El Paso Mountains: Another Trail...

 About a week ago, I was feeling the need to visit my beloved El Paso Mountains.  I was introduced to the El Paso Mountains when I read about them in Russ Leadebrand's  A Guidebook to the Mojave Desert of California Including Death Valley, Joshua Tree National Monument, and the Antelope Valley. Mr. Leadabrand's book was first printed in 1966.  However, my first reading of this book was during the late 1990's, and I've been enamored with the El Paso's ever since.  

The area's fascinating natural and man-made history, along with stunning scenery has held my interest through over two decades of exploring the new (to me) and re-visiting the familiar.  

Even after all this time, there are trails in the El Paso Mountains that I have not fully explored.  One of these is trail EP421.  This trail begins at Garlock Road, approximately two miles West of Hwy. 395, and continues North through Iron Canyon.  EP421, which becomes EP421B, and then EP21, is approximately twelve miles long, and it ends at Brown Road, if no detours along the many intersecting trails are taken.

Iron Canyon:  Home to abandoned mines and former home to outlaws on the run.  This image was taken from my drone, which was oriented toward the Southeast.  Looking at this photo, you can see the trail leading into Iron Canyon in the distance.  The shadowy hills even further in the distance are the Rand Mountains.

EP421/421B/21 facing North.  The El Paso Mountains Wilderness Area can be seen in the distance, to the left of the trail.  

                       This video was filmed as the drone climbed above the trail, facing North.

                         The drone climbs high above an abandoned mine along the trail.

                                             Overhead footage of another abandoned mine.

    The ground cover.  I came across this terrain after turning West on EP429.  

                                                  The El Paso Mountains Wilderness area. 

            

These last two images were taken with a Nikon D7200 SLR.  

The end of the line...for that day.  Well, almost.  I drove another two or three miles, but the trail became a little tricky.  I didn't want to take any additional risks, since I was alone.  So, I'll come back on another day.

Thank you for viewing my blog!

Lush Cajon Pass...

 This footage was taken after a rainy period in Southern California.  The drone was flying over the area that is right along the North-bound side of the 15 Freeway.

Drone Flight Over The El Paso Mountains...

This was a flight over the northern end of the El Paso Mountains.  The salt deposits at Koehn Lake (dry) can be seen in the upper right.

 

Mormon Rocks- Final Drone Video....

 ....before moving on to other subjects.

The Mormon Rocks are easily accessible to the public, right off Hwy. 138 in the Cajon Pass.  If you're in the area, this is a worthwhile stop.

Drone Video#2: Mormon Rocks...

 

Drone video: Mormon Rocks...

 

Mormon Rocks...

 

Also known as "The Rock Candy Mountains," the Mormon Rocks are located in Southern California's Cajon Pass, right off Hwy. 138, near the 15 Freeway.

This formation was named for the veterans of the Mormon Battalion, who, while on their way to the Mormon settlement in San Bernardino, camped here in 1851.  

Photos by Scott Schwartz.

All rights reserved.

The balance of nature...

Joshua Tree National Park.

Photo by Scott Schwartz

All rights reserved.

Abstract Colors In The Calico Mountains...

 

Drone as art; my DJI Phantom 4 captured this colorful image in the Calico Mountains. 

Photo by Scott Schwartz.  All rights reserved.

Morning In The El Paso Mountains...

 Approximately three weeks ago, I visited the El Paso Mountains again for the first time in roughly two years.  In a sense, it was like coming home again, because I'd been exploring the El Paso Mountains since 1999-which is the year that I bought my first four-wheel drive vehicle.  

This image was taken from a drone, which was hovering over the Iron Canyon area, roughly a mile from Garlock Rd.