[Bloated Chipmunk]

This was a last-minute invite from a couple friends who wanted a re-do of Myer Valley after they went astray the yr. before. Since I'd never hiked in this particular spot before & had nothin' else going on, I jumped @ the opportunity. We took the route as described in Afoot & Afield, sort of. I think we didn't go quite as far east as what was mentioned, but in any case we saw lots of cool rocks & found the (or a) palm grove. The hike starts out on an old section of the 8 off of the Mountain Spring exit, reached by going in between the east- & westbound lanes of the freeway. We parked @ the end of the old rd. & then picked a decent way down a drainage to the sandy wash below the freeway, @ which point we turned west & walked thru the tunnel to the south side of the rd.

Dropping down below the 8

We continued southwesterly, spotting a huge rock that would mark the area where we aim for a rocky gully to the south. There were also remains of a cabin/shack in this area.

Phallic rock

Old cabin

Old cabin

The rocky gully we ascended

We scrambled up the gully, which was OK @ 1st but of course steepened near the top. Once above it I rested on a big rock until the others came up.

Mtn. lion cave?

We picked up an old rd. & walked thru an area w/mini sand dunes.

Dunes

We made a couple turns on old rds., passed a border patrol truck, took a snack break, & continued wrapping around to the west & north until we reached a palm grove.

Ocotillo gall?

Phallic rock

Swiss cheese

Reaching the palm grove

Palm grove

While sitting under the palms, we got buzzed by a helicopter. Likely the border patrol doing some racial profiling. We thought about waving, but decided against it in case they mistook it for us needing assistance. So instead we just sat there looking up @ them as they kept circling around & getting lower & lower. Finally they satisfied themselves & flew off. We packed up & continued on in the fading light.

Matt comes straight down

Invasion of personal space

Then, back in town we went to one of our usual places for post-hike dinner & drinks.

Post-hike beverages