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| Hiking | 1.40 Miles |
285 AEG |
| | Hiking | 1.40 Miles | | | |
| 285 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | I had been dancing around this one long enough and decided to head in and start checking things out. I had camped the previous two nights at Borrego Springs and Agua Caliente and was now heading back toward Arizona. A hike to Goat Canyon Trestle has been on my mind for a long time, since I am huge fan of the "Impossible Railroad." But this trip was just to drive some of the roads and determine access to the trailhead, etc. The big draw for me is railroad stuff, not palms, but hey palms are nice too.  Anyway, since I was heading eastbound on S2 from Agua Caliente (where I did a nice hike earlier in the day), I headed for Dos Cabezas first via the Mortero turnoff at S2. Piece of cake. Then it was over the tracks and to the road leading to the Mortero Palms TH (also an easy drive). 
There was one person camping near the trailhead and another vehicle parked there. I heard voices and soon the hikers were back at the trailhead and I talked with them about the hike to the palms. Turns out it was their first time there and they went up the drainage to the south, which is the wrong one. I knew that from reading the description in "Afoot & Afield." I let them know that for future reference. They headed off and I started my little hike, going west from the parking lot to access the main drainage. It was already going on 2 o'clock, so I figured I would just go to palms and back. I had no intention of going to saddle at the 3200 foot contour, just the palms. I have already decided I will not hike to the trestle alone because of the ruggedness of the terrain, but I wanted to get a feel for the area. My thoughts echo Chumley's: only 4 miles RT, but slower going than you might expect due to the bouldering and route finding. Also agree that you should leave the hiking poles behind for this one.
Though I read about not taking the route on the north side of the canyon or else you will miss the palms, I forgot that detail, and headed that way since I saw lots of footprints and cairns leading away from the spring box (for awhile). This was after I tried to go the proper way briefly but lost signs of a route. Again, slow going in here. Anyway I had fun on the little bit I did. Just have to go back again and also GPS the drive in as well. Who knows, maybe I'll get wild and go all the way to the trestle! I really want to do it this way because of it being 4 mile RT versus a 10+ effort walking the tracks (not to mention it not being legal, though many do it). I don't like long hikes anymore.
After the hike my next quest was to drive out a different way than my way in from Dos Cabezas. Again Jerry Schad's book was most helpful with the only exception that he said the road turnoff at S2 was EC119, whereas it is signed as EC109. No biggie. There have been a few changes in the wind farm area, but in general things are the same as before. Because this was my first time there, it was somewhat confusing when I came to junctions, but I ended up getting out just fine. Just after you go over the tracks at the paved crossing you immediately hang a right and drop down into a big wash (this is on the drive out). You see the road continuing up a steep pullout along the tracks on the other side, but that is not where you want to go (you'd likely get stuck anyway). Just stay on the road in the bottom of the wash that leads away from the tracks and you will be in business.
Though I looked, I failed to spot any Subaru parts or debris.
Once I got back to the main S2 highway it was off to grab a cold beer at the Lazy Lizard Saloon in Ocotillo. After a nice visit with the locals there, it was on to Yuma to motel it before heading back home Saturday morning. |
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