ziphius

all messages by user

1/3/2015 Topic: Gear Reccomendations ziphius	Daren, Outdoor Gear Lab is chock full of real-world recommendations, including their Best Winter Down Sleeping Bag page. They aren't cheap though. Lots of thru-hikers on the Appalachian Trail and PCT have sworn by these high-end bags though. You certainly had a bit of extra-cold temperatures this week, was wondering how it was going out there....
1/3/2015 Topic: Gear Reccomendations ziphius	Excellent advice from Buford. .... and no alcohol before bed young man.... The NeoAir sleeping pad gets great reviews for utility and weight. I can't get one because I destroy anything inflatable in the desert. edited by ziphius on 1/3/2015
1/4/2015 Topic: The Potrero / Vallecito Valley 3 nights ziphius	Alex and I spent three nights camping and hiking. Cold night temperatures in the low 30s. We were lucky to be there before the post-Christmas cold front arrived! Parked on Christmas morning and then hiked just over 8 miles to our camp area. Some minor rock scrambling and topo-checking to make sure we were taking an efficient route. Occasional rock ducks along the way. They tend to spoil the connection with the terrain, spoon-feed the hiker so to speak. Some folks consider them a safety feature, I think they turn your brain off to your surroundings and make you complacent. Credit to Alex for making me think more about the role of ducks/cairns in the backcountry. There is surface water and an oasis not more than 0.5 mile from the parking lot. Views to the Lagunas on the hike in: Everyone likes yuccas unless you have any distance to walk through and around them: Still beats traffic on the I-805 heh? Shadows of the Sawtooth Mountains in the morning. I need to hike up to the ridgeline one early morning to get a killer view of these sharp shadows reaching across the valley floor. Yoni Bees were thirsty. Scale is everything, I wish I could find that much water, relatively-speaking. If you were in the shade any time of the day, you had to have your jacket on: We (Alex) found a few antlers: Pictographs Obsidian spotted by Alex: Alex also spotted a fox at this same location, managed to point it out to me, I managed to never see it, alas, no photos. Dried flowers near the saddle between The Potrero and Canebrake: View towards Lagunas from saddle Views from the saddle between The Potrero and Canebrake, looking north. Other random views: This was a ‘mylar tribute’ to someone that had passed away. ‘Floating towards the heavens’ is the last pleasant memory desired I imagine. ‘Stuck in a desert cholla and stuffed into the dirty backpack of a stinky guy with a beard’ is my final memory. We lost count on retrieved mylars after 7 or 8: Leaving the valley on our last day, HDR photo: A very fresh and wet scat found next to a cholla bomb near Squaw Canyon and Marsh Trail on the last day: edited by ziphius on 1/4/2015
1/4/2015 Topic: Gear Reccomendations ziphius	Val Delane wrote: I was in the Carrizo Badlands the night before last. Chilly, indeed. But I slept comfortably with a high-calorie dinner, in all my clothes layers + silk bag liner (protects bag from dirty clothes and adds a little R) + 4 lb Western Mountaineering down bag, on top of a Therm-A-Rest Z Lite Sol pad + Tyvek tarp. Yes, the bag is quite heavy, but in my case I judge it worthwhile because I hate being cold. (And, hi! This is my first post. Great forum for a wonderful treasure of land). Welcome to the forum and thanks for the input valdelane. My winter bag (Marmot 15 deg 'Sawtooth' is also near 4 lbs, but worth it). I'm 'saving up' for a Western Mountaineering bag.
1/4/2015 Topic: Mud Hills Wash to Elephant Knees ziphius	Nice trip report John. Like the fossil photos. Another area I've yet to explore. Part of me is afraid of getting lost in the badlands. A giant maze.
1/4/2015 Topic: Let it snow! ziphius	Cool snow! I'd never even heard of Rainbow Canyon until now. Sounds like there are lots of dry falls in that canyon from what I've just read. Any signs of standing water on your trip?
1/4/2015 Topic: 6 Days in the Turtle and Orocopia Mountains ziphius	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.
1/5/2015 Topic: Fish Creek Wash Fossil Beds ziphius	Its so cool how the scallop fossils are just embedded in the sandstone, like raisins in a muffin. Great trip and photos. Do you think that parts of the entry into Fish Creek are doable with a 2 wd sedan?
1/6/2015 Topic: 6 Days in the Turtle and Orocopia Mountains ziphius	Hmmmm...this one makes we want to hike into Mopah Spring. Satellite view shows some nice palms there.
1/6/2015 Topic: 6 Days in the Turtle and Orocopia Mountains ziphius	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.
