Coachella Valley Hiking Club Blog

The purpose of this Blog

This is a blog for the education and amusement of members of the Coachella Valley Hiking Club and anyone else interested in hiking in and around the Coachella Valley. We will publish anything that has to do with hiking, nature, club social events, and activities, adventures, and events involving individual members. Send pictures and text to cvhikingclub@gmail.com if you would like to publish in the blog.

Many of our members spend the summer in the North: Minisota, Washington, Canada for example. It would be nice if we received some pictures and text about what they are doing up there.

Link to main website

'We were abandoned' atop tram, hiker says

After reading this article from the Desert Sun, do you really think they have anything to comlplain about.

Link to Article

Photography Hike in Joshua Tree

On Sunday, 1/22/12 Astrid led a hike in the Barker Dam/Wall Street Mill area. The idea was to go on a hike that would enable people to stop and take pictures without irritating the people who just came to hike. No one minded amoung the people who came on the hike when somone stopped and took a group of pictures. People where giving each other technical advice and pointing out good shots. It looks like we are going to have to do this again. Look for it on the schedule for February.

                      

An interview in the Desert Sun with Larry Liguori

Here is the Link to the article.  Link

Some qulifications from Robin. "Will Dean did a good job but we don't charge hikers after the first hike and hikers don't sign up online."

Note from Philip on The Ladders

Was out to ladder canyon via Painted Canyon Rd. Dec. 30.

Road now passable by passenger car...no 4wd needed (but helpful!)

Road crew regraded road...still soft in a few places. Broken or washed away

Ladders replaced....but a massive amount of erosion, rock collapses, ground trenches etc. can be seen.Flash flood in September really knocked things about.

Philip Ferranti

 

Fall foliage

I know we don't have displays like New England but here is some foliage from The Whitewater Preserve. A few days late but still spactacular.

          

Pictures of Ladders Hike showing conditions

Hi everyone! Here's an update & pics of Ladders Canyon.

A group of us hiked it Sun. and it is still doable but now we would say it is strenuous, no longer moderate. The last 2 ladders are missing, so down climbing is required via a marginal sisal rope. Also there is more exposure involved in navigating thru the other areas where the ladders are missing.

The road is OK but a 4 wheel drive is definitely best. We had no trouble with car break ins. There were maybe 6 vehicles parked there on Sun.

The pic of Christine on the long ladder is a side canyon that was new to us. There's at least one other (good) ladder further up that canyon - to be further explored!

It's now definitely WAY more of an adventure!!

Cheers,

Robin

                    

Decadent December day up the tram

Hike leader Christmas Party

Last Saturday we had the Hike Leader  apprreciation Christmas party at Tracy and Charle's house. As usuall, the food, prepared by Jim, Ron, Suzanne, and Billie, was great and everyone had a good time.

   
               

Some pictures from Christy

One is Robin in repose and the other is a group shot. Both photos were taken at the turn-around point on a great 13 mile long hike we did on Nov. 23 on PCT North of Hwy 74.  Perfect weather at 5000 ft.  Perfect camraderie.  22 hikers, including guests from England and Texas.

 

Cheers, Christy

       

   
   

Larger than average duck built by members of club.

Here is a note from Ben.

 

Rich recruited me, (man with the camera), Katie and Laurie to participate in an exploratory hike and help him construct a "duck" (doesn't look like a duck, doesn't quack like a duck, but let me assure you it is one fine duck.) in order that he can safely return all club members on his upcoming Mag Falls hike featuring a new northern exit route via Dunn Rd to the northwest then a fall down into Cat Canyon. Once again showing CVHC Hike leader dedication to the safety of their followers. We had this thing assembled in no time.

Oh yea, our exploratory hike included a Mexican feast at El Galito afterwards. First time there for Rich and Katie. I think Rich liked it. His plate did not have to go through the dish washer when finished (5 minutes devour time max)

Astrid's Hike to Rainbow Rock Canyon

Astrid led a hike to a canyon near the Whitewater Preserve. The canyon has several names, but we are calling it Rainbow Rock Canyon.

           




               

More Critter Pics

Here are some more animal pictures taken by club members. They are in order, a rosy boa taken by Astrid on the Museum Trail, a great horned owl taken by Pat in Indian Canyons, and a tarantuala taken by Eric at Mission Creek.

          


           

Warning: Vandalism and Theft at The Ladders

Just got this email from someone who just hiked The Ladders in the Mecca Hills. We might have to have a designated car sitter at some trail heads.

