March 9, 2021 Ladder Canyon and Painted Canyon Hike
Indian Waters RV Resort Indio, California Day 2
We didn’t have time this morning for our usual morning routine. We had an adventure planned and we wanted to get an early start. When we were in Atlanta during December, Tim was speaking with our friend Peter about our plans for the winter. Peter told Tim about an awesome hike in the Mecca Hills in Indio, California. And so, today, we found ourselves here and ready to try this challenging hike. It is rated difficult. I went online yesterday to read about it…and the warnings!!! I didn’t want to be scared though…I wanted to be prepared. So, I watched some YouTube videos and I did not see anything that I didn’t think I could do.
I slept fine but got up early. I was starting to feel a little nervous and excited.
We had to drive 5 miles on the sand and gravel road to get to the trailhead.
The opening was big and wide and it was a really pleasant day.
We knew to look for the large stone arrow in the wash. This was the beginning of the trail into Ladder Canyon.
There was a large rock fall, giant boulders to climb around. This was just the beginning!
Yes, this is the trail…
In the middle of the rock slide was a gap…I wasn’t sure that I could cross it. Tim had done it easily and he wanted me to do it the same way. I pushed down my trepidation and figured out my way to get across. I got down on my butt and propped myself against the wall and I made it! First major obstacle conquered!
The really cool thing about this trail is that you have to climb ladders to get up and down into the canyon. The ladders were fairly sturdy and Tim was right there to talk me through. He was a great coach, showing me where to put my feet and how to use toeholds in the rock.
We entered the slot canyon. Here the walking was easy and fun!
We climbed ladders again to get out of the canyon and up to the ridge part of the trail. Here, I really did need help. There was a very large jump to the next level and I could not get up. Tim grabbed my hand and pulled me! We were on our way to the top.
We could see the Salton Sea…we could see snowcapped mountains…we could see the canyons on either side down below. The view was magnificent. I kept trying to take pictures…perfectly inadequate.
Enjoy my video.
The ridge walk was also amazing.
We had a long steep downhill into Painted Canyon. I used my hiking poles and did just fine. We walked in the wash through Painted Canyon. Walking in the deep, loose sand and gravel was hard…but the canyon was incredible. This area is very close to the San Andreas Faultline. I am not entirely certain what forces of nature conspired to create this masterpiece eons ago…it looks like it might have been very violent. Rocks and cliffs and ledges heaved up from the Earth. The torrents of water that carved the canyons are difficult to imagine in this dry and dusty place.
I am not the only one who imagines things…Tim was reminded here of a whale coming up out of the water like we saw in Baja.
And here he was reminded of a dinosaur egg.
The colors of the stone, rose and cream and green and peach and every color in between. The patterns and compositions of the stone…the sunlight bouncing around in the canyon…what a wonderful hike!
Two last ladders to the very bottom and then another mile or so to the Jeep. We walked almost 15,000 steps or 5.6 miles in about 3 ½ hours with a few breaks.
I want to thank Tim…for challenging me and daring me, for always expecting me to push myself to do my best, for encouraging me, and for supporting me…and most of all for hauling me out of that chute!
We had lunch at a campsite on the way back to Indio.
We are happy that we started so early. The wind really picked up. We didn’t want to be up on that ridge in a stiff wind. In the valley on our way out, the dust was blowing so much that we couldn’t see the mountains.
We are very glad that we listened to Peter and came here to do this hike.
