A Hike up Hellhole Canyon

On Saturday, Joan and I hiked up the frighteningly-named "Hellhole Canyon" in Anza Borrego Desert State Park. Come with us on this little photo journey through a desert canyon.

It's a hot day, temperatures in the mid 90's and no water to be seen. We're carrying water in our backpacks, and are dressed for a tough long day of hiking. The trailhead looks hot and dusty and forbidding, eh?



Here, a desert maiden braces herself for the upcoming 6 mile hike.



Behind her lies the town of Anza Borrego, many acres of irrigated palm orchards, and the ridge that separates the main valley from Rockhouse Valley, that we hiked up last year. The Santa Rosa mountains loom in the distance.

You would think that there's nothing much alive up ahead, except for some scrubby bushes and withered shrubs, but you would be oh-so-wong! The first hint appears as we approach the first blooming ocotillo.