4/20/2017
Topic:
Strange things you find in the desert.
RobMay
|
That's a Spencer Little sculpture. He works in San Diego.
https://www.instagram.com/johnniesmalls/?hl=en |
4/27/2017
Topic:
Ole Red... well a younger one
RobMay
|
Very pretty! Do you know what kind of rattlesnake it is? I've seen two this year so far, both off of the PCT in the Campo area. They were darker and their patterns had a higher contrast than this one. |
4/28/2017
Topic:
Fat Lizard
RobMay
|
Desert Iguana! I had no idea we had those! Sweet! |
5/11/2017
Topic:
How Accessible is Coyote Canyon Rd?
RobMay
|
I was planning on exploring the Northwest part of the park this Sunday before it's closed for the season. Has anyone been up there recently? I'm curious about road conditions after all the rains. I have a Dodge Ram 4x4 and haven't had any problems getting through boulder alley and I've even done Diablo Drop-off although I'd never do it again. I've seen video of Pinyon Drop-off and the squeeze and I wouldn't even attempt that. |
5/11/2017
Topic:
How Accessible is Coyote Canyon Rd?
RobMay
|
That's a good idea. If I make it up there I'll report back. Thank you. |
5/12/2017
Topic:
How Accessible is Coyote Canyon Rd?
RobMay
|
kk6mbh wrote:
I was up a couple times during the super bloom. Nothing out of the ordinary from the rains - no washouts or slides or anything. I'm in an 80 series Land Cruiser with 33" tires and a couple inches of lift - even with that I take the top of the trail slowly. Safe travels!
Thanks for the reply kk6mbh. I'm already excited to check it out! |
5/15/2017
Topic:
Whale Peak Trail Head Garbage
RobMay
|
I had a similar situation yesterday when I was hiking in Upper Coyote Canyon. A couple in a jeep came driving down the wash in Upper Willows. They asked if it was possible to drive through to Borrego Springs! Seriously! It was hard to be polite but I told them they weren't supposed to be there in a motorized vehicle and that it was CLEARLY marked before they entered. They did the right thing and turned around and left. Do you report breached areas to the visitor's center? |
5/15/2017
Topic:
What footwear do you use for desert hiking?
RobMay
|
I wear Vasque hiking boots too. As Buford stated previously, they are durable and I like the protection. As for weight slowing you down, there are few maintained trails so your speed is already going to be slow because of sand, rocks, cactus, and yucca. |
5/17/2017
Topic:
How Accessible is Coyote Canyon Rd?
RobMay
|
I didn't have any trouble getting through. High clearance and four wheel drive are mandatory. The road towards Alder Canyon was faster than Coyote Creek wash if your heading towards Bailey's Cabin. Drove up Horse Canyon and Alder Canyon as well without issue. We cleaned up a shopping bag worth of trash around the cabin including clay pigeon fragments. Someone shot the no camping sign entering Upper Willows wash with a shotgun. Is shooting allowed in the park? Also, there is a breach in the fence into Upper Willows. A jeep came driving down the wash but they turned around after I told them they weren't supposed to be there. The weather was nice and as always I wished I had more time to explore.
edited by RobMay on 5/17/2017 |
5/23/2017
Topic:
Sleeping with Snakes?
RobMay
|
I recently bought an Big Agnes HV UL2 ultralight 2 man tent that weighs under 3 lbs. has doors on both sides and a rain fly. Its light and easy to set up. I haven't been in a heavy rain storm yet because I avoid bad weather when possible. It has good air flow especially when the rainfly is off. Also you can set it up with just the rainfly if you just need shelter from the sun. I just hiked Section A on the PCT with it and it's been great. It cost about $340 on Moosejaw.com. |
1/8/2018
Topic:
Sunrise Trailhead Parking Lot?
