Desert hike anyone?

[Ellen]

Howdy All

After reading Kathy W's post about the holiday weekend weather, I'm inclined to agree that a lower elevation hike makes more sense.

I've never hiked in the desert other than on Skyline. The Jo Pond trail sounds good as does BooHoff to Sugarloaf.

What are forum members going to do this weekend?

Miles of smiles,
Ellen

[EnFuego]

Hi Ellen - hope you are doing well.

Were you thinking of something on Saturday or Sunday? Saturday is forecast for cloudy skies, but no rain. Sunday is expected to rain. Are you going rain or shine?

I might be interested in tagging along if you don't mind company. I'll keep an eye on this thread and see what evolves.

~EnFuego

[NormaR]

i hope to be hiking somewhere... but not sure where "somewhere" is yet! or even which day?


waiting and watching on the weather too.

i'll watch this thread or post an idea.

[bluerail]

Hi Ellen, Right now the desert is THE place in my opinion. Just can't shake the southern boy thing. I'm getting dropped off in Pinyon Sat a.m. and going down palm canyon. I believe it's about 16 miles. No elevation exchange to speak of. (especially since I'm going down). I just can't get reception in pinyon to call for a ride in order to hike up canyon.
If you are interested email me, we can work out the ride thing if you don't mind driving into Palm Desert. I have an odyssey so plenty of room an can shuttle up and then get picked up at Indian Canyon and get you back to your car.

Kathy W did you get my pm ? maybe it didn't get to you.If not and your interested PLMK Ellen has my email..like I said I have extra room.

Never done the trail before but like Hal sais....you can't get lost if your on an adventure.

[bluerail]

sorry EnFuego and NormaR..wanted to make sure you knew I have that extra shuttle room if your interested too.

[Ranboze]

I'd like to get a desert peak or two in on Saturday. I was thinking a little further north, though... Red Mtn and Fremont in the Lava Mtns.

[halhiker]

I've been hiking every day and the desert is spectacular right now. Cool, clear and snow on all the peaks around.

That's a problem, though, for the Boo Hoff to Sugarloaf or the Jo Pond; there's too much snow on those trails right now, especially for someone who's never done them.

My recommendations would be the Boo Hoff loop or the West Fork loop for something around 10 miles. For something longer, bluerail's trip down Palm Canyon is good (just look out for the free range cattle) or the Art Smith to the Hahn Buena Vista to the Wildhorse to the Garstin to the Araby Trail to Hwy 111. This is a hike from Palm Desert to Bob Hope's house over the Santa Rosas. You can leave a car near the 99¢ store in Palm Desert, ride the SunBus from Bob Hope's place and the car shuttle is only about 3 miles that way.

There are tons of other options and, you know, some people even come out here to play golf. I can't imagine why with all the great hiking but it happens.

[KathyW]

I think I'll wait for another time to do Jo Pond.

I'm looking at doing a hike northwest of Yucca Valley if driving conditions are okay out that way - the forecast calls for snow down to 4000'. Meeks or Big Horn or Black or Chaparrosa are peaks I'd like to hike out to. Maybe I can get to one or two of them there isn't too much snow. I'm sure there will be snow on those peaks as they are in the 5000'/6000' range, but it should be a lot less than at higher elevations.

Other hikes I'm thinking about for this weekend are hikes out to Carey's Castle or Monument Mountain in the southern part of Joshua Tree NP - maybe Sunday if I don't just head to the Art Smith Trail - that's a nice rolling trail.

[Kevin]

Yesterday I did Corkscrew Peak in DV. Snow levels are generally between 6-7,000'. No snow on the trail until the last steep pitch below the summit (northern exposure), and then about 1-2".

As best we could determine, Wildrose Road is now re-opened, but the road between the campground (near the stop sign/old ranger station) and the kilns is blocked at some point. By what is unclear – some said snow, others gravel. We stopped at Stovepipe on the way over, but were too early to talk with a ranger. Mosaic Canyon was still closed, but looked like it might re-open by the end of the day.

Conditions could change rapidly over the next few days. Weather forecasts indicate snow levels may drop to 3,500-4,500' in the northern Mojave.

[KathyW]

Yesterday I did Corkscrew Peak in DV. Snow levels are generally between 6-7,000'. No snow on the trail until the last steep pitch below the summit (northern exposure), and then about 1-2".

Snow is lower than 6000' down this way already.