1/7/2015 Topic: Gear Reccomendations ziphius	dsefcik wrote: Also, I gotta give ziphius TONS of credit for turning me on to dehydrating my own food, I can now take all my left overs and throw them in the dehydrator and get light weight home cooked food out backpacking...thanks ziphius..!! Your food prep has evolved! I found this in the archives.
1/12/2015 Topic: Fish Creek Mountains ziphius	Wait a minute... is that an antique UNOPENED can of sardines? Yum. 13 mylars for a single overnight is pretty darn good, must not be too many collectors in that area.
1/12/2015 Topic: Indian Valley Summer Solstice Cave & Torote Canyon ziphius	Quite the boulder overhang, impressive. Another 'Easter-egg-hunt' destination to add to the list. Nice report.
1/13/2015 Topic: Fish Creek Mountains ziphius	I dunno, I look at this photo and immediately think that some kind of giant spider lives down there. Daren, by the way, Alex and I tried the drop-the-stick-down-the-spider-hole trick on six different burrows in the Potrero and struck out! You were lucky. tommy750 wrote: Aaannd Daren's life insurance premiums just doubled edited by ziphius on 1/13/2015 edited by ziphius on 1/13/2015
1/20/2015 Topic: Sawtooth & Tierra Blanca Mtns Solo Backpack ziphius	Cool man. How far was the wreckage from the ejection seat, roughly? (if that doesn't give away too much info). The lighting on that first glimpse into IP is awesome. I've poked around that rim of IP up a particular drainage, but don't think I got as far into "no man's land" as you appear to have gone. Did you venture to the 'spring' area just about due N of Red Top that you checked out on a previous trip?
1/20/2015 Topic: Sawtooth & Tierra Blanca Mtns Solo Backpack ziphius	Again, that light is amazing. Bummer that the quiet of IP gets interrrupted by BP. I gotta find a more remote hangout. (oh yeah, any evidence of water near the spring?) dsefcik wrote: Jim (ziphius) wrote: Cool man. How far was the wreckage from the ejection seat, roughly? (if that doesn't give away too much info). If you were up in a plane high enough you could probably see both.... Jim (ziphius) wrote: The lighting on that first glimpse into IP is awesome. I've poked around that rim of IP up a particular drainage, but don't think I got as far into "no man's land" as you appear to have gone. Did you venture to the 'spring' area just about due N of Red Top that you checked out on a previous trip? That was early morning after the sunrise photos and yes, it did look that cool in person also, I liked that view a lot! I did go near the spring, that is where I saw all the foot prints going up/down to red top and back thru inner pasture. The BP was crusing the whole valley on Saturday quite intensely via helicopter, I watched them for about 30 minutes from up on the ridge line as they hovered around the valley floor searching every boulder pile. edited by ziphius on 1/20/2015
1/21/2015 Topic: Sheep / deer at the water trough? ziphius	There is a rectangular water trough at 32.6736 -116.1091 near Mountain Spring, just west of 8. In satellite view on caltopo.com (and Google Earth), it looks like there are 2 animals side-by-side drinking at the edge of the trough. edited by ziphius on 1/22/2015
1/21/2015 Topic: Sheep / deer at the water trough? ziphius	dsefcik wrote: ...but I know why you were looking at a water trough to begin with.... Nothing more fun than 'connecting blue dots' on the map to plan a long trip. Might require some caching. Of course, you're invited.
1/21/2015 Topic: Sheep / deer at the water trough? ziphius	dsefcik wrote: That is Bighorn country and looks plausible....guess we will have to stop and take a look next time we are out there...good eye...but I know why you were looking at a water trough to begin with.... Now I've convinced myself that the topmost 'animal' is an adult male.
1/22/2015 Topic: Sheep / deer at the water trough? ziphius	BorregoWrangler wrote: I've seen some rams making their way down to the spring before. Last time I was there I saw crawfish in there too. Crawdads in the desert. I love it!
1/27/2015 Topic: Loop and Olla Wash yet again ziphius	Agree with Tom..... keep the photos super-sized. The ocotillo photo is outstanding, it would be a good entry in the ABDSP annual photo contest. Nice trip. - Jim
2/1/2015 Topic: Sheep / deer at the water trough? ziphius	Hey, what did you do with the sheep? That algae looks suspiciously like blue-green cyanobacteria, can be a problem for dogs and humans alike :Blue Green Algae. If you drank any and lived, let us know.
