Talk about a trip you took out to Anza Borrego
June Wash Camping/Diablo Hike (April 2023)
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oldBayHiker Posts: 3
4/29/2023
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Camped June Wash first weekend of April. Three dads and three teenage boys. Our first camping trip in the desert outside of a campground.
Went out Friday afternoon. Took two trucks. F-150 and Tacoma. Both 4x4.
We turned off S-2 and made our way up the wash. We went to the end, which quickly narrows. Able to turn-around and 4x4 was handy for that. Picked a flat spot off a side wash and set up camp.
Sunsets out here were quite nice, though different from San Diego.
Friday night was spent just exploring our area, cooking supper, and enjoying a fire. We used a solo stove.
Saturday we headed up to Diablo Benchmark. Didn't have much info on it, just that it was a peak nearby and found a path off of PeakBagger to use.
The path was up a wash for a goodways, but sooner or later, you have to climb to the ridgeline. It was a short, but steep climb (30-40%) up to the ridge. Once on the ridge, pretty smooth going. Did see a jackrabbit hiding in a bush.
The trail out there is mainly a cholla forest. We had pants and boots, but routinely had to stop to use pliers to pull cholla out of soles or pants where it had jumped too.
Diablo has a geodetic marker, but it isn't at the peak. The true peak is the northern peak, maybe another 100 yards further.
Good views back into Sandstone canyon from peak.
Peak did have blister beetles on it.
We came down the west face. It's less steep, but a longer route.
Made our way back to camp for supper and evening fire.
Wind picked up Saturday night. My son's scouting skills paid off as his tent was the only one not blown down or blown away. Tent anchors would have been handy. Settled for rocks.
There were a few other campers in the wash. Couple of RVs were closer to the paved road. One camper we could see, they were using a roof-top tent. Would have been nice if there had been just a little farther away, out of sight.
Sunday packed up and back to civilization.
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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622
4/29/2023
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Last time I camped there the wind was really strong also. Great area with lots of great views. If you can get yourself up early enough, the sunrises are gorgeous in the mud hills.
Thanks for the TR.
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http://www.sefcik.com
http://www.darensefcik.com
http://www.carrizogorge.com
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Brian Posts: 226
4/30/2023
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I used to go to June Wash a lot. I used Schad's route to access Sandstone Canyon from there. It was before I had a car with AWD, so I couldn't drive to Sandstone from the usual route through Fish Creek. It's been a few years now since I've been to June Wash, but it sounds like more people know about it now. I never remember seeing people camping there when I used to go.
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surfponto Administrator Posts: 1364
5/1/2023
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Yep. Both The ABF and the State Parks site were listing June Wash as a spot to see the wildflowers this past flower season.
There were also a bunch of FaceBook posts on the area in some of the groups.
Personally, when I post a FB picture I say "Somewhere in southern Anza Borrego" 😉
Brian wrote:
I used to go to June Wash a lot. I used Schad's route to access Sandstone Canyon from there. It was before I had a car with AWD, so I couldn't drive to Sandstone from the usual route through Fish Creek. It's been a few years now since I've been to June Wash, but it sounds like more people know about it now. I never remember seeing people camping there when I used to go.
edited by surfponto on 5/1/2023
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https://www.anzaborrego.net/
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Rocko1 Posts: 597
5/1/2023
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I love that area. Diablo is a cool hike also. Like a miniature Font's Point vibe. Nice report.
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tekewin Posts: 371
5/4/2023
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Great report! Sounds fun. I like the views from Diablo, broken earth. Haven't been up June wash, but it looks nice.
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