Stage I- Cactus

4/12/11  Cactus To Clouds is really two treks in one. This is the first half (desert/sand/cactus) of my first sucessful C2C summit.
DSC00034 The Desert Art Museum at about 6:15am as I hit the trail. I'm working on 4 hours of sleep and a 2 hour drive.
The Desert Art Museum at about 6:15am as I hit the trail. I'm working on 4 hours of sleep and a 2 hour drive.
DSC00035 Start of the Museum Loop trail, which connects with Lykken, then Skyline to form the Cactus to Clouds route to Long Valley.
Start of the Museum Loop trail, which connects with Lykken, then Skyline to form the Cactus to Clouds route to Long Valley.
DSC00037 A panaromic look at the desert floor. I'm trying out a new camera, so there's a lot of repeat pictures that I've also taken on past trips. View Full Size
A panaromic look at the desert floor. I'm trying out a new camera, so there's a lot of repeat pictures that I've also taken on past trips. View Full Size
DSC00038 A little further up the trail. It's a gorgeous morning.
A little further up the trail. It's a gorgeous morning.
DSC00041 The first foreboding trail sign.
The first foreboding trail sign.
DSC00042 The second rock sign.
The second rock sign.
DSC00044 My all-time favorite trail sign.
My all-time favorite trail sign.
DSC00045 I've probably taken a picture of this same cactus on every trip here, but I still think it's cool.
I've probably taken a picture of this same cactus on every trip here, but I still think it's cool.
DSC00047 The Spring wildflowers are just starting to bloom.
The Spring wildflowers are just starting to bloom.
DSC00050 The wildflowers are bright against the rocks.
The wildflowers are bright against the rocks.
DSC00052 Flowering cacti!
Flowering cacti!
DSC00053 The first rescue callbox. It's nice having recognizable milestones along the route to measure progress.
The first rescue callbox. It's nice having recognizable milestones along the route to measure progress.
DSC00057 Look carefully. Deer! Seems odd to see deer in the desert. They must wander down from a higher elevation for breakfast.
Look carefully. Deer! Seems odd to see deer in the desert. They must wander down from a higher elevation for breakfast.
DSC00060 A couple thousand feet up from the desert floor.
A couple thousand feet up from the desert floor.
DSC00061 The first glimpse of the ridge at Long Valley in the distance. It's hard to believe that it's still a full vertical mile above this point!
The first glimpse of the ridge at Long Valley in the distance. It's hard to believe that it's still a full vertical mile above this point!
DSC00063 The terrain starts to get more rugged at around 3000'.
The terrain starts to get more rugged at around 3000'.
DSC00064 The chaparral and taller vegetation starts at exactly 4000'. It's funny how you measure distance on this trail not in miles but in elevation.
The chaparral and taller vegetation starts at exactly 4000'. It's funny how you measure distance on this trail not in miles but in elevation.
DSC00065 One of the trail signs. I took a small trail offshoot and managed to miss this marker, which ended-up costing me a 10-15min detour, which I wasn't too happy...
One of the trail signs. I took a small trail offshoot and managed to miss this marker, which ended-up costing me a 10-15min detour, which I wasn't too happy…
DSC00067 Mt. San Gorgonio framed by Yuccas. I was on top of Gorgonio in the snow almost exactly one month earlier.
Mt. San Gorgonio framed by Yuccas. I was on top of Gorgonio in the snow almost exactly one month earlier.
DSC00068 The desert floor from a little over 4000'. View Full Size
The desert floor from a little over 4000'. View Full Size