFnGz2UdXmc7aLqHL0vtpAOPKvIRHRP1Ii5JtftsDLFR9g5IObbzFs4WrupetvOxuw6qnMR-VQsrZrfTKG1nsfm5hMhNXUYh-oIxK2ZqP0AT3az/s1600/IMG_4440.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxGyzHivsDFx350k6M46uwtIML8kLaqwFnGz2UdXmc7aLqHL0vtpAOPKvIRHRP1Ii5JtftsDLFR9g5IObbzFs4WrupetvOxuw6qnMR-VQsrZrfTKG1nsfm5hMhNXUYh-oIxK2ZqP0AT3az/s320/IMG_4440.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>And this bedrock mortar means they lived here for a while.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLNcbxHFreXrbwXSRlzLg5cdH21QCKduGD6tf7sLiBes1Vk_OBvPnwF3mKUWrtl9VXH9KQvhfkHo-nOcI_sCKgvPm3KzE3negNjjr2IOq-JtcQNFgOnybmgHDO17iextaq5vMy9o2zEKSw/s1600/IMG_4443.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLNcbxHFreXrbwXSRlzLg5cdH21QCKduGD6tf7sLiBes1Vk_OBvPnwF3mKUWrtl9VXH9KQvhfkHo-nOcI_sCKgvPm3KzE3negNjjr2IOq-JtcQNFgOnybmgHDO17iextaq5vMy9o2zEKSw/s320/IMG_4443.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>We leave the canyon again to see if we can find any more evidence of those who came here before us.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUFDknCx-aH7dohUjfWbRZsYLXZfKgosT_mmv-6LTRy6-YBEuDJnXoF_3b5elbp0khrB9jR_mbjJxrW_hTU_jabMGDv4FifIwIOD08gwapPslL5ydSzPKJ3UGYl0EQwCOTtNmPG2Q_HDNa/s1600/IMG_4444.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUFDknCx-aH7dohUjfWbRZsYLXZfKgosT_mmv-6LTRy6-YBEuDJnXoF_3b5elbp0khrB9jR_mbjJxrW_hTU_jabMGDv4FifIwIOD08gwapPslL5ydSzPKJ3UGYl0EQwCOTtNmPG2Q_HDNa/s320/IMG_4444.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>And we do but it's not really what we were hoping for.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLWmKmq82MhbnwE-7BgQUb0N5M_H4CTqhhH5mCe0WFCrpWSCS_KKuDoPHgWtmRHnp5AHhtQGH8U-rgIuH7kCFTwykWlJCNmL4kSYY1e09lAhWXJamnt86asT6_-OgVorzGWzFrGrX8BLHi/s1600/IMG_4448.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLWmKmq82MhbnwE-7BgQUb0N5M_H4CTqhhH5mCe0WFCrpWSCS_KKuDoPHgWtmRHnp5AHhtQGH8U-rgIuH7kCFTwykWlJCNmL4kSYY1e09lAhWXJamnt86asT6_-OgVorzGWzFrGrX8BLHi/s320/IMG_4448.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>The canyon narrows and is choked with mesquite and bamboo. We wish we'd brought a machete--seriously-- because this stuff is thick and nasty.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG4FDwC4FnPkwZGl4DEZFtnNcmlO9RktUU3Ofk8CvYqhdiA0UbV7VZsER1Jfxl160pxVSncxK3IvNFsJngvbi7dUS1-1WHqYtJc-mT0MjxAObx0daxdgAF92Yy-NyXtgaZX4RkiuqtVcUr/s1600/IMG_4451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG4FDwC4FnPkwZGl4DEZFtnNcmlO9RktUU3Ofk8CvYqhdiA0UbV7VZsER1Jfxl160pxVSncxK3IvNFsJngvbi7dUS1-1WHqYtJc-mT0MjxAObx0daxdgAF92Yy-NyXtgaZX4RkiuqtVcUr/s320/IMG_4451.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>We make our way through the growth and again leave the canyon. This time up a very steep Indian trail.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVsAFvmxvCOEwr7woCeRkuuzVLn5LGZzaFSXQQ1vgZLNZHJeXsLtSA-9VvXutCyoWdcURfaFffQaAusW_375KeWh8be0z94CMl0NxhxpYLMJ5EJ4cJgD6xBKo_vGlbT5dYH0nvboVC-jee/s1600/IMG_4452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVsAFvmxvCOEwr7woCeRkuuzVLn5LGZzaFSXQQ1vgZLNZHJeXsLtSA-9VvXutCyoWdcURfaFffQaAusW_375KeWh8be0z94CMl0NxhxpYLMJ5EJ4cJgD6xBKo_vGlbT5dYH0nvboVC-jee/s320/IMG_4452.