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TR Posts: 67
6/19/2012
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I went out to Borrego the weekend of the second and third of June. I decided to go up Cougar Canyon in hopes of seeing some Big Horn Sheep coming down to the water. I knew that they had closed the gate before the Third Crossing, just a couple of days prior. But I figured I could hike back in.
I was amazed at how quickly the road had become void of vehicle tracks. And this was only 3 days since it was closed, and it hadn't rained in the interim.
I ran across this lizard. I don't know if it changed colors or not, but it was almost indistinguishable from the sticks around it.
I was astounded at lack of water at the Third Crossing.
Just to the left of where the road went through, the stream narrowed and I could hop across on the rocks.
I decided to get off the road, and take the Lower Willows Trail, in hopes of finding Big Horn.
Walking along, scouring the ground for snakes and lizards and the like, I ran across this.
Yes, it a golf ball. And a relatively new one at that. God knows I've tried, but I can't imagine a scenario that explains this. Was this a person hiking with a golf ball in his pocket, or was this just a bad shot, hit way out of bounds. (It miles from the nearest course.)
There was plenty of water in the stream of to my right. And I got this shot of a dragonfly on a stalk of grass.
This was the first of several stream crossings. It was to wide to just hop across. So I ask myself, What would Daren do? And the answer was, Man up, and hop across the rocks!
Unfortunately, not being as coordinated as Daren, the second rock flipped over and the next thing I know, I'm wading across the stream.
Unfortunately, most of the trail was like this. Hemmed in by willows on either side. They were so thick that I couldn't even seen the stream any more. So I decided to tell you all that every Big Horn Sheep in the park was down there taking a drink, becaused nobody could say I was wrong.
It went on this way for over a mile. So I ask myself, What would Daren do? Again, the answer was, Man up, and keep hiking. When I finally broke into a little clearing I had this view of the mountains surrounding me. My map and GPS, said this peak was Monkey Hill. The elevation looked wrong, but I guess when both the map and the GPS say it's so, it's so.
Well, I continued on a ways further, until I started back in to the willows again. I figured I wasn't going to see anything in the willows any way, so I turned around and hiked back out. All in all, a pretty boring hike.
After I made it out of the willows, there was a duck swimming at the Third Crossing.
So, the animal, reptile, insect count was, 1 lizard, 1 dragonfly, 1 duck. The mylar baloon count - 1. It's ribbon had gotten tangeld up in a cholla. When I pulled it loose, there wasn't even a hole in the baloon. The golf ball, of course. And a length of chrome door molding off a fancy SUV.
I wish I had taken the Ocotillo Flats Trail instead. I probably wouldn't have seen any sheep, but it was more likely I would have seen some snakes.
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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622
6/19/2012
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Another great TR by TR..thanks...
That lizard is a Desert Iguana and they move fast!
Nice shot of the Dragon Fly, I wonder if the golf ball drifted down from another area.
This year has been a very dry year and the rangers have also commented on how dry it is, it will be very tough on the BHS.
I should also just remind everyone that Coyote Canyon is closed from June 1'st to Sept 30th each year to all users. It allows the BHS to get water during a time of year that is critical to their survival.
I did see a BHS Ram last Sat in Rockhouse Cyn and heard reports of sightings in other areas of the park also.
TR, thanks for packing out any garbage you found, much appreciated!
Daren
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http://www.sefcik.com
http://www.darensefcik.com
http://www.carrizogorge.com
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ziphius Posts: 911
6/20/2012
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Hey, nice trip. Sorry you didn't see any sheep. Your golf ball might start a new forum theme along the lines of mylar balloons... what was your best golf ball day in ABDSP?  You actually photographed a damselfly (technically different from a dragonfly). Damselflies are generally smaller and more slender than dragonflies. Damselflies hold their wings together when perched (as shown in your photo - opposed to dragonflies, which spread their wings.
What were the temperatures like when you visited? How much water did you carry? - Jim
<em>edited by ziphius on 6/20/2012</em>
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http://www.coyotelearning.org
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TR Posts: 67
6/20/2012
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Jim;
Thanks for the clarification on Damselfly vs. Dragonfly. I see so many of them, I'll be on the lookout for them.
