Santa Rosa Crest Trip

[OsideMatt]

Sooo... None of my friends are willing to undertake my typical misery much less the misery I've been aching for every winter for the last four winters. I want to do the entire SR crest from 79 to the S-22. I've been dreaming S-N but the logistics involved get magnified that direction.

In particular S-N my problems are:
1. I'm in Oceanside, NO WAY my wife is going to drop me off at the Villager TH and pick me up in Palm Springs three days later. Car at the S TH for three days will get lit on fire or worse.
2. Water. No way I'm carrying three days worth up that ridge. Means a seperate, prior trip to cache water (heck, canned good beer) to Peak 6582. Ouch.

Still, that's always been the plan that's never taken shape. So this year I'm simplifying things and debating going N-S. I don't even need to be obsessive and go from the highway but could be talked into it. N-S I can carry enough water, start at Toro and potentially even make it a two day trip.

I'm here proposing this to hopefully recruit a like minded knucklehead here on the forum (seems likely) to join and coordinate travel with, or at least find a PS local whose house I can leave my truck at and contract with to get me to the top and scoop me up at the S end 2-3 days later.

Side note. I continue to be fascinated by some of the prospecting stories of the Santa Rosas. One in particular I'd really like to explore this year is Marshall South's published account of finding the remnants of an Indian emerald mine in what reads to be the area N/NW of the rockhouse in Rockhouse Cyn beyond the ruins (Likely Alder or Nicholas Cyns). Nicholas Cyn was named by Nicholas Schwartz, the man who built and occupied the rockhouse per old reports. Schwartz also made a loosely reported gold strike in Rockhouse canyon of $18K around 1901-1902. South's story has some great, descriptive pieces about their trip and some illustrations and I'd really just like to find it. There's no treasure to be fould and it'd be illegal anways but the adventure of it would be great.

I've got a very capable 4x4 to get us way up into Rockhouse Cyn and would love to put together at exploratory trip if anyone is interested.

[Andy]

Hi Matt,
I live in Temecula and probably wouldn't be much help as shuttle support or really available to join in on your Santa Rosa traverse. I would however be interested in an exploratory trip to the Nicholas Canyon area if/when that comes together. I've traipsed around Rockhouse Valley a bit but never much into the western tributaries and canyons. I'd also like to try and validate some of the water sources around there for future extended trips. Another one on my list is the traverse from cactus Springs trail to Martinez Canyon to Rockhouse Valley...probably a multi-day in the spring. PM me if you want to try and plan something.

[Florian]

Hi Matt. I live in Palm Springs. I'm not up for your hike but can maybe help with logistics. You can certainly leave a vehicle at my house. Or i can probably meet you elsewhere. Contact me via the email button.

-Florian

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