Off-Trail in Joshua Tree NP
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Sandy,
Yes, a lot of class 3, but you know that ahead of time.
I haven’t gone up Munson Canyon that far, but it doesn’t look too difficult. As you found, most people are approaching from the west. On a topo map, if you look north from Eagle Summit you’ll see Conejo Well, probably a little over a mile north. Not only is that area steep, but there is a lot of brush/shrubs to deal with especially in the drainages — I’d avoid that. I agree with Terran Terran to head easterly and then drop down into that large basin. Towards the east the rock formations are lovely.
Plan some extra time crossing the basin to get to Black Eagle Mine Road. A lot of those flat looking washes are kinda steep and it becomes a lot of up and down in soft sand. Easy walking but tiring.
Be cautious of any trip reports prior to this summer. Tropical Storm Hilary hit parts of Joshua Tree pretty hard. Flash flooding might make some routes, that were reported on trip reports, very difficult.
Also watch the weather reports closely if you are going to do this in December. Cottonwood area is in the lower elevations of Joshua Tree NP, but this is what Cottonwood Springs looked like in Dec of 2008 . . .
Sidewinders to the left, rattlers to the right; no water anywhere; an unknown class 3 off trail route, unless a blizzard turns it impassible; flash floods and cactus and bramble bushes choking off descents; sandy trudges after you’ve twisted your ankle…what’s not to love?
It gets even better. Check out this sign. GPS is unreliable in park (whatever that means) and cell phone service is spotty, which means non-existent in the area Sandy is going. Add in all the people who get lost and disappear and/or die every year, it is a great place to hike and avoid people if you are willing to go off trail for a few days.
Time to get this thread back on track . . .
Sounds like Sandy knows what he is doing and has been methodical in his research.
Some pictures from Google Earth:
Below is Lost Palms Oasis (far lower right). His plan is to hike up Munson Canyon, near Summit Spring, and then up on ridge lines to Summit Peak, or rather the high point of the Eagle Mountains, since the high point doesn’t have much of a prominence, like Pinto Mountain (he will eventually hike to Pinto Valley below this). On the picture, North is on the left.
In the next picture we see Eagle high point. West is at the bottom and is how most people get to the summit. No real trails and most people don’t find the summit that easy to find.
Last, Eagle Summit and the valley he mentioned, which is on the left, north of the summit. East is at the top, which is where I would head from the summit. North drainages are boulder strewn and often congested with shrubs and small trees. It is more difficult than the picture seems. Eastward is the area of Carey’s Castle. The Eagle Mountains aren’t that large and I have circumnavigated them a few times of the decades.
If Sandy does this trip, I for one would sure look forward to a trip report!
Good to see you revisit your thread to update us.
Although the Eagle Mountains are my favorite part of Joshua Tree, Lower and Upper Covington Flats were a favorite of mine until the Internet raised its ugly head. There used to be a reliable spring just west of Upper Covington Flat, downhill. Same restrictions on not camping within a boundary area, which should be on a topo map (I don’t use electronic equipment when hiking other than a headlamp and sometimes a P&S camera).
Someone mentioned sheep making a mess of a spring. Not my experience compared to wild horses and their kin. Some wonderful springs in the Lake Meade NRA that are just about undrinkable unless one is desperate.
If you are confident in your navigation and rock climbing skills, I would highly recommend plan A, weather permitting.
Water has always been a limiting factor for me when hiking in Joshua Tree. In 1985 I bought a Kelty Serac Expedition pack to carry large quantities of water on some of my desert roaming. The pack is something like 115L in volume. My first trip was a circumnavigations of Joshua Tree. I walked from my house to the town of Thousand Palms (10 miles) where I filled 5 gallons of water containers, which was over 40 lb. From there I hiked through Sky Valley and up Berdoo Canyon, which was just wonderful. From there I worked my way to Cottonwood Campground (water stop) then down past Lost Palms Oasis, then north to Buzzard Springs (water). From Buzzard I walked down just below the north entrance of the Park, which was then a National Monument, and was able to get water from a nice homeowner. Walked back to the Calif Riding and Hiking Trail and then to the spring below Upper Covington Flats. Then back to Berdoo Canyon and home. IIRC it was a couple of weeks. More water means slower walking and more difficulty in canyons and such. I still have that pack and use it occasionally.
I still use these 3 packs below for an occasional nostalgic trip. (left to right) Kelty D4 purchased in 1971, Kelty Serac 1973, and Kelty Serac Expedition 1985.
Most of my trips I now use a McHale. I’m 73 so the most water I’m willing to carry at the beginning of a trip is 3 gallons, but most of my desert trips begin with 2 gallons which can carry me through 3 days in cooler weather and a reliable water stop on the third day.
Keep us posted on your plans.
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