Now that Spring is here the plant and wildlife is coming alive, take a look..close down, it is there...


Can you see the small insects in this close up photo of a flower that is about as big as your fingernail?

No idea what this spider type insect is but there were hundreds of them near the water in upper Nicholas Canyon and it was hard to get a picture of them as they moved very quickly

I have to say I have never seen moths or butterflies feeding on scat before but this trip showed me that flies, moths and others all enjoy a good fresh crap for nutrition

A beetle enjoys the pollen of a Beaver tail Cactus

Craig and I headed out Friday after work in the dark and hiked close to 5 miles into Mojave Valley via Rockhouse Canyon to get to the base of Dawns Peak. This would be my third ascent of Dawns in a month, she was my buddy by now...I found a Geocache in the morning looking for a place to take care of morning business....


Following Craig up to Dawns Peak, no easy task with heavy packs on. This climb gains almost 3,000' in less than 1.5 miles.

This is looking towards peak 6300 and Toro in the distance

I brought my 7 ounce titanium loppers and crushed our way thru the brush...haha...

Looking back at Dawns Peak from peak 6300

Peak 6300 Register


Reminds me of pineapple

We found the old Indian trail down into Rockhouse Canyon. It was steep and somewhat difficult to descend especially at the end of a long day

We made camp the second night at what we think was an old ranchers camp. It had a great view of the valley and lots of birds since it was close to a seep

The micro life of plants and animals is amazing, here are some photos of the small (and a few larger) plants and cacti that live in the desert, to me they are amazing





















Along the old indian trail I found some pottery, maybe a pot drop

Yours truly at the old Santa Rosa Village Ruins

This is the seep above the ruins, it had good water this time

Over in Nicholas Canyon you can find some remains of a mining operation, here is an old and deep shaft that remains uncovered

Nice view of the upper Cottonwoods with Dawns and Rabbit Peak in distance

Nicholas Canyon Spring...please do not leave the bucket under the water, it will fill with silt and mud, leave it cleaned and upside down under the small alcove nearby...thanks!

View of one of the old indian trails across the valley

I tucked my head inside a small shelter to see if there was any rock art but only found this 3' snake...!!

This was a great trip, 4 days wandering Rockhouse Canyon, the ridges above and the valley below. I will definitely be going back.
Total Mylar Balloons - 7 (not all pictured)

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