last thoughts yet lasting memories

I watched the sunset one last evening before closing the curtains and adding the final ingredients to my dinner cooking in the oven.  Admiring the sunset then settling down to dine was the normal routine each evening.  

colorful & cheerful inside & out

While the weather for this vacation started off rainy that did not last long, it lasted part of a day but it did not stop me.  As the song goes "it never rains in California but man it pours" and pour it did for a few hours and when that was done and over with it was blue sky & sunshine from there on.   Each day's hike brought me to new trails to explore.  It's pretty pictures like these that will remind me of this beautiful place.

During my two visits to Palm Springs, I got to hike portions of the PCT (Pacific Crest Trail) four times.  For three of the portions that I hiked, I joined the tracks I recorded on my GPS together to show the stretch of the trail I covered.  The fourth portion is miles from this area.  This is the very teeny weeny stretch I hiked.....

......in the scheme of the even grander route.

You can see the tiny green spot in the middle.

And this map is yet a tiny portion of the full map.

There is something about hiking along the PCT that grabs me. Even when I step from a specific hiking trail onto a trail marked "PCT" with that crest on top of the pole, there is a whole different mind set.  I like what being on the Pacific Crest Trail represents and where it takes me physically yet even moreso mentally.  I would like to cover more of its ground and connect more miles to what I have completed.  

On my last day in Palm Springs before heading to the airport, I walked the Walk of Fame.

I spotted this star's star and began quietly singing her song....... 

....."these boots are made for walking"!

Palm Springs Day 7 Whitewater PCT / Canyon View Loop

I had all intentions of doing a hike just down the road today that would take me up above with views looking down onto Palm Springs. I woke though with the need to go catch a little more "wild" in the desert terrain beyond the city.  I had been to Whitewater Preserve on my first visit here and hiked north.  I loved that area, so this time I would hike south along the Pacific Crest Trail.  I heard the landscape is much different.

After the easy drive there, then speaking with the Ranger and signing in, I next geared up to hit the trail. The Ranger who lives right beside the Ranger Station joined me for the first little while as he walked his dog.  The trail starts at the pond.

                                    

                                    We followed the stone lined trail through the wash.  

At the end of the wash and where the trail veers up steep switchbacks, we parted ways. He watched as I headed off along the PCT.  I reached the top of the switchbacks and saw the area where I would be headed.  Yes, the terrain was much different than heading north.  

                          The only wildlife I saw was this roadrunner. 

                        It ran and ran and ran in front of me as I hiked.  

     The trail is well defined and with markers every now and then with the PCT crest on top.  

                               I wondered what was around every corner.  

This area is so green, not desert like at all.  I could see one going on forever here and not getting bored.  At times the trail was very narrow, and on the edge of the slope.  I had to stop lots because I could not safely hike and enjoy the scenery at the same time.

That trail is on the other side of the canyon and that is my destination and turn around point.  I had to hike to the bottom and then back up over on that side.

                  This is my destination spot shot with the canyon behind me.

                                   looks rain forest lush instead of desert dry

When I arrived back at the top of the switchbacks, I did not really feel I had my fill yet so instead of returning the way I came, I opted to make a loop.  I tacked on another few kilometres by completing the Canyon View Loop.  This trail would eventually take me back to the Ranger Station in a round about way.

                        You can see the trail go on and on and on in the center.

                   Switchbacks lead me off the long ridge back down to the wash.  

                             From green to the south to rocky grey to the north.  

                                       I made it back to the Ranger Station.

                                               This is the Ranger's home.      

There is something about being out in this area, I believe it's this kind of place that keeps a piece of my heart.  I can't quite put it into words or explain why that is. Maybe another visit here is what it would take to make this more clear.  Until the next time......

Palm Springs Day 6 Art Smith / Hopalong Cassidy Trails

Art Smith & Hopalong Cassidy are a great pair of cowboy gentlemen and their trails are great too! My plan was to hike a large portion of Art's trail then return and at the junction hike along a smaller section of Hopalong's trail. These trails are high above Palm Desert and offered the best of both worlds, to be able to look down on civilization and to be able to escape from it.  There is no warming up on a long flat section first, it's up hill after a mere couple of minutes.

 

                          After the first uphill stretch then the cactus and the views begin.  

