Mecca Hills, California that is, not Saudi Arabia. Hhhmmm, wonder if that blog title is gonna get me any extra traffic.  😉

While having a beer with the Jacumba Hiking Club, one of the members mentioned a “must do” hike in the nearby Mecca Hills which he called “Mecca Hills Ladders” hike.   It sounded so intriguing that I didn’t want to chance it to memory.  He pulled up a trail map on his iphone to show me, so I actually took a photo of his phone with my phone so I wouldn’t forget.

The description sounds like a fun adventure, so I think I might attempt it while parked at the Salton Sea, a mere 20 miles away.  But the more I read about it, the more it sounds a bit daunting, as does the forecast with an “unseasonable warming trend” ahead.   So I decide to wait…

Meanwhile, I send the photo to Gayle asking “Ever heard of this hike?”  She responds that yes, it is one she has long wanted to do, but so far the timing hasn’t worked out.  With our return to Joshua Tree, the  temperatures are also returning back to the normal range for this time of year, so we make a plan. We will finish up on the north side of Joshua Tree, then move through the park to the south boondocking area and make that our base for exploring Mecca Hills and the Painted Canyon.

The drive down Box Canyon Road to reach the Painted Hills area is just gorgeous.  The road cuts right through the canyon via a shallow gorge along the San Andreas fault.  There are tall, pastel walls on both sides of the road, and as we approach the Painted Canyon, those hills look as if they have been colored with pastel chalks in soft pinks, mauve, and muted green hues.  We pass many appealing boondocking spots, but again….no signal.

We have been unable to find a trail map for our hiking navigation apps, but Gayle does locate a detailed description with paragraph warnings of everything from bees to break-ins.   Once we arrive in the parking lot, however, we realize if there is to be a break-in, they are going to have a lot of cars to choose from!   The parking lot at the trail head is full!  We let out a collective groan for fear that the trail will be packed.  Thankfully, many are picnickers who never go beyond the entrance to the canyon, while the rest only seem to be interested in climbing the ladders.  Once we get beyond the technical section, we never see another soul for the remainder of the hike.

With the help of Gayle’s notes found on the website and a few “visual aids” in the form of rock arrows, we find the cut-off to the slot canyon, a scramble which looks more daunting than it is.   Not long after the turn-off, we come to our first ladder.  Gayle has been known to have a touch of acrophobia, so the first climb is a bit tenuous, but the ladder is short, so we move on to the next level.   The second ladder is much taller and a bit wobbly, so I slowly pull out my camera to get some action shots, only to realize she has already scurried up the ladder with no hesitation whatsoever!   Well, as long as we can keep going “up,” this hike will be easy!  😉

Feeling like we are in a game of Mario Brothers, we continue on up one level after another until we reach the top of the canyon.  Though the mountains may be a bit monochromatic, the views are rewarding.  We can see all the way to the Salton Sea from our lunch spot.   But here is where it gets a bit confusing.

Dead Reckoning has us thinking we need to loop back along the top of the canyon, drop back into the wash, and return to the parking lot.  There is even an arrow at the top of the canyon indicating same.  But just beyond the arrow, the trail is blocked by a row of rocks.  So we turn and head the opposite direction, further into the canyon.   Thankfully, we meet up with hikers coming in the opposite direction who provide “intel” about the route ahead, which drops down to the wash for the return hike back through Big Painted Canyon.

It’s a long hike out of the wash, but not due to distance.  There are frequent stops to admire the variety of “painted rocks” and wildflowers that decorate the canyon.

Two more ladders will require descent before we complete the loop, and they contain another set of challenges altogether.  Not only are they downhill, but they are swarming with…..BEES!   Poor Gayle, her two worst fears are realized…acrophobia and apiphobia, all in one lovely destination!

But determined NOT to turn around and reverse the loop, she handles it with grace and aplomb, and we are able to complete our five mile circumambulation pilgrimage around Mecca (Hills, that is) like the devout pilgrims that we are!