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>We reach a place that's relatively flat but one that I'd have never considered a potential village site.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8jrPO6gc3Ort9-KoPS52o8a-eZJTxGzwp2dIVEYF16IO1HzMAbDSo-08mP_sV9uX6RIZBSiuX3LbNGOsAQDxGeshWhm2_4Jksc_lsqGfe6GwR2lapxOR2tlfJ3PoGxWJDSo0I1rIxZ_cf/s1600/IMG_4454.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8jrPO6gc3Ort9-KoPS52o8a-eZJTxGzwp2dIVEYF16IO1HzMAbDSo-08mP_sV9uX6RIZBSiuX3LbNGOsAQDxGeshWhm2_4Jksc_lsqGfe6GwR2lapxOR2tlfJ3PoGxWJDSo0I1rIxZ_cf/s320/IMG_4454.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>But I'd have been wrong. </i><i>There are bedrock mortars everywhere.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0wdh2gk9iEEx-BjGJ_jLuxc6ilt3_t1kBFrJx3Z2sGz5sGnV_9msluyzZ123PmByqpsw1NDn5JWb_IRQulrDXE4w8vP0SZYxivMf11f36YmNhEJeeBPUzBbHHG39T3duCCs5eq5E_qjA9/s1600/IMG_4456.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0wdh2gk9iEEx-BjGJ_jLuxc6ilt3_t1kBFrJx3Z2sGz5sGnV_9msluyzZ123PmByqpsw1NDn5JWb_IRQulrDXE4w8vP0SZYxivMf11f36YmNhEJeeBPUzBbHHG39T3duCCs5eq5E_qjA9/s320/IMG_4456.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>There are several boulders with multiple mortars.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUFSpYtPOCtF3i7qdXzSww4DblueQeY-JEDn8br7-YZCv7vNkBGUWnV4bSNav_wNtBLPezivM3u_e4DwKlhhFteVKLrXQU2xyJsPavcCkFnl2IJdHovuFKFs58KpMTyXIP5MFxOSHCsw-k/s1600/IMG_4458.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUFSpYtPOCtF3i7qdXzSww4DblueQeY-JEDn8br7-YZCv7vNkBGUWnV4bSNav_wNtBLPezivM3u_e4DwKlhhFteVKLrXQU2xyJsPavcCkFnl2IJdHovuFKFs58KpMTyXIP5MFxOSHCsw-k/s320/IMG_4458.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>There are wide ones</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrunYi0OxRkz7Jjms0V6DnmCpbElmp5sFWeq9qs1TZcNF5B0sYWJYRgcBPAhVJm5nBQTSZPjnHtqJsEN4pOk2ES0xYSTPBZ2_zUpWZIRQM1kdl82Q4dLO0bLGomGg2at_rkV2A9h0bB3b6/s1600/IMG_4460.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrunYi0OxRkz7Jjms0V6DnmCpbElmp5sFWeq9qs1TZcNF5B0sYWJYRgcBPAhVJm5nBQTSZPjnHtqJsEN4pOk2ES0xYSTPBZ2_zUpWZIRQM1kdl82Q4dLO0bLGomGg2at_rkV2A9h0bB3b6/s320/IMG_4460.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Small ones</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg00bPdQfXQbYAdOoAs-jt74Aief6JeRWMihIx-EJJBPceGVHQQkOdIfuga-A6x4XEQB9HYIgrVJaQB2w3to-0qnsNNlwiVMp8zukww8LaLI-JImbTG_23xc5zFfQnYaPPbe8PlJ-FBcuM-/s1600/IMG_4461.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg00bPdQfXQbYAdOoAs-jt74Aief6JeRWMihIx-EJJBPceGVHQQkOdIfuga-A6x4XEQB9HYIgrVJaQB2w3to-0qnsNNlwiVMp8zukww8LaLI-JImbTG_23xc5zFfQnYaPPbe8PlJ-FBcuM-/s320/IMG_4461.