2/3/2015 Topic: Between the coast and ABDSP ziphius	Off-trail 'whacking' is so much fun, though I would resist cutting vegetation if it is going to establish new trails where none are desired by the local fauna. You ever run into marine mammal bones in these sites? Some sites are marked by vertebral discs of large whales. I recall stumbling across one on the Channel Islands, a big white disc a few feet away from a human skull. The archaeologists at the island were not amused when I reported the site to them, as they thought I was trampling through important cultural sites, when I was simply trying to count sea lions as part of my job. Now when I see something, I don't report it.
2/8/2015 Topic: What are you reading? ziphius	dsefcik wrote: Just bought the Kindle version of Tschiffely's Ride: Ten Thousand Miles in the Saddle from Southern Cross to Pole Star Has anybody else read this story? Read the synopsis and it looks like a goodie Daren. Those type of stories always make me feel like I was born 100-150 years too late. Men were more 'feral' back in the day - envious.
2/18/2015 Topic: The Impossible Railroad ziphius	Nice trip. Like the Huell Howser memorial. The rooms / caves are kinda cool too, now you have a place to go to when the SHTF. Those showy pink flowers are a species of Penstemon.
2/18/2015 Topic: First time visitor to abdsp and our adventure ziphius	Looks like a fun trip Nolan. Sometimes when it is dry at the cottonwoods, the water is running within a few hundred yards upstream. Have camped there a few times and was surprised to find running water within 1/2 hr walk of the cottonwoods.
2/18/2015 Topic: First time visitor to abdsp and our adventure ziphius	The author Craig Childs describes an Arizona desert riparian canyon where no water flows during the day because cottonwoods are photosynthesizing when the sun is out, which requires tremendous amounts of water for a single big cottonwood. That's why they only grow where subsurface water is available to the roots. However, once nightfall came, Childs found that the trees 'let go' of the water they were sucking during the day, so much in fact, that water began to flow at the surface again. Aquatic beetles and even small fish that had burrowed deep into the grasses and vegetation awoke from the 'dead' in the evening. That's something I hope to witness one day (night). Nolan (anutami) wrote: Jim (ziphius) wrote: Looks like a fun trip Nolan. Sometimes when it is dry at the cottonwoods, the water is running within a few hundred yards upstream. Have camped there a few times and was surprised to find running water within 1/2 hr walk of the cottonwoods. I walked about 10 min upstream and nothing....was pretty bummed out. Should have gone further!
2/28/2015 Topic: Carrizo Gorge Overnight Trip ziphius	Nice trip and photos Wrangler. Solo trips are one of my favorite things. Hey, where about along your 6-mile route did you come across that pool? (I'm trying to map potential water sources for a future BIG trip in the area.) - Jim
3/1/2015 Topic: Missing Hiker ziphius	Tom makes a good point regarding Inmarsat phones. We carry one for our field studies at the Channel Islands (because we are required to). They aren't all that heavy and considering what folks spend on outdoor gear, etc., boy, it seems like a good idea.
3/1/2015 Topic: Carrizo Gorge Overnight Trip ziphius	Thanks John and Daren regarding thoughts on water sources in the Gorge. Plenty of water today on El Cajon Mtn.
3/1/2015 Topic: Missing Hiker ziphius	I don't own one, but I have access to one. After seeing this post and thinking about the lost hiker, my desire to do longer, more technical trips, I might get my own. My better half supports anything that makes backcountry travel safer. It seems like a reasonable insurance policy (Table of Iridium 9555 subscription costs). Of course, the phone itself is $1,195, but it's lighter and cheaper than some DSLRs that we lug around. And you can make phone calls with it! tommy750 wrote: Jim (ziphius) wrote: Tom makes a good point regarding Inmarsat phones. We carry one for our field studies at the Channel Islands (because we are required to). They aren't all that heavy and considering what folks spend on outdoor gear, etc., boy, it seems like a good idea. I'm a single guy with no kids. You solo hikers with wives and kids and mortgages don't get heat to get one of these?? Just wondering.
3/1/2015 Topic: Missing Hiker ziphius	I hadn't realized most of 'em were serviced by satellites at equatorial latitudes, good point. And you're right that you're not going to make an SOS call from the deep canyons of Utah with these units. But they are still a good idea.
3/17/2015 Topic: Picto Hunting and Pepperwood Trail ziphius	Given the drought, I'm still amazed that any of our springs have water. But maybe it's 10,000 year old 'fossil water' trickling to the surface, who knows. That's an impressive amount of obsidian for one spot, like the flaked stone too. Wish I were out there right now.... sigh.