                                            Looking down onto Palm Desert                            

                                                                  Palm Desert

     

Then it's time to leave civilization behind and become one with the mountainous desert.  There were so many distractions, it felt like I was getting no where.  Who knows, I may never get back here so made sure to appreciate every little thing.  There were cacti galore.

                            

                                                                     

                                       

      

                                  

                                                 

                                         There were even a few oasis along the way.          

                                         

A couple of folks suggested this trail for the beauty.  They said it was their favourite.  I took their word for it and just hoped our ideas of beauty were on the same page.  They sure were!  With little pops of color here and there, add a fluffy puffy cloud now and then, at times backdropped by rocky ruggedness, Art Smith knew what he was doing, it was the perfect package.

                                                       the cactus pops

                                                           rocky ruggedness

                                                       fluffy puffy clouds

   Completing an out and back on the Art Smith, I then did the same on the Hopalong Cassidy.                                         

                                           

                             This trail brings you back to being high over civilization.  

You can see the trail far below from where I stood.  At this point I did not go further, I was feeling hot and lazy and did not want the climb back up .  The views along the whole way would be the same as what I had right around me at this point.  I did some zooming in on the mansions below but will keep those photos to myself.

                              my destination shot along the Hopalong Cassidy Trail

 

                                            view from back on the main trail

                                        This last photo has it all for me.  

       Down over the dip, it's back into some rubble then a rocky down back to the car.  

In my future visits to Palm Springs, hiking the Art Smith Trail will be a for sure.  I believe I could do it time and time again, and appreciate it as much as I did this time. Everything about today was sheer joy!

Palm Springs Day 5 Herman's Peak Coachella Valley

I picked Herman's Peak to hike today because it is located in a preserve and oh how I like those.  By visiting the Coachella Valley Preserve, I would have the opportunity to pass through an oasis and over a wash before climbing switchbacks to reach a peak.  This day would have it all!

I stopped in at the Visitor Center to ask a few questions as the Herman's Peak trail is fairly new and there is no signage yet.  This was the cutest Visitor Center I have ever seen and the inside was just as adorable.  It was totally surrounded by gigantic palm trees.

After chatting with the volunteer, making a donation and obtaining a map, I hit the McCallum Trail.  This was the beginning of the boardwalk that carried on for a few minutes.....

                                         

                                 .....before leading out to the wide open desert oasis.  

Just beyond McCallum Grove is McCallum Pond.  How lucky for me, I got to see a reflection.  Reflections are scarce here in the desert.  Some folks make this their destination.

I carried on further to the Moon Country Trail and to Vista Point.  It was still early yet time to delayer before carrying on.  At this point there is a 360 degree view, not a cloud in the sky and I could see forever.  I prefer a few of those white puffy fluffy clouds, they make for nicer photos but hey, I will take this.

                                                          seeing far off forever....

                                    

......and seeing up close.  There was lots of desert sand hiking today and on other days.  I am not use to this, it takes work and my legs feel it.  

                                        

                Further along the Moon Country Trail, I could tell why they picked that title.  

                        Then, there are those snow capped peaks showing up again.  

I hiked a short distance into the Moon Country Canyon then retraced my steps to cross the wash and attack the switchbacks up to Herman's Peak.  The Peak is a way over and up there somewhere.  I eyed the bottom section of switchbacks and aimed for that direction.  There was no sign pointing where to go.

I crossed the wash, found the switchback start and went for it.  They were gradual long switches which made for a rather easy ascent.  The higher I got, the more amazing the views.  

                                           my summit shot on Herman's Peak

The summit was a very large wide flat area.  There were a couple of areas of large flat boulders to sit on and enjoy the scenery.  I had my choice of boulders as I owned this Peak.  

                                   view from my boulder while I had lunch

After some summit time, I headed back to the switchbacks to descend off Herman's Peak the way I came.  There is the option to descend off in the other direction and make a loop but with no signage yet and being a fairly new trail, I decided to play it conservative and go with what I know already.  I arrived back down at the wash and followed it all the way back to the intersection for the Visitor Center.

                          This was the last portion of the trail that lead to the parking lot.

                                          

It's so enjoyable and rewarding to experience new to me trails and the variety of terrain they offer up.  With not knowing what is around the corner, or behind the palm trees, I have been going in with eyes wide open and child-like wonderment. Thank you for today, it was an unexpected gift!