"Went to Ladder Canyon today. Good hike, but no ladders on return loop down Painted Canyon. Chutes negotiable, but need teamwork to get everyone down. Also returned to parking area to find that all six cars parked there at that time had 2 or all four tires slashed. Some had been broken into and valuables stolen (cautionary tale about leaving valuables in car at trailheads). Neither sheriff nor AAA would come to trailhead to offer assistance. We were lucky in that we only had one flat tire and could use spare. We were full, but took one fellow home so he could get his truck and return to pick up rest of their group. Others had already contacted family and friends for help, but getting phone service was difficult. This is the worse case of this sort of stuff I've come across in a long time around here. Because that it took place in a remote desert area, it transcends vandalism and theft. Could be life threatening. Thought you folks should know...Tell Phil"

This poster sent another email with more information.

Re yesterday's mailing, would like to add that I contacted Indio Sheriff's station for a follow-up on car incidents at Ladder Canyon trailhead. After picking up a four wheel drive unit, deputies did indeed make it out to trailhead where they assisted and made sure that all concerned had transportation. Station reported deputy was on site for over 4 hrs. Good to hear. However, the desk Sgt added that remote places like that are extremely difficult to patrol. Also, he was aware of the break-ins at CV Preserve and Bump and Grind sites. 

Here is some other information from our friend Jane Udal.

 

Hello; just letting a few of you know of the status of Painted Canyon so you can spread the word.  As we know, there was a fierce flash flood thru that area on Sept. 12; Box Canyon Rd was closed for major repairs on Sept. 13; it is now re-opened. Painted Canyon Rd is open, too, and has been graded but has deep soft sand on it. 4WD ONLY. If you take a non 4WD vehicle out there and get stuck, as was seen yesterday, I've heard AAA charges minimum $1000 for retrieval. More seriously, there have been serious acts of vandalism against cars at Painted Canyon both before and since the flood. Slashed tires, body damage, attempted thefts. Sheriff Dept is slow to respond given remoteness of area. Finally, I suspect that the ladders are gone or damaged. Its an area I intend to avoid for the time being.

Jane

 

 

Some more great wildlife pictures from Ron.

       

A visit to the only Aspen Grove in Southern California

On Sunday a group of club members made their annual fall trip to the Aspen Grove in the San Berardino Mountains near the Heart Bar Campground. They did not disapoint. Most of the pictures were taken by Elize.

                   

There are still flowers blooming.

If you look in the right places, there are still flowers blooming in the desert and in the mountains. Especially prominant are the coyote melons, Cucurbita palmata  These are some that are blooming at the Mission Creek Preserve.

      

Camp tent at Round Valley

There has been a trail crew at Round Valley working on the trails and campsites. Here is a picture of one of the tents.  We didn't look inside but it looks like a mess tent.

Up dated Desert Hot Springs Trail Map

This is the latest Blind Canyon Trail map.  To get to Blind Canyon, Just go north on Palm in Desert Hot Springs all the way to the end. Turn left and go to the end of that street and turn right. That's a good place to park. Click on the thumbnail to get a larger image.

 

   

The Whitewater Preserve needs volunteers.

Here is a poster from Caroline Conners who is in charge of the volunteers at the Whitewater Preserve.

SHARE YOUR LOVE OF NATURE

Become A DOCENT!

 

Do you enjoy being in and learning about the natural environment?

Do you enjoy sharing your love of nature with others?

Do you have some weekday mornings free?

Do you like being with young people?

The Wildlands Conservancy’s Desert Preserves are looking for people who enjoy sharing the natural environment with others. Become a docent at Whitewater, Mission Creek or Pioneertown Mts. Preserve and help us steward these important watersheds.

For more information call (760) 369-7105 or email: caroline.c@twc.ca.org

 

A new docent class starts on October 4^th!

 

Wellman's Cabin

Up in the San Jacinto Mountains there are reminders of the people that roamed the area in the past.  The Cahuilla used to go up there to hunt and to gather acorns but there are few signs of them in the upper elevations. They called the mountain "I a kitch (or Aya Kaich), meaning "smooth cliffs." It was the home of Dakush, the meteor and legendary founder of the Cahuilla." according to Wikipedia. Cowboys and hunters went up there in the 1800's. There is a ruined log cabin that is said to have belonged to Frank Wellman, a cattleman in the area in the 1890's. It was used as a hunting cabin or a line shack. Nearby is a cave with some old camping equipment. A group of hikers from the hiking club went up to the ruins of Wellman's Cabin and took some pictures. All the pictures except the first are by Robin.