Gunsight Loop - 3.4.2024
We parked at the trailhead for the Indian Cove Nature Trail in Joshua Tree National Park... and we can see the Gunsight valley up there in the middle of the photo... we will go up that valley and come down over on the far right of the photo.
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Heading for the Gunsight Valley... I zoomed in for this photo to show the moon up there in the gunsight.
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Getting ready to enter Gunsight Valley.
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Star Dancer led the way into the valley.
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Star Dancer said she was uncomfortable dealing with vertigo... and she stopped here.
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Denali Girl is following me up Gunsight Valley... with Yucca Valley on the horizon.
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Continuing up the valley.... can you say 'big boulders'.
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Looking back as we continue up the valley.
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Continuing up the valley.
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After hiking a total of one-half mile (less than a quarter mile in the valley) we found our first real challenge... I didn't like it and backed out to try a different crack.
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This crack didn't work either... so I backed out and went back to the first crack.
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I was able to squeeze through that first crack... but we spent 20 minutes here trying to figure things out.
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I had finally been able to come through the crack at the bottom of the photo... but Denali Girl was able to find an easier route.
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Denali Girl's route was a lot easier than my route squeezing through the crack below.
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We got through that first challenge after 20 minutes... so time to move on.
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Looking back as Denali Girl comes up to join me.
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Continuing to go up the valley.
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Looking back down the valley.
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Whoa... what is this?... a tunnel?
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I walked into the tunnel and took this photo of Denali Girl as she started to enter the tunnel.
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Denali Girl took this photo of me at the end of the tunnel.
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We hit a dead end at the end of the tunnel and Denali Girl took this photo of me after leaving the tunnel.
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We couldn't get past the end of the tunnel... so I tried this crack... and it didn't work.
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Trying to find a way up after being blocked at the end of the long tunnel.
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I found another tunnel, but it didn't work either.
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After spending 30 minutes trying to continue up Gunsight Valley I decided to scramble up out of the valley and see if I could get back into the valley beyond the tunnel blockage.
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Denali Girl took this photo of me trying to get up and around the tunnel blockage.
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Denali Girl took this photo of me trying to get up and around the tunnel blockage.
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Looking down at Denali Girl as I have found a way to get around the tunnel blockage... and she said that she was going to head back down the valley.
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Looking back as I continue on up Gunsight Valley.
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Looks like there is still plenty of work to do in order to get up to the top of Gunsight Valley.
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Looking back as I continue up the valley.
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Fingers crossed that I can find a way up to the top of the valley... because I do not want to go back down.
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Continuing up the valley.
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Continuing up the valley.
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Continuing up the valley.
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Continuing up the valley.
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Continuing up the valley... and things are looking kind of gnarly.
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Continuing up the valley.
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Little potholes.
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Continuing up the valley.
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A much larger pothole... and many thanks for those rocks sticking above the water.
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Looking back down the valley.
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Continuing up the valley.
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Looking back down the valley.
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I think I remember exhaling here... feeling like I will survive... and heading for the gap up there in the center of the photo.
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Continuing up Gunsight Valley on much easier terrain.
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Almost at the top of Gunsight Valley.
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Looking back down Gunsight Valley... hiking and scrambling a total of one mile... after leaving the car 3 hours ago.
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Continuing to hike up Gunsight Valley on what seems like simple terrain.
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I had been hiking and scrambling SW all day up the valley... but now I have started hiking NW... working on closing the loop hike.
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Continuing to hike NW on much easier terrain.
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Continuing to hike NW... looking for the high point of the hike.
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My high point for the day is up ahead.
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Almost at my high point for the day.
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After hiking a total of 1.5 miles I have reached my high point for the day... 4115 feet... and will begin hiking north on the far right.
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Hiking north and getting ready to give up some elevation by going around the rock pile on the far right.
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Still hiking north... and getting ready to lose some elevation.
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Giving up elevation as I hike north... heading for the gap over there on the right.
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Heading for the gap on the far right.
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Getting ready to begin hiking NE after hiking a total of 1.9 miles.
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I have found a boot path... and it will be a huge help in giving up 400 feet of elevation to get back down to the desert floor.
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Hiking NE and giving up 400 feet of elevation on a very helpful boot path.
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Continuing to hike NE and giving up elevation as I am getting closer to the desert floor.
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After hiking a total of 2.2 miles I have reached the desert floor... and I will start hiking east for .7 miles to get back to my car... the Gunsight Loop hike was a total of 2.9 miles, gaining 821 feet of elevation... taking me 5 hours to complete.
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