A ride to Split Mountain...

Our Location: Truckhaven BLM, Salton City, CA

 

Two days post in one tonight. Yesterday was a wonderfully warm day, not too hot but not too cool either. We were in shade and sun off and on all day and the temps were right no matter which we managed to find ourselves. 

 

We spent most of our day driving in this wash but it wasn't always this smooth. 

 

 

We felt very insignificant on this drive. Everything is very large. As you can see Yuma in the photo, we are barely a dot on the landscape.  

 

 

Doug, Yuma, Riley and I took a trip to Split Mountain and did a tour of the area further back than the split. We drove a long way, walked a long way and even walked part of a slot canyon but turned back before reaching the top as it kept going and going and going and...you get the idea. 

 

 

 

 I love the different layers and the colour of this massive wall. The stones/rocks are embedded in the layers. You can see where the water has undercut the bottom.

Can you see the Jeep way over there on the left? 

 

 

We left between 10 - 10:30 am and didn't get home until after dark, around 6 pm or so. It was a very long day but I think we all had a fun time. We had a little trouble finding the path home, not the driveway off the highway but the path that leads to the rigs, it isn't very well defined. However we managed and I think we all slept well last night. Thanks Doug for taking us to see this amazing area, we appreciate it very much. It was certainly stunning! 

 

 

 A little better view of the jeep in the same places as above. 

 As another reference, Riley is not quite 5' 11".

 

I'll be posting these photos over the next number of days and since I haven't yet looked at Doug's blog Miss Adventure Travels I have no idea if I am duplicating his photos or not. I hope you enjoy them. 

 

 

 How stunning is this?

 While there are boulders, rocks and stones much of this sand, hard, compact, smooth wind worn, water gouged sand.

 

 

 Blocks, layers, thick, thin, course, fine, granite like sand.

 The wind, rain, sun and human traffic all add to the wear and tear on these formations.

 In places it's worn smooth, like glass, in other places it is  more gritty, like cement or concrete. Holes or worn spots from wind, rain, insects and of course the constant air movements from vehicle traffic, foot traffic, and even helicopter traffic over head.

 I think those may be smoke trees we can see but whatever they are, they are abundant.

 The dark  mountains are constantly in the background as we drive through the lower sided wash areas. Lots of big boulders, rocks and stones have been carried from other places and litter the bottom of the wash.

 In some places nothing is straight but on a slant, often times in different directions in the same area.

 Today Riley and I did nothing and I even had a nap this afternoon. Yesterday was too much for me and today I'm not moving around much.  I did however have fun and I'm happy I did it once and was able to witness the wonders that appeared out each window at each turn.

You can see how smooth this is and it is pretty steep but I wonder what is holding those stones there as many just appear to be sitting, while a few are in little indentations or little ledges. 

A belated birthday wish to sister in law Janet as yesterday was her day of celebration. Janet is my late husband's only sister. It is this wonderful lady we visited a few days ago and will visit again before we leave the area. She and her hubby Dennis are the proud owners of Buttercup Ridge back in Ontario, Canada. 

 

 I can't begin to imagine the force of the water that causes these washes nor the force that causes the undercutting of these massive walls. Mother nature is a very mighty lady! 

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed these photos. I'll be posting more in the days ahead but I didn't want to overwhelm and so held it to a few. 

Until next time.. take care, be safe, 

Deb