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>All in close proximity</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBlGkk5XV4p-MYuDjrfNBW7MRx2ZkYwTVPSrdXhMZKNhXTp1Tz7Fm1Xs3TUJatd00aCQc0k_eql96u4GhRuL2E15PNOOS_7z08D3oxUYvKTPhdf4P-FlbuHooZn5-NWAciDeiKMZUH5E-w/s1600/IMG_4462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBlGkk5XV4p-MYuDjrfNBW7MRx2ZkYwTVPSrdXhMZKNhXTp1Tz7Fm1Xs3TUJatd00aCQc0k_eql96u4GhRuL2E15PNOOS_7z08D3oxUYvKTPhdf4P-FlbuHooZn5-NWAciDeiKMZUH5E-w/s320/IMG_4462.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>And there's this incredibly huge one.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXzKR30lpuikt-uhySkcuQvI-AbeRCz1In4gZ_tJP2KCJEybQFRmqqGFsKqH1VO06wTIkSTuiNLiyriDcf9WSX1LvVS2OLR75JIFy4mmDVtuP8flg8WUfX_4_YKjF0LwtcN9P2n6PuolB-/s1600/IMG_4466.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXzKR30lpuikt-uhySkcuQvI-AbeRCz1In4gZ_tJP2KCJEybQFRmqqGFsKqH1VO06wTIkSTuiNLiyriDcf9WSX1LvVS2OLR75JIFy4mmDVtuP8flg8WUfX_4_YKjF0LwtcN9P2n6PuolB-/s320/IMG_4466.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>The mortal hole is so deep that it has actually gone all the way through the rock. That took a LONG time to do.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg68RqjBlRwrtqJ5dNioEd7Rgkb0OGnCAvz1uWDXzXNsABce73OKzSNKnil2fGz5yx5hKCU8wn83PzhwdFRcVTEiXwgQx0LJxG8qkKYQ5hRRTl6Dk-CmWNqj-16syFxNah_ix4jO5tTtBi-/s1600/IMG_4469.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg68RqjBlRwrtqJ5dNioEd7Rgkb0OGnCAvz1uWDXzXNsABce73OKzSNKnil2fGz5yx5hKCU8wn83PzhwdFRcVTEiXwgQx0LJxG8qkKYQ5hRRTl6Dk-CmWNqj-16syFxNah_ix4jO5tTtBi-/s320/IMG_4469.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>A lot of food was prepared here and it is incredible to still find a pestle here. These are usually stolen by ignorant or selfish collectors.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh96nJuL41_-hwDDwYGKQv-pdquA4VrtFJYT-CUopQ0XJUr5WaLwTE-jFHbqjx89qO5S4WNyPvrrVIS-sIa3p510G274UMDWleKNivgWyLt0B_ROPjO-evu8DMBGoeikov6mYHb2LQnKe50/s1600/IMG_4471.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh96nJuL41_-hwDDwYGKQv-pdquA4VrtFJYT-CUopQ0XJUr5WaLwTE-jFHbqjx89qO5S4WNyPvrrVIS-sIa3p510G274UMDWleKNivgWyLt0B_ROPjO-evu8DMBGoeikov6mYHb2LQnKe50/s320/IMG_4471.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>There are sherds of pottery strewn all around. This piece has part of the rim.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOMhinv9ItIw9EEAq0o1Mcb1seyNlrh9PdNMojl640fABcrRFQ5z6jRboOyFIkEqXjv4ptMZ9EYd40mpI614ZNk3NWB16htxdvAbdqL0S7S4EpnOunbmkZQbfsZSbln_quEeplJwVT4DPu/s1600/IMG_4478.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOMhinv9ItIw9EEAq0o1Mcb1seyNlrh9PdNMojl640fABcrRFQ5z6jRboOyFIkEqXjv4ptMZ9EYd40mpI614ZNk3NWB16htxdvAbdqL0S7S4EpnOunbmkZQbfsZSbln_quEeplJwVT4DPu/s320/IMG_4478.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>This multi-mortar has filled with dirt but we forgot to bring a broom to clean it out. Next time, we'll be better prepared.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJZcCIyrGgQl4tlAIw2i5Oes_hkfyDEeaTkhQCMEAjWZiLUbqt4rXzPaGZCWCUM5S3-sELsASm2km1jPpAmXdTtqMuAz8rkO0P6tadZXYvJI8uzltlZ_5-UBnWz_jn9mhTuXqEf4WESGT2/s1600/IMG_4480.