Friday, February 3, 2023

Pinto Basin Sand Dunes - Joshua Tree

 Pinto Basin Sand Dunes / Turkey Flats

SoloTrekker


Note: There are clickable links in this post and click pictures to enlarge.
   My first trek of 2023! Not having hiked since the Fall of last year, I needed an easy, flat trail to get back into shape. I chose this area of the Park because the crowds are a lot less and after I read an article about this being one of the quietest parts of the Park. Well, that's for me!

   After leaving my home in Escondido around 7:00 am and a quick gas fillup in Indio, I arrived at the Park's southern entrance at 9:45 am. I could already see a steady stream of vehicles pass by me as I stopped for the obligatory picture at the "sign". Earlier this month (January) we had several large atmospheric rivers of rain hit California (especially up north!) and I was hoping to see some flower blooms out here... And there was, not a lot mind you, it's still winter.

Joshua Tree Sign
The obligatory picture by the sign

Joshua Tree Poppy
Joshua Tree Poppy's

Desert Lupine
Desert Lupine


   I arrived at the small parking lot at the trailhead at 10:30 am, finished my coffee, and geared up. Of course, I walked 50 yards out before realizing I forgot my trekking poles, so back to the Jeep. Then, after about 100 yards, I realized I forgot my $500 camera on the hood of my Jeep! Back again! I always get in such a hurry and excited! About a half hour in I realized I didn't put any sunscreen on! Do'h!

   When I start out on any hike, I always look for landmarks to guide me and keep a mental picture of where I am. Looking at the direction of the sand dunes, I could see Pinto Mountain at 3,983 feet just beyond them.

Turkey Flat Sign
Turkey Flats signage

Pinto Mountain
Pinto Mountain 3,983'

   This may look pretty flat and dull to most people, but there is plenty to see if you just look. I saw many animal tracks and small birds among the Creosote fields on Turkey Flats. How did Turkey Flats get its name? See the article here.

Take Only Memories - Leave Only Footprints
 "Take Only Memories - Leave Only Footprints" A16 motto

Animal tracks
Coyote?

Looking back to get a reference point

Rabbit hole
A Rabbit's home

Selfie
Selfie time

Creosote roots
Creosote roots

Tracks
More tracks

Tracks
Tracks with tail?

Cracked desert sand
Cracked desert floor after rains

Shadow Man
Shadow Man

   After trekking for about 45 minutes I reached the dunes. Not the typical smooth dunes you see in Death Valley or Glamis. They were covered in plants and grasses with Lizard tracks dotting the sand. 

Sand dunes
Sand dunes

Sand dunes
Sand dunes

Rocky outcrop
Rocky outcrop past the dunes

   After cresting the small hill, I set my eyes on a wash just beneath a rocky outcrop. I came down into it and in a bend in the wash, I saw what appeared to be stone circles. No visible evidence of fire in the middle of them. Could these be the ancient Native American Sleeping Circles? Or, are they just kids having fun? Who knows?

Rock circle
Rock circle

Iron bar near rock circle
Iron bar near rock circle

Smaller rock circle
Smaller rock circle

Rock circle
Larger rock circle

   After meandering through the two hills and continuing to follow the wash, I saw my first and only Desert Sand Verbena, and a little further down some Coyote Melons. This is only the second time I've seen Coyote Mellons. 

Desert Verbena
Desert Verbena

Coyote Melons
Coyote Melons

Coyote Melon
Coyote Melon

   After walking down the middle of the wash, I finally got to the base of the large Bajada at the base of Pinto Mountain. This was my turnaround point and a quick 10-minute snack and rest. A saw several large Smoke Trees that were dead, but a little further up I saw two healthy ones.

Pinto Wash
Pinto Wash


Bajada
Bajada

Smoke Tree
Healthy Smoke Tree

Snack time
Snack time at the Bajada


   On the way back I noticed my feet and upper thighs begin to hurt. At least my back didn't give me any problems. I crossed a large Creosote area with hundreds of Rabbit homes dotting the area. I tried not to step near them because you can quickly collapse the tunnels underneath. I don't want to disrupt the animals' lives, not to mention a twisted ankle!

