Hidden Canyon to Donovan camp.

[hattrick]

Descent of Hidden Canyon 5/18 – 5/19
Day one:
So after all the talk and planning to find the Donovan camp, the day had finally arrived. We got up early to make the drive out to the Palm Springs and leave the car at the museum. The taxi showed up at 6:50a to take us to the tram station. We caught the first tram, at 8 o’clock, to the top. As soon as the doors opened, we were off to the Hidden Lake area. This canyon was chosen to descend as it may have been the way Donovan had gone down. We were fresh and eager to head into the unknown. We were prepared with camping gear, food, 2 liters water each, 200’ rope and harnesses.
We made fairly quick work of the scramble down the slope. The farther down we went the large the boulders became. They were the size of a small RV’s before the slope eased up. We arrive at a spring then shortly thereafter a side drainage brought in more water. At this point the canyon came to life. For the next 1/3 mile we climbing up, over, under a varity of foliage and downed trees. Some sections had false bottoms that were scary to cross. There were 3 waterfalls in that part too. The first two could be scrambled around with much effort. The third was a mandatory 160’ rap. It was a two stage rap for us having only a 200’ rope. This was a very pretty falls but hard to get a picture with all the trees. Not too much farther and we were at the Long Valley intersection. The Donovan camp was still another 1/3 mile away. It was extremely slow going here with so much bushwhacking. There was a water slide looking fall into a small pool. We scrambled around this one too. We arrived at Donovan’s camp and found nothing flat for a camp. We could not figure out where people slept during their ordeal. We hung out a bit then found a walk around on this falls too. It was more of a 25’ cascade than a falls.
We bushwhacked another 2 hundred yards and decided to make camp about 6:30p. We started talking about exiting the canyon as it was so slow going. But this discussion would wait until morning. We found a large rock with a flat top and made dinner then went to sleep.
More to follow

Some pics
https://picasaweb.google.com/mtb.hattri ... Descent518

[Hikin_Jim]

Interesting stuff! That's is some wild country over there.

HJ

[Ellen]

Howdy Hattrick

Thanks so much for taking us along -- I'm looking forward to the rest of the TR and pictures.

Miles of smiles,
Ellen

[Pitownpi]

thanx...sounds like the same stuff we're doing one canyon over looking for the BT-13B...pm me if interested.... we're on our 2nd month of recon before going for it, Fall probably best for final push as temps getting up there now.

am interested in how you got out.....pi

[wb]

hattrick - awesome half of a trail report. I am shocked, but not altogether disappointed, that this thread hasn't rec'd more attention. I suspect that the Donavan reference is a little too obscure. I also noticed that you PM'd me pre-trip - wish I'd seen it. No follow up on my part as of today, but I am eagerly awaiting part 2 of your report. Also interested to see your photos, exit strategy, way points and reflections on how the terrain became lethal for Donavon; that is, if you are able and willing to share these. Thank you for the great TR!! Looking forward to part 2. : )

[Hikin_Jim]

From what I've read of the SAR reports, Donovan was exploring down below his camp when he apparently slipped and fell down a waterfall.

HJ