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJZcCIyrGgQl4tlAIw2i5Oes_hkfyDEeaTkhQCMEAjWZiLUbqt4rXzPaGZCWCUM5S3-sELsASm2km1jPpAmXdTtqMuAz8rkO0P6tadZXYvJI8uzltlZ_5-UBnWz_jn9mhTuXqEf4WESGT2/s320/IMG_4480.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>The canyon below is filled with mesquite which was the primary food source of the people who lived here. It is astonishing to consider that people survived with nothing but what they were able to find out here. Left on our own, most of wouldn't last too long out here.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbZ1vUKVK5bMhcg7wyl96_EZ1WcgDCCQ4ZreOg4Gqh0Z6F3feZ3KZElzcnE5DAF2nzXt7VZBXoPJFrjy1rNBgsXwT0bokELW1d6fK04DFkjwJ8QTDOupDbdQqSH_w9t8vSgHHSmVG6bMEq/s1600/IMG_4483.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbZ1vUKVK5bMhcg7wyl96_EZ1WcgDCCQ4ZreOg4Gqh0Z6F3feZ3KZElzcnE5DAF2nzXt7VZBXoPJFrjy1rNBgsXwT0bokELW1d6fK04DFkjwJ8QTDOupDbdQqSH_w9t8vSgHHSmVG6bMEq/s320/IMG_4483.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>But the Cahuilla were able to not only survive but thrive in this harsh and unforgiving environment. It is a testament to their hard work and ingenuity. </i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibwf3XApZUZpm7jR6iAZH17vjshDo_B7bQbTT1oZ2iIBDMz7ov5zDUILM7IMdNCCwOW2f7oA26k0yWpAxJVWOm6y_TrUGX-XlmYrEoB8ln-YBKOT5FFbj0gHvFCooAucqsMMXpMI6J3SaT/s1600/IMG_4488.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibwf3XApZUZpm7jR6iAZH17vjshDo_B7bQbTT1oZ2iIBDMz7ov5zDUILM7IMdNCCwOW2f7oA26k0yWpAxJVWOm6y_TrUGX-XlmYrEoB8ln-YBKOT5FFbj0gHvFCooAucqsMMXpMI6J3SaT/s320/IMG_4488.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>And a total lack of supermarkets. It seems like the Indians were not the only ones who left evidence of their past inhabitation.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I appreciate Mike showing me this very special place and look forward to being able to come back and exploring more in the area. I'm sure there are many, many more incredible discoveries yet to be made. I can't wait.</div>Hal Summershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965194515510712303noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355627852617153750.post-30206698705294047422011-01-14T20:20:00.000-08:002011-01-14T20:22:09.540-08:00So Far, So Good<div style="text-align: justify;">I've been on the diet for two weeks and have been able to do a couple hikes so far. With some family illnesses and work I haven't been able to get out more than that but I'm looking forward to an outing this weekend, maybe two.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF5hM6xteAlsYxFrqKoi0IppLAUolF11FeCnGUVptjlsZL7a6ExuRaBj25EyiTJkEA96yopZNc_qstdwhvKQRVlNRfyMMwzYHr38PwgsSKhrC9oIcq-A_6bKT9hWfoUXBs84RXScVk7w0u/s1600/IMG_0208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF5hM6xteAlsYxFrqKoi0IppLAUolF11FeCnGUVptjlsZL7a6ExuRaBj25EyiTJkEA96yopZNc_qstdwhvKQRVlNRfyMMwzYHr38PwgsSKhrC9oIcq-A_6bKT9hWfoUXBs84RXScVk7w0u/s320/IMG_0208.