It was about 96 degrees. But I got an early start so it warmed up to it gradually, and didn't feel that bad. I was carrying two liters of water. Actually, a liter of water, and a liter bottle that I had frozen solid. I drank a full liter. If I had gone further, I would have just run out when I got back to the truck, where I had another liter bottle of ice.
Tom
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TR Posts: 67
6/20/2012
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Daren;
Do these Iguana change color? I saw one before on pavement, and it was much darker.
I think it's important to pack out the trash. I'm carrying a folded up garbage bag just for that purpose.
Tom
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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622
6/20/2012
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ziphius wrote:
Your golf ball might start a new forum theme along the lines of mylar balloons... what was your best golf ball day in ABDSP?
 OMG, I hope not!! Aren't golf courses kinda passé by now anyway??
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http://www.sefcik.com
http://www.darensefcik.com
http://www.carrizogorge.com
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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622
6/20/2012
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TR wrote:
Daren;
Do these Iguana change color? I saw one before on pavement, and it was much darker.
I have never seem very dark but according to the Iguana Survival Guide they do change colors somewhat.
http://iguanasurvivalguide.com/blog/iguana-care/know-more-about-desert-iguana/
I got a picture of this guy in his defensive posture, I read that iguanas will open their mouth when challenged to increase their lateral size for defense purposes
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http://www.sefcik.com
http://www.darensefcik.com
http://www.carrizogorge.com
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surfponto Administrator Posts: 1364
6/20/2012
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Great trip report TR.
Really like the damselfly picture. The "Desert Duck" is a little trippy. Don't think I have ever seen a duck out there
Sorry you didn't see any Bighorn Sheep. Hopefully Daren can post some pics after he does the Bighorn Sheep Count.
Bob
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https://www.anzaborrego.net/
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mrkmc Posts: 87
6/20/2012
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I saw this guy in the spring. I think he had just came out of his hiding spot in the sand:
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tommy750 Posts: 1049
6/21/2012
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Nice hiking trip. By the way, has anyone ever been to the Cougar Canyon Solstice Cave? Supposedly a solitary badly weathered pictograph will be illuminated in a few hours in a cave somewhere in Cougar Canyon and again in exactly six months. It's reportedly a "dual purpose" cave with a natural opening for the winter solstice and and artificial walled-in opening (severely damaged in a rock fall) for the summer event.
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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622
6/23/2012
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tommy750 wrote:
Nice hiking trip. By the way, has anyone ever been to the Cougar Canyon Solstice Cave? Supposedly a solitary badly weathered pictograph will be illuminated in a few hours in a cave somewhere in Cougar Canyon and again in exactly six months. It's reportedly a "dual purpose" cave with a natural opening for the winter solstice and and artificial walled-in opening (severely damaged in a rock fall) for the summer event.
I have heard of it but never been there. A sunset solstice.
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http://www.sefcik.com
http://www.darensefcik.com
http://www.carrizogorge.com
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surfponto Administrator Posts: 1364
7/10/2012
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Someone sent me the gps coordinates of it.
Haven't made it over there yet.
dsefcik wrote:
tommy750 wrote:
Nice hiking trip. By the way, has anyone ever been to the Cougar Canyon Solstice Cave? Supposedly a solitary badly weathered pictograph will be illuminated in a few hours in a cave somewhere in Cougar Canyon and again in exactly six months. It's reportedly a "dual purpose" cave with a natural opening for the winter solstice and and artificial walled-in opening (severely damaged in a rock fall) for the summer event.
I have heard of it but never been there. A sunset solstice.
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https://www.anzaborrego.net/
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sddarkman619 Posts: 153
11/13/2016
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tommy750 wrote:
Nice hiking trip. By the way, has anyone ever been to the Cougar Canyon Solstice Cave? Supposedly a solitary badly weathered pictograph will be illuminated in a few hours in a cave somewhere in Cougar Canyon and again in exactly six months. It's reportedly a "dual purpose" cave with a natural opening for the winter solstice and and artificial walled-in opening (severely damaged in a rock fall) for the summer event.
I was just researching this cave, did you guys ever make it? I have photos of the entrance from several different angles if that would help you.
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sddarkman619 Posts: 153
11/13/2016
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By chance, is this TR Violin from geocaching?
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