Fossil Canyon & The Domelands (Coyote Mtns) Desert Loop ~ 17.5 Miles/4,000'Gain

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What: Fossil Canyon & The Domelands (Coyote Mtns) Loop Hike. We'll start our mostly cross-country (no trails) desert hike at Fossil Canyon in the Coyote Mtns out I-8 east near Ocotillo, CA & Carrizo Mtn then work our way over to The Domelands. We'll hike hike into Fossil Canyon where we'll do some scrambling / dry waterfalls & see some sea shells in the rocks. Then work our way over some mud hills to The Domelands to see the Star Wars looking wind caves where we'll have views of the nearby Badlands, Carrizo Mtn. & out beyond towards the Salton Sea. We'll descend to check out Shell Canyon which was once under an ancient sea & where there are still small sea-shell fragments underfoot, big sandstone blocks loaded with shell fragments, oysterbed fossils, and parts of sand dollars. There's a bathtub / tiny arch / water-fall like climbing wall, and later after passing an Indian site, one of ABDSP's best slot canyons to discover. We'll take a quick food break on "the beach" to look at some fossils before climbing back up a different way overlooking the mud hills out towards the Carrizo Impact Area. Later we'll do a loop to hike through The Keystone - a massive chalkstone, check out a tiny mud cave, chimney & climb our way up a fun side canyon to the top of some mudhills that we'll jog or "ski" down then climb our way up a large dry waterfall before heading back out. There's lots of variety on this hike (these pics are of this hike).

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Details: this exploratory hike is approx. 17.5 cross-country (mainly no trails) miles / with approx. 4,000' elevation gain as an estimate. You need to be comfortable with some scrambling / climbing of dry waterfalls. Hiking time: estimate is approx. 8:30 AM - 7:15 PM. We'll be doing a car shuttle so will need several vehicles (any car can do the short drive on dirt roads). Optional dinner stop on the return home afterwards as always, probably in Alpine, CA.

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Bring: 4 (or maybe more if you're a heavy drinker) quarts or liters of H2O with electrolytes, snacks to eat while moving, lunch for the "beach", plenty of layers for wind, hat / sunglasses / sunscreen, headlamp or light in case we finish just slightly after dark (unlikely, but), first aid, poles, gaiters, plastic comb & pointy tweezers for getting any cactus out, etc. Camera's or phones for the great pics. Pre-hydrate by drinking in the AM & on the drive out.

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My hiking style: we'll stay together as a group for both camaraderie & safety; we snack & drink while moving except for short bathroom breaks as necessary; I'll take a 15 min. to 1/2 hr break at the wind caves & again at the "beach" to eat "real" food / enjoy the views; I prefer to hike at a faster then average pace if possible depending on what the group can do although we'll pause for pictures along the way.

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Weather Link - The Domelands (note: only significant desert rain cancels, not any in town rain since this area is fairly rain sheltered & often does not get rain or as much rain when the rest of San Diego County does):

http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=32.8219030154127&lon=-116.08428955078125

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Contact me ahead of time if you have Q's: 619-315-9731 or stevefausset@gmail.com

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My Meetup Rules:

1. *WAIVER OF LIABILITY: This group, its organizer, assistant organizers, event organizers will not be held responsible for any injuries or accidents that may occur carpooling to and from hikes, or for any injuries or accidents before, during, and after group hikes. If you sign up and come on this hike outing you are acknowledging that you freely and voluntarily assume all risks of injuries and damages and agree to participate in the hike/outing.
2. Please no +1s or guests - all attending must be group members. This is for both liability reasons & so that I can see the profiles of those attending beforehand to get a feel for everyone. It's free, quick, easy so please just sign up.

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