For the May trail we returned to the Beauty Mountain area north of Warner Springs. We met at Dudley’s at nine am: four trucks – club president Chris in his yellow Disco 1, board member Jerry (Range Rover Classic, tail gunner) who brought Christina to ride shotgun, Nick in his D90 and Gabriel and Lina leading the trail in their Range Rover Classic. After loading up on Dudley’s pastries and sandwiches, we headed north. A couple of miles past Warner Springs we turned into the hills on Puerta De La Cruz road. The first half of this road is paved, until you get to the Indian Flats campground. Pretty country with nice views down to Lake Henshaw and Palomar Mountain, blue skies and still some wildflowers.
After crossing Chihuahua Valley Road we aired down and headed up the Cienega Truck trail. Turned west to drop down into Cooper Canyon over some rocky spots. Took a lunch break at Pawnee Mine before dropping back down to Chihuahua Creek. At the second water crossing we found a busted Ford Explorer sitting on the far side of the water crossing. No one was around and we figured the big rock in the creek might have been the cause of their broken front spindle. With some care we dipped into the water and avoided that rock and were able to scoot past the Explorer.
Next we entered the ‘Whimsical Willow Forest’, crossed a couple more washes and eventually reached the big yellow gate at the boundary to private land. Years ago you were able to continue here to Highway 79. It is a pretty spot, and we pulled out an awning for a beverage break. There is a broken damn which Jerry and Christina went to check out, but a rattlesnake suggested they turn around.
Back we went through the forest, past the Explorer, and over the creek to our camp at Pawnee Mine. Unfortunately Jerry and Christina were not able to stay, so the remaining four of us set up camp and settled into cocktail hour. The trails here are not much traveled and we had only seen two parties all day long. So when, at 10:30 pm, bright lights bounced through the mist in the canyon, we were on alert. Two jeeps rolled into camp, and stopped for a chat. They were just out for a night run.
The next morning, we visited the waterfall near the mine and decided to do some exploring on the flanks of Beauty Mountain. Rough going on rarely traveled tracks, but very pretty country. Spotted a deer, two roadrunners, several quail, hawks and jackrabbits. We couldn’t find an exit (darn gates) so we returned the way we came.
Thanks all for joining us!
