West Side Loop, Wed, 2/25/26

 

Black Rock Canyon Campground is in the northwest corner of vast Joshua Tree NP.  This part of the park appears different than the main entrance inasmuch as there are no giant mountains of jumbled rock.  But we've discovered this area still offers plenty to see and do.  West of the campground are several trails, including the West Side Loop trail, a rocky five-mile-long path that weaves through ridges and washes and Joshua Trees.  We decided to give it a whirl today, a repeat from two years ago.

The wind was blowing like stink again in the valley, but up here at 4,000+ ft, the day was really fine, not too hot nor too cool and just a breeze to keep us comfy.  Otherwise, the start wasn't auspicious because a couple of horses had preceded us and tore up the sandy trail.

I guess the park service leaves this sign up permanently, and perhaps the tire holds the sign in place! (We saw it two years ago) The ruts left from rains make it harder to climb the hilly sections, but we dodged 'em and kept climbing. 

I see a monkey!

What do you see?

The Joshua Tree blossoms are big and they're beautiful, and many of the trees are beginning to flower.  This one has a bee crawling on top.

This trail is rated moderate, and you have to work to get to the top of this hill (or mountain).  Next to the red x, you can barely make out two people we passed on our way up as they were descending.  Yup, that's our trail, all right.

Still slogging away, heading up.

I was feeling the 800' elevation gain.

Sometimes you just have to stop and breathe!

We're still not at the crest.

The same sign is up here that we saw down below ... with tricky sections to navigate in between.  The views of the mountains, layer upon layer, culminating in snow-coned Mt San Gorgonio were fabulous.

Beautiful.  Hi, Jimmy!

This we did not like.  Steep, sand-slick downhills followed by aggressive uphills followed by more of the same downhills and repeat.  We had to choose ways off trail to clamber down, often backwards and hanging onto whatever nearby shrub that didn't have spikes or spines.  We didn't remember having to do this from a couple of years ago.  Maybe on purpose?  Or the trail has gone to pot.  Anyhoot, it was scary.  No mas!

We did it, however, and nobody got hurt.  I do recall seeing this Joshua Tree lying down and becoming a a nurse tree with lots of offspring!  The only critters we came across today were lizards, lots of small lizards.

Even the Sotols are shooting up flowering stems.

Egad!  We were stopped in our tracks at the burn scar.  A "brush" fire on the West Side Loop trail broke out a few months ago -- October 2025, cause unknown -- and consumed approx 72 acres!  NPS and BLM worked on putting out the fire.  We knew it had to be recent as we could still see ash beneath the burned branches. 😢

When at last we saw our little Smartie, we were so tired, so ready to be done with the hike -- and sooo happy to see the li'l guy all by itself parked beside a Joshua Tree!  We drove home to Tergel and dove into the pool!  (not literally, no diving)

I talked about wind in the Coachella Valley in a previous post, and blowing sand. Yes?  Evidence, above and below.  As we came down into the valley from JTNP, we were appalled at the mess being created -- huge winds blowing sand and dust.  These pics were taken near the RV Park where we're staying, about six hundred feet above where the sands are being blown, so we're just seeing the tops of the sand being blasted skyward.  

Close the windows, Mabel!

And that's it for this year.  Our month at Catalina Spa and RV Resort is over Tuesday, 3/3/26, and we'll head out in the morning.  Hopefully the manic wind will cooperate and stand down!  We've enjoyed our time here, those terrific pools (I WILL miss my daily swim!), all the hikes we've managed to muster up the energy for.  We found new things to do this go-round, along with some familiars.  Of course there's the mundane, laundry, grocery shopping, and so on.  When we get home, we'll have our work cut out for us.  Till next year, adios Desert Hot Springs!

Up, up, and away! Tues, 2/24/26

 

In all the years I've lived in California (SoCal, 1963-1989 and NorCal, 2012-present), I've been in Palm Springs many times.  Since Jimmy and I married in 2001, he and I have spent a lot of time in the area.  We've talked about it and talked about it, but today was the first time we rode the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway to the top of Mt San Jacinto; i.e., to Mountain Station at 8516' -- a breath-taking ride up the rugged face of Chino Canyon.  The canyon is one of the steepest in North America, dropping from over 8,500' at the south rim to less than 2,700' on the valley floor in less than a mile. 

