A Hike up Hellhole Canyon

[Alan H]

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.

[Alan H]

In only a few yards, the first cholla cactus are seen, and the little yellow brittle brush flowers are everywhere, even though we're past the peak time for wildflowers.



You can look back, down into the valley, below.

More cholla appear, and many, many are in flower. The hum of insects is everywhere.



Speaking of insects, there are dozens of these beetles flying around, and it seems to be mating time.



Even in the rough sand, in the heat, deceptively delicate signs of life are everywhere. You just have to stop and look around.

[Alan H]

Part way up the alluvial fan, the piled up sand and gravel that has washed out of the canyon, a kilted fellow with a brace on his (sore!) knee pauses to inspect a blooming yucca plant.



One of the highlights of the trip appears, a sighting of a desert iguana, one of the larger desert lizards. He's perfectly colored to blend into the sand and gravel. Desert iguanas like it where it's hot, and the temperatures are reaching into the upper 90's (fahrenheit) at this point.



.. the previous day we saw a collared lizard, truly a spectacular reptile! Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture and had to settle for several long looks through binoculars. Here's our iguana, again, resting in the shade of a shrub.



Soon, as the canyon walls narrow, we come across one of the real treats of hiking here, the vibrant blossoms of the beavertail cactus.



a close-up....

[Alan H]

We hike further up the canyon, and the walls close in. More greenery appears, that wasn't visible at all from the parking lot. Desert Mallow makes an appearance, its showy, peach-colored, delicate blossoms a welcome sight...



Through some rocks we scramble, the kilted guys knee complaining a bit at the rough terrain, until we see the first palm trees...



Up and up we climb, the slope getting steeper until finally we stop for lunch in the green shade of a stand of desert palms.



Looking back the way we came, we can see the town far below. The sound of running water and the hum of insects soothe us as we rest and prepare for the trek back down the Canyon, and back to the car...

[KFCarter]

Really great photos. We lived in SoCal for 15 yrs but rarely left Santa Monica (except for location work). My wife was not a big fan of the desert but I always thought it was a fascinating place that gave up its treasures grudgingly... you'd had to work for it. Your photos really capture that. Nicely done, thanks!

[7 miles]

Very cool photos thanks Alan.

[Panache]

Alan,

Our Palm Springs trip was my first ever venture into the desert.

I'm hoping we will go again next year and have a chance to see more of it

Thanks for the photos

Cheers

Jamie :ootd:

P.S. Separated at Birth? You be the judge?

[Spartan]

Beautiful scenery and beautiful pictures! Looks a little bit like around here. The desert is not lifeless.

[Splash_4]

Alan, you have shown again why I miss living in the desert climes! thank you sir for many memories of weekends in the scrub.

[BEEDEE]

Cool photos. Thanks for sharing.

Brian