Cajon Wash: Escaping a petty world...

Here's more in connection with my weeks-long "study" of the Mormon Rocks area.

Despite the blistering heat which baked the Inland Empire, this weekend, I had to feel the warm wind on my face.  I had to remind myself that there's more to life than working in an office during the week.

On the right, of course, are the Mormon Rocks.  The footage was filmed as my DJI Phantom 4 drone blasted through Cajon Wash at an insect-smashing speed of 15 miles per hour. Immediately behind me (as in my person, not necessarily the drone), was this:

Photo by Scott Schwartz.

I'm just curious...

How many of you would be interested in an online basic photography course, taught by me?

The Other Side Of Mormon Rocks...

After driving across Cajon Wash, I found myself on the East side of the Mormon Rocks.  The Union Pacific tracks were behind me, as I filmed this video. 

To get here, I simply took a dirt trail from Hwy. 138, which crosses Cajon Wash, and which then closely parallels the railroad tracks. 

I'm going to try to get out here again, this weekend.

El Paso Mountains...

Here's a photo that I took in October, 2016.  It was, I believe, my first trip to the El Paso Mountains with my DJI Phantom 4 drone.  I can't believe that I've had that drone for nearly two years already!  Naturally, the Phantom 4 has been superseded by newer models since then.

Koehn Lake can be seen in the upper right corner of this image.  The current hot temperatures give the desert "character," and I have been known to make excursions during the summer.  But, the softer lighting that occurs during the fall/winter months is what really inspires the artist inside me.

The Hidden World in the Cajon Pass: Mormon Rocks...

The Mormon Rocks formation seems to be spread out pretty far, with Hwy. 138 passing right through them.

On Sunday (7/22/18), I decided to look at the area on the north east side of Rte. 138, near Cajon Wash.  This is an interesting area, because the trail winds around the rocks, and takes one alongside the freight train tracks.  This is illustrated in the photo below:

Once again; due to interference, the video feed to my device was "scrambled" while I was flying, so it's almost like the days when you had to get your film developed in order to see how your photos came out!

Thank you all for viewing my post.

More About Mormon Rocks: A Preview...

I was out exploring again, today.  Here is a preview of posts to come.

Have a great Sunday evening, everyone!

Rock Candy Mountains...

...now known as the Mormon Rocks.

Looking at the ribbon of black top that winds through the area, it is easy to forget how difficult it must have been for pioneers, who traversed this area via wagon.

The area is still fraught with danger to the unwary- extreme heat during the summer months, and rattlesnakes.  A reader recently emphasized the latter by pointing out that a fatality occurred, as the result of a snakebite, despite the party having been evacuated from the area via helicopter.

I hope that everyone has a safe and wonderful weekend- and I may explore Mormon Rocks a little further, this weekend.

Peek at Mormon Rocks...

More from my 7/15/18 trip...

Mormon Pioneers were supposed to have camped here, when they were passing through the area in 1851.  Although, I am not sure if the spot at which I had stopped is part of the "official" Mormon Rocks formation.  Toward the end of the video, you can see the same type of formations on the other side of Hwy. 138.

In the past, these rocks have been known as the "Rock Candy Mountains" and as the "Chanting Rocks."  The latter designation was more of an unofficial designation, based on the sound that is made when the wind passes through the many large holes in the rocks.

Again, I consider myself fortunate to have been able to produce an acceptable video here, as electrical interference with the video feed from my drone to my device made it impossible for me to see what I was filming.

I hope that you all have a great day!  And, thank you for viewing my post!

Mormon Rocks: A Peek...

From my 7/15/18 wanderings.

As mentioned previously, Lone Pine Canyon Road dumped me out near Mormon Rocks, where Mormon pioneers were supposed to have camped.  I intend to look into this topic, further.

Filming this was difficult, because electrical interference was distorting the video feed to my device, rendering it nearly impossible to see what I was shooting.

I simply activated the drone's camera and hoped for the best.

Thanks for viewing my posts, everyone!

Beyond Lost Lake...

