Hike Planning, Dec 26-27, 2014

posted in: Trail/Hike Information, Trip & Hike Planning |

Itinerary

I am hoping to get in one more serious hike for 2014. Here are some possible hikes that I am researching, to be completed on December 27th. Being so late in the year, the weather should be good for a desert hike. Rabbit Peak is located in the Anza Borrego Desert. Wonderland of Rocks Traverse, Quail Mountain and Carey’s Castle are located in Joshua Tree National Park. Due to the length of the hike/drive, Rabbit requires an overnight stay in my opinion. Wonderland and Quail Mtn can be done as a day trip, but I think we should consider car camping (drive up to campsite and pitch your tent, no backpacking) the night before. Carey’s Castle would be done as a dayhike. If the temps are warmer than expected and the peaks in the area don’t have snow, Iron Mountain might be an alternative, as well as Skyline. The stats for these two hikes will be included at the end of this document.

The ‘desert hikes’ are listed from toughest to easiest. Iron Mountain and Skyline are easier than Rabbit Peak, but tougher than Wonderland.

Rabbit Peak (via Villager)
Rabbit Peak is highly coveted among peak baggers and is regarded as the most challenging of the 278 peaks on the HPS list of peaks (mountains in SoCal that are over 5,000 ft). The southerly views can span to the Mexican border and Arizona on a clear day.

  • Geek Stats
    • Driving: ~4 hrs total || Difficulty: Extreme/Very Strenuous || Distance: 21 miles RT || Duration: ~ 15-17 hrs || Elevation Change: ±5665′ || Max Elevation: 6,640′
  • Links
  • Notes: Rolling terrain between Villager and Rabbit Peak – Elevation Gain/Loss (one way): 7205’/1540′
Possible Itinerary:
Fri Dec 26

  • 5:00 PM: Drive to trailhead
  • 7:00 PM: Arrive at trailhead, setup tent on BLM land (no reservations needed)
  • 8:00 PM: Bedtime

Sat Dec 26

  • 2:00 AM: Wake up, eat, pack up tent
  • 3:00 AM: Start hiking
  • 6:00 PM: Finish Hike, drive home


 

Wonderland of Rocks Traverse

“Millions of years of tectonic uplift, weathering, and erosion created the maze of monzogranite boulders in the Wonderland of Rocks section of Joshua Tree National Park. Wherever you look in this region, your mind is dazzled by oversized loaf-like stacks of rocks, by boulders arranged in columns and spires, or by huge granite domes.” [1]

 

  • Geek Stats
    • Driving: ~3 hrs total || Difficulty: Strenuous || Distance: 14 mile Loop || Duration: ~ 10 hrs || Elevation Change: ±1350′ || || Max Elevation: 4200′
  • Links
  • Notes: Rolling terrain with rock scrambling in Wonderland –  Elevation Gain/Loss:±2548′
Possible Itinerary:
Fri Dec 26

  • 7:00 PM: Drive to Indian Cove Campground
  • 8:30 PM: Arrive at Indian Cove Campground (Reservations Needed), setup tent and go to bed.

Sat Dec 26

  • 4:00 AM: Wake up, eat, pack up tent
  • 5:00 AM: Start hiking
  • 3:00 PM: Finish Hike, drive home

 

Quail Mtn

“Quail Mountain is the highest peak within the Joshua Tree National Park… There are no developed trails to the summit, thus offering moderately challenging navigation, although no technical gear or skill is required if you choose your route wisely. Surprisingly few people visit the summit; you stand a very good chance of having the peak and the range to yourself, even during the busy winter season.”[2]

 

Possible Itinerary:
Fri Dec 26

  • 7:00 PM: Drive to Indian Cove Campground
  • 8:30 PM: Arrive at Indian Cove Campground (Reservations Needed), setup tent and go to bed.

Sat Dec 26

  • 4:00 AM: Wake up, eat, pack up tent
  • 5:00 AM: Start hiking
  • 3:00 PM: Finish Hike, drive home

Possible Itinerary (not camping):

Sat Dec 26

  • 3:00 AM: Wake up, eat
  • 3:30 AM: drive to trailhead
  • 5 AM: Start hiking
  • 2 PM: Finish Hike, drive home

 

Carey’s Castle

“Amidst the Eagle Mountain Range at the Southwest corner of Joshua Tree National Park, lies Carey’s Castle, a small cave-like dwelling constructed in the 1920’s for use as a place to live while mining the adjacent vertical shaft. Very little is known about the “Carey” character, however without the inquisitiveness of the destination, this is still a magnificent hike full of incredible flora and terrain to behold. An early spring hike is probably best as the wildflowers in bloom are fantastic.
This magnificent piece of history has existed in the desert for 60+ years, and as someone on a blog put it, ‘This isn’t the kind of place you want all of Southern California to go to!’ (Please leave it the way you found it.)”[3]

 

  • Geek Stats
    • Driving: ~3 hrs total || Difficulty: Easy to Moderate (heat) || Distance: 9 miles RT || Duration: 6 hrs (4.5 hrs if we don’t explore) || ±1400’ net elevation
  • Links
Possible Itinerary:
Sat Dec 27

  • 4 AM: Drive to trailhead
  • 6 AM: Arrive at trailhead, start hiking
  • 12 PM: Finish hike, drive home

 

Backup Hikes

If the temperature is too hot for desert hikes, these are some trips we will consider:

Iron Mountain
This peak does not get mentioned very often, but it just recently appeared on Backpacker.com’s ‘10 Astonishingly Hard Hikes in North America.’

  • Geek Stats
    • Driving: ?? hrs total || Difficulty: Very Strenuous || Distance: 15 miles RT || Duration: ~ ## hrs || Elevation Change: ±7200′ || Max Elevation: 8,007′
  • Links
  • Notes: Most carry 5-7 liters of liquid for the trip. No water sources on trail

Skyline Trail
One of my favorite hikes – an all uphill, one way hike.

  • Geek Stats
    • Driving: ~2.5 hrs total || Difficulty: Very Strenuous || Distance: 11 miles (one-way hike) || Duration: 6-7 hrs || Elevation Change: +8000′ || Max Elevation: 8,516′
  • Links
  • Notes:

 

[1] http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2003/oct/16/pick-your-way-over-boulder-mazes-wonderland-rocks-
[2] http://www.summitpost.org/quail-mountain/154716
[3] http://www.sandiegotrailtramps.com/pages/2012Hikes/12_01_08Cary’sCastle.html