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Bloated Chipmunk Cock Rock Searcher
Joined: 29 Jan 2007 Posts: 2993 | TRs | Pics Location: Margaritaville |
After a hot, windy week full of fires & chaos, things finally cooled down a bit & pleasant hiking conditions returned. MM & I came back to an area we'd been to twice before, but just to the west @ Beauty Pk. This time we came to tackle Beauty's eastern neighbor, Iron Spring Mtn. The 1st part of the route is the same -- follow an old rd. that leads to a ducked trail that leads you to a drainage you follow up & over a saddle to a berm w/a rd. on top. But instead of going right for Beauty Pk., one turns left for Iron Spring Mtn. & picks up a path heading east for the peak.
The route hadn't changed much, other than the fact that it seemed to have more ducks. Someone would've been hard pressed to get lost.
Trailhead
More plants were blooming than I expected. & once again we saw a horny toad. Same one?
Purple blooms Flowery bush Headin' up the old rd. Horned lizard Horned lizard
We aimed for the drainage, taking the most direct path as there are a couple that exist before it drops down. Minus a well-intentioned but ill-fated attempt to show me his "bypass", MM & I had smooth sailing up the wash.
Heading toward that drainage Beavertail bloom Beavertail bloom Orange blooms Ducked wash MM coming up the wash Blooms Upper part of the wash Hills below Iron Spring Mtn.
We reached the berm & turned left on the rd., looking carefully for the path that would lead us toward the summit...not sure how overgrown it might be since the last report I read. Soon we came across a well-marked junction.
Start of trail that goes left off of the rd.
The trail was in good shape & only required minimal clipping. It made its way up/over/around some false summits, steeply @ times, & then only near the end did the trailbuilder get a little lazy in his/her work. After carefully negotiating some poison oak & other small obstacles, we got to the top.
Beavertail bloom Looking over @ Beauty Pk. Trail heads up/around that middle bump Cahuilla Mtn. Beauty Pk. Prickly pear bloom Beavertail bloom Blooming yucca Summit in that direction Glider Glider
Summit:
Summit register dates back to 1982. Almost 32 yrs. later & still no beer. How pathetic View SW View west to Tule Pk. View NW to Cahuilla Mtn. View north to San Jacinto View NE to Santa Rosa Mtn. & Toro Pk. 2 labels View SE to Combs & Hot Springs Mtn. View south MM & BC on summit of Iron Spring Mtn. Bye-bye summit!
For the route down, we made one change by doing a bypass of the berm rd., shaving off an unnecessary mile where the route normally parallels itself & doesn't make much sense for anyone using the north trailhead.
New trail Start of the new trail that branches off toward Iron Spring Mtn., bypassing the berm rd.
Like dumbasses we, for the 3rd time, somehow got a little off track when trying to follow the transition from trail to road as the route nears the car. Something about this crucial junction is clear when heading up in the morning, but very indistinguishable when heading out in fading light. Oh well, next time...if there is one.
Home is where the hiking is.
"Peaks that have come and gone four times should halt a man in his steps." -- William O. Douglas
A balanced diet is a margarita in each hand.
Home is where the hiking is.
"Peaks that have come and gone four times should halt a man in his steps." -- William O. Douglas
A balanced diet is a margarita in each hand.
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Ski ><((((°>
Joined: 28 May 2005 Posts: 12832 | TRs | Pics Location: tacoma |
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Ski
><((((°>
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Mon May 19, 2014 8:12 pm
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cool.
nice flowers!
"I shall wear white flannel trousers, and walk upon the beach.
I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each."
"I shall wear white flannel trousers, and walk upon the beach.
I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each."
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Magellan Brutally Handsome
Joined: 26 Jul 2006 Posts: 13116 | TRs | Pics Location: Inexorable descent |
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Magellan
Brutally Handsome
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Mon May 19, 2014 8:59 pm
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Thanks for the cactus hike!
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Studebaker Hoch Member
Joined: 04 Jul 2013 Posts: 463 | TRs | Pics Location: eastside |
Yeah life crippling depression is so pathetic
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