Desert Hiking Around Palm Springs, California

Just returned from a great winter get away to Palm Springs.  Lisa and I spent ten days there and managed to get out for several really good two to four hour hikes.  None of these hikes were more than a one hour drive from Palm Springs and we were so impressed with the variety of hike we enjoyed.  Here is a photo sampling...

Indian Palms - East Fork and Indian Palms Loop (8 km)

Whitewater - Including a brief bit of the Pacific Crest Trail (5.5 km)

Pushawalla Loop (7.1 km)

Willis Palms (6.5 km)

Painted Canyons Ladder Route (8.1 km)

Cajon - Making Music

I have played guitar since I was a teenager but always alone.  Last year my cycling friend Keith, realising we both play, organised a little jam night.  It was a huge revelation and such a fun time for me to actually play with others.  We have since gotten together several times with a revolving group of players.

A few months back Keith and I attended a local open mike night (watching, not ready to play for a crowd yet) and a couple of the talented young women did a number of cover and original tunes and one of the instruments they used was a wooden box.  This was big enough to sit on and buy the sound it made had some sort of snare inside that would rattle when the front of the box was struck by the bare hand.  Sort of a poor man's drum kit.

That night I googled this and found out it is called a cajon and there are loads of DIY plans on the internet to built one.  Which I did.  In fact I made one for myself and one for my younger and musically inclined son Sam.

1/2 " birch plywood for all sides except the front which is 1/8"

1"x 1" spruce cleats glued and nailed

4" hole for the back

Basic box less the front

Snare made by cutting a snare drum snare in half

Snare installed to brush the inner surface of the front

Front installed with screw and no glue

Kokanee Glacier Provincial Park Day Hike

Whilst on our annual August vacation to see Lisa's family at Kootenay Lake Sam and I decide to do a day hike into Kokanee Glacier Park located nearby.

http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/kokanee_gl/

From Hwy 3A a gravel but very drivable 16 km road leads to the Gibson Lake parking area.  Overnight vehicles are surronded by provided chicken wire to keep the nocurnal porcupines away from tires and brake lines.

Steady climb for about one hour on well maintained trail leads to the subalpine area and Kokanee Lake.  This is traversed on south side scree slope.  Further along is Kokanee pass itself and then through pretty meadows to the junction to Kaslo Lake with the spectacular Kokanee Cabin and the further 3 km loop to the original Sloan Glacier cabin which is now an interpretation centre.

We had perfect hiking condition with mild temperature and no bugs.  We left the parking lot at 9 am and returned at 3:30 pm for a round trip of 20 km.

Next time going to try to get overnight reservations in the cabin and do more hiking in the surrounding area.