Guadalupe

[msugarpants]

Thinking of hitting up Guadalupe trail next Sunday, depending on the heat. Gonna need to shuttle it and leave early. I want to be on the trail no later than sunrise...which means leaving here to go up there by 4. The more, the merrier.

[HH8]

Thinking of hitting up Guadalupe trail next Sunday, depending on the heat. Gonna need to shuttle it and leave early. I want to be on the trail no later than sunrise...which means leaving here to go up there by 4. The more, the merrier.

I found Guadalupe Creek on the map, SW of Cahuilla Lake, but where's the trail? There's a trail marked Pinyon Alta Flat that runs from Martinez canyon up by Sugarloaf. Is that it?

[KathyW]

This map shows the trails - it's a nice map:

http://www.friendsofthedesertmountains. ... gift_shop/

Here's a track of the route (there is one section where there isn't a trail to follow - it's between the Cowboy Camp and the junction with the Cactus Springs Trail near Cactus Springs):

http://kathywing.smugmug.com/California ... 7&lb=1&s=O

Follow the trail from Cowboy camp until you lose it in the wash and then just remember to veer right at the forks in the wash (if you're hiking in the direction from La Quinta to Pinyon Pines) between Cowboy Camp and where you hook into the Cactus Springs Trail and it will help you find your way.

[msugarpants]

well Kathy,

That explains why I always get temporarily 'lost' at that point. I think I got it down now. Did it 2 weeks ago and want to do it again while its fresh in my head. Saw some Cahuilla rubbings on some rocks down by one of the (very dry) creek crossings i wanted to explore further. Meeting Florian at Ribbonwood / Cactus spring trailhead at 530 if anyone else wants to brave the desert heat.

[msugarpants]

Hey Kathy,
you mention you need to veer right along washes after the cowboy camp. I have never done so. The trail continues for a while just across from the cowboy camp, on the opposite side of the wash. It climbs for a while, then meets up with washes, where I follow a wash which becomes skinnier and is marked with cairns. This probably meets up with what you are describing(?).

[KathyW]

Hey Kathy,
you mention you need to veer right along washes after the cowboy camp. I have never done so. The trail continues for a while just across from the cowboy camp, on the opposite side of the wash. It climbs for a while, then meets up with washes, where I follow a wash which becomes skinnier and is marked with cairns. This probably meets up with what you are describing(?).

Yes - sounds about the same - I've continued up the hill on the trail out of Cowboy camp until it disappears when you drop into the wash. I don't remember too many ducks, but ducks come and go. I just remember looking at the map a couple times and seeing that I had to veer right to stay on track - once not too far after ending up in the wash and other time as I was getting closer to the Cactus Springs Junction. The second time I did the trail one of the guys stayed higher for a little longer after Cowboy Camp before dropping into the wash; so maybe the trail continues on a bit longer after I have lost it - I never did ask him if he was following a trail. The wash is easy to travel thru though.