4/5/2015 Topic: Spring Break 2015 Week 1 ziphius	Nice point Daren, ornate. Good eyes to spot one that small. I like the lizard. I like the water. Jim
4/6/2015 Topic: Bighorn Sheep in Inner Pasture ziphius	Cool, I haven't seen one with a radio collar yet. Was that the Moonlight Canyon or 'Mile 41' entrance?
4/6/2015 Topic: Bighorn Sheep in Inner Pasture ziphius	dsefcik wrote: I'll guess marker 41...I have seen sheep in the wash several times before around this time of year, usually with lambs. Cool, that's pretty much the same spot where my daughter and I saw bighorn for the first time.
4/15/2015 Topic: Escalante: the staircase: trip 2 ziphius	Great photos Nolan. Enjoyed my trip through Death Hollow outside Escalante a few years ago. Highly recommend that trip as a 3-day or more backpack. That terrain photo (#5) brings back memories of trying to find the 'trail'.
4/22/2015 Topic: Trail Less Traveled ziphius	Welcome to the forum. Inner Pasture is awful and dangerous, no water, too many cholla, no trails, and occasionally inhabited by bearded, surly misanthropes that camp without clothes because they can, seeing as no one else ever goes there. You won't enjoy it.
4/29/2015 Topic: Trail Less Traveled ziphius	dsefcik wrote: I wonder if they went out...drew66 TR ?? I'm up for a 'search & rescue' mission on Sunday. Seriously. Even if no one is lost.
4/29/2015 Topic: West of Indian Hill ziphius	Nice pics Tommy, love the graffiti. Alex and I saw a red racer (=coachwhip) near Gray Mtn. last weekend...so fast. BTW, this site is pretty darn good for herp identification: http://www.californiaherps.com/identification/snakesid/common.html - Jim edited by ziphius on 4/29/2015
5/3/2015 Topic: Inner Pasture / Spring Break Week 2 ziphius	Nice pics Daren. The entrance to Squaw after the spring didn't look any fun (jagged, rocky, bad footing) when Alex and I ventured past on our way to The Potrero in December. Looks like you guys had a great moon, wish I could have joined up with you and Tom. Next time. edited by ziphius on 5/3/2015
5/3/2015 Topic: Inner Pasture / Spring Break Week 2 ziphius	Great pics / carcass Tom. Seeing those makes me homesick.
5/4/2015 Topic: Inner Pasture / Spring Break Week 2 ziphius	tommy750 wrote: My favorite is the crow. Amazing circular bokeh is Daren's photographic signature Raven, gotta be a raven, bill is too big. I like how the clouds managed to just clear out above the mountains in your shot Tom, great vertical symmetry going on in that photo. Bokeh. Thanks for the new vocabulary word.
5/7/2015 Topic: Geoglyph Hunting With Harry Casey ziphius	At least they aren't turfed water-wasting golf courses. That's funny.
5/13/2015 Topic: Canebrake Canyon Access ziphius	Canebrake Jeff wrote: The owner of the Crawford ranch, Larry, died in the summer of 2013. It went up for sale in the early fall of that year. Unfortunately the Anza Borrego Foundation was not interested in buying the property. Between October and December of 2013, the canyon was open to hikers with permission to cross Canebrake. The new owners have since closed all access, fixed the road up the canyon and built a helicopter pad among other things. They now come and go by private helicopter. Too bad the park wasn't able to acquire the land. Appreciate the update. Might explain the helo I saw out there on an otherwise quiet trip. The occasional helo overflight is much better than the alternative possibility of 4wd traffic in that region though. edited by ziphius on 5/13/2015
5/21/2015 Topic: Ancient Lake Cahuilla shore line trip May 2015 ziphius	Great trip, thanks for posting rockhopper. Serious-sized scraper you found there.
5/30/2015 Topic: A few familiar places we enjoyed in May ziphius	Jeez, that didn't look like any fun at all. I think I'll teach my teenager how to drive out there! Great post Nolan. - Jim
5/31/2015 Topic: Carrizo Gorge Wilderness Backpack ziphius	I like the medium format photos Daren. Gosh, my first guess with the snakes is that they were mating and got interrupted. If you watch video of their mating ritual, their heads end up intertwined and the 2 snakes combined are not very mobile at that point. Maybe your fox came by and chomped on both of their heads at the same time. Otherwise, it's hard to catch 2 snakes at once and chomp their heads...they look like coachwhips / racers? ...which are pretty fast.
