JohnTheLuck's Adventures Thread

[JohnTheLuck]

Day 17:

Start point: Indio CA
End point Indio, CA

Distance driven: 171 km
Distance hiked: 9.4 km

We spent another beautiful day under the sun with a very comfortable temperature. After a laundry session, we headed back to Mecca Hills Wilderness on the Painted Canyon Road we had traveled yesterday. The goal this time was a loop-shaped hike through Ladder Canyon and back through the pedestrian area of Painted Canyon. It is a gorgeous hike.

After a moment of walking between the high cliffs of the beginning of Painted Canyon, we reached Ladder Canyon. Its name comes from the many ladders installed to access the upper levels of this beautiful slot canyon.

After leaving Ladder Canyon, we joined a ridge that we followed for a long time. The view was exceptional, from the Salton Sea to the mountains where it was still snowing.

Further on the trail, we reached the junction towards Painted Canyon. Returning to the beginning of the trail, the beautiful landscapes of Mother Nature followed one another. The canyon is aptly named because the rocks have a variety of incredible colors and textures.

Our next destination was the Meccacopia Road leading to Box Canyon Road closed following the flash flood of last October. We hoped to go through this very uncrowded road to reach the middle of Box Canyon, bypassing the signs prohibiting access.

Success, we joined Box Canyon Road legally, without meeting any interdiction signs. We have seen the damage caused by this large-scale flash flood.

We then traveled the Little Box Canyon Road to return to Meccacopia Road.

Tomorrow morning, we leave Indio, and after a few stops, we will reach Twentynine Palms and Joshua Tree National Park.
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[Ray Dunakin]

More great pics! I'm glad you've had such an excellent adventure in the Anza-Borrego area.

 

[JohnTheLuck]

More great pics! I'm glad you've had such an excellent adventure in the Anza-Borrego area.

Thanks! Anza-Borrego Desert SP is really a fantastic place. I surely be back again.

And thanks again for all the invaluable help you provided in helping me planning this trip.

 

[final]

The first picture you took of Painted Canyon Road reminds me of Artists Palette in Death Valley.

 

[JohnTheLuck]

The first picture you took of Painted Canyon Road reminds me of Artists Palette in Death Valley.

Yes indeed, but Artists Palette is a bit more colorful. We may go back to Artists Drive later in the trip.

 

[JohnTheLuck]

Day 18:

Start point: Indio CA
End point Twentynine Palms, CA

Distance driven: 430 km
Distance hiked: 9.7 km

Again, we had a great day without any clouds, while the temperature rose only to 12C, a little chilly in shorts ... (!!!).

We left Indio to join the Coachella Valley Preserve to hike the McCallum Oasis Trail. This region is crossed by the famous San Andreas Fault. Water from mountains flows into the depths of the earth and rises to the surface through this fault. There are several other oases along this fault. The calm of the water and the perfect reflections inspired us.

We then returned to the Whitewater Preserve in the Sand to Snow National Monument to hike the Loop Canyon Trail that we had interrupted two days ago in the rain. This loop has a common part with the mythical Pacific Crest Trail.

We had planned to hike other short trails, but the absence of clouds in the mountains led us to explore the Palms to Pines Scenic Byway, located in Santa Rosa and the San Jacinto Mountains National Monument and San Bernardino National Forest. . This road quickly climbs the mountain making many laces. The view at Coachella Valley Vista Point was superb.

Further on the road we reached a valley in altitude. We hoped to be able to drive the Santa Rosa Road in Santa Rosa and the San Jacinto Mountains National Monument but it was closed for the season. We also wanted to go on North Coyote Canyon Road in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, but the lack of time and poor road conditions forced us to turn around.

We then joined the small village of Idyllwild, snowed by the weather of the last days. This very picturesque village reminded us of small Swiss villages. Abundant snow seems to be quite rare as we have seen a lot of families go sledding in many places. Many took the opportunity to take pictures or simply play in the snow. All this made us smile a little because our present trip allows us to somehow escape the winter of Quebec.

Tomorrow, we should begin our visit of Joshua Tree National Park.
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[JohnTheLuck]

Day 19:

Start point: Twentynine Palms, CA
End point: Twentynine Palms, CA

Distance driven: 39 km
Distance hiked: 13.0 km

Today we started our visit to Joshua Tree National Park with a short stop at the Visitor Center. Unfortunately, the rangers confirmed what I had read on the website, that apart from a few rare exceptions, all the unpaved roads are closed following the heavy rains of February 2nd.

We then wanted to make the most of this day because the clouds come back for a few days, with significant rainfall for Thursday. So we started the day by going to Keys View, a promontory overlooking the Coachella Valley we've visited since the last several days, from the Salton Sea to Palm Springs.

Then we started the hikes which should be quite frequent during the next days. The first trail led to the Desert Queen Mine, located in the hills.

