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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2624
1/4/2015
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We were supposed to spend 6 days exploring the Turtle Mountains but the cold, windy weather changed our plans and after 4 days we drove over to the Orocopia Mountains to spend the last couple of days, it was marginally warmer. I really wanted to get to Castle Rock but that didn't happen, we mostly hiked around the Lost Arch Inn and Mexican Hat trail. Don't expect to get very close in your car (legally) to the Turtles, it is mostly Wilderness boundaries now and most of the old jeep roads in are posted as no vehicle access. Browns Camp and the Lost Arch Inn are easily accessible though.
First night camp near Browns Camp and the Mexican Hat Trail
Sunrises were great
Some more starry night shots
My camp setup just after dusk
The Lost Arch Inn
The Car Corral
Coffin Spring area
The Lisa Dawn Cupola Mine is was left as is but with a large metal cover
Mexican Hat and trail area
Here are some photos of the Heritage Trail area and Mopah/Umpah Peaks. We didn't get a chance to hike to them, the weather kept us away with strong winds, rain and some light snow
I even broke out the bug hut and tarp for the weather
I guess they call them the Turtle's for a reason
We packed up and started out for the Orocopia Mountains but first stopped by West Well, lots of wild burros out there
Some petros and gorgeous colors in the hills
We took the Red Canyon Trail into the Orocopia's, it was a fairly easy 2WD high clearance road
Lots of great colors down in the canyon
We camped out near Gucci Spring and hiked around the area
Gary pointing out the wildlife watering hole
A Selfie at our camp near Gucci Spring, it was damn cold every night, teens and low 20's, freezing bottles each night
More sunset stuff
Salt Creek bridge on the Bradshaw Trail, that is Rabbit Peak way off in between the bridge, it has snow on it
Last day out we hiked Painted Canyon in the Mecca Hills, a really neat canyon I thought
You can see Gary down at the bottom of this huge canyon wall
Total Mylar Balloons this trip - 6
You can see more photos here
Turtle Mountains Photos
Orocopia Mountains Photos
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http://www.sefcik.com
http://www.darensefcik.com
http://www.carrizogorge.com
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rockhopper Posts: 668
1/4/2015
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Excellent trip and photos! That whole area in that corner of the SoCal desert has some spectacular and complex geology. Those miners and early explorers out there were tough! I gotta belive it was a wetter time closer to the last ice age out there during the ancient people habitations.
Again superb photos. Sorry you froze your butts. I guess you guy hit the " Alaska / Canada cold front express"
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anutami Posts: 491
1/4/2015
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What a great trip Daren, thanks for sharing. You have such great photography  Looks like an amazing and secluded area, putting that one down on the list.
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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2624
1/4/2015
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Thanks for the kind comments on the photos...If you are only passing thru Mecca, stop at Painted Canyon, it is easy to access and a quick hike but really full of great slots and colorful scenery....highly recommended, kid friendly also with some ladders in the slots. You can camp anywhere in the area also if you want to stay the night and spend more time exploring the area.
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http://www.sefcik.com
http://www.darensefcik.com
http://www.carrizogorge.com
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ziphius Posts: 911
1/4/2015
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My favorite photos are of your camp, because I can tell how cold it is ... and the bullet-ridden vehicle in the foreground of the mountains is killer. Lucky guys to find a desert tortoise shell. Never seen one in the wild... I've heard they come out from their burrows briefly in March and then spend 95% of their lives underground. Did you guys utilize any of the water at Gucci Spring? I'd been scouring the area (via Google Earth) for springs a few weeks ago and happened upon Gucci, was convinced I could make out the water trough from satellite.
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http://www.coyotelearning.org
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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2624
1/4/2015
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Jim (ziphius) wrote:
My favorite photos are of your camp, because I can tell how cold it is ... and the bullet-ridden vehicle in the foreground of the mountains is killer. Lucky guys to find a desert tortoise shell. Never seen one in the wild... I've heard they come out from their burrows briefly in March and then spend 95% of their lives underground. Did you guys utilize any of the water at Gucci Spring? I'd been scouring the area (via Google Earth) for springs a few weeks ago and happened upon Gucci, was convinced I could make out the water trough from satellite. We saw a tortoise back in march out there, that is what prompted us to return...there was a lot of salt/mineral stuff all over gucci, i would only drink it as a last resort, there may be other water around there, how about the aqueduct??
We tried not to get too close to him
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http://www.sefcik.com
http://www.darensefcik.com
http://www.carrizogorge.com
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AdventureGraham Posts: 170
1/4/2015
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Fantastic photos! I've traveled along the Bradshaw Trail before, but that about the extent of my experience in that area.
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Florian Posts: 129
1/5/2015
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Daren, that blue spot down below Orion in Lepus in your first milky way image is comet Lovejoy. It's visible in the second image just below and to the right of the airplane track.
Neat trip. I like the Mojave and the Salt Creek area.
-Florian
edited by Florian on 1/5/2015
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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2624
1/5/2015
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Florian wrote:
Daren, that blue spot down below Orion in Lepus in your first milky way image is comet Lovejoy. It's visible in the second image just below and to the right of the airplane track.
Neat trip. I like the Mojave and the Salt Creek area.
-Florian
COOL...!! Thanks for pointing that out, I had no idea...!
I think this is it, the small green dot in the lower left?? All the images I looked up were showing a green comet. If that is not I need some help....
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http://www.sefcik.com
http://www.darensefcik.com
http://www.carrizogorge.com
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hikerdmb Posts: 423
1/5/2015
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Those are some rugged and amazing mountains. I love that part of the desert.
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ziphius Posts: 911
1/6/2015
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Hmmmm...this one makes we want to hike into Mopah Spring. Satellite view shows some nice palms there.
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http://www.coyotelearning.org
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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2624
1/6/2015
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Definitely worth the drive (I would think, we didn't get a chance), I will be going back out. I wanted to backpack out to Castle Rock, Mopah Spring may have water but I have not researched enough to know. You wanna plan a trip??
quote=Jim (ziphius) ]Hmmmm...this one makes we want to hike into Mopah Spring. Satellite view shows some nice palms there.
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http://www.sefcik.com
http://www.darensefcik.com
http://www.carrizogorge.com
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ziphius Posts: 911
1/6/2015
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dsefcik wrote:
Definitely worth the drive (I would think, we didn't get a chance), I will be going back out. I wanted to backpack out to Castle Rock, Mopah Spring may have water but I have not researched enough to know. You wanna plan a trip??
"We found a low level of water at the spring." - Feb 2014
"Near the base of the massive, monolith known as Mopah Peak, is a small clump of California Fan Palms and a pool of water. This is the only water for miles. The pool is about four feet across, and not quite a foot deep. The water is clear and sweet." - BLM website.
Oh boy... I wanna go. Water water everywhere.
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http://www.coyotelearning.org
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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2624
1/6/2015
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Jim (ziphius) wrote:
dsefcik wrote:
Definitely worth the drive (I would think, we didn't get a chance), I will be going back out. I wanted to backpack out to Castle Rock, Mopah Spring may have water but I have not researched enough to know. You wanna plan a trip??
"We found a low level of water at the spring." - Feb 2014
"Near the base of the massive, monolith known as Mopah Peak, is a small clump of California Fan Palms and a pool of water. This is the only water for miles. The pool is about four feet across, and not quite a foot deep. The water is clear and sweet." - BLM website.
Oh boy... I wanna go. Water water everywhere.
Yeah, I wish we would have made it out there, looks great....next time.
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http://www.sefcik.com
http://www.darensefcik.com
http://www.carrizogorge.com
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