Ominous clouds on the drive out.
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Turn here to start the journey.
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Mary and Kaiel
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Negotiating the '4-Wheel Drive' only obstacle in our FJ80 LandCruiser "Tubbs"
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Beer and sandwich break at Dos Cabezas
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Dos Cabezas water tower
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How did he get up there ?
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Kaiel climbs the tower.
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First time we have seen so much green grass out here
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Hey, who gave that 11 yr. old an axe?
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Camp fires are a necessity once the sun sets in the winter.
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Looking towards El Centro and the Salton Sea
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Sunrise without camera flash
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Desert sunrises are unsurpassed in their brilliance
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Sunrise again with camera flash.
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Don't turn here.
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This is the right marker
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Kaiel gets ready to start the 3 hour hike
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The trail was easy to find in the beginning
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Bob climbs to get a better vantage point. (we lost the trail)
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Kaiel takes a breather after 30 minutes of climbing
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Bob and Kaiel.
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Notice Mortero Wash way down below? That is where we parked.
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Interesting cliff.
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Still climbing.
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Once you reach the top a vast sea of cholla appears.
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Trail is barely discernible. (it's to the right)
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These trail markers (ducks) were crucial in finding our way since we did not have a GPS or a compass.
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Where's the trail ?
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The beginning of Goat Canyon is pretty evident.
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Mary and Kai contemplate the best approach to descend into the canyon.
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Down into Goat Canyon
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Look closely, we were being watched the entire time.
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Just when I pointed the camera the BigHorn turned and looked directly at me.
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He looked like he wanted to say "What the heck are you doing way out here?"
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Sure-footed Mary
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Kaiel makes his way down
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The first glimpse of the Goat Canyon Trestle is spectacular even from a distance.
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Kaiel in front of Goat Canyon Trestle
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Another angle.
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We made it ! Actually the last 300 yards were pretty treacherous.
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Goat Canyon Trestle is pretty overwhelming when you stand below it.
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The reason for the trestle. The original collapsed tunnel in Goat Canyon
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Goat Canyon Trestle Closeup
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Tunnel closeup
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Starting the long journey back to the LandCruiser
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Mary takes the slide approach
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Cactus with attitude next to kid with attitude
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Multi-colored moss
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Kaiel liked this tree as it seemed to grow directly out of solid rock.
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Early season flowers on a barrel cactus
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Kaiel resting at Mortero Palms
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Water chute at Mortero Palms
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Kaiel checks out the morteros
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