On the trail, we passed the ruins of what was probably a compressor or a pump.

We continued further than Desert Queen Mine to join the old Eagle Cliff Mine. We then went through sumptuous landscapes with huge rocks cut by erosion.

There is very little left of the mine, but the ruins of an old cabin contains several interesting items. We perceived the arduous life these miners had to go through, most of the time to find nothing valuable.

After completing the Eagle Cliff Mine trail, we drove onto the Queen Valley Road, one of the few unpaved open roads. In the distance. the Santa Rosa and Santa Jacinto mountains were still visible with their white cloaks.

We then hiked the Wall Street Mill Trail, a former gold mining plant. The process used was powder reduction of rock and mercury for separation. Along this trail, the remains of old vehicles are also visible.

Then we hiked the trail to Baker Dam, built in the early 1900s to harvest water in a natural tank for livestock.

Tomorrow, we should continue visiting Joshua Tree NP, weather permitting.
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[JohnTheLuck]

Day 20:

Start point: Twentynine Palms, CA
End point: Twentynine Palms, CA

Distance driven: 265 km
Distance hiked: 2.6 km

The clouds arrived yesterday have persisted and will do for the next days. No sunburn in sight ... Obviously, the lack of sun makes the photos a little bland, please forgive me.

Wanting to enjoy a last day before the precipitation starting tomorrow, we tried our luck on the Old Dale Road. Yesterday, the rangers at the Visitor Center told us that this road was closed. We started on the north end outside Joshua Tree NP.

This road leads to many remains of mines, recent or very old. We have visited only a few, the being the Virginia Dale Mine.

Then, after crossing the site of the old city of New Dale, we climbed on a high hill by a relatively rough road, to join the OK Mine. This includes several damaged buildings and also a hopper used to load the ore in trucks.

After descending the hill, we continued the road and then explored the little of what remains of Crown Gold Mine.


Then we went up other hills to a more difficult section because the road had been damaged by water runoff. At a turning point, we saw another 4Runner at the bottom of the slope. I was anxious to talk to the owner to know the route he had taken to get there because I did not know if my planned exit point in Joshua Tree NP was barred by a fence or not.

At the bottom of the slope, [MENTION=223513]pitslave[/MENTION] and his wife, owners of the other 4Runner, were waiting for us at the Joshua Tree NP barrier, thankfully open. We talked a bit about the road because we were curious to know what was next for us. It was a very pleasant meeting. Jeff was at his very first off-road experience. I lift my hat to have completed the Old Dale Road with his 4Runner with four seasons tires and no armor!

Nearby, we reached the Sunset Mine with its painted concrete cabin, a classic photo op.

We had originally planned to travel the more difficult route to the Brooklyn Mine, an area even richer in remnants of numerous mines, but time was running out and the clouds were becoming more and more threatening. It will be for another time.

Continuing on Old Dale Road, we made a small detour to Mission Mine, a mine much more recent than the others we have seen so far.

We finally reached the paved road of Joshua Tree NP without a hitch. The threatening clouds had joined us and we received a few drops.

We then headed for the southern exit of Joshua Tree NP near Cottonwood Campground. This portion of the road was damaged by the flash floods of early February following heavy rainfall. [MENTION=172784]final[/MENTION], these rains favored the growth of many flowers at this location.

With our experience of the Old Dale Road supposedly closed but accessible, we decided to go onto the Berdoo Canyon Road beginning with the southern end, out of Joshua Tree NP. We joined the Berdoo Camp, established during the construction of the Colorado River Aqueduct in 1932. Later in the trip, we will explore some facilities of this huge project to bring vital water to the city of Los Angeles.

A little after Berdoo Camp, we reached the border with Joshua Tree NP and the road was blocked by a barrier. At another time, maybe.

Tomorrow, heavy rain should make unpaved roads impassable and dangerous because of the high risk of flash floods. We will stay in on paved roads.
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[16RedRunner]

Great pics thanks for sharing them!

 

[JohnTheLuck]

Great pics thanks for sharing them!

You are welcome. Pictures from yesterday are certainly much better than what I will be able to take today as it is raining a lot here, with flash flood warnings everywhere.

 

[JohnTheLuck]

Day 21:

Start point: Twentynine Palms, CA
End point: Twentynine Palms, CA

Distance driven: 222 km
Distance hiked: 1.7 km

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone!

True to the gloomy weather forecast, we woke up in a heavy rain at times, and without hope of any improvement during the day. What do you want, you have to do with. The rain sometimes offers opportunities for interesting photos, and that's what we tried to find today. Of course, with flood warnings, we only traveled on established roads, forgetting off-road trails.

At the gas station this morning, we met two people working at Joshua Tree NP. They directed us to a waterfall flowing only when there is rainfall. It is located in Rattlesnake Canyon, formed of interlocking rocks of thorny bushes. Approaching the parking lot, we saw it in the distance, on the beige hill in the foreground.

