Hidden Valley and Lost Horse Valley Loop - 2.15.2018
Starting out at the Hidden Valley Trailhead in Joshua Tree National Park... the route leading into Hidden Valley is pretty obvious.
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A few steps beyond this sign is where the very popular loop portion of the trail starts... the sign suggests that the loop be done in a clockwise direction... so we chose to go in a counter clockwise direction.
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Nice steps.
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On the heavily traveled trail in Hidden Valley.
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The rock formation on the far right is the 'Great Burrito'.
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After hiking approximately one-third of a mile we decided to leave the beaten path and head NW... deeper into Hidden Valley... and yes we found a route through the brush.
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Continuing NW into the much less-traveled part of Hidden Valley.
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Rocks, rocks and more rocks.
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Rocks.
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Continuing NW in Hidden Valley.
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Lunch time in Hidden Valley.
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While having lunch we saw a short cut that would take us over to Lost Horse Valley.
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Dealing with big rocks on our way out of Hidden Valley.
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Looking back across Hidden Valley to two rock climbers on the smooth wall in the center of the photo.
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Dealing with big rocks and some brush on our shortcut to Lost Horse Valley.
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Working our way from Hidden Valley to Lost Horse Valley.
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Well... now we can see the mountains above Lost Horse Valley... big boulders on the way.
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Are we having fun yet?
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Now we can see the desert floor in Lost Horse Valley... still some work left to get there.
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Brian and Gail working the boulders.
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Watch out for those Yucca cacti.
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Heading down from our shortcut passage leading to Lost Horse Valley.
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Gail making a Class 2 move... keep those nails off of the rock!
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Almost down to the desert floor in Lost Horse Valley... but not quite.
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One giant step.
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Gail talks to Brian about the final step onto the desert floor in Lost Horse Valley.
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We survived our shortcut... now just a desert walk back to the car.
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Let your imagination run wild.
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Getting closer to the car... looking down Lost Horse Valley to Ryan Mountain on the left... and Lost Horse Mountain on the right.
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Less than a quarter mile from the car now... Gail and Brian check out the climbing routes for Loose Lady (5.10a) and Dummy's Delight (5.9)... our hike/scramble loop was 2.6 miles, gaining 290 feet of elevation.
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