Sleep, I don't want it to end!

But I have a nice hike ahead of me today in the New York Mountains, so it's time to start thinking about trying to get up. The wind this morning is keeping the tent cool inside, making it easy to sleep in late.

Breakfast this morning is a hot meal, not my usual routine of granola, dried fruit and nuts

Mountain House Beef Stew, one of my favourite add-boiling-water-to-bag meals. I fear it might be a heavy start to the day, but it turns out that I really need a bigger meal than usual.

Today's New York Mountains hike starts by walking up the road toward Howe Spring

My five-springs hike two days ago started this way too, but I turned left toward Howe Spring in front of the hill ahead. Today I won't.

I pass a Scrub oak growing in a crevice in the rocks near Howe Spring

There must be some soil in there somewhere for the oak's roots!

From here, I get a northeast view toward the highest peaks of the New York Mountains

Instead of heading in that direction, I'll hike off to the left (north), toward the lower New York Mountains peaks that overlook the Cliff Canyon Spring area.

Near some patches of Fleabane (I think) is a bright yellow flower that I haven't seen before

It looks like a Mariposa lily, but it's not orange like the ones I usually see. Lee suggests that this is a Munz' mariposa lily (Calochortus kennedyi var. munzii): thanks for the ID!

I stop to take a closer look at the Munz' mariposa lily

The orange Mariposa lilies are really orange, and this yellow one is really yellow. I notice several of these scattered around this area.

I arrive at a fork in the old roads in the New York Mountains foothills

I follow the track to my right.

Wilderness markers delineate the end of the old road for cars and bicycles

Hikers can proceed further, of course. I've recorded a couple of possible routes on my GPS for my hike up into the New York Mountains hills ahead. It's time to decide which route I'm taking!

No human footprints are found in this sandy wash as I continue my hike up into the New York Mountains

I like this feeling.

I pass a patch of bunch grasses in the New York Mountains foothills

This reminds me of the Muhlenbergia grass that I planted in my backyard.

I continue walking up the wash and am amazed when I reach a small stream

I had no idea there might be water here, since no springs are indicated here on my maps.

A thin cascade of water flows over the rocks in this unnamed New York Mountains stream

For an unnamed desert spring, this is a substantial amount of water. Many Mojave springs that have been deemed worthy of being named are dry right now.

Further up this unnamed spring, the water flow thins out a little, but I'm still surprised to discover this

There's enough water here that it could be filtered for drinking, but I have no idea if water is here most years.

I decide to climb up out of the wash onto the ridge at my left for easier hiking

The little ribbon of green down in the wash suggests that the spring which feeds this stream is a little further up.

I take a look behind me to see that I'm quite a few feet above Pinto Valley now

I'm now at about 5875 feet elevation, more than 500 feet above where I was a while ago. Those are the Hackberry Mountains way off in the distance.

I pass through a minimalist desert garden as I hike up the rocky New York Mountains foothills

Yellow Groundsel flowers, orange Desert mallow flowers, and light-blue Delphinium flowers. Just a few of each.

I'm just high enough now that I get perspective on most of my Butcher Knife Canyon hiking route two days ago

The sandy canyon at the distant centre-left is where I descended into upper Butcher Knife Canyon, whereas the sandy canyon at the right is where I exited the canyon later.