Autumn Interlude: Boulderdash

November 29, 2020

Autumn Interlude: Boulderdash

"Another day off the bike", you say, "that can't be good". Balderdash (or 'boulderdash' when it makes more sense), I reply - it can be as good as you make it. A few weeks ago I began thinking about day-trippin' out in the desert. I zoomed in and back out of GoogleEarth, pinpointing a few places that seemed like they might have some potential for further exploration. One place in particular stood out - Horsemen's Center Park in Apple Valley. Not only did it seem somewhat developed (and thus might have restrooms) but it also had a BMX race track, access to various dirt roads (good for riding?) and, maybe, best of all was located at the base of a great expanse of rocky hills known as, apropos for the desert I guess, the Deadman Hills.

Quite frankly, those "hills" are more rock and boulder than hill, and seemed to be popular with the climbing set; if you don't notice the pitons hammered into the rock on the more popular boulders, you are sure to come across climbers themselves, scaling or rappelling the sheer faces.

The first thing to know about this place is something you just will want to forget about - the trail. I mean there is a trail, not marked and only somewhat defined, that skirts around the southern end of the hills, rising and falling until it reaches a dirt road leading down into the valley on the east side. There, one or two of those familiar dilapidated desert homes now occupied by the wildlife, dry and bleach in the sun. Best just to forget about following any set path and let your imagination be your guide; see something that looks interesting? go towards it - as best you can. Unless you are using a rope, there are very few direct lines here. You will be threading the needle between boulders big and small. Expect to back track now and again; you won't be the first to have a, seemingly, good path come to a dead end. And you won't be the last. It is that kind of place. Just go with the flow and explore.