Photo: Jac contemplates Wildhorse Mesa climb

On Sunday April 19th, I hiked in a few miles into the section that had bedeviled me before…with Wild Horse Mesa. I had backtracked because I did not find the way up the rock wall of the mesa. I was determined to try again. Jac was okay with me hiking with her.

She had hiked into Kelso Depot that morning and we headed out at around 2:30 or so in the afternoon from Globe Mine Road. I was very surprised to see so many wildflowers and cactus in bloom…more than I had seen in this section in March. We finished the jeep trail and Summit Spring canyon/wash in lingering daylight. By about 7pm, we were just before Summit Spring. We camped just off trail on a nice and high flat spot. It was a gorgeous starry night, great views, and not too chilly.

In the morning on April 20, we started out early so we would do the 1,000 foot climb up the mesa in the cool part of the morning. First, we passed by the puddle that is Summit Spring and climbed up to the crest. Then we dropped down steeply to a wash until we got to the base of the mesa. Jac had a great system of reading Steve Tabor’s guidebook notes in segments, and we would hike each small segment a bit at a time. That way, we were better able to determine our route and to ensure that we were spot on. What a different experience from my first attempt! It was a difficult navigational puzzle and steep on occasionally unstable sandy soil and rock, but we found a good spot to get through the rock wall! Hallelujah!

The climb continued to the top of the mesa but on much easier terrain that was gentler. Many, many flowers and flowering cacti – amazing and beautiful. The top of the mesa was rocky so we still had to pick our way carefully so as to not stumble on the rocks. But, not too difficult. We had spectacular 360 views for the entire mesa walk. The next puzzle was the steep down when we got to the southeast end of the mesa. That too proved not as hairy as anticipated. I was bushed by the time we got down. The route takes us to Wild Horse Road and then on to the visitor center at Hole in the Wall. Yeti drove out to meet us on the road. I was glad to sit down, but so happy that I made it. Thanks to Jac for hiking with me. I know I was slower than her, but she was very gracious.

Jac continued hiking after a break and filling her water bottles at the campground. Yeti and I stayed overnight there; great views all around.

Next day, we met Jac at Cima Road late in the afternoon. She hiked on and we would not see her until Wednesday at Highway 15. Meanwhile, Yeti and I camped short of Baker, CA on BLM land. In the morning we had breakfast in Baker, checked out the market, and drove to Barstow for a motel, laundry, and showers!