[pct-l] Possible alternate route

[jjonz]

While I don't know all the particulars, Palm Canyon parallels the PCT to 
the
east of the Desert Divde.  There used to be a mountain bike trail down the
canyon which was closed to mountain bikes due to the Desert Protection Act.
The portions of the trail I have been on are near the bottom of the 
canyon. 
AFAIK, it's still supposed to be open to hikers.  I've only been on 
portions of
trail at the top and at the bottom.  Not far from the bottom of Palm Canyon,
two trails skirt the bottom of the mountains - the south Lyken and North 
Lyken
trails.  You could bypass most of Palm Springs just to the west on these 
trails. 
You could hike trails paralleling Hwy 111 across Chino Canyon (where the 
tram is)
until you hit the PCT.  Just a thought.  I don't know how Palm Canyon 
fits into the
current trail closures.

       Jeff Jones