   Then, in the middle of this area... a lone Silver Cholla -- all by itself. How did it get here? A bird dropping seeds? More info about how plants spread out here

Silver Cholla
A lone Silver Cholla

Silver Cholla
Silver Cholla

   On the way back over the dunes and back onto the Creosote fields I didn't take hardly any more pictures. Just focused on returning. After returning to the packed little parking lot and seeing people looking into the distance of the dunes, and thinking, "They should go out there and experience it up close!"



Some specs...

 

Location in relativity to Park Boundaries

My drive to the Park

Actual trek using my Garmin GPS

Trek specs from Garmin GPS



   Below is my new logo designed by my friend Nicole Dornsife | Thornwolf

Check out her work!

SoloTrekker

SoloTrekker





Tuesday, September 6, 2022

Marshal South Home / Ghost Mountain

 Marshal South Home / Ghost Mountain 

Marshal South home on Ghost Mountain
Marshal South's home (Yaquitepec) on Ghost Mountain

 


Originally written April 2019


   [Due to the worldwide outbreak of COVID-19 and the Governor of California issuing a stay-at-home order on 19 March 2020, I will have to dig down deep into the darkest depths of Mordor and pull out some older treks to write about, just until after the order is lifted.] 

 

Saturday, 20 April 2019, Blair Valley, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California. 

 

   It was a bright and full moon that day, but I couldn’t see it in the sunlight… LOL. It was also Easter weekend. So, after the atmospheric river that Thor pounded down two months earlier that led to the super bloom, I decided to look for myself. But, being a mostly solitary person when exploring, I didn't head up to Lake Elsinore where thousands of people were flocking to see the California Poppy on the hillsides, or the flower carpets at the north end of DiGiorgio Road in Borrego Springs. No, I decided to head over to Little Blair Valley and the adjacent Blair Valley, where there is much less traffic. My goal wasn’t to see flowers, though the desert flowers are quite beautiful. It was just to spend the day exploring the area, which I have been to several times over the decades.  




















It was very windy this day. Check out this video clip



 

   After traveling my usual loop starting at the north entrance that meanders around a stony outcrop and ends up in the culturally sensitive area known as Little Blair Valley, stopping for a few flower pics along the way and a quick walk down the Morteros Trail to a seasonal Kumeyaay village, I came to the base of Ghost Mountain. This is the place where Australian eccentric Marshal South brought his family in the 1930s to homestead and live off the land. He is also the one who named it Ghost Mountain. 








 

   I have never climbed up to the top of this 3,215’ mountain, so I said, “Why not? What could be so hard?” I started up the winding old Yaquitepec trail that seemed easy at first. Then, it started getting steeper and rockier. I took it slow and steady with an occasional break. The views were getting spectacular looking over Blair Valley to the northwest. Finally, I reached the top of the ridge. Was I there yet? I didn’t see any structures, so I continued along the pathway leading eastward with larger and larger granite boulders surrounding me. I finally saw one couple walking toward me and asked them if I was close. The guy answered in an English accent that it was just over another ridge. I scampered up very narrow passages between large granite boulders wondering if I was even on the trail still.  

 


   Finally, up onto the boulder-ridden top, I scanned for any structure. Nothing. I walked some more and “bam!” (As Emeril would say) there it was! Not was I expecting at all. Just part of a wall and some cement structures for water. I did find it extremely interesting, though. Upon closer inspection, I saw an old bed! Just the rusted frame was left, and I wondered, "They carried that all the way up here?" Not only that but all building materials and water! I was tired just hiking up here and I only had my camera! LOL 

 























   After taking some more pics and wandering around a bit, I headed back down. I passed another couple hiking up and we greeted each other with smiles. Back at the bottom, I had a snack while scanning the mountain I had just traversed. Not very attractive from below, but much better looking from the top. Back in my street Jeep, I headed out from Blair Valley proper onto S22 and back home. I was happy I had decided to come out today. 

 

   Take away… Interesting history, has great views and is not too difficult. 

   Total distance: 2.0 miles 

   Total time: 2 hours 

    

Pinto Basin Sand Dunes - Joshua Tree

  Pinto Basin Sand Dunes / Turkey Flats Note: There are clickable links in this post and click pictures to enlarge.     My first trek of 202...