harmono Posts: 71
11/8/2012
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I'm planning a trip out to Anza-Borrego possibly a hike from Piedras Grandes to Carrizo Gorge via an un-named canyon that seems to cut through the range directly to the Carrizo Gorge area. I might check out the tracks if I have enough time, and energy and this route works. From what I can see if I started hiking from the wash just north of Piedaras Grandes and took the north fork of this canyon it would be only 1.5 miles to the train tracks. And the max elevation would be 2400-2600 feet as opposed to the Mortero Palms route that takes you as high as 3400 feet? I don't know if anyone has tried this or if there is an existing path there. It looks do-able, and seems like a relatively safe and easy way to get to the Goat Canyon Trestle.
I have created a Google Map of the path. I am showing the usual Mortero path in yellow, if you look just north of Piedras Grandes, and the wash that goes west of there, there is a green line that cuts through the range. Look at it on a topo map. Not sure if there are any obstacles there?
In the map I have also highlighted the train track in blue up to the Goat Canyon Trestle, and in red after the Goat Canyon Trestle. edited by harmono on 11/8/2012 <em>edited by harmono on 11/8/2012</em>
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IMG_1032 by harmono619, on Flickr
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DHeuschele Posts: 87
11/8/2012
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I am interested in how it works out. I have used the trespassers route (i.e. walking the tracks) but it is significantly longer than the milage that you believe would be required using this route.
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surfponto Administrator Posts: 1364
11/8/2012
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One thing to mention is that what looks doable on Google Earth is sometimes not. When I originally thought I could hike along Carrizo Gorge to the bottom of Goat Canyon I used Google Earth as a guide. Turns out what looked like minor bushes on Google was 8 foot tall catclaw that tore us to shreds.
Welcome to the forum
Bob
-- https://www.anzaborrego.net/
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harmono Posts: 71
11/8/2012
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It's funny you mentioned that, because after reading your post that was one of my concerns. I can't see rocks cactus and brush on the map, or even sand in the wash. I'll have to wait and see.
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IMG_1032 by harmono619, on Flickr
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surfponto Administrator Posts: 1364
11/8/2012
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Would love to see what you find out. Post back once you return
Maybe I will have the new Forum software running by then
harmono wrote:
It's funny you mentioned that, because after reading your post that was one of my concerns. I can't see rocks cactus and brush on the map, or even sand in the wash. I'll have to wait and see.
-- https://www.anzaborrego.net/
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harmono Posts: 71
11/8/2012
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DHeuschele wrote:
I am interested in how it works out. I have used the trespassers route (i.e. walking the tracks) but it is significantly longer than the milage that you believe would be required using this route.
I'll try to document it with my smartphone.
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IMG_1032 by harmono619, on Flickr
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harmono Posts: 71
11/8/2012
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Worst part of path?
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IMG_1032 by harmono619, on Flickr
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harmono Posts: 71
11/8/2012
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This looks like the most treacherous part of the path. Rocks seem to obstruct the creek path. Not sure how big the rocks are.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/89836383@N03/ See Image
<em>edited by surfponto on 11/9/2012</em>
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IMG_1032 by harmono619, on Flickr
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surfponto Administrator Posts: 1364
11/9/2012
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I am guessing those are large boulders that you will have to scramble over. Sounds like a great adventure
harmono wrote:
This looks like the most treacherous part of the path. Rocks seem to obstruct the creek path. Not sure how big the rocks are. Image In Photo Stream
edited by harmono on 11/8/2012 edited by surfponto on 11/9/2012 <em>edited by surfponto on 11/9/2012</em>
-- https://www.anzaborrego.net/
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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622
11/9/2012
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My guess is it will be more work than think but it is always doable. I lost count how many times I hiked a route to the gorge and it took waayyyy longer than I anticipated.
-- http://www.sefcik.com http://www.darensefcik.com http://www.carrizogorge.com
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harmono Posts: 71
11/9/2012
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dsefcik wrote:
My guess is it will be more work than think but it is always doable. I lost count how many times I hiked a route to the gorge and it took waayyyy longer than I anticipated.
Now I'm wondering if it will be too muddy.
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IMG_1032 by harmono619, on Flickr
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harmono Posts: 71
11/9/2012
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dsefcik wrote:
My guess is it will be more work than think but it is always doable. I lost count how many times I hiked a route to the gorge and it took waayyyy longer than I anticipated.
They certainly don't look like pebbles. We will see.
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IMG_1032 by harmono619, on Flickr
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harmono Posts: 71
11/11/2012
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This is an update. I will post complete details on another topic. I drove out there, and might drive out there today. Not much to report. I found the roads too rough for a non 4WD Jeep Liberty to get through, but I did manage to get to the campsite at Mortero Wash. I didn't find a road to get to the wash north of Piedras Grandes, however I did walk across the tracks there, and took a look and took some snapshots. It looks like I would have to walk about 3/4 mile or more to get the the beginning of the canyon I was talking about walking up. This morning I took a look again at the maps, and saw how I might be able to go up Jojobo canyon road back to that wash. I thought the sand was too deep. I might be going with my brother today who is experienced at this kind of thing and we are going to bring a jack, and let some air out of the tires to get more traction. I'm not sure if he wants to go out this way, since there are other things out there. Hopefully I will be able to actually walk up to the canyon entrance at least and see what kind of challenges this canyon will pose. The train tracks looked like they had not been used in quite some time.
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IMG_1032 by harmono619, on Flickr
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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622
11/11/2012
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You can take Dos Cabezas rd straight out to the PG road where you will have to park and walk to where you want to start. There is a road that goes up but it is blocked off now at the Dos Cabezas Rd. 2WD should be fine for Dos Cabezas rd, the sandy section is now graded over by the wind generator project.
http://goo.gl/maps/NYwsB
-- http://www.sefcik.com http://www.darensefcik.com http://www.carrizogorge.com
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harmono Posts: 71
11/12/2012
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dsefcik wrote:
You can take Dos Cabezas rd straight out to the PG road where you will have to park and walk to where you want to start. There is a road that goes up but it is blocked off now at the Dos Cabezas Rd. 2WD should be fine for Dos Cabezas rd, the sandy section is now graded over by the wind generator project.
http://goo.gl/maps/NYwsB
I tried to drive up Dos Cabesas but I could not figure out how to get through because of all that construction. My GPS was telling me I was on Dos Cabesas, but I suspect that the dirt road that I saw breaking to the right was Dos Cabesas. Next time I'll try that road, if there is a next time, because I was lucky to get a Jeep Liberty to drive around. I will hopefully get a chance to tell my story and upload pics. At any rate I can still get down Nortero Canyon, but I'll bring a jack, and a chain next time.
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IMG_1032 by harmono619, on Flickr
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harmono Posts: 71
12/4/2012
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I didn't really get around to going there, because of lack of transportation and finding others that want to go. A guy that I work with sounds really interested in going there and he has a truck, so this might happened. I looked at another possible route that seems better. It goes south of Indian Hill, then up a canyon to the same destination as that other canyon. Instead of going on that Jeep trail across, I go south and up this canyon. I have marked this in yellow on my map just north of my other route near Piedras Grandes. I have no date set for this, it will probably be either on Christmas weekend or some time in January.
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IMG_1032 by harmono619, on Flickr
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