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I stepped on the scale this morning for the first time since the beginning of the year and was pretty happy with the results. I'm not ready to post a picture of myself yet because they would all be "before" pictures. I think I'll wait until I get some "after" shots to go with them.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So, thus far I've done: 2 hikes and lost 10.2 pounds.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">And I really miss ice cream.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>Hal Summershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965194515510712303noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7355627852617153750.post-89351296977594507052011-01-09T21:18:00.000-08:002011-01-09T21:30:39.527-08:00Old Mine Sites Near Garner Valley<div style="text-align: justify;">Sometimes life interferes with hiking. That happened Saturday. I had big plans for this weekend but none of them came to fruition. My plans consisted of doing some hiking and exploring in the southern Santa Rosas Mountains; I was so looking forward to it. Then, the phone rang. My wife's father was being taken by ambulance to the hospital because he was unable to breathe. Naturally, my wife went to the hospital to see how her father was and I stayed home to watch the kids. So much for going hiking today. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Thankfully, my father-in-law is OK and was released from the hospital. This morning, I drove him back home. While I was up by his house I decided to go for a little hike near Garner Valley.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0PPDzrfNLDH0YtWcZWn7Yb-YPoTE536kKIgzCJ9zfXWSCc_oXRrl4JzqTuUmafjoQgD0OQOBqSwoOfgKJFqoaIFBlCIcXu63CWTU_YkOCOG99M9KiYWXsO7RFZv_TPcmSLLmEZLtiZGd_/s1600/IMG_4338.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0PPDzrfNLDH0YtWcZWn7Yb-YPoTE536kKIgzCJ9zfXWSCc_oXRrl4JzqTuUmafjoQgD0OQOBqSwoOfgKJFqoaIFBlCIcXu63CWTU_YkOCOG99M9KiYWXsO7RFZv_TPcmSLLmEZLtiZGd_/s320/IMG_4338.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>It was a tad cooler up here than down in the desert. I brought a down vest but I wore shorts and I wonder if it'll be enough.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHwwyTjvgR5PAxO0kMLcU4PYH4csVxD2VU0YO235Uj7irkidtKQVotWqcnygHaId-wRJCgctzoQImx5TtPsQAEVXTZD8MuTI7isZd2K7CBouZa0F9NCJR5BhP-gKaavEd4bpyZzr3tgal2/s1600/IMG_4345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHwwyTjvgR5PAxO0kMLcU4PYH4csVxD2VU0YO235Uj7irkidtKQVotWqcnygHaId-wRJCgctzoQImx5TtPsQAEVXTZD8MuTI7isZd2K7CBouZa0F9NCJR5BhP-gKaavEd4bpyZzr3tgal2/s320/IMG_4345.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>I come upon snow on the ground and now I really wonder.