Tropical Storm Hilary Hits the site and surrounding desert hard!

On August 2023 An other set back. This time mother nature caused me a lot of problems going forward. Tropical Storm Hilary hit the desert petty hard. In the fall of 2023 I was hoping to head out to the desert again mom's situation had improved a great deal and some time was getting freed out on the schedule. but than Hilary came and put a stop to it.

Hilary before hitting California was a category 1 hurricane when it made land fall in Northern Baja California. The last time this had happened was over a hundred years ago. This was our 100 year flood. the coastal cities of Southern California were spared the brunt of the storm put the California desert got a direct hit. Massive flooding, washed away roads and trails. Even part of a highway bridge was destroyed on I-10 and the Bradshaw trail was closed indefinity. There was no telling when the roads I was using to get to Sleepy Mesquite would be open again. It was going to take a while, months or a year or more.

According to the weather reports I was getting as much as 6 inches of rain fell in a single event with Hilary on Sleepy Mesquite. That's the equivalent of 2 years of rain all at once. I was wondering if everything I did so far at Sleepy Mesquite had been completely erased by Hilary. All I could do was speculate on the conditions I would find when I could finally get out there. Sleepy Mesquite was in the back of my mind a lot for the next few month after that.

This event happened about six months before I took the PDC course and was also a big reason for taking it in the first place. This weather event opened my eyes to what could happen and what I needed to plan for. But I had no idea about how to plan for something this big or what it would even look like. My mind was made up at that point. But I had to convince my wife that the course would be a good investment in our future to get this type of education. My wife gave me her full subport and few months later in 2024 I signed up for the course, and I'm glad I did. The course did in fact discuss the design options for 100 year events and even 1000 year events.

It would be one more year before I would return to Sleepy Mesquite, and this delay felt like a significant blow to the speed at which my progress was proceeding. Each passing month seemed to stretch the anticipation, making it increasingly difficult to stay focused on my goals. The thought of the familiar sights and sounds of Sleepy Mesquite lingered in my mind, serving as both a motivation and a reminder of the time lost.

Returning to Sleepy Mesquite

It took me a long while to muster up the courage to return to Sleepy Mesquite. The memories of my previous visits flooded my mind, but this time, they were tainted with anxiety. Visions of my earthworks being washed away haunted me. I could see the vibrant landscape I had once nurtured now transformed into a barren wasteland, stripped of its beauty by the relentless forces of nature.

Damage Assessment

Alongside the destruction of my cherished earthworks, I found myself grappling with concerns about road damage and trail erosion. Would the paths I once navigated with ease be passable, or would they be marred by deep ruts and debris? Each thought spiraled into another, compounding my worries. Would I even be able to safely return using my Subaru? The vehicle, my reliable companion on countless adventures, suddenly felt like a liability.

Emotional Turmoil

All this speculation was wreaking havoc on my emotions and further delaying my return. The anticipation of what I might find—or not find—was a heavy weight on my chest. I envisioned myself driving through the familiar landscape, only to be confronted by desolation. The fear of disappointment loomed large, making it increasingly difficult to take that first step back into the world I had once cherished.

Gathering Strength

Yet, deep down, I knew that I had to confront my fears. The allure of Sleepy Mesquite, with its tranquil beauty and the memories it held, beckoned me. It was time to gather my strength, to face the uncertainty that awaited me, and to reclaim my connection to this special place. After all, every journey begins with a single step, and I was determined to take mine.