Driving along Lone Pine Canyon Road, I passed an area that is called "Sheep Spring."  I don't know what the concrete slab is for, but it could simply be an old trough.  I didn't approach the spot, because I didn't see any trail that would bring me closer, and there are some houses in the area.  I didn't want risk trespassing.

I followed Lone Pine Canyon Rd. to its end, which put me near the area that is known as "Mormon Rocks."  Here, I decided to launch my drone and shoot some video footage.  

There will be more on this in tomorrow's post.  Have a great day, everyone!

Beyond Lost Lake, North bound. Explorations on July 15, 2018.

You all remember this rock formation, which I saw as I headed North from Lost Lake.

The trail continues, and after a dip into a sandy wash (4WD recommended), it climbs, as shown above.  What was at the top?  

The trail turned out to be a dead-end.  However, it provided this view of the canyon below.  Well, sort of; I used my drone to provide a little more elevation.

I turned around and headed back out, cutting across one of the power line access roads toward Lone Pine Canyon.  More about that, later.

Lost Lake Juxtaposition...

So, this image illustrates the so near (to the man-made world), and yet, so far location of the Lost Lake area.

The 15 Freeway can be seen in the upper left, the dirt road on the right, and one can see how this area is nestled in a spot that gives the illusion of being away from it all.

The dirt road continues on to the rock formations that I posted about, previously, and goes further still.  I plan to take the road a little further in my upcoming exploration.

The Cactus Illusion...

I don't know about anyone else, but I sometimes have trouble determining whether a cactus is dead or alive.  Often, the cacti that I come across look as though they're rotting, or they look as though they're really dried out.  But, all of that could just be an illusion.

The cacti in this photograph (which I took in April, 2018 at Joshua Tree National Park) don't look very healthy to me, but behold:  a flower!

Still Photo- near Lost Lake...

So, here's a photo of that rock formation that has featured so prominently in my videos, this week.

I plan to explore the area further, this weekend.

Drone video: close encounter with the rocks at Lost Lake...

Another perspective near Lost Lake in the Cajon Pass.

June 30, 2018.

Equipment:  DJI Phantom 4.

In the near future, I plan to take the trail a little further north, in order to see what lies beyond the ridge in the background.

Secret Canyon- Cajon Pass...more drone video footage...

So near, and yet so far from civilization; this area feels so remote, but it is actually not far from the 15 freeway.

Here is more footage of that rock formation, albeit from a different perspective.  Note the boulder that seems to be perched on the ridge.  This is most noticeable toward the end of the video.

Equipment:  DJI Phantom 4 drone.

Secret Canyon near Lost Lake- Cajon Pass...

I was poking around near Lake, and I happened  across this rock formation, that is surrounded by the grasses and other plants that are fed with underground water.  This was about a 1/2 mile north of the actual lake.

I call it a "secret canyon", because this area doesn't appear to be visible from the nearby 15 Freeway.  It's like a hidden world- "Lost Lake" is aptly named.

Filmed with a DJI Phantom 4 drone, on 6/30/2018.

Cajon Pass: Lost Lake...

That small body of water toward the top-left of the frame is the actual lake.  I did not walk over to the lake itself, as I was more curious to see where the trail (pictured on the right side of the frame) would take me. 

Naturally, legend has it that the lake is bottomless.  In truth, the lake is fed by underground springs, and it does, indeed, have a bottom.

Photo taken using DJI Phantom 4 drone.  June 30, 2018.

Lost Lake- Cajon Pass- drone video...

I'm back, after taking some time off.  I hope that you all had a great July 4th!

This footage was filmed on June 30th, 2018.  I didn't have a plan, other than to explore the West side of the Cajon Pass, and I found myself near Lost Lake.

The trail that took me to the drone launching-point was my second choice.  The first choice would have taken me (it seemed) further to the North West, but that trail was blocked by an old Lincoln Town Car, whose driver tried to wave me around his vehicle.
"Hmm."  I thought.  Car blocking trail.  Remote area.  It seemed more prudent to simply turn around, which I did.