Sign Up  /  Login

Desert Bloom LbNA #13728 (ARCHIVED)

Owner:pilgrimsinthisland
Plant date:Mar 8, 2005
Location:
City:Mecca or Indio
County:Riverside
State:California
Boxes:1
Found by: Lee & Nancy
Last found:Oct 22, 2005
Status:Faaaaam
Last edited:Mar 8, 2005
The stamp for this one is handcarved. It is children friendly , if your children are hikers and two able bodied parents to help them through the ladders in the canyons. It is definitely not pet friendly or stroller friendly. You should check to see if the roads are open prior to venturing out to this destination as it is out of the way. The BLM Office in Palm Springs should know the conditions (619)251-4800 It is not for those afraid of ladders or heights either, though none of the ladders are higher then about 15 feet. Be sure to have water with you and that you are travelling in good weather. The area is known for flash floods...even in the California Desert!
Your starting point is in the wilderness area for Painted and Ladder Canyons. It really is an adventure. The first letterbox is not too far in, mind you, but still requires a bit of climbing. A few 'steps' on some of the the ladders were missing so it is a stretch for children and those vertically challenged like myself.

To get to the destination. Near the Salton Sea is a town called Mecca. Make your way to Mecca (do all roads lead to Mecca??? apparently not, as any written directions we followed, or maps, did not make sense. Hopefully you will know the area better. Once you have found your way to Mecca, there is a sign marking the route to the Painted Canyons which turns right off the main road. Follow this. You will cross a bridge at the aqueduct/canal. It is here that the road may be closed, so please check first. Travel another .25 miles. On the right is the sign for Painted Canyons. Turn left and travel 4 miles on this dirt road until it dead ends in a turn around. There should be a sign marking the end of the county road. You will see two separate rows of boulders at the head of two canyons. Begin hiking into the canyon to your right. You walk up this canyon for about .25 a mile until you see a metal post on your right. Across from this there is a pile of boulders, begin to climb up these. This is the entrance into the Ladder Canyons. It is hidden somewhat by this boulder slide. Travle up to the right of the slide and you will come to the first of the set of ladders. This has been recently replaced with an aluminum ladder which you descend. This ladder takes you into a long slot canyon. Continue walking until your second ladder which you ascend. At the top of this ladder as you stand and at about 5 feet along the wall to your left there is a crack, in this crack you should find the most unlikley Desert Bloom. Be sure to bring a stamp pad. However, again, we like to use markers and a yellow and green are greatfor the stem and flower.

You can turn back and return to your vehicle or continue along oyur hike. It is a loop trail which we did not complete. So I do not want to give intructions as to how you would do this. We did however continue through to a couple of more ladders and to the bottom of the ridge before we turned around and returned to our vehicle.
Enjoy

you may try this link
it gives great directions etc.

http://www.sdreader.com/php/roamshow.php?id=20041124