Wednesday, February 18, 2015
After breakfast this morning, Yuma and I headed about 10 miles east on S22 to the Calcite Mine Trail. I walked this trail last year and said I would never do it again, and this year I say for sure I will never hike it again. I am sitting here at the table with my feet in cold water. I think tomorrow will be strictly jeep travel.
You can walk the very rough jeep trail up to the mine area which is about 2 miles or you can take the longer route and go through the ravine and then up and around to the mines. We, of course, took this longer route.
The badlands is full of these ravines made by the rain run off going through these mud mountains. One could easily get lost in the spider web of ravines in this area.
I’m going to let my photos of the hike do the talking.
The light reddish area to the right of the X is about 2 miles away. That is our goal for the day.
However, we are going down to the first ravine and turn left and follow the ravine that goes around to the side of that area. At first the ravine is fairly wide. However, about 3/4 mile down, the ravine narrows. An arch announces that we are entering the narrows.
There are large boulders everywhere. In some places you crawl over and in other places you crawl under.
After about a mile of going through the ravine, we started heading upwards.
We finally reach the top of the ravines and are walking along a trail that has ravines on both sides. I am now looking back to the west towards Borrego Springs at those mountains in the background.
Remember that red X in the first photo, well there it is, just a few ravines over. From the top of that I will be able to see all around.
Found it!. There is the rough jeep road that goes up to the calcite mine area. If I was smart, I would go right and back to the jeep; but not me and Yuma. We love torture, so we follow the road left upwards.
The normal 4 wheel jeep like mine could never make it up this road. It would take one with independent axles like the rock climber jeeps have.
Poor Yuma was getting pretty tired by this time. Thank goodness I brought water with me. He sure needed it.
I think we’re going to make it to the top. Just a little ways to go.
I can now see to the east and there is the Salton Sea with a little zoom. And of course, Yuma and I have to get our pictures taken too.
Now all we have to do is walk the rough jeep road back to S22 way at the top of the photo.
I better stop now. This blog is getting over the top with my photos. Of course, I have many more, but ….
See you later.
It was great to see Yuma in so many pictures. I really liked the one of Yuma standing inside a rock figure that looked like a horse. The one of you and Yuma in front of a huge boulder was fantastic, too! All the rock formations were amazing!'
ReplyDeleteThank you Dolly. There are a lot of large rocks in that ravine. Had to do a lot of ducking and climbing to get through. It was a beautiful day for hiking.
DeleteLooks like hard work! I hope your poor feet are feeling better today. I bet Yuma really enjoys your hikes and the time with you! Love the pictures of the 2 of you! Your beard is looking mighty good! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Sarah. Getting a little shaggy. May have to find a barber soon. I think I wore poor Yuma out, but his feet didn't hurt like mine did though. The soaking and a couple of Tylenols did wonders for my legs and feet. Ready to go again.
DeleteI think we did the bottom end of that Calcite Mine trail a few years ago but we never made it up to the mine site. Borrego Springs & surrounding area is just one of the greatest areas for hiking, jeeping, & boondocking. How fortunate many of us are to be here in the southwest each winter. So many great outdoor things to see & do. It's great to see you & Yuma having such a good time. Keep up the adventure:))
ReplyDeleteThe ravine was very nice. However, the mine trek wasn't so nice. Nothing really there of a mine anymore. The view was spectacular, but not sure it was worth the pain getting up there.
DeleteFeeling much better today. But, I think I will take it easy today. Got plenty of time and don't need to push too hard.
Looks like a rugged path with a sweet reward at the end. Nice to have a companion on those treks to share the quiet beauty and a refreshing water break :-)
ReplyDeleteI almost didn't take water with me because I was sure I was not going to the top again. Glad I did. I just can't seem to stop when I want to see what's just around the next corner. Yuma had to help by pulling me up some of those boulders.
DeleteSorry about your feet but I sure loved your pictures. Especially enjoy seeing the beautiful rock formations with Yuma in the pic.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sandie. Yuma is a ham and loves to turn around when he hears the camera turn on. I am glad to have him as a companion on these long hikes. He was tired at the end of the day too, so it must have been a tough hike.
DeleteJust imagining you going on that trail wore me out!
ReplyDeleteThanks Hazel. It was a very interesting maze of ravines. Yuma and I could have spent the entire day just going through a few of them. I wonder if people get lost in that Badlands area.
ReplyDeleteI would like to be on that jeep road when a jeep goes up. It would take some jeep to make it. I saw tracks so I know they do, but it is the roughest road I have ever seen. Hard enough just to walk on it.
Great post. Love the shots of the rocks and Yuma. How hot was it there for your hike?
ReplyDeleteThanks Lewis. They say the temperature is in the mid-seventies, but with the sun beating down and lack of a breeze, it feels like mid-eighties to me when I am hiking. But I can't complain. Back home in Illinois they are looking at single digit temps.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a lot of hard work to get there, and great views as your reward. Love the hanging tongue on Yuma, glad you had the water along.
ReplyDeleteKarenInTheWoods and Steveio
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