ORIENTATION AND SELF-EVALUATION HIKE: WHAT’S YOUR PACE?

Have you wondered whether your hiking pace best matches what CVHC calls “fast” or “medium” or “slow?” This event is your opportunity to find out.

Andrew will lead a 3.0 mile hike on the Art Smith trail. He’ll hike different sections at different paces: fast, medium or slow. The goal is to enable Club members to assess their pace so they can describe it to CVHC hike leaders when they sign up for hikes.  

Andrew and Margaret also will give an overview of Club practices, hike sign-up, and general desert hiking tips. 

The Art Smith trail is a signature trail of the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument. It was designed to provide a secluded hiking experience through the desert and into the mountains. The trail is rugged, with significant elevation changes, and was designed for those who appreciate a more challenging and natural trek. 

The orientation hike will be a 3.0 mile out-and-back on the Art Smith Trail. The first 0.5 mile is mostly flat. The trail then climbs a ridge, gaining 500 feet over the next 1.0 mile. We’ll stop at the 1.5 mile mark and return to the trailhead via the same route. The hike will take between 2 and 2.5 hours. Although this hike is relatively short, the trail is exposed and temperatures may be high. Remember to bring plenty of water, sun hat, and sun glasses. We will meet in the Art Smith parking area where the trail begins. 

The parking area is on the west side of Hwy 74, south of Palm Desert. See a roadmap here. 

Trail map available here.

Please email Margaret to sign up for this hike and include your phone number.

HIKE LEADERS: Andrew Walls, Margaret Sullivan

HIKE LOCATOR: Palm Desert

HIKE DIFFICULTY: Moderate

HIKE PACE: Fast, Medium and Slow

HIKE DATE/TIME: Saturday, November 22, 8:00 AM

Note: You must be a current CVHC member to hike with the club!   Join Now!