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPJb9-d3xlSOCiCRJHY8AowxGQZsnL3WapR9nLyjjqnLr8oEQHNWMy4o2aIo6h9FRKBaLyrhW4hLXScxVdo8uIZW_oaTTNHxKkUBgMhp4Qpk_uuZp-r1pWIAQhNBU0aLA1mmvkz-h_MXrX/s1600/IMG_4349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPJb9-d3xlSOCiCRJHY8AowxGQZsnL3WapR9nLyjjqnLr8oEQHNWMy4o2aIo6h9FRKBaLyrhW4hLXScxVdo8uIZW_oaTTNHxKkUBgMhp4Qpk_uuZp-r1pWIAQhNBU0aLA1mmvkz-h_MXrX/s320/IMG_4349.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>I come to the first old homestead and I wonder why they just left all this stuff here.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBPAOEcbyE7o_DZm0-h9BRP9NUcd88vFEmzSnvLxPxglzgG3Knok3YNw614cqrCb3XmIjmnd90B44Id_a-HfdG5PxerNW-jpx61cuw1p-z1JtbVFzzlyOaPO4QxXSbTkco4cdlyKFvMQMy/s1600/IMG_4352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBPAOEcbyE7o_DZm0-h9BRP9NUcd88vFEmzSnvLxPxglzgG3Knok3YNw614cqrCb3XmIjmnd90B44Id_a-HfdG5PxerNW-jpx61cuw1p-z1JtbVFzzlyOaPO4QxXSbTkco4cdlyKFvMQMy/s320/IMG_4352.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>It wasn't really that long ago.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6urS4we_sAJCeGrdihG4SGtLGkhpuW1MOmReI8Gustvo0IpgBbIrzrPX_aEyWme-J2XH3EeD-Pks9mo6Ec6q-TgIq05_LKRWHJulyOu-zb41Cfz4keg9HtVREwhQDe5g16LSV2tsV9mYV/s1600/IMG_4355.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6urS4we_sAJCeGrdihG4SGtLGkhpuW1MOmReI8Gustvo0IpgBbIrzrPX_aEyWme-J2XH3EeD-Pks9mo6Ec6q-TgIq05_LKRWHJulyOu-zb41Cfz4keg9HtVREwhQDe5g16LSV2tsV9mYV/s320/IMG_4355.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Although this vehicle has been here a while.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP-nzTUfp3e3GLYHgZfzU4P7nms54OTUkwPCR07EyWQzUkfjEndXByZD1ryabwI42iQGEp9lzylTdfyXPDQgQ1ebzEipzY0jU3Ruh4zOCM08kq_0SQYu-R1ekU29QkasNPURl1pIev47iV/s1600/IMG_4357.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP-nzTUfp3e3GLYHgZfzU4P7nms54OTUkwPCR07EyWQzUkfjEndXByZD1ryabwI42iQGEp9lzylTdfyXPDQgQ1ebzEipzY0jU3Ruh4zOCM08kq_0SQYu-R1ekU29QkasNPURl1pIev47iV/s320/IMG_4357.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>I could probably use this shed to house my teenage son.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAbbUU4wDJMMF-5uaUxp519d0a2AR-RsxCKnUM4j8sSbpH57sz6_Fj14AtQiMazz-V2Kx0Uv5TrnJuyf9xE0Ems_QKU4KqDaAPrbSlA0RWGgE8xbDW4TsKuOJd1Sljk36AQRn_SaXHTjnW/s1600/IMG_4364.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAbbUU4wDJMMF-5uaUxp519d0a2AR-RsxCKnUM4j8sSbpH57sz6_Fj14AtQiMazz-V2Kx0Uv5TrnJuyf9xE0Ems_QKU4KqDaAPrbSlA0RWGgE8xbDW4TsKuOJd1Sljk36AQRn_SaXHTjnW/s320/IMG_4364.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>I head up a hill because I see what I think looks like a TV antenna. Looks like it's just an agave stalk.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk-iu0y8RocLfwjGKMU6QGNhSm8RIFXKxmLqolqh8A1SzbpWst_1Dio4FF6FQPp9qETOstSvxgfsEcTcUFEhwZe21HtHlwt0_gsxH1ztHzgpOk8ElZtd6Hwso4lctdI4GP-Ixi94YEr5Oh/s1600/IMG_4365.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk-iu0y8RocLfwjGKMU6QGNhSm8RIFXKxmLqolqh8A1SzbpWst_1Dio4FF6FQPp9qETOstSvxgfsEcTcUFEhwZe21HtHlwt0_gsxH1ztHzgpOk8ElZtd6Hwso4lctdI4GP-Ixi94YEr5Oh/s320/IMG_4365.