MORNING HIKE AND A WEE BIT OF A ROCK SCRAMBLE IN HAWK CANYON

How nice stepping out of the coach this morning into calm air.  Borrego’s big winds had finally stopped sometime in the night.  Those gusting winds were widespread over the valley Tuesday with Doug from Miss Adventure Travels over at Rock House Road at the foot of Coyote Mountain getting himself some blowing sand photos out around Font's Point.

A SHORT HIKE IN HAWK CANYON THIS MORNING

 

We started off with a bright sunny day so decided to re-trace part of our Tuesday Jeep route and have us a further look into Hawk Canyon.  With the canyon being only a couple miles from us we were there in short order.  Hawk Canyon is a box canyon with basically only one way in and out.  We drove in to where the road ends, parked then did us a wee hike with a short rock scramble thrown in. 

As with so many places here in the southwest Hawk Canyon with it’s towering high solid rock cliffs towering above is truly awe inspiring. Once again we felt dwarfed by our surroundings and that is a common occurrence out here in the West.

I OFTEN WONDER HOW SOME ROCKS CAN BE SO DIFFERENT FROM ALL THE OTHER ROCKS AROUND IT, HOW DID IT GET THERE AND WHY??

I THINK THIS BIG BOULDER MAY HAVE BEEN A WHALE IN ANOTHER LIFE

WE FOLLOW A TRAIL TO TOWARDS THE HEAD OF THE CANYON

TOWERING CANYON WALLS

 

KELLY SCOUTS THE TRAIL AHEAD

STARTING TO GET A BIT RUGGED

THE TRAIL CONTINUED ON INTO THOSE ROCKS BUT WE FIGURED THAT WAS ABOUT FAR ENOUGH FOR US….NOT THAT MANY YEARS AGO WE WOULD HAVE PLOWED RIGHT INTO THOSE ROCKS AND FOLLOWED THAT PATH

WE BEGIN MAKING OUR WAY BACK

IT’S ALWAYS HARDER GOING DOWN THAN IT IS GOING UP

Hawks and Falcons are known to nest in these cliffs but we didn’t see any.  Half a dozen small sparrow like birds flitted among the Creosote bushes and we did hear and see a sweet sounding bird high atop one of the cliff faces perched in a leafless shrub. 

NOT SURE WHAT THIS BIRD WAS BUT IT SANG NICE

THIS LITTLE FELLOW WASN’T DOING ANY SINGING BUT HE SURE WAS SKIDADDLIN ACROSS THE ROCKS FAST

IT ALWAYS FEELS GOOD TO GET BACK TO THE JEEP

With no clouds blocking the sun’s warmth this morning we could feel it getting hot by 9:30.  We had a tendency to walk along in the cooler shadows of the cliff walls.  Not a soul around and we had the whole place to ourselves.  Oh how I like when that happens.

FROM HAWK CANYON WE MADE OUR WAY OVER TO THE NEARBY RUGGED SLOT CANYON AREA

THIS AREA IS DIRECTLY ACROSS THE WIDE SAN FELIPE WASH FROM FONT’S POINT AND THE BORREGO BADLANDS

FONT’S POINT CAN BE SEE ACROSS THE WASH MAYBE A HALF DOZEN MILES AWAY NEAR THAT WHITE PATCH OF SAND ON THE RIDGE….MOUNTAINS IN THE BACK GROUND ARE THE SANTA ROSAS

THE SANDY WASH LEADING OUT OF THE SLOT CANYON CAN BE SEEN AT THE BOTTOM HEADING LEFT

From Hawk Canyon we doubled back over to Slot Canyon a short distance away and re-drove a Jeep road we had driven the day before only this time going a bit farther until it ended.  There was a bit of a rough and tumble trail down to the bottom of Slot Canyon which maybe we could have done with the Liberty but it was one of those decisions that was too iffy and we decided against it.

WE DEBATED WHETHER TO TAKE THAT ROUGH AND TUMBLE SANDY JEEP ROAD LEADING DOWN FROM THE BOTTOM LEFT OF THE PHOTO INTO THE SLOT CANYON WASH

KELLY AND PHEEBS HEAD DOWN TO CHECK OUT THE TUMBLY JEEP ROAD

PHEEBS TELLS KELLY SHE DOESN’T THINK DAD SHOULD TRY TO TAKE THE JEEP DOWN THERE

YEP I AGREE WITH PHEEBS

We were back to the rig by 10:30 and I was happy to stretch out for a bit in my recliner.  After nearly 20 years of taking my Arthrotec arthritis medicine I stopped taking it last week after one of Arthrotecs long term warning signs popped up.  Without that medication my legs have noticeably stiffened and I’m having a bit of a time with myself keeping both legs flexible without them bothering me.  Blast this darn aging thing!!

