PHEEBS CLIMBS GHOST MOUNTAIN TO MARSHAL SOUTH’S OLD HOMESTEAD:))

THIS IS MONDAY’S POST FEB 13

AT THE MARSHALL SOUTH TRAIL HEAD THIS MORNING

The winds backed off sometime in the night & I was able to get myself some much needed & sought after zzzzzzz’s.  Bonus:))

SUNRISE ON THE SAN YSIDRO MOUNTAINS THIS MORNING

By 07:30 this morning Pheebs & I along with a ham sandwich were in the Jeep headed for Marshal South’s Ghost Mountain over in Blair Valley.  Me, Pheebs & the Jeep made it fine but my ham sandwich did not.  While heading through the mountainous Yaqui Pass I had opened the zip lock bag & put the ham sandwich on my knee for a minute.  Well, you know what happened of course.  Guess she just figured half of that ham sandwich was hers!!

 

What a nice feeling it was to be out on the road early this morning going somewhere.  I spend way too much time on the computer every morning & that was very evident to me as I rounded curve after curve just totally ingesting the beautiful scenery all around me.  The surrounding plants & rocks took on a moody feeling as low hanging clouds softly touched down on the mountain tops all around.  It was a fine looking morning with a lot of cloudy personality in the sky.

TAMARISK GROVE CAMPGROUND ON THE LEFT

How nice to swing off highway S3 in the Blair Valley & jounce our way onto the desert floor once again.  No problems with directions here, it was my 6th trip to the Marshal South homestead.  What a nice feeling to again be slipping along the hard packed sandy road & seeing the long low rocky ridge ahead about three miles to the southeast.  Atop that ridge stood Yaquitepec, the name Marshal South gave to his home.

The valley was quiet.  Just the way I had hoped it would be.  Upon reaching the trail head I was relieved to see no cars there which meant I was ahead of any tour groups that might be making the climb today.   Parked the Jeep, got out & marveled at the quiet serenity around me.  Not a sound except for some distant Ravens….and 4 little doggy paws of course.  Pheebs is always so excited to find she has new places to sniff & explore.

 

PHEEBS CHECKS OUT THE YAQUITEPEC TRAIL HEAD CAIRN & HIT’S THE TRAIL JUST A RUNNIN…THE RUINS ARE ATOP THAT RIDGE

Everything looked exactly the same as I remembered it last time there nearly a year ago.  Loaded up some water & put my warm jacket on.  I new it would be hot going up the trail but also knew it was probably going to be windy & much cooler at the top.  I was right.

  

PHEEBS CHECKS OUT THE TRAIL AHEAD

From the trail head to the ruins is a rather strenuous 1 mile hike up a narrow rock strewn trail which switch backs up a steep ridge.  Plenty of sharp Agave barbs await the unwary as well as jumping Cholla stickers.  Not a touristy shorts & sandals hike.  A pair of good hiking boots will stand one in good steed.  Pheebs was up & down the trial like a manic rocket ship with a loose tail fin.

WE DROVE ACROSS BLAIR VALLEY TO REACH GHOST MOUNTAIN

 

THE TRAIL IS EASY IN A FEW PLACES & DIFFICULT IN MANY OTHERS

The views out over Blair Valley as one slowly ascends the trail are strikingly beautiful.  This morning, with the moody sky overhead, the views were strikingly spectacular.  I stopped several time to make a mental note & really appreciate where I was & what I was doing.  So nice to have the Pheebs with me this time too.

A RARE STRAIGHT & FLAT SPOT ON THE TRAIL

 

The initial uphill switchback trail eventually reaches a flat walking plateau before a another climb through a series of large boulders begins.  It is atop these boulders where the ruins of Yaquitepec rests.  The path picks it’s way over, around & through these large rocks & one just keeps pushing onward & upward until the Marshal South homestead is reached.

  

THE RUINS OF YAQUITEPEC LAY ATOP OF THAT ROCKY HILL

 

TRAIL LEADS UPWARDS THROUGH THESE LARGE BOULDERS

I have written 5 separate posts about my treks up Ghost Mountain & how special I find that place to be.  So, with this, my 6th post, let me just say Pheebs & I spent about 40 minutes there walking around looking at all the special places I had read about 5 years ago when I was taken with the book,  MARSHAL SOUTH AND THE GHOST MOUNTAIN CHRONICLES.

PHEEBS IS PART BURMESE MOUNTAIN DOG & IS RIGHT AT HOME HERE

LOOKING BACK TO THE PATH ACROSS THE PLATEAU

 

  

Not much left of the Marshal South homestead anymore & I did notice some deterioration from last year.  Bed ends were broken down.  I set them up again.  Some old timbers down too.  Nature’s way continues to take it’s toll.

 

 

<<< PHEEBS SITS IN THE VERY SPOT MARSHAL SOUTH WROTE HIS ARTICLES FOR DESERT MAGAZINE  

I stood for awhile atop my favorite rock overlooking the sweeping Vallecito Valley far below & again wondered, amongst other things, if this would be my last time here.  I always think that when I see beautiful places.  It is an inspirational view as well as awe inspiring & deeply thought provoking.  I wrote my tag line, “The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of
right now” for moments like today.

PHEEBS STANDS ATOP MY FAVORITE ROCK WITH THE VALLECITO VALLEY STRETCHED OUT BEHIND HER

It was a strong wind & it was a cold wind blowing atop Ghost Mountain today & it was good to begin our descent out of the wind.  But first, a final few photos of the Vallecito Valley from atop my rock…………

 

  

 

Took me 30 minutes to climb the mountain & 20 minutes to come down….with photos & Pheeber hugs along the way:))

 

HEADING DOWN THE MOUNTAIN 

Heavier clouds had moved in dropping the temps further & I did pick up a few slight drops of rain on the windshield at one point driving back out of Blair Valley.  Saw a faint rainbow in the mountains near Julian.

 

HEADING BACK TO BORREGO SPRINGS

Thirty five minutes later I was seated at Jilbertos waiting for my burg & fries.  That completes my 3 favorite reasons for being here.  My Christmas Circle grass shuffle, my Ghost Mountain trek & my burg & fries at Jilbertos.

Twenty minutes after arriving back at the rig Pheebs was stretched out asleep on my bed & I was stretched out asleep in my chair right beside her.  Kelly took the opportunity to slip into Borrego Springs for some groceries.  Another good day in the great American Southwest:))

YEP, THAT’S MY GIRL PHEEBS:))

Travel Trailer traveler WEBERVN joined us today as Blog Follower 431.  Thanks for stopping by folks & hope you can find a few things of interest here from time to time:))

SUN SPLASH TONIGHT ON THE SANTA ROSA MOUNTAINS

GROANER’S CORNER:((    In the 1800's there was a family traveling out west when they came upon an Indian Chief with his ear to the ground. "2 wagon trains, 3 men on horse back, 1 herd of cattle." Said the Indian Chief. The family was amazed. "You mean you can tell all of that is coming just by putting your ear to the ground?" Asked the father. The Indian Chief looked up and replied, "NO! They ran over me ten minutes ago!"

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The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of
right  now...AL.
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