Photo: Intimidating Rock Wall Wildhorse Mesa

We drove from Twentynine Palms to Kelso Dunes Campground where we found a shaded spot under trees. There were no other people in the campground and we had a peaceful night with stars in the sky and dunes right by us.

In the morning, Yeti drove me to the Kelso Depot TH at Globe Mine Road and I headed off. I was to meet him the following day at Hole in the Wall campground. The beginning of the hike is on a dirt road and easy going, though gradually climbing. I saw some cactus in bloom, but there were fewer flowers in this very dry Mohave desert. Soon I joined a wash and continued up the wash for several miles. I actually saw a trickle of water on some rocks and a very small seep. One could have gotten maybe a cup or two of water out of this small pool.

Summit Spring, which is considered fairly reliable, had a mere dirty puddle. I noticed a wildlife camera attached to a tree above the spring. If you were desperate you could use that water, but you would not have gotten much. I didn’t need the water so left it for the wildlife.

After the spring, I climbed a steep crumbly hillside to a crest. That was hot work. There was a nice breeze up at the top, so I took a snack and water break. I got great views down each side of the crest. A shorter but steep down into another wash and I was back on my way towards Wildhorse Mesa. I camped in the wash as I did not want to do the big 1000 foot climb at the end of the day.

Next day turned out to be the morning from hell. I had seen a huge mountain in front of me with towers of rock at the top and was hoping that wasn’t the mesa…well it was. I followed my GPS track and it seemed to take me directly up a rock wall. First, it was a steep climb up crumbly sand and rocks, which wore me out. Then, when I got to this place I thought was where it was directing me, I couldn’t believe it. Instinct had told me the way through was way over to the left. Anyway, I spent over an hour trying to get up this rock face…it was almost a technical climb and I couldn’t do it. Sometimes you get a bee in your bonnet and you get fixed in your thinking. If I hadn’t been so spent, I might have remembered that this GPS track was not ground checked and so the spot where I was might not be correct. I was exhausted physically, mentally, and emotionally and didn’t have the energy to explore more. So, I decided to go back.

I sent Yeti a message via the Garmin Inreach and headed back to the Kelso Depot trailhead. Disappointed, but I think under the circumstances, it was the right decision. Got back by 7pm and we camped in the van right on the dirt road.