5/31/2015 Topic: Overnight backpack north of Wilson Peak ziphius	Gosh, I haven't backpacked since December. Not my fault though, bought a house and you know how that goes. Alex and I did a quick overnight to remind ourselves 1) how to find our gear and 2) how to use it. Big Spr. is still flowing and the vegetation has come roaring back since the last fires swept through. It's a little tougher to get water there than last year due to all the vegetation, but still doable. We also checked out Middle Spr. on the way out, though we didn't descend all the way to it, saw some morteros through binoculars just to the east of Middle Spr. Daytime temperatures in the mid to high 80s. Sunrise was great, but we quickly left camp behind to search out shade for breakfast. The Thimble was beckoning, but that has to be a cooler weather trip: I'd found this pottery drop last time I was here in October and forgot to photograph it the first time. Biggest pieces I've personally stumbled across. On the way home, we stopped for ice cream (not shown) in Ranchita: edited by ziphius on 6/1/2015
6/1/2015 Topic: Carrizo Gorge Wilderness Backpack ziphius	So I'm seeing a radio collar on that carcass right? Any info on when it was tagged? (ah, now I see it was about 13 years old when I click on the photo.....) edited by ziphius on 6/1/2015
6/1/2015 Topic: Bighorn Sheep Count 2015 Volunteers Needed !! ziphius	Thinking about this year, I'm already planning a mid-June trip to Big / Middle Spr. area as a test run of my summer heat tolerance. I know you guys lug in all your water into Rattlesnake ahead of time in the spring. What about tarps? Are they something you need to provide or does the park provide those?
6/9/2015 Topic: Santa Rosa Traverse in One Day-unsupported ziphius	Yikes, that is crazy, the drive from 74 to S-22 was probably the most dangerous part, considering you said you were falling asleep during the latter part of the hike. Why not just sleep it off awhile at the car near Hwy 74? You didn't doze off during the drive back? Anyway, I'm glad I wasn't anywhere nearby on the road that night. An impressive feat nonetheless. edited by ziphius on 6/10/2015
6/20/2015 Topic: Montezuma Grade during the heat wave ziphius	My buddy Rich flew in from MN after I lured him here with promises of bighorn sheep and mountain lion tracks. We made the plans to hit the desert some time ago, so of course his visit coincided with the first heat wave of the year. We did a single overnight backpack with a 5:15 am start, a long day of hiding beneath the shade of boulders to look for sheep, then really high winds that night. Great stars that night (was awake most of night because of wind). Based on the high temps in Borrego and Ranchita that day, we estimated that our high was around 104 during our day. We bailed on staying a 2nd night after enduring the wind on the ridges the 1st night, and ‘escaped’ to town. That required a visit to Carlee’s in Borrego Springs for beer and burgers. We managed to see 2 groups of sheep during the day, a sidewinder just before midnight the next night, and a few banded geckos too. The high in Borrego Springs the day after our sheep adventure was 112, but both thermometers at the Hacienda Del Sol pool were reading 117-118 in the shade. This was my first real taste of summer desert backpacking, got me thinking about maybe committing to the sheep count next year (can’t make it this year). Rich took nearly all the photos here, enjoy. Saw this guy within moments of exiting the car. Sidewinder seen near midnight on our night in town. Banded gecko View from camp I always bring my own sheep just in case things don't pan out. Worth their weight in potassium. One of two groups we saw during the day. Rich did a great job photographing this redtail hawk. Me cruising the terrain early in the day. The ants were attracted to anything that had sweat on it. Rich with my old school Kelty framepack. There is a bag of potato chips strapped to the right side of the pack. At the Hacienda Del Sol pool the 2nd day. Smoke from a distant fire. Early in the day, full of life. Late in the day, less life. All things ended well. edited by ziphius on 6/21/2015 edited by ziphius on 6/21/2015
6/21/2015 Topic: Montezuma Grade during the heat wave ziphius	Forgot to mention that I had a snake slither over my right boot while sitting above one of the springs. It was so fast that I didn't have time to react, but all I knew is it wasn't a rattler. Turns out it was a California Striped Racer (Coluber lateralis), which is easily confused with garter snakes (which is what immediately popped into my head when I saw it). Photo from the CA herps website: http://www.californiaherps.com/snakes/images/cllateralisghkcrs315.jpg
6/21/2015 Topic: Montezuma Grade during the heat wave ziphius	dsefcik wrote: Tell Rich great photos...! Yep, getting ready to spend 4 days at Rattlesnake for the annual BHS count, only a couple more weeks...seems like you got a taste of what it is like. I have a lot more respect for what you guys do after this trip.
6/22/2015 Topic: from rockhouse ruins to cactus springs trail ziphius	Looks like a challenging and fun route. Great old photos 'hopper.
