An Adventurous day on the Hopalong Cassidy trail

Hiking date: May 21, 2016

Location: Palm Springs, CA

Rate: normal/hard

What a day! Today, we hiked two portions of the Hopalong Cassidy trail. Here they are.

Hike one: The object trail

This portion of the trail wasn't very long, there were a lot of things to see. This part of the trail is one of the very few trails that allow dogs, so there were a lot of dogs. On with the trail!

As we headed up, we passed a shaded picnic area and a sign honoring someone.

Soon after, we reached a cross.

The cross

Sign in front of cross

One of the beautiful rock formations 

Then we went back and took another trail for a more strenuous hike. The trail started out steep and led us to a private property sign. Fortunately, the trail led in another direction, but it led us BACK to the cross and we were back to square one.  

The "Fence Trail"

So we took another route down, which we hoped would lead to the Hopalong Cassidy Trail. 

As we hiked, we passed a big pad that had a picture of a Ying-Yang on it.

We were heading back to the civilization, so we gave up and got in the car.

But It wasn't even 10:00 yet, so we went on a another hike

Hike two: The Bump and Grind loop

This was our second hike of the day. We went to Starbucks to go to the bathroom and we were off. It started off on a trail going the opposite way of the Bump and Grind trail, as we went along, I fell down and hurt my knee.

Bloody knee, neat

Then, we came to these steep switchbacks that my mom points out to me all the time.

The switchbacks

Next, we saw these amazing lizards!!

Then, we hiked down the Bump and Grind trail to our car. Then with a cinnamon roll from Starbucks and a stop at Carls Jr. (our new stopping place after a desert hike) the day was done!

The schoolhouse path

Hiking date: May 12, 2016

Location: Oak Glen CA

Rate: easy>this trail

This hike is so easy and so short that I would not even consider this a trail, more like a path. We were stopping at a park after school to have a picnic lunch and play. So obviously I HAD to follow the path since hiking is now my favorite thing to do. There were several signs indicting interesting trees and plants. Here are a few pictures of the signs (by the way I shaved myself bald due to the summer heat. My hair will be like that for the rest of the summer).

A Canyon Oak

A rock sign marking someone important

A Mugworth plant

Box Elder grass

Verbe Santa at the end of the trail

A Black Oak

Vivian Creek to Halfway Camp

Hiking date: April 22, 2016

Location: San Gorgonio, CA

Rate: hard  

This was our first hike in the San Gorgonio mountains and our second mountain hike. Unfortunately, mom had strep throat. So we canceled a Mecca trip and the other two hardhikers did some thinking. They decided to hike Vivian Creek, a short way up to the summit of San Gorgonio mountain. After all, we did have some Vivian permits.

Anyway, on with the hike! P.S. I learned how to make really cool captions!

                                It all started with meeting a forest ranger named Ranger Dave

Ranger Dave

His 50 pound backpack

Hiking up the trail

A hole in a tree

Confident Cameron

Several breaks were taken on the hike 

Our stopping point, Halfway Camp

 Another encounter with Ranger Dave

A permit is required beyond this point

Whitewater

Hiking date: March 23, 2016
Location: Whitewater CA
Rate: easy

Before we get started, I would like to tell you a few things.

1. We didn't exactly hike, we just hung out
2. I am going to do a post like the posts on Hikin' Jim's blog. I will make pictures as large as possible

It all started when we arrived, our first destination was the PCT sign ( a picture for a project)

Next, we went off to the Whitewater river.

Last, we went to a small pond.

Murray Hill (west flank)

Hiking date: March 19 2016
Location: Palm springs CA
Rate: hard

Now that we have hiked both the east and west side of Murray hill, us Hardhikers (me, Mom and Papa's hiking group name) can call ourselves Murray champs. You start off by hiking Murray Hill (training), First, you hike to a peak that we call "Murray Junior". From there, walk past a pretty  landscape of purple, yellow, and pink flowers. Then, go up the ridge, cross to the other side, and see Murray hill. It looks scary, but it isn't that bad, and you reach the top still. It was pretty and hot.

Plunge Creek- alternate route

Hiking date: February 27 2016

Location: Yucaipa CA

Rate: normal

Today's hike was a little different than usual. We hiked with some friends of my dads on another route of the Plunge Creek Truck trail (see Plunge Creek Truck trail). You start out in a neighbor- hood. Take the trail on the left and follow it. There will be a lot of junctions, but go left on all of them. Soon, reach a bike rally and go into the valley. As you make your way up. There will be a few steep parts. Then loop back around to your car. It was fun to do a hike with friends. It was VERY smoggy which meant it was hot. We were sweating to death! I wish I would have brought my water mister.

Here is a map of what we hiked

Picture update

I have decided to improve the pictures on my blog. You may have noticed that the pictures seem a bit larger. Also, starting now, I am going to start posting more pictures than usual. Hope you like it!