3/5/2013
dsefcik
Administrator
Posts: 1090
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Went back up to Dawns Peak to stash some supplies for a bigger trip during Spring Break. This time I went with another friend who started the idea of the bigger route. We hiked in at night from Hidden Springs for about 5 miles and camped out. This was also the maiden voyage of my new 7oz Canon PowerShot S100 which will attempt to replace my Sony DSLR. I can say from this trip so far that it is definitly not my DSLR, it is definitly not my 10mm ultra wide angle lens and it is definitly not 7lbs!
We saw this toad near the spring
This time I headed up the correct ridge (only like 3000' up)
This is the one I came down a couple weeks ago...bad move
Some of the local flora starting to try and bloom
Great colors on this cactus
There was some snow still left on the east facing ridges on the peak, it made made a great plain snow cone treat
Lots of critter tracks in the snow also
The large cairn at the top of Dawns Peak
The road into Rockhouse Canyon is still a bit rough with a couple of really tight spots. Most vehicles with good clearance and 4WD can make it to the end. My large truck though took a heavy hit on this trip when I miscalculated one tight spot with a couple of large boulders on each side
Total Mylar Balloons - 1
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3/5/2013
hikerdmb
Posts: 321
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OUCH!!!
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3/5/2013
surfponto
Administrator
Posts: 869
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A little off-topic  but what was your impression of the Canon S100?
Your pics look great.
As far as your trail carnage, I second what David said. OUCH! 
edited by surfponto on 3/5/2013
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3/5/2013
Andy
Posts: 4
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I love the picture of the Toad at Hidden Spring and I'm amazed that those little guys can survive year round in such a small harsh area. My condolences on your truck also. What time of day did you guys make it up to Dawns?
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3/5/2013
dsefcik
Administrator
Posts: 1090
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Andy wrote:
What time of day did you guys make it up to Dawns? We hiked in about 4 miles or so the night before and then the next day we left at 7am and were up at the register by 11am.
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3/5/2013
Jim (ziphius)
Posts: 228
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The level of detail on those truck scratches says a lot about the Canon Powershot! Did you taste the fruit of the fishhook cactus? I hear they are pretty good. How much water did you cache?
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3/5/2013
mrkmc
Posts: 67
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Hey that looks like my truck door! I got mine in the upper end of Coyote Canyon, going into White Wash. Nice trek, looking forward to seeing the TR from your spring break plans.
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3/5/2013
Nolan (anutami)
Posts: 285
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Sorry about your truck. Looks like you went through the squeeze. Hope you have a low insurance deductible, or maybe you will keep the war wound. You are one of few that actually uses their 4x4. I love the clarity and color of your pics. Did you do any photoshopping?
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3/6/2013
dsefcik
Administrator
Posts: 1090
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Nolan (anutami) wrote:
Hope you have a low insurance deductible, or maybe you will keep the war wound. You are one of few that actually uses their 4x4. I love the clarity and color of your pics. Did you do any photoshopping? You are funny about the deductible...yeah I suppose I could use my insurance to repair it but I don't see why, I will just do it it again.... I don't have Photoshop but the program I use has a "sharpen and vibrant" button I click on.
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3/6/2013
dsefcik
Administrator
Posts: 1090
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surfponto wrote:
A little off-topic but what was your impression of the Canon S100?
* Almost too small, the buttons were hard to use
* I miss the viewfinder, I can't compose the shot very well with just the display screen, especially in bright sunlight
* Didn't seem to like the dark much, it had a hard time focusing
* RAW mode really, really distorts the photo but if you use JPG it will will crop out the distortions removing part of your composed shot
* Turns on and is ready to use amazingly fast, like in one second
* Exposure time is limited to 15 seconds, I was hoping for a Bulb mode
* No option to have a remote timer
* Very light weight and compact, seems to have most manual controls I want but I have not used it enough yet to judge how well they work
* CHDK is a possibility but they do not have a version for my firmware yet
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3/6/2013
dsefcik
Administrator
Posts: 1090
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Jim (ziphius) wrote:
The level of detail on those truck scratches says a lot about the Canon Powershot! Did you taste the fruit of the fishhook cactus? I hear they are pretty good. How much water did you cache? The fruit was the size of a pencil eraser, it was not worth the effort. Besides, it was so cute, how could I eat it when I had a pack full of food. We cached 6 liters each.
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3/6/2013
rockhopper
Posts: 86
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Daren,
Good show! Heading back to Dawns peak is awesome. You are probably the only one person to do it twice in the same year! The entire ridge looks like it will get some rain and snow on Friday the 8th. Should be excellent for the wild flower season coming up. I need to head out soon for Expedition 2013-2.0 myself! Getting anxious!
Sorry about your truck. Been there, done that going up Suprise canyon in the Inyos year back. We slid of angled slick bedrock into a big boulder. A storm came in and we were dumped on with snow. We froze, but can laugh about it now
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3/6/2013
tommy750
Posts: 289
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Daren, I feel your pain. Remember haggling with the dealer about a tiny paint defect the day I got my new truck in '09. Now, look what the desert has done! The bad damage was caused by getting jammed up in Arroyo Hueso a couple years back. Think your new "Desert Pinstripes" look nice Tom
Tundra Rash by tomteske, on Flickr
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3/8/2013
rockhopper
Posts: 86
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Daren,
Were is your next trek in the area now you have your "stash" at Dawns peak.
There is a neat old trail from RHC up and over to Martinez canyon. The whole area is just amazing.
The biggest challange is that the trails have been unused since the last use about 150yrs-200yrs? ago
and are over grown as you well know. Now image the ridge trail from Dawns peak to Hwy 74/ Palm canyon
as the same condition as S22 to Villager. Thanks for bashing the trail through
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3/9/2013
dsefcik
Administrator
Posts: 1090
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We will be going back up to Dawns via RHC/Mojave and then over towards Toro taking the indian trail you describe down to the village ruins and then over to the cottonwoods. Probably will base camp there and do a day hike up to Toro and back. Will head out of RHC and then maybe over to Box/Cougar/Palm.
rockhopper wrote:
Daren,
Were is your next trek in the area now you have your "stash" at Dawns peak.
There is a neat old trail from RHC up and over to Martinez canyon. The whole area is just amazing.
The biggest challange is that the trails have been unused since the last use about 150yrs-200yrs? ago
and are over grown as you well know. Now image the ridge trail from Dawns peak to Hwy 74/ Palm canyon
as the same condition as S22 to Villager. Thanks for bashing the trail through
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http://www.darensefcik.com
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3/18/2013
BorregoWrangler
Posts: 86
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Cool photos! Sorry about your truck. But hey, at least it happened out in the desert and not in the city. I always say it gives your rig character!
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-John
"The familiar dreariness did not dim my sense of the desert still waiting out there. I would not forget the rocky hills studded with giant cactus, the secret canyons winding into unknown places, the purple, shadowed mountains on the horizon, the rich complex of animal life, bird life, plant life, all that strange, sometimes bitter magic of the natural world. I knew that I would be back, many times." -Edward Abbey
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