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Oh wait. What's this?</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd-5IEvCEvijD0oflB8ZYUQfJmmjGWyyiFj1PYfp7OHNLr_dACc2HTShKSyhlcAR7BxINOM_2YafuRZUFvmQ_Psol1WUFNxhMslmfJ66JIpAuNOwhJqv38wNcU1R2R05UPyVtPNFEnZr5E/s1600/IMG_4369.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd-5IEvCEvijD0oflB8ZYUQfJmmjGWyyiFj1PYfp7OHNLr_dACc2HTShKSyhlcAR7BxINOM_2YafuRZUFvmQ_Psol1WUFNxhMslmfJ66JIpAuNOwhJqv38wNcU1R2R05UPyVtPNFEnZr5E/s320/IMG_4369.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Now why on earth would someone put a TV antenna way out here in the middle of nowhere? What kind of channels could you possibly get?</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLpCJhT__TKNYDDWhN1lIvoRhzkfqjhu7gmZPOGLXZA6pFJMJgDe8jZVARniOT1540_r1_hRJOlzAGeMQlUArf-lR3n0oYM7P_JbTbiBoVj6ZulrJHk115odScDzS27J8Wo06QQIbB8vrK/s1600/IMG_4375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLpCJhT__TKNYDDWhN1lIvoRhzkfqjhu7gmZPOGLXZA6pFJMJgDe8jZVARniOT1540_r1_hRJOlzAGeMQlUArf-lR3n0oYM7P_JbTbiBoVj6ZulrJHk115odScDzS27J8Wo06QQIbB8vrK/s320/IMG_4375.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>A little more hiking around brings me to this old foundation. I've been here before. There's a little mine not far from here but I don't go up to it. I've got something else I'm looking for today.</i> </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG7JLHzFxsN4-nbQHsYI3EVefHaQ1IJWfWrG7E-Kwr9DIoyf58YGxBzeNeuQRc42_bkzXDCb3ouNYaAtWO2_PxpX7FjUPKDNbMOQnb60Wv044Gi1UySs_A5_J_5RGKwWPqWG2bE9BZ_1kQ/s1600/IMG_4378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG7JLHzFxsN4-nbQHsYI3EVefHaQ1IJWfWrG7E-Kwr9DIoyf58YGxBzeNeuQRc42_bkzXDCb3ouNYaAtWO2_PxpX7FjUPKDNbMOQnb60Wv044Gi1UySs_A5_J_5RGKwWPqWG2bE9BZ_1kQ/s320/IMG_4378.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i>On the map it shows there's another mine but I had no idea I'd find this cabin.</i></span></td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG7JLHzFxsN4-nbQHsYI3EVefHaQ1IJWfWrG7E-Kwr9DIoyf58YGxBzeNeuQRc42_bkzXDCb3ouNYaAtWO2_PxpX7FjUPKDNbMOQnb60Wv044Gi1UySs_A5_J_5RGKwWPqWG2bE9BZ_1kQ/s1600/IMG_4378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlxp01eKc_l96uz1cdk3IA0g3ABfN5jwHIR3YybOe6Gkr3aHie6-igjFWsCmRE_dDY4FfYLBWYZnESKNCOJYvRHzUZrKmRmOnH4HNuhtGtOusRb_lcg2VpWEfrYJjRMtDtonW2FFqBThCR/s320/IMG_4396.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>It's NICE. Of course, I'd have to change the name to Summer's Shack but it has incredible curb appeal.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz2ZlANo3ZL477P0cneq15Ffxi6g6qE3fhF6Nj3FJRgh_8PVpeGtXHCivbw2ChnTuJLsR8X_08jMF4D93F6gBM6OBz_oIfDISs9Be9YOBi5gFGDHWqtNjd_nIbWVQouQ0WW9oQkoAxe19m/s1600/IMG_4387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz2ZlANo3ZL477P0cneq15Ffxi6g6qE3fhF6Nj3FJRgh_8PVpeGtXHCivbw2ChnTuJLsR8X_08jMF4D93F6gBM6OBz_oIfDISs9Be9YOBi5gFGDHWqtNjd_nIbWVQouQ0WW9oQkoAxe19m/s320/IMG_4387.