Prude to Nude hike on Presidents' Day weekend

This weekend I did a solo hike in the backcountry. I started at the top of Arroyo Burro Trail at the shooting place and hiked down toward the Santa Ynez River. I then turned right on the dirt road where the tank is and followed it to Matias Potrero Camp. There was no water at the camp so I continued on to Devil's Canyon where there was water but no place to camp. So I camped below Gibraltar Dam.

The next day I hiked by the Sunbird Mercury Mine to the Gibraltar Trail. The Gibraltar trail needs some tread work! Then I joined Cold Springs Trail to Little Caliente Hot Spring. The trail through the Mono Jungle has been re-routed to climb up above the jungle. You don't get lost as much but there is a lot of up and down.

There was very little water at Mono camp in the debris dam. There was water to drink at the hot spring and the hot pools were nice. This was the "nude" part of my adventure. The "prude" part was all the rest of the time I was fully dressed.

After a little soak in the spring, I hiked on to the Blue Canyon connector trail and camped next to a nice stream not too far from Cottam camp.

The next morning I hiked up toward Forbush and out at the top of Cold Spring Trail.

Weather was pleasant. Not too cold, not too hot. I was surprised how dry it is out there. This was a really nice long 3 day, 2 night hike.