6/22/2015 Topic: Borrego Springs 1965 ziphius	Great photos rockhopper! Important little pieces of history.
6/23/2015 Topic: Carrizo Gorge Wilderness Backpack ziphius	tommy750 wrote: Think I just figured out the dead snake mystery! Make sure you read the entire article. https://www.thedodo.com/mother-rabbit-attacks-snake-1211670128.html That was fun to watch.
6/25/2015 Topic: ANZA-BORREGO FOUNDATION / NICKEL BEER COMPANY ziphius	I'd read about the 'Dark Sky Stout' somewhere in town recently and was tempted to go, but other engagements.... have fun!
6/27/2015 Topic: Rocky Basin Lakes 7 Day Backpack in the Sierras ziphius	Looks like a great trip Daren. You had it all, except cholla! Where did you start? Gary saves the day with planning!
6/29/2015 Topic: Baby foxes. Everyone loves those, right? ziphius	Alex spotted a family of 3 cubs and a mom up ahead on the trail yesterday in the Lagunas. I never saw Mom but managed to fumble my camera out in time to fire off a few shots. A few other critters seen during the day: Coast patch-nosed snake Gopher snake Other stuff View towards Granite Mtn
7/1/2015 Topic: Baby foxes. Everyone loves those, right? ziphius	Ah yes, 'Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom!". Probably one of the shows responsible for my career path as a biologist. Alex and I managed to ID the two butterflies: Edward's Blue (Hemiargus ceraunus gyas). Source: The Butterflies of San Diego County by Kojiro Shiraiwa. edited by ziphius on 7/1/2015
7/1/2015 Topic: Pacific Imperial Railroad's latest idea ziphius	Yikes, that would make I-8 a complete wreck for all the reasons Tom mentions.
7/1/2015 Topic: Baby foxes. Everyone loves those, right? ziphius	tommy750 wrote: Jim (ziphius) wrote: Ah yes, 'Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom!". Probably one of the shows responsible for my career path as a biologist. So Marlin Perkins is to Biologists what Indiana Jones is to Archaeologists? I get it. Yep. Today, budding biologists have David Attenborough to look up to. [worth the 2 minutes]
7/6/2015 Topic: Sheep Count 2015 ziphius	Great trip report Buford, glad you got out there and saw some sheep. I gotta commit for next year, never done it. Any photos of your camp area? Did folks bring tents or sleep out under the stars? Those are really good photographs, I would not have guessed cell phone at all. - Jim
7/7/2015 Topic: Sheep Count 2015 ziphius	Great photos Daren. Congrats on another year. With that many sheep, you guys gotta be on your toes to sort them all out and ID them. What were the longest periods during the day without sheep at the spring? Was your team 3 or 4 people?
7/10/2015 Topic: Sheep Count 2015 ziphius	Why is Yaqui Pass so cushy? Are you in the shade of the tamarisks?
7/12/2015 Topic: Culp Valley ziphius	Nice post, welcome to the forum. Love that area. Too bad about the graffiti. Daren is right about the Phainopepla. Nice ground nest...quail? It's one of those areas of the park where cool stuff is so close to the road that I'm not surprised at the graffiti. Not sure what you meant by 'treasure hunters', but if it means you've seen people with metal detectors in the park, that's a big no-no and they should be reported. The water at Pena Spring is pretty darn refreshing. edited by ziphius on 7/12/2015
7/27/2015 Topic: The Potrero ziphius	Love that area / camp spot, have Daren and Craig to thank for showing it to me. Alex and I did ~ 8 miles from ????? to the spring in December and stayed 3 nights. I've always thought about heading out there in the summer, figuring you could 'bank' on there being water. Next time I visit the area, I'll camp a couple of hundred yards away from the spring though, as we had unwanted (and illegal) 4x4 visitation during our stay. This is one of those spots that should be kept secret for sure, once it gets 'discovered', it's 'game over'. Nice frogs. edited by ziphius on 7/27/2015
8/7/2015 Topic: Is Fingertail Spring Dry? ziphius	That was fun. Thanks for your midsummer service to the forum. Christopher Wray's book, yes.
