Martinez Canyon Adventure

[Andy]

Love the Santa Rosa back country. Thanks for another one of a kind TR Hal.

By the way msugarpants.....that avatar is fantastic!

[halhiker]

Looks intriguing Hal, lots to check out, like Mad Woman springs area.
That cholla looks like it went in a bit, they always seem to hurt more comin out!

ss

That sucker went in quite a way. It felt like an electric shock on my calf. The poles did come in handy helping to get it out, though.

[WOLFDOG]

I grew up in Idyllwild where my Dad had a telescope business (Coulter Optical). Basically, we would go down there to camp out or just go down for the day on a sunday picnic, just to get away from all the snow we had grown tired of (i.e., 1979). The weather there is a complete 180 (sunny) compared to what would occur back home (snowing). It was never uncommon to hike and stumble upon pottery fragments from deliberate smashed ollas. A neighbor of ours in Idyllwild told of these places (i.e., dumbell mine) and of how at times would get a helicopter drop off/pick up way back in there, just to avoid the tough terrain. No doubt that terrain is exceptionally steep, full of fish-hook thorned cholla, and flesh stabbing agaves, something you don't really see as difficult when exploring the Little San Bernardinos. Not always did we come across honest, friendly people back up there (i.e., drunk, threatning and shooting guns) so we always carried our own pistols just in case; that's my word of caution if you park your car up there.

[House of the Crow]

Hello all, this is my first post. I've shadowed this forum long enough, time to join! I've spent a bit of time up that canyon over the last two decades and have always been impressed with how few people are there--just love it that way, to be honest. I'm going to be up there in a few weeks again, after a year-long hiatus. There is something pure and holy about being up in there, especially on one's own. Did anyone else see the news last month about the day hiker getting lost up there?

http://www.mydesert.com/article/2013010 ... nyon-Trail

[Carl F]

Loved the trip report Hal. I'm taking notes, so many places to visit up there. Keep up the good work! By the way, you say you need more time. How much more time do you need, don't you hike every day?