2/1/2021
Topic:
Roost Benchmark
Zegna140
|
Mark Adrian! Knew him well back in the 90's when we were both part of Paul Frieman's San Diego Peak's Club. Roost is a spot I've always looked at going down the Fages trail between the Fages Memorial and Oriflamme Canyon. |
2/1/2021
Topic:
Rockhouse Canyon 2 Days
Zegna140
|
Cahuilla trails run throughout RHV, to the Nicolias village then west down to the creek, past the funeral site and then further west towards the Santa Rosa Indian Reservation. Last week, I wanted to get into the middle of the storm so I hiked up to Old Santa Rosa, 5 hours from Hidden Spring, and spent the night in the snow. Beautiful. The trail from the first set of ruins to OSR follows a wash just past the last rockhouse. Or you can head over to the "Pottery Making Camp" which is at the base of the Santa Rosas where the old trail goes up and over the mountain to Martinez Canyon. There's a year round spring and nice little campsite at the PMC. Used by Indians, cattlemen, miners, hikers for centuries. Morteros nearby. Pottery shards. The descent into Martinez is rather un-Indian like-- it basically follows an arroyo that is, miraculously, for the east side of the Santa Rosas, pretty gentle. Found some painted pottery pieces along that route a few years back. From the PMC, the trail heads to Old Santa Rosa and from there it's about an hour to Nicolias, all on deeply rutted, well marked Indian trail. Mortero sites along the way as well as an occasional shard. That waterfall section you guys ran into is one of the most difficult parts of RHV! Ahhh, just thinking about RHV, I think I'll head back again this weekend. |
2/1/2021
Topic:
Rockhouse Canyon 2 Days
Zegna140
|
The old barrel at OSR, I believe, based on Lester Reed's book, Old Time Cattlemen, that the barrel was part of a project by Reed and a couple of Cahuilla to develop the seep/spring with the hopes of more water for wildlife. I could be wrong.
Rocko1 wrote:
Was able to meet up with Brian and do a 2 day trip to Rockhouse Canyon. We started 3 miles short of the end of Rockhouse Canyon Rd. Plan was to get to lower rockhouses and head up Adler then take Nicholias Canyon to the cottonwoods, camp and head back towards Old Santa Rosa ruins then back out. Carrying a substantial amount of water we banked on Nicholias spring being active-it was.
Near beginning of the canyon is Hidden Spring..
It's not hidden and was little more than wet dirt-no standing water.
Lower rockhouse ruins
Headed up Adler looking for the Nicholias junction. Really fantastic rocks in this area. Nicholias to the right.
Saw this near junction-not sure if it's a target or? about 3' x 2'. Made out of plastic.
The dry falls starting up Nicholias were a bit challenging for me-especially with a heavy pack.
From here to the ridge near the cottonwoods was the toughest part of the hike. The canyon becomes choked with fallen trees forcing you out and its really overgrown with no easy routes without bushwhacking. Slow going.
An old mining pump?
View from ridge
Made it to cottonwoods just before dark. Was a long day. Temps got down to 37F, no wind.
Toro Peak
Woke up and headed to Nicholias Spring to load up on water. It was flowing great.
https://imgur.com/y3sdyRK
The area near the cottonwood and spring has more mountain lion prints than I have ever seen anywhere. You can't go more than a few steps without seeing them. Lots of animal activity here.
Broke camp and headed towards Old Santa Rosa ruins. The trails going here were heaven compared to coming up the canyon.
We checked out a spring and headed to the Santa Rosa Ruins
Pot shard Brian found
Old Santa Rosa Ruins
Miner trash can?
From here it was cross country following game trails to lower rockhouses and then back to the cars. Was a fantastic trip.
Mylar Balloons-3
TOTAL
Distance: 28.40 mi
Elevation gain/loss: 4625'/-4631'
edited by Rocko1 on 11/17/2020 |