The Aerial Tramway was built in the canyon in 1963 to quickly transport people from the valley floor to the top of the mountain.  Quickly, yes.  Sure beats walking up!

Beep-beep!  We met this cutie on our way to the tramway.

On the road to Valley Station for tickets.

Steep!

The posted sign reads: Original Cabin #2, used from 1963 to 2000. It's inaugural trip was on September 12, 1963, and it was retired in June 2000 after over 175,000 round trips!  Yowza!

New rotating tramcars (above) were introduced in September 2000, providing 360° panoramic views of Chino Canyon and the Coachella Valley, completing the 2.5-mile journey from Valley Station to Mountain Station in ten minutes. Truly, a one-of-a-kind ride.  Worth every penny of the $33.95 senior rate ticket.  And it got better!

Looking up canyon.

And down canyon.

See the other tramcar?

And -- wow! -- what a view!

Desert Hot Springs is down there somewhere, backed up against the mountains, middle of the screen.

And then life gets more interesting, bringing to mind Humphrey Bogart's line in the movie, Casablanca, "Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine."  Why?  Who do we meet at Mountain Station?  Anne and Mark, two friends from last September's OAT Turkey trip!  Of all the days in a year, the two couples who don't live here or near each other independently picked today to ride the tramway, and of all the times a tram leaves the station, we four were assigned 10:36am. Bam!  Serendipity.

Anne, Mark, me and Jimmy at Mountain Station. 💖

They were with Anne's cousin, Kathy, and another couple, Francesca and David.  We visited outside on the terrace for a while, and they graciously extended a lunch invitation to us.  We accepted, still awed by the "coincidence."  At the top we went our separate ways, some planned to hike (proper snow footwear) and some not.  Jimmy and I were content to make our way to the ranger station.

Yup, this elevation received about a foot of snow in the last storm.  Most of the serpentine walkway from the station had been cleared, but further down, the path was snow-covered.  We didn't have proper snow gear, so we didn't go far on the snow.  Besides, if we wanted to play in snow, we could simply go home!

Hi Jimmy!

We were here!

Lunch was at Peaks with stellar views out floor-to-ceiling windows.  L-R, Francesca, David, Jimmy, Mark, Kathy, Anne, and look at the burger on my plate!  Best ever:  Coachella Date Burger with beef, bacon, feta cheese, arugula, date marmalade and grilled onions.  Delicious!  Box, please, to carry leftovers home for later!  What a wonderful lunch.  Thanks for inviting us!  What a wonderful day!

The temp was in the high 50's, hovering around 60°.  We'd brought jackets, but left them in the car, which was a good call, 'cause we were comfortable without them.  We milled around a bit after lunch and then everyone was ready to go down, down, down in the amazing rotating tramcar.  With hugs all around, we parted, still gaga over how random events ... really aren't.

After the tramway was redesigned in 2000,

it became the largest rotating aerial tramway in the world.

I love this place and the clouds it produces.

They are positively fascinating.

Which turn into beautiful sunsets (from the pool).

Count me overwhelmed.

Out and About update -- to Saturday, 2/21

 

"Life is meant to be a beautiful adventure."  We agree.  So, we continue to be adventurous as best we can, or as we say, go Out and About.  Last Saturday, the 14th, we returned to Big Morongo Canyon Preserve (up the big hill) and chose to hike the Canyon trail like we did last year.  It was a stellar day for a 4.5-mile walkabout, and a lovely place to be.

The steep-sided canyon follows Big Morongo Creek from north to south.  Jimmy, above, is looking north, as we were making our way back toward the entrance.  I find it fascinating that the upstream end of the canyon originates in the Mojave Desert, while its downstream portion opens into the Colorado Desert.  Two different habitats, five miles apart, a morphing if you will.

We passed through the natural spring-fed desert oasis that makes this preserve one of the ten largest Cottonwood and Willow riparian habitats in California.  The trees, which are just beginning to leaf out, are magnificent!