We tried for about an hour to sneak between the rocks to see her, but lost time, the rain and thorny busts were right of us. On the other hand, we have seen the stream into which it flows. This stream is normally dry and provides easier access to the waterfall.

Subsequently, we circulated on the various roads of the park, seizing the opportunities for photos. In many places, the washes crossed the road and there was a lot of water accumulation.

At the altitude we were located, the clouds were very low and the mist added a dramatic effect to the landscapes.

As we reach the southern part of the park, located in the Colorado desert, the rain has stopped and the wind has risen.

On the way back, as we approached Twentynine Palms, the sky was breaking through the clouds, bringing some hope for tomorrow.

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[MAST4R]

More great pics, thanks!

Yeah, I am very curious about the weather this coming weekend as well. I don't think we had strong rains in C. AZ. Those can tear up the trails quite quickly.

 

[final]

Beautiful wildflowers!

 

[JohnTheLuck]

More great pics, thanks!

Yeah, I am very curious about the weather this coming weekend as well. I don't think we had strong rains in C. AZ. Those can tear up the trails quite quickly.

Beautiful wildflowers!

Thanks guys!

When we were at Cottonwood Visitor Center, the ranger told us they received 1 inch of rain today, but they didn't notice any new damage. Hopefully, the trails we will get on the next few days are still ok.

 

[JohnTheLuck]

Day 22:

Start point: Twentynine Palms, CA
End point: Twentynine Palms, CA

Distance driven: 150 km
Distance hiked: 12.9 km

As we hoped yesterday, we got up with a partly cloudy sky, contrasting with yesterday's rainy conditions. As the winds were very light, we took the opportunity to go on a long hike in the northern Joshua Tree NP hills, the North View Loop then back through the northern portion of The Maze Loop. The trail crosses several peaks and passes in succession before descending into a wash for the return.

This loop crosses several zones of vegetation, according to the exposure to the sun and the presence of water. Desert plants have obviously adapted to extreme conditions by using several strategies to conserve water, the most common of which is the small size of the leaf surface. Here, a shrub of the family of oaks with its tiny leaves.

After completing the loop, we hiked the short Hidden Valley Trail, completely surrounded by hills that concentrated the water during the rains. This little oasis was used around 1930 to hide stolen cattle. Today, it is a spectacular place covered by one of the most popular trails in the park with hikers and mountaineers. We had a lot more traffic than we expected.

After the Hidden Valley Trail, we needed peace of mind and the 4Runner was hungry for some dirt roads. We then headed for the unpaved Covington Flats road giving access to backcountry trailheads in Joshua Tree NP. The goal of finding tranquility has been fulfilled because we have only crossed one vehicle. The road contained traces of yesterday's rainfall with many crevasses and pools of water.

The place is very favorable to the growth of the Joshua Trees and we have seen very large and supplied specimens.

We made a small detour to Eureka Peak. Almost at the top, a Joshua Tree was blocking the road, probably uprooted by the strong winds that raged then.

We walked the rest of the road to a very windy promontory overlooking the Palm Springs area we visited a few days ago. The low sun and the glare of the clouds did not allow to appreciate the sight which was to be superb the morning rather than the evening. We still managed to distinguish the wind turbines of San Gorgonio Pass Wind Farm.

Tomorrow, we leave Twentynine Palms and cross Joshua Tree NP for the last time before traveling the long Bradshaw Trail to Blythe CA.
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[JohnTheLuck]

Day 23:

Start point: Twentynine Palms, CA
End point: Blythe, CA

Distance driven: 312 km
Distance hiked: 1.0 km

We left Twentynine Palms early this morning because we had a busy day, at least for the distance to be travelled.

Taking advantage of the rising sun, we made a first stop at Cholla Garden in Joshua Tree NP. A short path winds through the cholla cacti and the low morning light makes them shine.

Then, as I had promised before to my wife, we made a long stop at the flower fields located near the southern entrance of Joshua Tree NP. Sorry guys, but I have the feeling my off-road trip is becoming a botanical trip with all those wild flowers.

Leaving Joshua Tree NP, we continued our route toward Blythe by taking off-road trails, and not the interstate. We first drove the Red Canyon Road, following the canyon on a ridge before joining the Bradshaw Trail.

On the Bradshaw Trail, we reached the mouth of Red Canyon that we traveled partially, a fun and beautiful diversion.

We then began our long progression on the Bradshaw Trail eastbound. We had traveled the beginning of this road a few days ago. We follow the railroad track for a while, and then while crossing it, we noted that the rails had been removed and only the grade is left. I had read that it was planned to destroy the entire line, including the big bridge crossing the wash over the Bradshaw Trail. Better go before it is too late.

