STINK BEETLE PHOTO BY BILL HOWELL
38 San Diego Reader July 21, 2016
Gather No Moss TRAVEL STORIES AND TIPS FROM OUR READERS
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San Diego Outdoors with the Museum Canyoneers ROAM-O-RAMA
RAZOR POINT TRAIL – TORREY PINES STATE NATURAL RESERVE This short hike has sandstone badlands, a gorge, a sweeping coastline, and the namesake Torrey Pines.
Climbing and jumping around in Joshua Tree Best bets for your
Joshua Tree weekend By Laura Ferguson
As a recent transplant to Southern California, I’ve been anxious and excited to get out and explore what this part of the country has to offer. Joshua Tree has been at the top of my list since before I relocated here.
The ride was quick and scenic, along the mountain ranges and the wind turbines. From Swingers to Fear and Loathing, the stretch of highway from L.A. to Vegas is something I’ve romanticized. Swap meet and drive-in movie signs, relics from a time since passed. There was as much lost Americana as I had hoped.
Arriving at our campsite, Indian Cove, was a sort of surreal experience. Giant rock clusters emerging from the earth surrounded
Rock clusters to climb on; scenic, wind- ing trails through the canyon; lizards scurrying by our feet. This hike was everything I had hoped a walk through the desert would be.
As the sun set, we made our way to the highest point near our camp, found a perch, and got comfortable. A vividly beautiful show unfolded before us. Pinks and purples painted the sky. From our quiet seat on the rocks, we had our own personal sunset.
After the sun went down is when the show really started. No light pol- lution, no obstructions. Just dazzling, twinkling stars above. Part of the lure of camping here is to experi- ence the desert sky at night. And Joshua Tree did not disappoint. The next
Roadside oddities en route to Joshua Tree include the Cabazon Dinosaurs (just west of Palm Springs).
us as we made our way to our site. Being one of my first experiences of the desert, it felt otherworldly.
We set up our tent, nestled at the base of a rock cluster. Although the camp- ground was completely booked, we felt secluded and removed from the other visitors. Voices didn’t travel, light from the other sites couldn’t be seen. It was welcome isolation.
The site came complete with a firepit, grill, and picnic table. We were outfitted to set up shop and prepare an awesome meal. A ranger came around the next morning and told us what we already knew: we had the best site in the joint.
The next day we spent the afternoon adventuring into the Wonderland of Rocks along the Boy Scout Trail. While we did see several cars at the entrance, we only came across a handful of people on the trail.
morning we packed up camp and headed to the famed Jumbo Rocks. While
Indian Cove presented a landscape that felt like you were on another planet, the trip to Jumbo Rocks felt cartoonish. Cruising through the desert, I half expected to see the Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote.
Once we reached the rocks I under- stood the name. How do these smooth, marshmallow-looking rocks even exist? They’re, well, jumbo. A giant play- ground to climb on and under and over. Before hitting the road to head home we wandered the main street, picked up souvenirs at Coyote Corner, and grabbed a well-earned burger at the Joshua Tree Saloon.
From the rock formations to the sunsets to the welcome escape from reality, this weekend desert adventure has only made me more eager to get back out there and explore.
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Distance from downtown San Diego: 22 miles. Allow about 35 minutes driving time (Del Mar). From I-5 N, exit on Carmel Valley Rd. and turn left (west). From Carmel Valley Rd., turn left (south) on S. Camino Del Mar, which becomes N. Torrey Pines Rd. as you cross into La Jolla. Drive 0.7 mile to the park entrance to pay a day-use fee. The visitor center parking area is about 1.5 miles up Tor- rey Pines Park Rd. Free parking, if available, is by the beach on N. Torrey Pines Rd. Hiking length: 1.3 miles total out-and-back. Allow 45 minutes for this trail. Additional time/mileage/elevation if parked at the lower lot by the beach. Difficulty: Easy. Elevation gain/loss 250 feet. The trail is well- maintained with a gradual slope and some stairs. Facilities and water are available. No food, dogs, or bicycles permitted. Hours open: 7:15 a.m. to sunset.
Red Butte is illuminated in sunset glow. Inset: Stink beetles raise their rears in defense mode. T
he Razor Point Trail in Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve meanders through high-quality south-
ern maritime chaparral habitat, offering stunning glimpses of the Pacific Ocean before ending at an outlook. The Razor Point Trail offers many well- placed benches to rest and enjoy the views, or for those interested in extending the hike, options to connect with other trails. This route begins following signs for the Beach
Trail before the first junction directs you in the direc- tion of the Razor Point trail. Chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum), California buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum), and yerba santa are abundant at the start of the hike. By comparing the leaves of chamise and California buckwheat, you can gain insight into the Latin species name “fasciculatum.”
Notice that the leaves of both species come out of the stems in little bunches, or fascicles. A fascis, or bundled sticks, was a symbol of power in imperial Rome, and was later symbolically used by the Italian Fascist Party. Be sure to examine any flowering buck- wheat closely to view its characteristic pink pollen. And listen for the sound of bees, which can often be found in great numbers on the flowers. While San Diego County is home to over 600 species of native bees, the introduced European honeybee will likely be the most conspicuous pollinator. Bees also will seek the pale lavender flowers of the yerba santa. Yerba santa is a highly valued medicinal plant by California Indians. The Spanish were so impressed with its healing qualities that they named it the continued on page 42
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