WE MIGHT HAVE GOT OURSELVES DOWN THERE AND NOT GOT OURSELVES BACK UP AGAIN

It was about 11:30 when Kelly headed off into Borrego Springs leaving Pheebs and I all by ourselves to hold the fort down.  We done good though and never got ourselves into any bad trouble.  Pheebs keeps an eye on me real good and doesn’t let me get away with doing any really dumb stuff.  Brewed myself up an excellent coffee with a blueberry muffin shared between Pheebs and I.  For lunch I fried us up some chicken noodle soup.  Pheebs thinks I’m a hero.

IT WAS NEARLY 10 YEARS AGO KELLY AND I ALONG WITH OUR RVING BOONDOCKER FRIEND BUTCH ATE OUR LUNCH ONE DAY RIGHT ON THE TOP OF THAT RUFFLED ROCK FORMATION

RIGHT ON TOP OF THOSE ROCKS WE SAT AFTER HIKING THROUGH THE SLOT CANYON, THEN WE HAD TO HIKE ALL THE WAY BACK THROUGH TO THE CAR AGAIN

DECEMBER 23RD 2007  The Borrego Slot Canyon Hike

 

I HAD MANY PHOTOS OF THIS HIKE WHICH I INCLUDED IN A PHOTO ALBUM WITH THIS HIKE BUT DUE TO GOOGLE CHANGES OVER THE PAST COUPLE YEARS THAT ALBUM WAS LOST….I STILL HAVE ALL THE PHOTOS THOUGH AND MAYBE THIS SUMMER IF I THINK OF IT I’LL DUE A PHOTO POST OF THIS HIKE….THIS IS THE BEST SLOT CANYON WE EVER DID

Kelly was back sometime around 2:30 and had a package with my new Nikon lens filter and lens hood in it.  With all this blowing sand out here I’m happy to have a protective filter on my new 18-55mm lens finally.  By the way anyone ordering anything on-line can have things shipped to a store in Borrego Springs called Zipper's Creations and it is in the same building as the police station only around the back.  She charges $1.00 for folks to pick up things there.  Here’s her Facebook page.

GROANER’S CORNER:((  A Few Facts About Men:

- Husbands are like children — they’re fine if they’re someone else’s.
- Never trust a man who says he’s the boss at home. He probably lies about other things too.
- A woman’s work that is never done is the stuff she asked her husband to do.
- Go for younger men. You might as well — they never mature anyway.
- Scientists have just discovered something that can do the work of five men — a woman.
- Men’s brains are like the prison system — not enough cells per man.
- Men are like place mats. They only show up when there’s food on the table.
- Men are like mascara. They usually run at the first sign of emotion.
- Men are like bike helmets. Handy in an emergency, but otherwise they just look silly.
- Men are like parking spots. All the good ones are taken.
- Men are like lava lamps. Fun to look at, but not all that bright.
- Men are like bank accounts. Without a lot of money, they don’t generate much interest.
- Men are like high heels. They’re easy to walk on once you get the hang of it.

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A young man visiting a dude ranch wanted to be "macho," so he went out walking with one of the hired hands. As they were walking through the barnyard, the visitor tried starting a conversation: "Say, look at that big bunch of cows."  The hired hand replied, "Not 'bunch,' but 'herd.' "  "Heard what?"  "Herd of cows." "Sure, I've heard of cows. There's a big bunch of 'em right over there."

TRAVERSING THE GOAT TRAIL ROAD THROUGH BLOW SAND CANYON

A FAMILY PHOTO THIS MORNING IN BLOW SAND CANYON

(This is Tuesday’s Post)

Each night on it’s long arc across the star filled night sky Earth’s Moon edges ever closer to becoming full in the Eastern sky.  And each night it’s ethereal moonbeams alite gently on a cactus laden desert floor giving the landscape a glowing serenity.  It is truly a touch of magic one feels standing quietly in the Moon’s soft glow.

ANOTHER FINE SUNRISE

Felt warmth in the air this morning when i stepped out with Pheebs in the darkness.  How nice of Mother Nature to finally turn off the big fan I thought.  Borrego’s lights twinkled in the calm darkness 11 miles off to the north.  An hour later with sunrise in the east two ends of a rainbow appeared on opposite sides of the Borrego Valley.  We were to see changing rainbows in the valley for the next several hours.

WE WATCHED THIS MORNING AS RAIN CLOUDS TRAVELED ACROSS THE BORREGO VALLEY

RAINBOWS BEGAN APPEARING OVER BORREGO SPRINGS

COYOTE MOUNTAIN ON THE RIGHT WHERE GEORGE AND SUSIE AS WELL AS DOUG AND YUMA ARE

THE OTHER END OF THAT BORREGO RAINBOW STRETCHED WEST OVER TOWARDS BLAIR VALLEY

PHEEBS WAITS EXPECTANTLY OUTSIDE THE DOOR TO SEE IF SHE’S COMING THIS MORNING

No matter where one is at any time in the Borrego Springs area of Anza-Borrego State Park one is always close to a myriad of Jeep roads crawling across desert floors, scaling mountain sides or running through deep Canyon washes.   We picked up one of those Jeep roads less than a mile from where we are camped and headed off on yet another great scenic Jeep ride this morning.  Just when you think the scenery can’t get any better in this area all’s you have to do is turn a corner……and it does.

