Saturday we drove up Box Canyon Road to the BLM land near the south entrance of Joshua Tree National Park to see if we could park the trailer there while we visit Joshua Tree. We then retraced our steps, stopping at the Meccacopia trail head. The whole hike is 11 miles one way, so we decided to go the 2 miles to where it meets the Little Box Canyon Trail and then turn around. It was a good hike, lots of interesting hills with large quartzite veins running through them. The only other people we saw were 4 dirt bikers and a couple with a jeep parked off the trail taking their two dogs for a walk. Hiking doesn't seem to be an activity that many people do on this trail. The information at the trail head had a description of desert tortoises, but we didn't see any of them. After having lunch we drove into the small town of Mecca, to find an ice cream treat. We stopped at a couple of places and finally found a little grocery store that had ice cream treats that met our requirements.
On Sunday our first stop was Mecca Beach campground in the Salton Sea State Park. We spoke to one of the campground hosts who avoids Kelowna's winter by hosting at the park. He gave us useful information about the park, so after our time at Joshua Tree National Park we may head back to Mecca Beach. He also told us that the snow covered peak we could see at the far north end of the valley is Big Bear. The last time we were at Big Bear it was early November and we were hiking in the snow, so seeing the snow up there wasn't a big shock to us. Our next stop was Painted Canyon to do hike. This hike is much more popular, with many vehicles parked at the trail head, which is the end of the road. What an intriguing area. After walking for a few hundred yards up a fairly broad area, we came across an arrow made of rocks, pointing sideways to the canyon wall. This part of the hike is intended for people with knees that bend. After climbing up a few rocks, which are definitely not standard stair height, we gave up and walked up the canyon to where it meets the side trail. At this point, there were several metal ladders to help get down off the ledge, because the rock faces where about 10 feet high at that point. Some things are just a young persons game.
On our way back to the RV park we stopped at the AM/PM truck stop near Mecca for diesel, a few gallons of gas for the generator and some frosties. Nothing like a cool drink when the temperature is 29 C. Back to the trailer now to watch the provincial men's curling finals.
Monday afternoon we went to check Red Hill Marina county park on Salton Sea. It had been suggested as a future place to stays. We decided it was not acceptable. We then went to check out "Slab City". This "city" is 2015's answer to the hippy communes of the 60's. This area has no rules, everyone does their own thing. All the advertising regarding this place recommends going with an open mind. Someone has built an interesting monument named Salvation Mountain. Tuesday was moving day. We got up, John made breakfast, we took our time getting packed up as our destination was only an hour away. We want to do some hiking in Joshua Tree National Park, but the campgrounds in the park are 25.00 a night with no service, and only suitable for trailers up to 22 feet long, so we parked in the BLM area outside the park gate with no services at all, but free. By lunch time we were all set up, satellite aligned and solar panels set out. Although we are having a windy day, it is warm and a perfect day to sit out in the sun and do nothing.
Wednesday remained windy. We were able to get a radio station from San Diego and it warned of the Santa Ana winds. The winds we experienced were much less than those on the coast, but still a tad annoying. We headed into Joshua Tree National Park. What an interesting area. The south area of the park has many hills that are made of loose stones.
Our first stop was Cholla Cactus Garden, a short but interesting walk through a dense cactus area.
Then we passed from the south area of the park, which is in the Colorado Desert, a section of the Sonoran desert, into the north area of the park, which is in the Mojave Desert, a few thousand feet higher than the Colorado Desert area. We carried on through the park, going through the area where Joshua trees grow,
to the town of 29 Palms to get diesel, since the National Park has no food or fuel, just interesting landscape.
We had to pick up our weekly park pass when we left the park at the north entrance, because the Cottonwood Visitor Center in the south area couldn't sell us a pass at the time we stopped. We then returned to the park to check out Hidden Valley. What a spectacular area. The one mile walk took us a lot longer than we expected because we keep stopping to admire than great granite rocks. All the rocks here are the result of volcanic eruptions. They are very different than the rocks in the south part of the park.
We then headed back to the trailer well past time to move our solar panels. In fact by the time we got back the panels were in the shade. Not too effective, but they had been in the sun most of the day, so put about half the energy into the battery of a day when we can turn the panels every few hours.
Thursday back to the park. Our first stop was a three mile hike, with 1000 feet elevation gain, to the top of Ryan Mountain at 5400 feet. This is fairly strenuous climb. The first two thirds of the trail is quite steep, with many areas having steps carved out of the rock to make the route possible. The 360 degree view at the top gave us spectacular views of the valleys and rock formations as well as Big Bear with it snow capped peak.
After lunch back at the truck, we went to Keys View. This was also to the top of a mountain, but a drive all the way. From the viewpoint we could see Indio, the Salton Sea and Palm Springs.
On our way back to the trailer we stopped at Hall of Horrors, a short walk through a popular rock climbing area, then Skull Rock
and Arch Rock areas.
Again by the time we got back to the trailer the solar panels were in the shade of the trailer again. In the future we will try to park the trailer with the nose facing anywhere except north since the batteries that the panels are connected to are in the cabinet under the front of the trailer.
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