Nick, Albert, and I did an overnight BP trip in Joshua Tree NP this weekend encorporating a climb up to Quail Mtn, the park's loftiest summit. It was about 10 miles round trip, with about half the distance and most of the elevation climb being off-trail cross-country. There is no water along the route so we were weighted down with a gallon or more each. We started from the backcountry board at Upper Covington Flats, a remote part of the park accessible by a long dirt road. En route to the peak we saw a bighorn sheep (the first I'd ever seen in the park), two deer (a buck and doe), a huge jack rabbit, a tarantula, a horny toad, a couple dozen turkey buzzards circling, pinyon jays, hawks, a ton of lizards, and of course quail. And, oh yeah, a cairn monster on the summit :p We camped in the saddle south of the summit and were treated to a wonderful sunset, coyotes howling at the full moon, a beautiful sunrise, and great views of San Gorgonio and San Jacinto, the two highest peaks in So Cal. Not to mention a few wildflowers who think it's spring because of the recent rain. It was a good trip :)
|
