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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622
4/30/2018
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Just a 2 day trip out with Tom, found another water source in the valley and enjoyed some peaceful outdoor time with what is is left of nature out there. I am really enjoying the short 2 day backpack trips, plenty of time to explore and time to enjoy backpacking with only a small amount of items needed to carry. Tom and I have spent a lot of time in McCain Valley over the last few years and we have a good knowledge of water sources and the landscape as a whole. Tom has some really great photos from this trip, hopefully he will post some.
Packrat Midden
From the North American Packrat Midden Database:
Middens are waste piles that packrats construct out of fecal matter and urine. Packrats incorporate pieces of plant material, bone, and other items they habitually collect from their environment into their middens. The packrat’s sticky, viscous urine acts like a cement which binds the midden material together into a solid mass.
Close up of the gooey stuff
Tom with all of the non functional wind turbines in the background...yes it is windy, very windy, look at Tom's hat and the turbines are stopped
Looking over at the Sawtooth range where Tom and I were a couple of weeks ago...wow..
Total Mylar baloons this trip - 2
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http://www.sefcik.com
http://www.darensefcik.com
http://www.carrizogorge.com
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Buford Posts: 459
4/30/2018
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Cool trip. Were the water sources enough to filter? Not having to carry all the water is a huge bonus.
I was out there Sunday morning. It sure was windy. Tule wind project is down according to a news article online.
Was that one of your vehicles at Cottonwood?
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Links to my photos: ABDSP photos, Bighorn sheep photos, ABDSP time lapse video, Wildlife photos (mainly birds)
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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622
5/1/2018
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Buford wrote:
Cool trip. Were the water sources enough to filter? Not having to carry all the water is a huge bonus.
I was out there Sunday morning. It sure was windy. Tule wind project is down according to a news article online.
Was that one of your vehicles at Cottonwood? Yes, we filter the water, it would be tough to do these trips without the water sources out there. This trip we parked at the end of the road, not at Cottonwood.
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http://www.sefcik.com
http://www.darensefcik.com
http://www.carrizogorge.com
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Britain Posts: 604
5/1/2018
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Interesting info on them packrats never paid much attention to them. I guess they haven't started blocking off the roads because of the turbines yet. Perhaps they won't. Plan on doing some hikes up there this summer.
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Cant drive 55
Britain
http://icorva.com
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rockhopper Posts: 668
5/1/2018
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Neat 2 day hike. Having a water source is big plus. I hope you were holding your breath at those "middens"
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tommy750 Posts: 1049
5/1/2018
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Ah yes, the North American Packrat Midden Database. Who hasn't used that?  I noticed there's no entries in the NAPMD from our area which is really weird.
Here's a couple more pics:
Daren above Pepperwood Canyon south of Pepperwood Peak.
 Daren Above Pepperwood Canyon by tomteske, on Flickr
Nice Red Diamond Rattlesnake Daren almost stepped on. Britain, I was trying to figure out the difference between the Red Diamond and Western Diamondback and there appears to be some subtle difference. Think the previous Sawtooth Mt rattlesnake pic you called a Red and I named a Western Diamondback was actually a Red as you said: http://www.californiaherps.com/identification/snakesid/catroxcruber.id.html
 Red Diamond Rattlesnake by tomteske, on Flickr
 Red Diamond Rattlesnake2 by tomteske, on Flickr
We found a nice seep near some dense foliage which might work in a pinch:
 Seep by tomteske, on Flickr
Nice metate Daren found.
 Broken Metate by tomteske, on Flickr
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Britain Posts: 604
5/2/2018
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Nice pictures of the red. They are great posers. Got bit by a western when I was about 5 years old up at a park in Palomar. Playing in some rocks. Got me on the hand. Was an ugly 5 days afterward. Reds are pretty common in the desert where the westerns are not so common more along the coastal plains. The horned vipers more uncommon and plain ole vicious. . They will chase you. Going to hit Table mountain on the east side this week to see if I can stir up some wildlife and such.
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Cant drive 55
Britain
http://icorva.com
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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622
5/3/2018
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My crappy phone video
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http://www.sefcik.com
http://www.darensefcik.com
http://www.carrizogorge.com
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Britain Posts: 604
5/3/2018
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Funny how those Rattlers at about 20ft know where you're at, how big you are and which direction you're going. Yet they can't even see you.
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Cant drive 55
Britain
http://icorva.com
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tekewin Posts: 371
5/9/2018
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Great trip! Had no idea there were packrats in the desert. I sometimes find woodrat nests in the Santa Ana Mountains, 90% sticks and twigs.
What an impressive snake. Reds are my favorite rattlesnakes. I've only seen one rattlesnake this year (speckled), in the San Mateo Wilderness. Never seen one in Anza-Borrego. I'm not complaining, it probably means I'm making enough vibrations with my heavy steps and pole to shoo them away.
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