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Plus, it's well appointed with Designer Furnishings.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIl8fNErOnim2390BeAZq-P2qe0lJFVY6kR7FUlnV_VOciyKHAosbK01G1T4lb9aIUEQ8re_y_TL3LL9Mmwy1qWvDFtBpxneG4IWca6I3zWNCo_SFhlyVUXMqhH_VxxtFgeYec3TETepzY/s1600/IMG_4388.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIl8fNErOnim2390BeAZq-P2qe0lJFVY6kR7FUlnV_VOciyKHAosbK01G1T4lb9aIUEQ8re_y_TL3LL9Mmwy1qWvDFtBpxneG4IWca6I3zWNCo_SFhlyVUXMqhH_VxxtFgeYec3TETepzY/s320/IMG_4388.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>There's a well-stocked pantry.</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs235zExnsk2a_gkV9KvMJyKRFO7b7Lil-H-iOCwynh5PgXP05ue6JuMc-DdZcWygLo7OtOIn81_3egDgo7vFpaqBXyX-BYuI5Nt95DO22xN-CMA5qi4IHFjOcEWDjxsFMqCTqo6VLfnCI/s1600/IMG_4390.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs235zExnsk2a_gkV9KvMJyKRFO7b7Lil-H-iOCwynh5PgXP05ue6JuMc-DdZcWygLo7OtOIn81_3egDgo7vFpaqBXyX-BYuI5Nt95DO22xN-CMA5qi4IHFjOcEWDjxsFMqCTqo6VLfnCI/s320/IMG_4390.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>I love this awesome outside deck although I think the sofa probably needs to be re-upholstered .</i></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>And who doesn't love a wonderful bathroom with a view?</i></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>And how about these his and her commodes? I wonder if I can persuade my wife to move up here with me. I love this place.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Iuzpndl7T4Kpy7qmZJiQaTxFf0aEpXZg77h0VUCy43QQ-8V5TOsOZRQzbvscfyBH5nI779jz-cc3SurztPE0XpformHMOoVwYz5EW5M_SCTqp8UNsKXInPHw77io9v3_EqlhDJtHBZnj/s1600/IMG_4383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Iuzpndl7T4Kpy7qmZJiQaTxFf0aEpXZg77h0VUCy43QQ-8V5TOsOZRQzbvscfyBH5nI779jz-cc3SurztPE0XpformHMOoVwYz5EW5M_SCTqp8UNsKXInPHw77io9v3_EqlhDJtHBZnj/s320/IMG_4383.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>I find the mine.</i></div><br />
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</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsEbRlMGB97zl4tuEvRbaCw9YBDoupud1sz4bj4my9rjhyphenhyphen2Yn8x1ZcBP8VZd3GTdSDSYqbyBLqQL2w3u2SZaGw4-QCviAqeCSTgBibRP0U_-rt__r5pznKpTba2ZazukPVt3wuEoNkvm8O/s1600/IMG_4382.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsEbRlMGB97zl4tuEvRbaCw9YBDoupud1sz4bj4my9rjhyphenhyphen2Yn8x1ZcBP8VZd3GTdSDSYqbyBLqQL2w3u2SZaGw4-QCviAqeCSTgBibRP0U_-rt__r5pznKpTba2ZazukPVt3wuEoNkvm8O/s320/IMG_4382.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>But don't dare venture into it since it's a vertical shaft and I don't have a rope. I have to come back here. As I was looking around, I ran into three very nice young ladies who were also out hiking. They live in Garner Valley and were not as concerned with the cold weather as I was. They were wearing sandals.</i></div>Hal Summershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15965194515510712303noreply@blogger.com2