As we exited the San Gorgonio Wilderness, almost all streams evaporate or sink beneath desert gravel before reaching the foothills.
We started and ended this section in the subalpine terrain, however the majority of this section was spent in the desert. We were surrounded by: Joshua trees, Pinyon pines with edible nuts, California junipers, buckwheat, big sagebrush, Indian paintbrush and rabbitbrush.
We’ve been on the look out for Poodle Dog Bush, a plant causes severe irritation similar to or worse than poison oak. Blisters may appear on your skin lasting 2 weeks or more. Fortunately, there have been no brushes with the plant yet!
We did have a day-long canyon walk in which we wound around Deep Creek and even passed by the natural Deep Creek Hot Springs. The Canyon ended in the Mojave River Dam, which produced quite the ECHO when yelling in the spillway!
We had some long water carries, one of which was 17 miles! Special thanks to the trail angels who supply the Swarthout Canyon water cache (otherwise Kyle and I would have had to carry water for 23 miles)!
Next stop: Acton, CA.
