Over The Edge

(Heading) down highway 62, the Twentynine Palms Highway, and roll into the morning sun 

toward the east, away from town, and away from everything.

They don't call Twentynine Palms "The Edge" for nothing!

Very little traffic and the already thin signs of population promptly begin to get thinner.

Lots of open spaces dominating a patchy scrim of homes and cabins.

Out past Dale Dry Lake, and things finally just gave up altogether, 

and the last sign of human habitation, aside from the asphalt we were sailing down at good speed,

went out with a whimper and from then on we were over the edge

and it was hard-ass creosote and saharan mustard desert, 

rimmed by hard-ass bare rocky mountains and nothing else.

James McClaren, 16streets.com

I just happened across this blog by James McClaren that describes so well what it feels like heading east out of 29 Palms. Coincidentally, it's the same drive I make to get out to my secrete solitude spot in the "hard ass bare rocky mountains" east of 29 Palms. 

Last week I left you with this photo:

I was smitten with this rock formation and its beautiful little alcove (can't see it from this angle) and the unusual rocky erosions (below).

It was so interesting and unusual, it made me feel like I discovered something significant, something rare that likely few others have seen. Thus fortified, I decided to continue exploring.

There were quite a few washes in this part of the desert, going all different directions. No human footprints anywhere! I had to be careful to keep my bearing so as not to get turned around. I was proceeding further than my planned hike and no longer following waypoints.

Rocks everywhere!!!

 This wash was a little harder to follow and filled with large rocks. A short distance ahead it opened up and branched left (west) and right (north). The north branch looked like it went on for a long distance, all the way out of the rocky mountains I was exploring and down to the bajada beyond.

A small triangular "window" rock.

Chomp Chomp Chomp!!

As I hiked further and further into this jumble of rocks, the rocky peaks became even more impressive and rugged!

I love this view... a typical desert wash with rocky peaks on either side of me!

Finally, as I was heading back to (hopefully) find the top of the wash so I could make my way back to the Jeep, I had one of those jaw-dropping sights:

Do you see it?? From this angle, further away from my rocky alcove with the circular rocky erosions that I had been exploring, you can see a large cave or alcove on top of the rock with a huge opening. I was too close before to see it (compare this photo to photo #2), but I had been climbing literally right underneath it!

Lucky for me, the rocky slope was at an angle that made it possible to access my newly discovered "dome cave".

Hiking (partially on hands and knees) up to Dome Cave, I was treated to some spectacular views! The higher I got, the better the view.

Looking across at Dome Cave. Or maybe I should call it "Monster Dome?" Kind of looks like some kind of creature from this angle! This beautiful, large alcove comes complete with two side windows... a larger triangular-shaped window and a small porthole. Very cool!! Like other caves and alcoves in this area, no human footprints or sign of visitors. I wonder who else has discovered this amazing spot??

The two "windows" on the left hand side of the cave (facing out)

View out the small "porthole" window

Dome Cave opening is so large it's hard to capture in a single photograph. This is my attempt to manually stitch together two photos. Not perfect, but it gives you a good sense of what it looks and feels like sitting inside the cave. Incredible 360-degree views and absolute solitude!!

Can't resist sharing a few more view photos from Dome Cave. 

Yippee, I found it! Back in the wash and heading home (back to the Jeep). But this hike has one final surprise for me...

A nice big rattlesnake along the side of the wash. Thank goodness he/she gave me a nice, loud rattle well in advance to let me he/she was there! This was a dangerous time for a rattlesnake encounter. End of the hike, tired, just putting one foot in front of the other to get back to the Jeep, and not paying much attention to my surroundings. I actually said "thank you" out loud to the snake gods or whatever higher power might be listening and keeping me safe! All I had was my wide angle lens, and I wanted to keep a safe distance (10-12'), so not a great photo, but you get the idea!

With the discovery of Dome Cave, I would rank this hike, and this entire area, as one of my most interesting and memorable hikes ever!

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Thanks for stopping by!!