Outing Ideas

[Tonka]

Heading to PS Thursday (first time) and looking for some inside beta. We wanted to do C to C but we're done with winter outings this year and I'm not hauling gear out there.

I'd like to get a peak or two in but all options are on the table. I've thought about J-Tree (also never been), Apache, Villager and Rabbit (GF just got over a bad cold so not sure I want to put her through that long of a day) and Painted canyon. I've heard Anza Borrego is nice.

Looking for anything in the half to most of a day range up to class 3 or 4. Don't mind desert peaks and desert ridges are nice. We have two days but I think I want to poke around J-Tree one of those days. We are staying right in Palm Springs.

Thanks!

[Sally]

Hi Tonka, all of the options you mentioned are choice hikes. Rabbit and Villager are indeed a long day. Anza Borrego is coming into wildflower season, and there are some great hikes, on and off-trail, there. You could easily spend more than a day poking around J-Tree.

Have a great time!

[bluerail]

Trip 15.7 is a good one in JTree

http://books.google.com/books?id=1a9CK0 ... &q&f=false

**You can also return on the Boy Scout trail making a loop and ending up back at your car. check the "variation" note at the end of the description to make sure thats your kind of trip.

[zippetydude]

(GF just got over a bad cold so not sure I want to put her through that long of a day) We are staying right in Palm Springs.

With that in mind, I'd recommend Indian Canyons - it's beautiful this time of year, following the stream up as far as you want to go, lots of huge boulders to climb over and around, following the stream up through hidden caves - and you can be right back in Palm Springs in just a few minutes for a nice dinner. Maybe your second day in JT if your GF is feeling good, going for a hike, but if not so good, you can see a ton of wonderful things in JT without any significant hiking if she's still feeling under the weather. Hope you two have fun.

z

[Tonka]

Thanks all.

The suggestion from Blue Rail sounds right up our alley.

How acurate are the hike times in this book and how is route finding? 10 hours seems a little long for 14 miles without a lot of verticle.

[neverwashasbeen]

@ Tonka,

The Wonderland Traverse can be much faster, if your route finding is good. The vertical relief is much greater than the maps suggest, since you are going through a lot of rocks and boulders. I have a friend who takes rock climbing shoes for some sections. It's a good one.

[bluerail]

We start at Hidden Valley Boy Scout TH and go to Willow Hole,

turn off to Rattlesnake cnyn, through the cnyn, being sure to spend as much time as possible goofing around like 12 yr. olds...don't miss OH-BAY-YO-YO..lots of other stuff too, be sure to check out the slot canyon near the Indian Cove end also.

we exit the canyon at Indian Cove, go approx. 2 miles down the road to the N. end of the Boy Scout trail, then it's about 6-7 miles on the Scout trail to end up back at your car.

Rattlesnake Canyon is not a fast section...you are hoping, skootching and using your hands alot negogiating the rocks. taking gloves is a good idea.

Even running a good bit of the Scout trail, we can stretch this one out to 12 hrs because,... well, because we play alot. If you do this loop, give yourself 10 hrs. anyway.