WE LEAVE THE BIG EEE BEHIND AS WE GO EXPLORING IN THE JEEP

WE TURNED OFF ONTO BUTTES PASS ROAD AND HEADED INTO THE DESERT

From the corner of Borrego Valley Road and highway 78 head east 1.5 miles and keep an eye out on the left for a small brown sign with white letters saying Buttes Pass.  This is actually the road to Slot Canyon which is absolutely a must do hike which we did do back in late 2007.  We drove out to the Slot parking lot and turned left along a narrow ridge top Jeep road and followed that out about a mile marveling at the deep canyon scenery.  A cloud cover had moved across this area so we decided to return another time with a sun drenched day pulling all the beautiful colors out of the rocks and canyon walls.

LOOKING DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF BORREGO’S SLOT CANYON

I WELL REMEMBER THE DAY KELLY, MYSELF AND BUTCH HIKED THIS SLOT CANYON ALL THE WAY THROUGH……THE BORREGO SLOT CANYON HIKE

WE WILL RETURN ON A SUNNIER DAY

THIS MORNING’S INCLEMENT WEATHER ALL SEEMED TO BE OVER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE VALLEY NEARLY A DOZEN MILES AWAY

THIS IS WHERE WE CLIMBED DOWN INTO THE SLOT CANYON NEARLY 10 YEARS AGO

THIS GREAT SLOT CANYON GETS SO NARROW IN SPOTS ONE HAS TO BASICALLY TURN SIDEWAYS AND SUCK IT IN

RAIN CLOUDS STILL DRIFTING ACROSS THE VALLEY

Backtracking along Buttes Pass road we picked up Goat Trail road heading east and followed another Jeep road winding down through Hawk Canyon to the San Felipe wash a couple miles distant to the northeast.  Could have worked our way west up the wash through the Borrego Badlands but back tracked again between Borrego Mountain’s East and West Buttes. 

FROM SLOT CANYON WE FOLLOWED A ROAD DOWN INTO THE SAN FELIPE WASH

MANY SMOKE TREES ALONGSIDE THE ROAD IN THIS AREA

JUST WHEN YOU THINK THINGS CAN’T GET PRETTIER THEY GENERALLY DO HERE IN THE SOUTHWEST

FAINT RAINBOWS CAN STILL BE SEEN ACROSS THE VALLEY IN THE DIRECTION OF BORREGO SPRINGS

A LEG STRETCH STOP FOR A WEE WALK UP A SMALL CANYON

CAN YOU FIND THE FACES??

THE GREAT SOUTHWEST IS A GEOLOGIST’S DREAM COME TRUE

CAN YOU SEE THE GIANT LEFT HAND STICKING UP OUT OF THE DESERT FLOOR

THAT IS KNOWN AS ‘BLOW SAND CANYON’ AND WE WILL BE THERE SHORTLY

WE HEAD BACK OUT OF THE SAN FELIPE WASH AREA TO HOOK UP WITH GOAT TRAIL ROAD AGAIN

Goat Trail road is aptly named as it winds it’s way along the tops of several long and narrow ridge lines.  I was surprised at how well this road has been maintained.  Despite it’s dips and sharp turns it looks like a road grader machine or something has been used on this road keeping the surface flat and free of pot holes and wash-outs.  Although at no time this morning did we have occasion to use our 4 wheel drive and despite the smoothness of this hard sand packed road I would still be leery driving it without 4 wheel drive.  Some of those short sharp dips could set back wheels to spinning.

LOOKS LIKE GOAT TRAIL IS GOING TO BE AN INTERSTING DRIVE

THE ROAD TO THE SKY

IF YOU HAVE PASSENGERS YOU MIGHT HEAR A FEW GASPS HERE AND THERE:))

DIRECTLY AHEAD ON THE HORIZON IS BORREGO MOUNTAIN’S EAST BUTTE

SHORT STOP FOR A PHOTO OP

A FAINT RANBOW IS VISIBLE

WINDS ARE PICKING UP

We were back to the rig about 10:30 Arizona time and boy oh boy was it ever windy.  Just when you think these big Borrego winds can’t get any worse they generally do.  Checked the weather site and saw there was a wind advisory for this area until 10 tonight.  There was no sitting outside this afternoon because as soon as one got up up out of their chair Borrego’s winds would have swept it away.  We generally position our coach to face prevailing winds which cuts down on a lot of shake and shudder.  Broadside on to these huge winds is generally not a good idea.

