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Talk about a trip you took out to Anza Borrego

Solstice Cave and Goat Canyon

Brian

Posts: 249

3/18/2020

Brian

Posts: 249

Last weekend seemed like a good time to head for the desert. I wanted to revisit Rockhouse Canyon, but I'm assuming it won't be possible to drive over Clark Lake for a while, so I headed for a couple locations in the southern end of the park.

On Saturday I visited the Solstice Cave above Indian Valley. I had only found vague descriptions of the location (and I will follow that convention here also). Suffice it to say I had a pre-conceived notion of the location and I was totally wrong. After over an hour of searching at what turned out to be 300' too high, I gave up and was headed back in defeat when I ran right into it. Strange that other accounts I've read seem similar to mine in the sense that it's difficult but not impossible to find. I also realized that my initial mistake was actually lucky as my route up was fairly easy. On the way down I tried to take a more direct route, which suuucked.

On Sunday I set my sights on the Goat Canyon trestle by way of Mortero Palms. I have been to and over the trestle by other routes (always legally, strangely enough) but this was my first encounter with the dry fall on this route. When I got to the fall, a combination of no rope, being alone and not being sure of the safest way down made me decide to turn back at that point.

Inside the Solstice Cave

Outside the Solstice Cave

If you see me on the trail say hi

The dry fall and the view from there

edited by Brian on 3/18/2020
edited by Brian on 3/18/2020

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Anza Borrego Desert

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Solstice Cave and Goat Canyon