Mountain Adventuring

Good things are always in store when you see this sign

February's scheduled camping trip to the desert was postponed on account of rain, so Saturday morning I set out for a "Return to Joshua Tree." "Return" that is because in December I'd gone, experienced an extremely cold, windy, ice storm, and ended up retreating in the middle of the night. Good times.

This time the weather was clear and all systems were go, so I packed up my gear and hit the road.

This weekend's gear

Two hours later, Joshua Tree, and once again, trouble. You see, I left LA to escape the noise, traffic, crowds, and well, LA. I arrived Saturday afternoon at the Joshua Tree Visitor's Center to find noise, traffic, crowds, and middle-aged women wearing knee-high leather heels. O.K. So pretty much LA with desert and rocks. The campgrounds were full, and this definitely wasn't the scene I was looking for, so I bailed.

The adventure was on. Broken itineraries are always the best anyway.

Heading south on Route 62, a towering, snow covered Mt. San Jacinto beckoned, "Climb, young man, climb."

Google Earth simulated view of Mt. San Jacinto, seen from the north along Rte. 62

The mountain had a point. I started thinking, and figured that if I headed to 6 or 7000 feet and found some snow, I'd substantially cut down on the crowds of outdoor posers. Then I started thinking that maybe I shouldn't listen to talking mountains.

Nevermind, the adventure was on. I headed up the mountain and sure enough, half an hour later was in alpine paradise. Snow started around 6000', and though higher elevation Forest Service campgrounds were still closed for the winter, Mt. San Jacinto State Park in Idyllwild was wide open, practically empty, and just what the doctor ordered.

Here's the scene at the first of three sweet campgrounds I found on this trip:


My campsite even had a cool stone woodstove...


and a little hiking trail up to the site from where I parked the car.


I had some dinner, checked out a beautiful starry sky for a while, then climbed inside the tent for a nice, long slumber. Overnight temps were around 30 degrees, but I was cozy as could be in my little cocoon.

Not exactly sure what I'm responsible for knowing, but I did have a permit!

The next day I hit the trail and hiked up to a place called Suicide Rock. Elevation gain was 1700' over 3.3 miles, ending at 7300'. The last mile or so was completely snow-covered, but the trail was decently packed and didn't require snowshoes.




Along the way I encountered these trees that I swore looked like sequoias, but I knew I was too far south for such a thing. They were really pretty, especially against the snow. Upon further investigation, my tree-expert cousins informed me that this is likely an example of California Incense Cedar, Calocedrus decurrens.


At the top I was treated to a great view of Tahquitz Mountain and Lily Rock to the east, and Strawberry Valley down into Idyllwild below.

Tahquitz Mountain, with Lily Rock in the foreground

The picture above doesn't really do it justice, and unfortunately some of my better examples fell victim to a recent bug in my previously reliable digital camera, whereby images turn strangely pink and smeared...

Gremlins in the camera!

Alas. The hike down was great, as you can tell from the big grin on my face.

Mountain bliss!

The state park campground was closed down Sunday night (thank you CA state budget), so I cruised down the road to a place called Hurkey Creek, where I found a second sweet campground, and pitched my tent next to a babbling brook that provided soothing sounds throughout the night.

Hurkey Creek campground


This trip provided me the first opportunity to fire up a "new" camping stove that I've had for 4 years. It worked great!


Later on I played around with some night photography. I'm pretty proud of this picture I took of Orion:


Here are a couple artsy-fartsy shots:

I call this one "Tent Phone Home" (only children of the 80s will understand)

"Evening Shelter"...a little more straightforward

On the last day I drove a little further south, and hiked up the Ramona Trail on Thomas Mountain.


It's theoretically a 7 mile roundtrip with 1500' of elevation gain, topping out at a place called Toolbox Spring around 6000'. I never found confirmation that I'd reached Toolbox Spring, but the distance seemed about right, and I did find a third sweet campground:

Thomas Mountain campsite

There was snowcover here as well, and some great views of Tahquitz and San Jacinto.

Tahquitz (foreground, lightly powdered) and Mt. San Jacinto (background, big and snowy) appear as one mountain from the south, even under close binocular inspection



A man and his view

Tuna and pita for lunch!

Enroute back down the mountain I enjoyed the scenic view of Garner Valley, a little early spring waterfall, and some picturesque pinecones:

Garner Valley and the San Jacinto wilderness from Thomas Mountain




To finish off the trip, I cruised down the 74 into Hemet, and enjoyed dinner with my uncle and his family. As I parted, I looked in the rearview and heard San Jacinto whispering "farewell, see you again soon." Indeed, my friend.

Never stop listening to talking mountains

Here's a link to a Google map of the weekend's destinations.

Aloha a hui hou!