SO SURPRISED TO SEE SUCH A WELL MAINTAINED ROAD OUT HERE

SKIES ARE CLEARING A BIT ON THE FAR SIDE OF THE VALLEY

TELEPHOTO SHOT OF AN INTERESTING ROCK

If any adventurous outdoorsy person were to ever ask me where I thought the best place for them to spend their winter months I would be quick and precise with my answer.  The great American Southwest hands down.  If they wondered about specific places to go I would recommend many with Borrego Springs surrounded by Anza-Borrego State Park certainly being one of them.  It might even be at the top of my list for many obvious reasons which I’m sure readers have read about time and again in my posts. 

STOPPING TO HAVE A CLOSER LOOK AT THAT INTERESTING ROCK IN BLOW SAND CANYON

BLOW SAND CANYON

WE MADE IT UP CLOSE TO THAT INTERESTING LOOKING ROCK AND IT WAS HERE AGAINST THE ROCK ON THE RIGHT WE TOOK OUR FAMILY PICTURE TODAY:))

UP CLOSE TO THE INTERESTING ROCK KELLY TOSSED A STONE INTO THAT HOLE TO SEE IF THERE WAS WATER IN IT AND THERE WAS BECAUSE WE HEARD A KER-PLUNK

LOOKS LIKE KELLY HASN’T BEEN THE ONLY ONE TOSSING ROCKS INTO THAT HOLE

SAY HAVE I TOLD YOU LATELY HOW MUCH WE REALLY LOVE THE SOUTHWEST:))

PHEEBS TRYS TO CLIMB UP ON THE ROCK WITH KELLY

If a prospective RV’er were to ask me what kind of an RV I would recommend I would not hesitate to suggest a Class A or C Motorhome.  Many advantages of course with the big one being the ability to tow a Jeep or any high clearance 4 wheel drive vehicle.  If you want adventure and excitement with a healthy helping of sand and dust in your face the Southwest is where you will find it.  Where big winds can blow your shirt around backwards and launch your hat and false teeth into orbit.  Come on out, get yer shoes dirty and let yer hair down.  Get yourself off the smooth pavement and bury your wheels in some good old soft western sand.  Get your boots on the ground to walk where maybe nobody has ever walked before.  Hike the Chiricahua and Dragoon mountain trails Cochise and Geronimo did.  Walk the streets of Tombstone with the legendary ghosts of the Earp brothers.  Look around in any direction and see for miles and miles and miles.  Watch storms travel across valleys and cloud shadows lumber their way across towering mountain faces.  Stars from horizon to horizon and then there’s the desert floor by Moonlight and after a rain.  And don’t forget those majestic Saguaros found in the Sonoran Desert.

MAKING OUR WAY BACK TO HIGHWAY 78 ALONG THE EASTERN END OF GOAT TRAIL ROAD

LOOKS LIKE CIVILIZATION AHEAD

Oh dear it looks like I’ve got myself carried away again.  Morning Jeep runs have a habit of doing that to me.  I could sit here for hours typing away about all the great and wondrous things here in the Southwest but all good things must come to an end and all excitable little boys must sooner or later head for bed.  And so be it and so I be gone…………….

A FULL RAINBOW OVER THE BORREGO VALLEY

GROANER’S CORNER:((  The General Managers of Cascade Brewery (Tasmania), Tooheys (NewSouth Wales), XXXX (Queensland), CUB (Victoria) and Coopers (South Australia) were at a national beer conference.  They decide to all go to lunch together and the waitress asks what they want to drink.  The General Manager of Tooheys says without hesitation, "I'll have a Tooheys New."
The General Manager of Cascade smiles and says, "I'll have a Cascade Draught, brewed from pure mountain water."  The General Manager of Coopers proudly says, "I'll have a Coopers, the King of Beers."  The bloke from XXXX says, "I'll have a XXXX, the cleanest beer on the planet."
The General Manager from Carlton glances at his lunch mates and says, "I'll have a Diet Coke."
The others look at him like he has sprouted a new head.  He just shrugs and says, "Well if you guys aren't drinking beer, then neither will I."

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Three travelers, an American, a Russian, and an Egyptian, were circumnavigating the globe a la Jules Verne. The Russian man put his hand out and reached down into the clouds.  “Aaah!” he said. “We're right over my homeland.” “How can you tell?” asked the American. “I can feel the cold air.” he replied. A few days later the African man put his hand through the clouds.  “Aah we're right over my homeland.” he said. “How do you know that?” asked the Russian. “I can feel the heat of the desert.” Several more days later the American put his hand through the clouds and stretched his arm way down. “Aah, we're right over New York.” The Russian and the African were amazed. “How do you know all of that?!” they exclaimed. The American pulled his arm in and held it up for them to see. “My watch is missing.”