18 happy people met at the junction of Hwy 62 and Hwy 247 in Yucca Valley at 7:00
AM on 4/30/1994. The weather was perfect, with chilly air, warm sun, and clear
skies.
We all divided into five 4WD vehicles and caravanned past the West entrance to
Joshua Tree National Monument, to the Geology Tour Rd, and on across the desert
toward the Little Berdoo Mountains.
This was Diane Dunbar's checkout hike for her "I" rating. The route chosen to
Bernard and Little Berdoo was not the conventional route from the HPS writeup.
It was, instead, an alternate route, a favorite of the Coach's and had been
scouted the end of last year.
When everyone had parked and put on their boots and packs, Diane announced she
and Frank had just taken Wilderness First Aid, and requested that someone please
injure themselves so they could practice. A few hikers even agreed to do so,
asking what kind of injury would be preferred!!!
As soon as Diane took a compass bearing from the cars to the opening of the
canyon, the group set off.
There were several species of cacti in glorious bloom, and the ground was covered
with a blanket of multicolored flowers. This canyon is typical of most of the
canyons in Joshua Tree, with rugged rocks, occasional catsclaw to avoid, and
lots of grey-green juniper.
A brief break was taken at a little double saddle to show the group the other
canyon down below (the one in the HPS writeup) and the group continued on up the
same canyon. At the point where the canyon turned North, they turned SW and
sidehilled around an "intermediate bump", eventually meeting up with a second
canyon at a place where the sides were gradual and it was not too deep. Bernard
Pk, visible part of the way at the beginning of the hike, loomed again into view
toward the top of this new canyon, disappearing again as the group approached
the exit point.
The group climbed up a steep slope and over another rise and there in all its
glory was Bernard itself. The group sat around on the summit block pointing out
San Jacinto, San Gorgonio, the Salton Sea, and many other landmarks, all visible
from this one peak.
After a short break, the group followed Diane along a ridge and over and around
two high points. Frank (the coach) pulled his usual amazing trick twice on this
ridge. When all the group is together after negotiating a high point, and
looking behind them for the sweep, he magically appears in front of them
instead, in a nonchalant way. Where he comes from, nobody knows, but you can be
sure that, as a sweep, he had the group in sight at all times.
From here, another little ridge led up to Little Berdoo, where Diane bandaged
someone's scraped hand. Again, everyone marvelled at the view and ate Vi
Grasso's chocolate cookies.
The route back from Little Berdoo was beautiful rough XC, back to the double
saddle where the group had been shown the HPS route on the way up, and a reverse
bearing from the original canyon's mouth led them directly back across the
desert floor to the cars. The hike lasted 4 3/4 hours.
Again, the 4WD vehicles wended their way across that desert plain toward the
Geology Tour Road. Later, passing the original meeting point, they drove to
Black Rock Canyon Campground, parking at the Ranger Station.
Together the group set off again, this time XC across the desert toward Black
Rock Spring. It was very green on that route, with lots of flowers here, too.
The spring had water in it, in the middle of this dry place! A swarm of bees was
sitting around on the ground around it, though, so it was passed quietly and
quickly. The group climbed a ridge to Warren Point, celebrating Diane's
successful checkout hike with champagne, sparkling cider and chips and salsa on
the summit.
The route down was further down Black Rock Canyon than groups usually descend,
and offered a chance to see parts of that beautiful canyon that are usually
missed on most hikes. They returned to the cars in less than 3 hours from the
starting time, and a tired happy group left for home, Southern nursing a Cholla
puncture.
Participants: Diane Dunbar, Frank Goodykoontz, Vi Grasso, Keith Martin, Bill
Sheehan, Ann Bennett, Susan Rubio, Kay Rogowski, George Thomas, Roxana Lewis,
Southern Courtney, Stephen Bache, George Schroedter, Walia Ringler, Betty
Stirratt, Ralph Turner, Eileen Ricks, and Gwen Hembrock.
This was a very supportive, very upbeat, fun group to have on a checkout hike,
and nobody ever had a better coleader and evaluator than Frank. This leader
appreciates everyone involved. Thank You!!!
