Big Split Rock Cyn - 2.22.2022
We parked at the end of Painted Canyon Road in the Mecca Hills Wilderness... where most of the hikes in this area begin.
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From the parking lot at the end of Painted Canyon Road we started hiking back down the Painted Canyon Road in search of the Big Split Rock Canyon.
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After hiking back down the Painted Canyon Road for a third of a mile we turned left into the first obvious big canyon... which I assume is Big Split Rock Canyon.
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After hiking a total of .7 miles we reached a divide in the canyon... where we chose to go to the left.
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Thirty steps from the previous photo there is another divide in the canyon... where we took the branch to the right... and later in the day we will return via the branch on the left.
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The canyon narrows very quickly after the divide in the previous photo.
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Continuing up the Big Split Rock Canyon.
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Ladder number 1.
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Ladder number 2.
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Doug took this photo of me doing a little scrambling in the canyon.
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Continuing up Big Split Rock Canyon.
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Continuing up Big Split Rock Canyon.
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Continuing up Big Split Rock Canyon.
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Ladder number 3.
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Continuing up Big Split Rock Canyon.
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Ladder number 4.
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Ladder number 5.
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Continuing up Big Split Rock Canyon.
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Continuing up Big Split Rock Canyon.
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Ladder number 6.
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Continuing up Big Split Rock Canyon.
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Ladder number 7.
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Ladder number 8.
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Ladder number 9.
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Ladder number 10.
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Ladder number 11.
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Ladder number 12 and ladder number 13.
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Ladder number 14.
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Doug and Kerry scrambling up out of the canyon after having climbed up Ladder number 14.
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After hiking a total of 1.7 miles we are out of the canyon... here looking down at ladder number 14 and the steep scramble up from there to where we are standing.
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After hiking a total of 2 miles we are enjoying the broad views from our high point (1300')... with the Salton Sea on the left horizon and the Santa Rosa Mountains on the right horizon.
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Following cairns in search of the spot to reenter the canyon.
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After hiking a total of 2.5 miles we are reentering the canyon.
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This part of the canyon is a bit more narrow than the section we used on the way up the canyon.
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Ladder number 15.
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Ladder number 16.
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Ladder number 17.
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Can you say slot canyon.
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Very tight here.
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Ladder number 18... and no... Kerry did not lose his head here.
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Continuing down Big Split Rock Canyon.
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Getting ready to enter some darkness.
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Ladder number 19.
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My favorite yellow rope on the planet.
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Doug took this photo of me using the yellow rope to come down this piece of the canyon.
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Continuing down Big Split Rock Canyon.
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Continuing down Big Split Rock Canyon... and finally things have opened up a bit.
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Continuing down Big Split Rock Canyon.
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Nearing the spot where we will close the loop section of the hike.
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Out of the Big Split Rock Canyon now... and back on the Painted Canyon Road... where a third of a mile hike will get us back to our car... the total hike was 4 miles, gaining 1115 feet of elevation.
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