Day one of a month-long jaunt through southern California, Nevada, Arizona, and eventually the 225 miles of the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. First stop--The Mojave.
My campspot in Jackass Canyon.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ZTXLlG2kipb-N0wW9pAZuRZBy4nu9mF3xxXgvJu7s6c7WIcx6ysuM5b4ex41ctmoKfPr2lBv0tQ1flPqcu1d2gXr_U8EHYC237TcMaeCDSRFEw2LziMyXk8n8exweajvwEh7eA/s400/IMG_2910.jpg)
Coyote Melon. I found many of these growing along the gravelly washes at the base of Old Dad. Apparently the seeds are edible and loaded with protein and other good stuff. I didn't try them.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8pAtznqotyvfER83GIiujEzQGJ14QQXCtcn3n-jLpCnhS2RvKq71n808BMSaBCjGztoCxPbcmB934fckzbv36j62GKtx-1jedWSPX9odEIPg9YrvBRKC6ld9soGJPOBS1UGdLZw/s400/IMG_2915.jpg)
The destination.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9OSdmSvMHXfz4IlgJ0B6ASP9FUYxBoTE98fZF_prTfllywbB71CaIjjP7vjW7-jhyphenhyphenwsTR9ly-vgH0QDO8wnogOFHUhGi8hH0Mns5z6nUBP3Bu9Kma6TOwi4tT8o2BJ-2kgZWISw/s400/IMG_2985.jpg)
The route up--the summit is the cliff in the top center of the photo. I was reluctant to head up this way, as it didn't seem possible that a route led through that mess. But one did, and although exposed, it was pretty straightforward.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYdLylhyphenhyphenkxkLw4ulIAHd9ZCfuZNCHLxJIAMupYvuJ-6Yl5_606HoJLFYEd_Jx-L2UAytd8R_5j4GLfbvPongvXLyGLxKkiHwfxXwFlpbmmzCT1b-cWfw08PUCoS-bFUzOfwMViSg/s400/IMG_2981.jpg)
Going up.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsiBIQ1e_3xj7wjOFDAjBvYmrQxV4L7vFO-rXlKclskqBhUTZDy8knc3JslT2N9vyKA51HgKuGTb3fHgQuhhscykEyBzjRRbNrYqSBrJm1WsVMOZfV8Y1j-nHAGd8FpgC-uTJhsA/s400/IMG_2927.jpg)
On the top.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvepx15nXufKySSJL5Dq5Nn0G703Ual7EzWHnnxkxxvloyJAucy-YtjzKsoVXhAtOt190REeHC6niN_0z_SnzsOXo3zUKf_YopavsZHxa1A37yIriQGVCuk8SkbRuN63Q9p9hqPw/s400/IMG_2928.JPG)
The summit register and views towards the dry Soda Lake.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpQ1JG5kY6dIvF4OjlI7mLBgac3HeldCeE-_Qv3dFN_RYWqAo76TM6QbZsYYy1KhkXRq6CqBh-kp0sblrkvRa7EnePJrR2Kp5LxnvvtUAjfeFKRM87YkvpvIQ0gs07Wr_mVcI1EQ/s400/IMG_2935.jpg)
The register and my brief entry. I was only the sixth person to sign the register this year.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIKzrt8v1b1gMRZ-5-bg3Ufi1g0u27AfBlpCAUZJ56Zx-i_G15TKLqHc-xze-EPu6Lp3Yb3GOL6aZ1UWsuv1P7b0uxd7gkoLlBZjzCqkGqFTut9JeLQTgDBPU7l7zpJal7GH4GSg/s400/IMG_2937.JPG)
A couple panoramas from the summit. The first looking south/southeast, the second looking north/northwest.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPzeGqOB5S1TBT1bs3iDz2Nd_X_DakyjobcZ_1T1UX0-pZBVbIMuP_lpOJ5iLTOBBVhOKWDUKy5PyDLodbykbePpP-gzeORIuODPBk4K0m_ehlyFnfgaC15fTVUOKnMAANfyyrGA/s400/summitpano.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLzzm2lFsY8aYJuCynwXAcu5rs-aVMWSSzYxUeE0nyhf_ItFjYEGiwaxfk4FJuucz_QPaP-8-DzG687bT0x49BGDAtkysP0NWuTWT73phovxlq9Lzf393tRUnoy9k5AOwZl4Vx_A/s400/old_dad_pano.jpg)
Views back towards where the truck is parked from the ridge going down.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGxmQF4aeKoVPO9ppBin5HJpidTfL-rEWXs0yiIAG0fjBpofdo6LHL2XpALGU3q2o_bOY1jRysQWscafMsBFAH7LOruaAO57f_bBkF-LKYti9jMusQkBHy0BmfeI4ZYB35iwqoSg/s400/IMG_2965.jpg)
Fishhook cactus near the summit.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjERP04LyR17VI_Vxh3vugwV_i3Y3_eXsaJYLEyBFYMPUnp8jV-SH_eYIcWQvBzvYRIB6MhYXpfKj0e_RmzRSTHfFkKze3rve_dZUgq2-oGJXz9O-FB0PKXU-CoKJIPdQWoWiH0CQ/s400/IMG_2952.jpg)
Cholla.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiLSqTxiPiuj4FmRmGy6HGR8XxFv004XzqioRMVvBnZQ_78ivrtKk1ZnlVe-LAveMMhq2Y8wj3ZRvOIXBZfjVmNfL2bcVIjqjowgBySwneQvvcH6NX5DxLutbbmsDACO9sjeW3dg/s400/IMG_2975.jpg)
Looking back at Old Dad from the road out, with a Joshua Tree for perspective.