RobMay
|
I parked there overnight last year and backpacked to Scissor Crossings without any problems. I section hiked the PCT up to I-10 last year, parking vehicles at either end of each block of trail, and didn't have any problems. |
1/9/2018
Topic:
Sombrero and False Sombrero
RobMay
|
Thank you for posting. I've still got to bag both of these peaks. I hit Red Top and Sawtooth Mountains HP this past weekend. I didn't realize the steepness or the amount of boulder scrambling that was involved. I got my butt kicked and hiked out in the dark. I've been following your blog online and your gps tracks on Peakbagger for some time now. Thank you for all of your hard work! I still haven't figured out how to make the time to blog about hikes I've been on. I feel accomplished if I get photos posted to Facebook for the week. Anyway, I just wanted you to know that you rock! |
1/10/2018
Topic:
Sombrero and False Sombrero
RobMay
|
Hey Rob,
Thanks for the kind words. I've gotten so much from other people reports, the least I can do is share what I find. I enjoy writing reports as soon as I can so I don't forget details.
So, how did you approach Red Top? I was planning to start from North Indian Canyon Road (as Daren's suggested) and go over the lowest pass in the Terra Blanca, then up the gully between Red Top and the Sawtooth high point. I think it will be the toughest hike on the San Diego Peaks list and I want to save it for last.
I used Greg Gerlach and Patrick ONeill's gps tracks. I like to load multiple tracks so I have options. It's the same route you describe. I camped on the small ridgeline due North of the lowest pass you cross over. The plan was to hike Stage BM the next morning but that didn't happen. I hiked Villager/Rabbit/Mile High four days prior and I wasn't fully recovered from that hike. I found a lot of pottery shards so I spent way too much time exploring, and I deviated from the gps tracks going up Sawtooth and summited from the South-West side of the peak. Huge mistake. I was thinking about leaving Groan as my last just because I feel like the name is an apt one to finish on!
edited by RobMay on 1/10/2018 |
1/29/2018
Topic:
Hiking out of Los Coyotes Indian Reservation
RobMay
|
Saturday I was talking to a ranger at the reservation and he told me that the only hiking allowed on the reservation is to Hot Springs Mountain. I had gone there to hike Cody, Pike, and Palm Mesa HP. I explained that I was following gps tracks and that people have been doing it for years. He said that they must have lied about what they were doing when they entered the park. I doubt this since there is rarely anyone at the entrance and the park map that they have hanging in the office window shows hiking/4x4 trails all over the park. Currently all 4x4 trails are closed to vehicles but he said I couldn't even hike there from the campgrounds. Did anyone else know about this? Did I ask too many questions? I was just trying to make sure I wasn't trespassing.
To hike up to those peaks from Palm canyon looks like a brutal day hike. I'm thinking about a 2 day backpacking trip. Has anyone done this before? |
1/30/2018
Topic:
Hiking out of Los Coyotes Indian Reservation
RobMay
|
From what I've learned, they have changed their rules often over the years. The ranger mentioned that they'd probably reopen the 4x4 roads in the near future because that was their money maker.
MarkG wrote:
I know it has said in the FAQ on their website for some time that the only designated trail is to Hot Springs Mountain
http://www.loscoyotestribe.com/faq/ |
2/5/2018
Topic:
Hiking out of Los Coyotes Indian Reservation
RobMay
|
tekewin wrote:
I've hiked to Cody, Norte, Pike, Palm Mesa HP, and Square Top from there. Different 4x4 parking spots. Every time I've gone, usually early in the morning, but once late morning, there was nobody at the guard station. I think there is day hike fee, so I left money taped to the door in an envelope. I've read conflicting things about restrictions and maybe they have changed policies. I'd go early, be honest if stopped at the guard station, but otherwise go about your business.
I don't feel comfortable going against the rules now that I know what they are. It's all go though, I've got my plan B in the works. I'm going to hike up Indian Creek and bag Pike & Cody and work my way East to bag Palm Mesa HP. Not sure if I'm going to turn it into a peakbagging frenzy along the ridge or just follow Borrego Palm Canyon out from middle fork. I'm playing it by ear. If its really windy or I'm low on water I'll drop down to middle fork for sure. Either way it's going to be a nice thru hike. |
3/2/2018
Topic:
Never too old
RobMay
|
Good for him! Use it or loose it. I plan on spending my time after retirement traveling and hiking. God willing of course. |
5/21/2018
Topic:
Pool Table
RobMay
|
You're not surprised are you? I was going to take it to the dump a few weekends ago when I hiked Groan BM but I had company on that hike and no room for it. It looks like it'll be easier to haul off in pieces but I probably won't be back out there until fall. |