Plenty of birds at the Nature Center feeders, including White-crowned Sparrows, Lesser Goldfinch and Mrs. Ladderback Woodpecker, and more.  The preserve is an internationally recognized birding site.

* * * * *

Yes, we're basking in the desert sunshine.  Wait, did I say sunshine?  The entire state of California was slammed with rain and snow on Monday 2/16, including here in Desert Hot Springs.  Other than a swim between rainshowers, Monday was a perfect inside reading day, while raindrops spotted the windshield. Most enjoyable.

* * * * *

Tuesday, the 17th, was clear, yay!  We finally made it to Indian Canyons, our first time, the world's largest California Fan Palm oasis.  We tried last year, but the trails were closed.  We've been looking forward to this!  

But first, look what Monday's weather system left!  Snow on Mt San Gorgonio and flanks!  It tops out at 11,503'.  This photo is from our giant RV windshield; what an amazing view early in the morning!

Indian Canyons.  Wow.  This has to be the prettiest of all the oases canyons we've been to.  It's 15 miles long, following Palm Canyon Creek, one of those now-you-see-it, now-you-don't streams.  We walked a mile along this fairly flat canyon floor -- it really is one of the great beauties in the west.

The trail eventually leads out into the open.

"Indian Canyons are the ancestral home of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians and are especially sacred to their people today.  They're historically important to scientists and nature lovers.  The Agua Caliente people have thrived here for thousands of years."  From their brochure.  Truly, see how easy it would be to fall in love with this setting?

Eventually we left that trail and started up the East Fork Loop trail, knowing we wouldn't go too far, it being strenuous and way too long.  But the views from higher up were fantastic.

I wanted to see the palms that were "up there,"

and Jimmy didn't, so I started up on my own.

And here's where I quit and turned around. 😊

Mt San Jacinto's clouds were filling in.

Opposite view of where I turned around.  If you enlarge the photo, you'll see two people sitting on a rock overlooking the vast scenery.  Far in the distance, dead center, is Palm Springs and the wind turbines.  Hushed and serene up here. 💖

I rejoined Jimmy and we began the trek to the visitor center on the "moderate" Victor Trail, which took us on the other side of those stately palm trees, an up and down trail full of wonders.  The yellow x is where I turned around in the two photos above this one.  Those palms way up there?  No path to them.  Oh well.

A couple of times along here we felt rain, drops that blew in from the rain/mist falling on San Jacinto, left.  That was kinda fun.  We were never threatened with a deluge, at least not then!  We're high above the palms, as you see.

Nice cactus photo.

And those clouds were turning dark.

We were in heaven hiking around here, scanning the hillsides, admiring the differing rock formations, flowers (oh yeah), and all the cactus, never mind that we'd have to get down to the canyon floor where the palms are and where those tiny people are, winding around and about the mountain we were on to get there.  What a joy that we can do this.  At the VC, we sat down at a picnic table and treated ourselves to a big ol' Gatorade and a small package of crackers.  Time to head for our RV home.

Whoa-ho-ho, good thing we left when we did!  Showers abound!

Eventually, it rained on us at the RV!

* * * * *

As I said, snow dumped on NorCal, and then on Wednesday reports from home started coming in.  They were not encouraging.  Trees are down all over Nevada City, power lines snapped, roads blocked and traffic snarled.  We have no power at our house, and according to a message from PG&E, power won't be restored till Tues, the 24th!  YIKES.  Well, nuts.  Heck fire.  Hope our roof is all right.  ** Sigh **

Well, there's nothing we can do about it from here in the desert.  No point in heading home since we couldn't even get in our driveway!  That's the hazard of traveling like we do.  You can't be home to take care of it when things go haywire.

Our month at Catalina RV resort and spa is over on March 3rd.  Maybe all that danged snow will be gone by then!

Our across-the-road friend, Fran, sent us this pic of our house.  They've lost trees on their property, but she said we haven't.  Well, that's some good news for us.  She and I both think we should move to a place without snow!

Life is meant to be a beautiful adventure, indeed!