CZ93X62
Official forum enigma
Well, yesterday, to be more precise.
Marie and I did a day trip on 7/19 out to the local desert to empty out some cartridges in the best possible manner--through the muzzle of firearms that fit them safely. 4 toys went along--East German Makarov, Walther PP x 32 ACP of about the same age (both made 1964), S&W Models 617 and 586, both 6" barrels and made in the early 1990s. Weather got decent today, no more 118* nonsense around Indio--it was about 30 degrees cooler this morning when we got in the area.
We got the shooting done early, and spent the rest of the morning 4-wheeling in Painted Canyon outside Mecca. A new sign is posted at its start point at Box Canyon Road--4x4 REQUIRED FOR ACCESS. THAT is a new development since last time we visited (June 2018). 13 months ago, families in Toyota sedans were able to run its entire length. Not so now. Floods have laid down very soft sand, and where that isn't a PITA the washboarding from over-speed on dirt surfaces is miserable. 4.2 miles took most of an hour going in, all uphill. Never got stuck, but did get bogged quite a bit and had to slog through that.
Worth it, though. This is a "slot canyon" at its upper end, and also a ladder canyon once you hike through the slot section and climb up the cataract wall. The scenery along the road is other-worldly......the geologist could spend a life here just viewing the uplifts, the extrusions, the layered sediments and twisted volcanics. There are Youtube videos of the area posted. The trip outbound (downhill) took a lot less time, about 25 minutes all told.
Well, OF COURSE a lazy drive up Box Canyon Road is de rigeur for any trip into this vicinity. This had to be rebuilt in almost its entirety after the October 2018 floods that washed the road out completely and had it closed for 7 months during the rebuild. This time of year can be BEASTLY HOT, but today was pretty mild--heat-of-the-day at the mouth of Box Canyon at 2:30 P.M. was 108* with very low humidity--two things not often seen in July when this close to the Salton Sea (about 4 miles, as the crow flies).
Box Canyon Road becomes Cottonwood Springs Road as it crosses I-10 going north, and is also the south entrance to Joshua Tree National Park. That beastly heat has an up-side. In Painted Canyon, we saw one other party the entire time we were there. They were driving out as we were coming in. Same story in Box Canyon and inside JTNP--next-to-zero traffic for the 47 miles we drove through the hoodoo rocks, Cholla Gardens, Joshua tree forests, quail, jackrabbits, raptors, doves, and (of course) snakes and lizards. No burro mulies or desert bighorns (this trip).
We exited from JTNP's north side/east gate at 29 Palms about 6 P.M. Homeward bound along SR 62 and I-10, traffic was light going westbound. Yes, there are good things about summer in the desert. Bring 3-days-worth of food and water on every trip, find shade or cover, and all will be well.
Tomorrow (er, today.....) will be busy. Oil change for the truck, wash the truck (it got filthy today), hit the pharmacy for 'scrips/distilled water/nasal spray, and pick up the new Ruger 22 Mag/LR Super Single Six x 7.5" at the toy emporium. Oh, and the Condor Cuddler rimfire ammo in 2 calibers--can't forget that.
Marie and I did a day trip on 7/19 out to the local desert to empty out some cartridges in the best possible manner--through the muzzle of firearms that fit them safely. 4 toys went along--East German Makarov, Walther PP x 32 ACP of about the same age (both made 1964), S&W Models 617 and 586, both 6" barrels and made in the early 1990s. Weather got decent today, no more 118* nonsense around Indio--it was about 30 degrees cooler this morning when we got in the area.
We got the shooting done early, and spent the rest of the morning 4-wheeling in Painted Canyon outside Mecca. A new sign is posted at its start point at Box Canyon Road--4x4 REQUIRED FOR ACCESS. THAT is a new development since last time we visited (June 2018). 13 months ago, families in Toyota sedans were able to run its entire length. Not so now. Floods have laid down very soft sand, and where that isn't a PITA the washboarding from over-speed on dirt surfaces is miserable. 4.2 miles took most of an hour going in, all uphill. Never got stuck, but did get bogged quite a bit and had to slog through that.
Worth it, though. This is a "slot canyon" at its upper end, and also a ladder canyon once you hike through the slot section and climb up the cataract wall. The scenery along the road is other-worldly......the geologist could spend a life here just viewing the uplifts, the extrusions, the layered sediments and twisted volcanics. There are Youtube videos of the area posted. The trip outbound (downhill) took a lot less time, about 25 minutes all told.
Well, OF COURSE a lazy drive up Box Canyon Road is de rigeur for any trip into this vicinity. This had to be rebuilt in almost its entirety after the October 2018 floods that washed the road out completely and had it closed for 7 months during the rebuild. This time of year can be BEASTLY HOT, but today was pretty mild--heat-of-the-day at the mouth of Box Canyon at 2:30 P.M. was 108* with very low humidity--two things not often seen in July when this close to the Salton Sea (about 4 miles, as the crow flies).
Box Canyon Road becomes Cottonwood Springs Road as it crosses I-10 going north, and is also the south entrance to Joshua Tree National Park. That beastly heat has an up-side. In Painted Canyon, we saw one other party the entire time we were there. They were driving out as we were coming in. Same story in Box Canyon and inside JTNP--next-to-zero traffic for the 47 miles we drove through the hoodoo rocks, Cholla Gardens, Joshua tree forests, quail, jackrabbits, raptors, doves, and (of course) snakes and lizards. No burro mulies or desert bighorns (this trip).
We exited from JTNP's north side/east gate at 29 Palms about 6 P.M. Homeward bound along SR 62 and I-10, traffic was light going westbound. Yes, there are good things about summer in the desert. Bring 3-days-worth of food and water on every trip, find shade or cover, and all will be well.
Tomorrow (er, today.....) will be busy. Oil change for the truck, wash the truck (it got filthy today), hit the pharmacy for 'scrips/distilled water/nasal spray, and pick up the new Ruger 22 Mag/LR Super Single Six x 7.5" at the toy emporium. Oh, and the Condor Cuddler rimfire ammo in 2 calibers--can't forget that.