8/19/2015 Topic: Anza-Borrego Desert Photo Contest 2015 ziphius	We should have a forum contest. Except Daren and Tommy can't enter. edited by ziphius on 8/19/2015
8/24/2015 Topic: Feinstein seeks new National Monuments ziphius	LA Times link quoted from story: The proposed monuments are quite distinct from one another. Mojave Trails National Monument would encompass 921,000 acres of federal land and former railroad property along a 105-mile stretch of old Route 66, between Ludlow and Needles, and protect wildlife corridors linking Joshua Tree National Park and the Mojave National Preserve. Sand to Snow National Monument, about 45 miles east of Riverside, would embrace about 135,000 acres of federal land between Joshua Tree National Park and the San Bernardino National Forest in San Bernardino and Riverside counties. The area includes roughly 24 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail and Big Morongo Canyon, a birding hot spot that was designated a federal Area of Critical Environmental Concern in 1982. Castle Mountains National Monument would include a desert outback left out of the 1994 California Desert Protection Act due to an active gold mine that ceased operations in 2001. Located near the Mojave National Preserve, the area includes the historic mining town of Hart. edited by ziphius on 8/24/2015
9/1/2015 Topic: Drone use in the Park ziphius	There is an increasing use of drones in ABDSP, particularly by hobbyists with a desire to photograph and video beautiful places. I first noticed this when I saw a post on the Friends of Anza Borrego Desert Facebook page. The post created a little bit of pro- vs anti-drone feather-ruffling. Since that time, I've seen other drone videos and meet-up group types of encouragements (link below) to "bring your drone!" on trips. The park currently prohibits drones as seen in this video. Personally, I don't want to see or hear them in the backcountry. Opinions? http://scoutfitters.org/trip/the-drones-have-landed-in-anza-borrego/
9/2/2015 Topic: Drone use in the Park ziphius	I could imagine limited and controlled drone use for park research, with a permit system. Drones might be an alternative technology for sheep and plant surveys. For example, the park used to use helicopters for bighorn surveys, but due to safety reasons, no longer do this. But drones need to be a rare thing in the park and too many people own them now (like dogs!). I understand the owners' desire to fly them in a beautiful open space where you are seemingly doing no harm. Model airplane clubs have regulations and designated flight zones, which seems to be a needed model for the multitude of drone pilots out there.
9/6/2015 Topic: Drone use in the Park ziphius	There was a drone flying over the audience last night at the San Diego Symphony at the Embarcadero. Distracting and annoying to say the least. (Yes, some ABDSP forum members are that cultured). edited by ziphius on 9/6/2015
9/8/2015 Topic: Drone use in the Park ziphius	Nolan, I haven't passed along that outfitters advertisement to the park, maybe I should. No idea what the BLM regulations are. I suspect that the drone issue has come upon park and land officials so quickly that they've not had time to formalize regulations. Someone on the Friends of the Anza Borrego Desert Facebook page cited a generic regulation (see games and recreational activities) in support of the drone ban. I think the video of the ranger confronting a drone pilot in the Borrego Badlands earlier this year is probably the best insight into the regulations we have without contacting the park directly. Funny thing about that video is that the pilot / narrator at one point wistfully states that "the desert appeared to be undisturbed", which is the very thing that attracts all of us to it. PS - Welcome to the forum eFMer. edited by ziphius on 9/8/2015
9/11/2015 Topic: Itching to get out in the desert ziphius	Yep, good find! Glad he is excited about history. Speaking of which, a screening of the film Impossible Railroad will take place on 17 September at the Museum of Contemporary Art in downtown San Diego. I might go check it out.
9/21/2015 Topic: Itching to get out in the desert ziphius	tommy750 wrote: Was nice to get out and will definitely agree the weather at night was great. Was 88 when we got back, however. Pepperwood Spring was dry but hopefully the rains expected today will help to get it going again. Ah, it looks like your tent is framed by Red Top on the right and her taller, unnamed sister to the left. Time to start thinking about a 2nd ascent trip, I'll send invites.... Any nighttime foot traffic during your stay?
10/2/2015 Topic: South West Road Trip ziphius	Nice photos & trip 'hopper. I never get tired of seeing cliff dwellings. Amazing they are still standing. Great construction compared to the chicken wire and stucco dwellings that us CA folks pay big $$$ for. We saw some great cliff dwellings in Bandolier National Monument this summer. Lots of petroglyphs in that area too.
10/4/2015 Topic: Drone use in the Park ziphius	sddarkman619 wrote: Let's not group all drone pilots in one bad group. I'm sure if some of you flew one and took some shots you'd see the allure of them. edited by sddarkman619 on 10/2/2015 Definitely not the intention to characterize drone pilots in a bad way. Drones represent very cool technological advances in photography and videography. We use them at work, but even we have to obtain permits for their use over open water, where danger to people is limited. A couple of examples of how we use 'em: Killer whale research and Antarctic research. In a world where it is increasingly difficult to find peace and quiet, the sentiments of those who don't want drones in the park are well understood. But I think there is room for a limited use / time someday, it just has to be regulated, because so many people own them these days.
