3-19-2010 Pass Mountain Trail

3-19-2010- Friday 8a.m. Sheri and I decided to head to Usery Mountain Regional Park to hike the Pass Mountain Trail. The park is due east of our home and is approx. a 15 minute drive. The trail is a 7.5 mile loop around Pass Mountain, aka Scarface to the locals. Driving east the weather looked sketchy, a mix of sun and clouds and what appeared to be verga, and cool as well, temperature was in the 50's.
You take the Wind Cave Loop road to the junction of the trail-heads. The park has 30 miles of established hiking trails. The Wind Cave Trail is a 1.5 mile out and back trail that is very popular as it is high up on the west side of the mountain and offers great views of the Valley. But we opted for the longer distance but still offering awesome views.
The dreaded Cholla Cactus, my least favorite cacti as it always seems to have an attraction to me!
Myself stopping to take in the view on the north east side of the trail.
A Grand Daddy Saguaro Cactus. It was massive! I couldn't believe how many arms it had, it seemed all the cacti were swollen with water from all the rain we have had.
And yet this Saguaro was at the end if its life.
Sheri on the east side of the trail. She keep saying," I think its going to rain on us", and I kept saying," Not today"!
I ate my words as this small storm came in from the north and gave us a light rain for about 15 minutes. It was nice not unbearable and as we continued our hike we dried.
On the east side there our various rock ridges and outcroppings that just catch your eye and you have to stop and take it in.
At the half way point on the east side you can take a short side trip to the Hole in the Wall. Its a nice area to stop for a snack or to seek refuge from the rain. It can be seen in the left upper portion of the picture.
Sly hanging out in the Hole in the Wall.

Blooming Ocotillo. We were hoping for the wildflowers but since the temperature was low and cloudy skies, the flowering buds were shut tight.
I love the Saguaros and the rock formations.
We're so blessed to live this close to Gods creation, Awesome!
Thanks for letting me share with all of you.
God Bless, Sly