Jo pond trail

[WOLFDOG]

Ok it is called Jo Pond Trail, so where is the pond? Is it a small lake? I do see a small lake (around 6,000 ft elevation) on Google Earth southeast of where Jo Pond Trail intersects with the PCT at the Divide, could this be it?

[bluerail]

Mark, nice TR....obviously I missed the snowshoe trip, had family stuff to tend to. Thanks alot for yesterday, it was a great hike and I enjoyed the company. Some day I will go up there when there is no snow on the ground and find the true trail from Cedar Springs over to the ridge where the snow stops.
I'm sure you can imagine now what it was like on my first trip a few weeks ago when I had no idea at all what direction the trail went in, wandering for an hour in the snow, trying to be directionally logical. Thank God I was alone that time.

Jon, Jo Pond is someones name. One of the Desert Trail Riders (horses) that the trail is named after. There are alot of trails in this area named after horse people that found old indian trails to ride on. Somehow the trails ended up with the names of these trail riders. I guess all parts of history are due some credit. ?

The Jo Pond ain't no fishin' trip.

Cy, It was very nice to have met you finally.

I will post a few photos when I get more time.

-Steve

[bluerail]

Thanks again Karin, Ellen, Tina and Mark, I had a great time yesterday.

http://bluerail.smugmug.com/gallery/748 ... 3098_W4m8d

[Cy Kaicener]

It was great meeting you Steve and thanks for the interesting pictures. If a fast group took seven and a half hours, I hate to think how long it would have taken me
Excellent trip report Mark.

[DancesWithTheMountains]

Hi Eveyone,
Congrad. on the hike. I have done that hike a number of times and
it is probably my most favorite hike next to Skyline. Just so that you
know, Jo Pond was named after Bob Ponds Wife. Bob, who died last
year, owned a beautiful house here in Palm Springs as well as a large
number of cars and airplanes that he donated to the P.S.Air Museum.
He was a wonderful and well loved man in this Desert. Its just too bad
we can't get into the canyons a little earlier than 8:00 a.m.
Glad you all had a great day.
Happy Trails
DOreen

[Ellen]

Howdy All,

Thanks to Steve and Cathryn for making this wonderful hike possible. I had a terrific time and have new scratches on my legs as proof. I have to hand it to Steve for putting up with our abuse during the hike AND for carrying his big ass camera. Mark's trip report and Steve's pictures and captions give an excellent account of the day.

I took a lot of pictures as this was my first time on a desert trail other than Skyline. I've posted them on Flickr but the photostream appears to be backwards: http://www.flickr.com/photos/38833864@N00/show/

My favorite quote of the day was from Mark when we were bushwhacking through snow and ran into the Sierra Club, "The good news is there are other people out here. The bad news is that they've been here for three days."

Thanks also to Karin for providing accomodations so I could stay over in the Coachella Valley to snowshoe up San Jacinto with Colin on Sunday. I definately want to do more desert hikes before it gets too warm.
Miles of smiles,
Ellen

[WOLFDOG]

Wow, had no idea it was named after a Rider. Learn something new everyday Looks like a real enjoyable hike. Gonna try it probly in May and hike up to Palm View Pk as well.

[halhiker]

The Ponds gave the money for the trail to be built. Mr. Pond started the Palm Springs Air Museum and passed away last year. Here is his obit.
http://www.startribune.com/obituaries/12928961.html

Mrs. Pond is still living to my knowledge.

I talked to Joan Taylor of the Sierra Club about building this trail about 15 or 16 years ago and she proposed it to the Desert Riders and the Coachella Valley Trails Council. I think the amount the Ponds donated for trail building was $50,000 but I don't know remember if that was it exactly. It might have been $15K.