10/6/2015 Topic: NASA finds evidence of water on surface of CA ziphius	Story (sorry moderators)
10/6/2015 Topic: From the Unpublished Series ziphius	Sad man. The database looks like a useful research tool. I would include mountain bike trail roadkill in the database too..... lizards, snakes.
10/8/2015 Topic: 98 Years in Prison for looting artifacts in Califo ziphius	I always tend to think that these folks know better, but don't care or think they can get away with it. Like so many things, the wealthy collectors tend to drive the demand, whether they are collecting themselves or others are supplying the loot. Big case in 2009 got a lot of press (LA Times and Craig Childs).
10/8/2015 Topic: 98 Years in Prison for looting artifacts in Califo ziphius	tommy750 wrote: What's up with these doctor pot hunters?? Daren, have you checked Tommy's living room?
10/9/2015 Topic: 98 Years in Prison for looting artifacts in Califo ziphius	tommy750 wrote: Jim (ziphius) wrote: tommy750 wrote: What's up with these doctor pot hunters?? Daren, have you checked Tommy's living room? Looks like just the stuff in the basement, must be quite a display in the living area. edited by ziphius on 10/9/2015
10/9/2015 Topic: 98 Years in Prison for looting artifacts in Califo ziphius	tommy750 wrote: Though someone would have picked up on this being a still from Indiana Jones by now. I knew it, but was too busy crafting a smart-alecky response.
10/9/2015 Topic: McCain Valley / In-Ko-Pah Mts Last 2 months ziphius	Nice photos and trip Daren / Tom. Discovering some 'new' pictos must be a thrill. Heading out to Laguna Mtns and Jacumba this weekend to escape the heat at the coast. Ironically, it is 100 deg in La Mesa as I look right now and only 82 deg at Inkopah.
10/13/2015 Topic: Local Ramblings 50mi outside ABDSP ziphius	Cool stuff rockhopper. I too wonder how old they are compared with the ones in the desert. A lot more weathering near the coast... but these are obviously a lot more weathered than the ones you find at Mission Trails Park, which should have about the same amount of weathering. Looks like a different type of rock than I'm used to seeing morteros on, maybe it is 'softer' rock.
10/13/2015 Topic: Local Ramblings 50mi outside ABDSP ziphius	These coastal sites that you've shared with us a few times (keep 'em coming!) seem to be devoid of classic 'points', but have an abundance of chipped stone. Any theories? edited by ziphius on 10/13/2015
10/13/2015 Topic: No trails, no maps, no tent, no stove ziphius	author Craig Childs on being outdoors... slow down and enjoy your next trip! edited by ziphius on 10/13/2015
10/14/2015 Topic: McCain Valley / In-Ko-Pah Mts Last 2 months ziphius	Man, that water looks good and clear! Rarest thing out there, congrats on finding it.
10/21/2015 Topic: Drone use in the Park ziphius	Ram takes down drone and owner. Something tells me this is gonna happen out here one day.
11/1/2015 Topic: McCain Valley / In-Ko-Pah Mts Last 2 months ziphius	Curious, is that spring / trough marked on the topo?
11/3/2015 Topic: Any Interest in going to Pinto Canyon - early 2016 ziphius	Stealth camping near the border, sounds dangerously fun.
11/3/2015 Topic: CalTopo Route Planning: What's Next? ziphius	Interview with founder Matt Jacobs
11/3/2015 Topic: CalTopo Route Planning: What's Next? ziphius	Yeah, no-brainer for me to pony up for a subscription, great tool.
11/15/2015 Topic: Santa Rosas / Rockhouse Canyon 4 Day Backpack ziphius	Nice trip and photos guys, especially Tommy's last one. Daren, you always seem to find the scorpions (or they find you). Pretty interesting entry for Stifferino in the Lindsay book, makes sense.
11/18/2015 Topic: Combs Peak Hike ziphius	Nice trip Wrangler, I like that area. There's an old 'camp' (~1930s era) tucked away in the area with a reliable spring.
11/22/2015 Topic: Carrizo Gorge Hike Nov. 2015 ziphius	Great trip and photos Wrangler. Impressive 'bathtub ring' around that rock, didn't realize the standing water gets that high sometimes.
11/27/2015 Topic: Any Interest in going to Pinto Canyon - early 2016 ziphius	Gregory Z-65 has been good to me for multi-day trips. If you have the option, a sand-colored pack is always nice. edited by ziphius on 11/27/2015

Anza Borrego Desert

ziphius

all messages by user