sidetracked

 We've hiked Pritchett Canyon a couple of times now.  The first time we had our heads on swivels because the canyon is just so pretty, plus we were impressed with the 4x4 obstacles.  The second time, it was still pretty and impressive but we also noticed that there were several side canyons that looked like they could be explored.  On Thursday (sunny, 0% chance of rain, high of 86 F), H, Milton and I went exploring.

Heading into #2

The first side canyon is not that far in and narrow enough to qualify as a slot canyon.  We didn't get in too far before the passage turned to boulders and chockstones, not ideal for hiking with a dog who likes to jump without looking.  I think we could get in further, just the two of us without Milton, but this day was not that day.

In the wash alongside the 4x4 road

The second side canyon was a little further in.  As we could hear engines coming behind us, we started walking in the wash instead of up on the 4x4 road.  This kept us out of their way and wasn't too difficult walking.  We were able to walk up the drainage into the second side canyon - much wider - until we found an incidental trail.  This canyon ended in a bowl with numerous natural springs and, because of the springs, lots of greenery - a true desert oasis.

Oasis

The third side canyon was a bit of a bust.  We started up the drainage but soon hit some impassable pour-offs.  When we peeked over the edge of the drainage, the terrain was covered in cryptobiotic soil which we avoid walking on at all costs so as to preserve the ecosystem.  We turned around here and kept heading up the canyon.

This was eight inches high

Claret-cup cactus

We were back on the 4x4 trail now, quickly losing our shade, and it was getting hotter.  We made Milton put on his t-shirt to reflect some of the sun as we turned up the fourth - and biggest - side canyon.  There is an old (mining? ranch?) road here, and a sign indicating that it's a wilderness study area; you can go in on foot but MTBs and motorized vehicles are not allowed to protect the fragile environment.  Before long we'd gotten around a bend and all noise from the vehicles on the Pritchett Canyon route disappeared.  It's like we were in the middle of nowhere, all by ourselves.

Looking back down canyon

He was more worn out from not finishing his

breakfast than from the heat, tbh

When this canyon split, we took the left (looker's left) fork, following the faint trail to the end.  Other than the ravens soaring above the cliff walls, it was just us.  It was definitely getting hotter, though, so we didn't linger longer than to have a quick snack and reapply sunscreen before retracing our steps all the way back out.  The cool thing is that we still have the right fork of the fourth side canyon to explore.  We're not done with Pritchett Canyon yet.

We stopped to watch these guys for a while

Hike stats:  8.00 miles; moving 3:09 hours/2.5 m.p.h.; overall 3:57/2.0 m.p.h.; 1,010' elevation