Windy yesterday. We couldn’t even see the mountain ridges behind the campground. We did see little sands swirls twisting around the RV ’s across the road from ours. Our mat was covered with sand. AND - we had sand in our window tracks. It must have snuck in between the window panes. Oof - da. I had just vacuumed them on the 20th when we arrived here in Palm Springs, the 21st was a beautifully clear day for our Bump And Grind Hike and now they need to be vacuumed again.
Absolutely. It was windy and dusty or should I say ‘sandy?’ We stayed in most of the day except for our walk in the afternoon (keep your mouth closed so the sand doesn’t get into your teeth.) so had avoided it most of the day. On the 22nd, I vacuumed again.
But, hey, if that’s all that I have to worry about, I could be Alfred E. Neumann. Ha, ha.
OK, how about today’s activity. We read about a hike in what is called the Mecca Hills, 20 miles SE of Palm Springs in which the colors of the walls were supposed to be the best in early morning sun. Oh, shucks - and we set out alarms for 6:00. Did we get there early? Ah - depends upon what you call ‘early.’ If you think 6:00 is early, then, no, not our time. Ah, how about 8:30? Got it.
Called Pyramid Canyon, it was a sandy wash for most of the way.
Named for this rock formation in the middle of the hike, it was through a wide canyon most of the way. We could call this section ‘Wall Street.’
Then we hit the slots.
In fact, if you know us, you know that this is why we chose this hike - the slots.
I thought I was standing ot of his way in this picture. Nope. I look like I’m worried about what’s around that corner.
Looking up we could see the blue sky though the rock walls.
Interesting rock we found. Look at the colors.
Wide canyon, slots then the cave at the end. First we noted that we had come to the end - a steep uphill. Oh, shucks, I forgot our ropes and pitons. We’re not going to get up that cliff.
But, look, off to the right, a cave.
Gary took movies of the rock structures in the cave.
Wondering how these rocks folded over like this. Funny thing about these canyon walls - they are what I might called petrified sand. Actually, rub your hand against them and the sand sloughs off. Just like a sand castle. How long have they been here? How long will they last? Will they eventually be just like the sand in the bottom of the canyon, the wash. Will this area sometime be all flat sandy desert?
The walls were all colors between light yellow to deep rust to beige to orange and all colors in between. Beautiful and all due to minerals in the earth that have been contorted and compressed and eroded by wind and water. But the flowers and ocotillo along the trail were beautiful too.
On our way back, Gary climbed the Pyramid and posed. What a guy. Can’t see him? Check the little guy sitting on the top.
But, we’ve had enough, time to get back.
We hiked 12 miles - lots more than I had planned. Wwe got back to our Jeep feeling fine, took off our boots and put on regular shoes. put our packs away and got into the car. Drove 5 miles to get some gas and sodas (our apres hike treat). When I got out of the car, I walked like a drunken sailor. I was so stiff, every leg muscle hurt. What happened in that 5 miles? I was fine until I got out of the car. I turned to Gary and asked what had happened. He looked at me with those big baby blues, smiled, put his hand on my shoulder and said: ‘age.’ Isn’t he sweet?
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