The Bradshaw Trail runs through vast expanses of desert and we only passed a few vehicles despite the fact that we were on the weekend. But the road is very beautiful and easy.

Some interesting points can be found along this road, some cars abandoned a long time ago, but also this sailboat that has seen better days.

We made a slight detour to see the Roosevelt Mine. Not much to see there but a few pits and tunnels, all closed by metal barriers.

Finally, as we had finished the Bradshaw Trail a little ahead of our schedule, we decided to go for a ride to the Cibola National Wildlife Refuge, along the Colorado River. At the destination, the sun was about to set.

Tomorrow, we will explore the Blythe region.
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[jimmynotjim]

We just passed reach other! I went up there yesterday and just got back to San Diego.

Wish I'd know about Covington Flats being open. The rangers told us everything on dirt was closed. Ended up cutting out trip short since we couldn't go many places with our dog and had taken her thinking she could get out and stretch on the dirt roads.

Looks like you made the best of the weather. Looking forward to what this trip brings you next.

 

[JohnTheLuck]

We just passed reach other! I went up there yesterday and just got back to San Diego.

Wish I'd know about Covington Flats being open. The rangers told us everything on dirt was closed. Ended up cutting out trip short since we couldn't go many places with our dog and had taken her thinking she could get out and stretch on the dirt roads.

Looks like you made the best of the weather. Looking forward to what this trip brings you next.

I was kind of disappointed also after speaking to the rangers when they told us every dirt roads were closed. I found out this wasn't true. I think they want to protect themselves if something happen to someone on these roads. The only dirt roads that were clearly marked closed were Geologic Tour, Berdoo Canyon, and Eagle Mine Road.

For Covington Flats, there was a lot of water crossing and deep gullies which could have been a problem with stock tires, but apart from this I should be ok. For sure, it was impassable for cars.

Even when the weather is not so great, I find many times that this leads to great photo ops.

There is still a lot of off-road and hiking trails planed for this trip (and probably more flowers for my wife...). We are slowly reaching the half-point now. It has been a blast so far!

 

[JohnTheLuck]

Day 24:

Start point: Blythe, CA
End point: Blythe, CA

Distance driven: 362 km
Distance hiked: 2.0 km

Today, we explored the Blythe surroundings beginning with the Blythe Intaglios, drawings made on the ground that are much better defined and larger than the ones we saw earlier.

The road continues towards a promontory facing the mountains of Big Maria Mountains Wilderness.

The view at the end of the road was beautiful, with cultivated fields irrigated by the waters of the Colorado River slightly visible before the fields.

Then we continued the road along the Colorado River to reach Parker Dam, forming Havasu Lake.

A little further north we saw Whitsett Intake, the Colorado River Aqueduct's Havasu Lake intake, a huge project made in 1930 to carry fresh water over 390 km to the city of Los Angeles by a system of tunnels, reservoirs, and pumping stations. Three pipes of 16 feet in diameter are used to convey the water.

The water pumped by Whitsett Intake leads to the Gene Reservoir and the Gene Pumping Station.

The water rises even higher towards the Copper Basin Reservoir, then it descends by gravity through a series of tunnels. In the coming days, we will cross the path taken by this aqueduct and will see other pumping stations and reservoirs.

On the road, we saw a rather unusual and contrasting group, be swamps, mesa, cacti, and a lake.

We then began a series of roads around the Whipples Mountains, an area very rich in abandoned mines and scenery. At the beginning, we passed the Colorado River Aqueduct. At regular intervals, vents are arranged to provide air into the tunnel to facilitate the flow of water. We heard the water running under our feet.

In many places we have encountered large expanses of black rock, dotted with rare plants. Nobody around, we were well alone in our great desert.

Further, as we reached the D and W Mine, our loneliness was quickly erased when we saw no less than 15 vehicles present, with a small crowd enjoying the sun while having a drink, beer, wine, and others !!! What a contrast.

We spoke with several people who noted the Quebec 4Runner license plate. Some even recommended other interesting sites in the area. They were very nice people, enjoying these beautiful places too.

We also ventured into the depths of the earth in a gallery of the copper mine.

We followed the group to the nearby American Eagle Mine. Here, some structures including this one overlooking a vertical well.

Leaving the mine and the group, the clouds had just appeared. Nothing too worrying about flash floods, but since it was also a bit late, we did not visit other mines. The splendid landscapes succeeded one after the other.

We joined the paved road as the rain began to fall. We do not think trail conditions will be affected.

Tomorrow we will leave Blythe CA. Following information received by [MENTION=306890]MAST4R[/MENTION], it is very likely that we will deviate from the planned route to spend some time in the Sonoran Desert in Arizona. Decision time is tomorrow morning!
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[final]

I am probably in the minority, but I think the wildflowers make the desert pictures pop.

Most, if not all of us, think wildflowers are in the Spring. Seeing them in bloom in February is a rare treat!