Up at 5, on the trail at 6 a.m.! Kirk marvels at my new-found ability to rise and shine. Well, the first part anyway. This marks my third hike within four days. How on earth did I morph into this avid hiker?
This morning the Energizer Bunny, aka Sue Cook—a fellow Windermere agent—and I tackle a 3-hour portion of the Art Smith Trail in the foothills of south Palm Desert. The trailhead commences across from the Santa Rosa Mountains' Visitor's Center and right before Hwy 74—the Palms to Pines route—commences its serpentine rise over the mountain pass. This trail is closed to hikers during the spring lambing season of the beseiged band of local bighorns and I've always wanted to try it.
The strenuous trail is 16 miles long and serves as the major link between the Palm Desert portion of the Santa Rosa Mountains and Palm Canyon's network of trails above Palm Springs and Cathedral City. Sue and I made a pack today that we will complete the entire trail this winter and have a spouse pick us up at the other end. Wonder who the lucky guy will be?
Even though we're up so early, the sun has already beaten us to the punch by the time our hiking boots hit the trail and the sky blazes cerulean blue.
The Art Smith Trail is remarkably beautiful. From the desert wash, you quickly scale the granite-strewn hills, following a narrow carved trail as it snakes through areas replete with dark red boulders reminiscent of Sedona's distinctive rock formations. Barrel cacti, brittlebush, creosote, and agave punctuate the landscape, each awaiting spring's awakening touch. I plan to return and see the difference.
The strenuous efforts quicky pay off with spectacular views of ritzy Bighorn Country Club, splayed out in green glory at the base, and the eastern portion of the Coachella Valley in the distance. We reached the first of several palm oases before turning back to retrace our steps.
From the top, you're afforded an eastern view of undulating Hwy 74, whose distinctive switchbacks were memorably used in the opening car-chase scenes of 1963's madcap movie, It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.
Comments (1)Subscribe to CommentsComment