Let's see, today is Sunday.
Yesterday we took Becky, Dennis, Junior and Missy on a ride into the Plomosa Mountains.
The Morning started out cloudy and cold but it warmed up a little by noon.
I had wanted to check out a particular road that went past the "Climax Mine".
We left the park around 10:30 and drove out Sunkist trail almost to its end then turned east on a track heading toward the mountains.
Patti and I were out there several days ago (see Blog 01-12). We eventually arrived at the High point


where we could see a road winding up and over the mountains to the south east. After a little discussion we started up that road.

We didn't realize it until later, but it wasn't the trail that would take us by the "Climax Mine".
No matter, we were exploring any way.
The trail was kind of rough and very steep.


One particular spot in a wash was a little tight

even for the Rhino.

We continued over the mountains and found a place in a wash to have lunch.

This was where I realized that we were on the wrong trail.

While we were having lunch Becky found some "Desert Rose" Which is a type of Quartz.

After lunch as we continued on our way. A large hawk flew into a tree on the left side of the wash.

Eventually we came out of the mountains onto the flats. The town of Brenda could be seen to the southeast. We turned north and drove along the east side of the mountains. After a few miles and some side trips we came to a cross road. I got out the GPS and maps we triangulated our position.

I decided to turn east in the hope that, that track would take us through the mountains.
As we drove up this canyon we saw a "Mule Tail" doe

and past some small arches.


Unfortunately the calculations were off and we ended up in a box canyon.

I got out my net book and ran the track from the GPS. It showed us exactly where we were. I guess I should have used that before.

We returned to the cross road and took the right fork.
As we traveled along we saw two people standing by a disabled ATV.

They said that they were waiting for others in there party who were coming back with a trailer to hall the machine back.

The lesson here is that, excess speed can brake things.

With information gotten from the stranded couple.
We eventually found our way through the mountains before dark. We passed a lot of roads along the way that will require exploration later.
On the way home Patti got some pictures of the sunset.

It colored the mountains that we had just left.