Day 2: Hike beyond Indian Springs toward Cane Spring, returning cross-country via Eyeball Rock in an unnamed wash, 7-8 miles
With the unexpected luxury of drinking water here at Indian Springs, I'll stay an extra day and explore on foot some of the wash and lava-flow areas up toward Cane Spring. No bicycling today.
I don't have a set destination for today's hike other than heading up the wash, which makes it that much more interesting.
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Date: December 26, 2007, 12h00
Size: 53 items
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Another trickle of water
I'm surprised to see so many small seeps back here providing a little water here and there. I was expecting the area to be almost completely dry.
Date: December 26, 2007, 14h24
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The wash forks and gets narrower, then I stumble across these bones
I'm not sure what this was, but it had big teeth!
Date: December 26, 2007, 14h33
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I think I'm at Cane Spring, but maybe not; Cane Spring might be over in the next wash
There's a small pool of water here and it looks like the water lasts a while. The plants here are softer than the tougher, drier plants I've seen elsewhere in this wash system so far.
Date: December 26, 2007, 14h35
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Just beyond Cane Spring, I come across more surface ice
It looks like a real stream, but the water here is extremely shallow, perhaps just 1/4 or 1/2 inch deep.
Date: December 26, 2007, 14h38
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Another one of many splits in the wash
I climb the adjacent hill a little to get a better view. Which fork should I take?
Date: December 26, 2007, 14h42
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Randomly, I decide to head up the rocky right fork
I guess I'm heading toward that lava flow off in the distance.
Date: December 26, 2007, 12h43
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More eroded walls in the wash
This almost looks like it was created by construction equipment.
Date: December 26, 2007, 14h46
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"Painted-dot" rock
The dark spot isn't the only interesting feature of this rock; it's also supporting the protruding slab above it.
Date: December 26, 2007, 14h46
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The tip of one of the old lava flows lies a short distance ahead
I think I'll climb up to it.
Date: December 26, 2007, 14h49
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Approaching the base of the lava flow from the knoll that it rests on
The edges of the lava flow look rather vertical, and I'm not a mountain climber.
Date: December 26, 2007, 14h52
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I make it almost to the top of the lava and am taking in the excellent views across the Indian Springs area
I can't climb the last eight feet or so to get completely on top because of the lava's sharp vertical edges.
Date: December 26, 2007, 14h57
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I climb back down to the wash below
An animal seems to have built a comfortable home in this rock shelter.
Date: December 26, 2007, 15h06
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