The middle campsite at Pine Valley

Trail junction at Pine Valley. Today's route would be a right turn towards the dam.

Heading across the farthest Pine Valley field as Miller Mountain came into view off to the right.

There were some horses grazing in the field and one came over to see if I was carrying anything edible.

Wider shot of the horses in Pine Valley.

There was a dry creekbed at the end of the field and this was my signal to turn north and head offtrail. Miller Mountain was just visible on the horizen and about a mile away.

There was a use trail leading north to the edge of the valley and then the bushwhack started in earnest. The plan was to follow the creek canyon to the south slope of Miller.

The creek canyon was quintessential Ventana. I tried following the dry creekbed, but this proved to be too overgrown. Instead, I climbed up to the canyon wall and picked up a series of deer paths that made progress somewhat easier.

Now up out of the canyon and into the chaparral of the Miller Mountain south slopes. I turned upwards a bit short of the actual head of the canyon.