This morning I met rangers at the visitors center here in Blackrock Canyon and we drove to the west entrance to meet a busload of 8th graders from a school in Riverside for a field trip.  We hiked them around the Hidden Valley, talking about geology, and led them through a rock scramble that includes climing over, around, and under large boulders.  After a picnic lunch we drove them up to Keys' View.  At just over 5100 feet in elevation, it offers great views down into the Coachella Valley.  You can see the San Andreas Fault, Palm Springs, Desert Springs, and even the Salton Sea, if it's a clear day and the usual haze is lifted. After the hike I headed out for more groceries.  Yesterday I had managed to buy only veggies and salads, a sure sign that I've been on the road, that's what sounded good.  I spent the evening settling in a little more.

Hidden Valley.

Hiking with Ranger Alison.

Hidden Valley.

We hiked the kids through the boulders, scrambling over, under, and around the rocks.

Another view along our scramble.

Ranger Alison, showing the way.

Hidden Valley.

Keys' View.  The thin line on the valley floor below is the San Andreas Fault.

A wider view down on the Coachella Valley, Palm Springs is to the right, the Salton Sea is to the left (too hazy to really see), ridge of the San Andreas Fault is visible.