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First thing I noticed about the son was the DARK-colored hat without a sufficient brim. Second thing I noticed is the apparent lack of any water being carried. The one time in my life I got into heat trouble is when I was wearing a black wide-brimmed hat. That hat is gone now.

I was under the mistaken belief that Coyote Canyon was only closed to vehicle traffic when I went hiking there June 3rd. A check with the park headquarters shows that Daren is in fact correct. Coyote Canyon is closed period. No cars and no hiking of any kind.

dsefcik wrote:

ziphius wrote:

Are there some palm grove areas that are off-limits to hikers during the summer, to avoid disturbing the sheep? Apparently, your spot wasn't one of them?

Palm Grove is open, Coyote Canyon is closed.

Borregolinda wrote:

Well, Fish Creek got 1.9" of rain this afternoon!

So yesterday I started out to drive to Fish Creek and as I dropped down into Ocotillo (about 90 miles from home) my wife called me and an emergency at home required me to head back. I was thinking maybe next week I may get out there. Let me know if you see or hear of any conditions that might make it not advisable.

Thanks!!

Borregolinda wrote:

Talked to Ranger Steve today. Split Mtn. rd is closed right now. Lots of mud. Had to rescue someone by helicopter from Wind Caves area after his vehicle became mired in muck. Wouldn't recommend attempting that trip for a bit, another week anyhow! We'll let you know if we hear anything else!

Great, thanks...!

So what was Steve's joke lineup for today?

Borregolinda wrote:

Talked to Ranger Steve today. Split Mtn. rd is closed right now. Lots of mud. Had to rescue someone by helicopter from Wind Caves area after his vehicle became mired in muck.

Here is the story http://www.10news.com/news/31322575/detail.html

I think I will wait awhile until no more flash floods will occur, can't say I want my truck to look like that.

Crazy pics.

I heard there was suppose to be more rain out there Sunday evening.
Any reports on more flooding?

Drove out to Split Mt. after seeing Borregolinda's post. The pickup was amazing! Thought I heard they were parked near the Wind Caves trail head when the flood hit. According to my odometer, that's 2.0 miles from the pickup location! Here's a few more pics:


Fish Creek F150 by tomteske, on Flickr


Fish Creek PU3 by tomteske, on Flickr


Fish Creek PU by tomteske, on Flickr

Looks like the truck is starting to leak fluids.


Fish Creek PU Leaks by tomteske, on Flickr


Fish Creek PU Leak by tomteske, on Flickr


Fish Creek PU5 by tomteske, on Flickr


Fish Creek PU4 by tomteske, on Flickr

Assuming they didn't place this sign this low to the ground!


ABDSP Sign by tomteske, on Flickr

A solitary Bighorn a couple hundred yards up the canyon.


Fish Creek Bighorn by tomteske, on Flickr

The truck on the way out to Blair Valley to find Daren and view the Perseid meteor shower


Fish Creek Noc PU by tomteske, on Flickr

Looks like fun....I will be heading out Thursday for a 4 day backpack trip thru Rockhouse Cyn / Valley so I will miss it. Please let us know how it goes!

JoeTime wrote:

Awesome, thanks for the replies guys.

I'll make sure to find a clear spot next to the road for sure. Got my metal firepit so no issues there.

Planning on catching the sunset from wind caves Saturday. I'll Post some pics next week.

Thanks

Welcome!
Fish creek wash is a great first time trip!!!! You are going to LOVE driving through and won't believe your eyes.
The end of oyster shell wash is great, or lycium wash. I am not sure why anyone would use the campground near split mountain other than being concerned about flash floods during the night...i don't think anyone has posted a trip report on the wind caves yet. I have yet to check them out, as they are always packed with cars and usually groups of boyscouts.

JoeTime wrote:

Heading out to AZSP for the first time. Pretty excited. Was aiming for Fish Creek to check out the Wind Caves. Can anyone fill me in on camping out there? Are you supposed to stay close to Split Mountain near the campground or can you venture in and camp in some of the other washes? I just want to avoid camping right next to someone.

You can car camp anywhere there is a road as long you stay within one car length from the road. All campfires must be in a metal container or approved campground fire ring. Let us know how your trip goes!

There are fees in all of the established sites that have pit toilets and fire rings. Don't camp there, don't pay. Sleep on the ground, pack out your trash and enjoy the freedom the park offers, no better rules around....really...but sometimes the fees are worth it..you decide.....

DesertWRX wrote:

Found there was a $10 fee up in Sheep Canyon's backcountry campground. I guess you pay it if you use an established site with table and fire ring. There's an &quotIron Ranger&quot there to deposit your money in.

I have been told that the bypass road is closed until it can be rebuilt. Also, you will need a 4x4 to get to the Wind Caves in Fish Creek.

I had to pull out due to the wife having surgery but my 11 year old son is on the trip now. They left last night. 3 adults, 5 boys and 1 girl. They plan to cover 6-8 miles last night in the dark, 15-18 miles today, and ~8 miles tomorrow. I provided my son a camera but we will see if he actually uses it. Water is always a concern in the desert on 3 day trip. Rattlers a little less concern. I wish I could have gone.

Advice well taken. I guess my first trip will be to knock out the easy stuff and see what AB is all about and be a tourist. So with that said this weekend will not be my maiden voyage by any means. I will be out in AB the weekend of Feb. 28th - Mar. 3rd and get familiar with the park. Can't wait. I think I might be visiting Corn Springs for the 2nd time since I didn't give myself any time to explore the area on my first visit. It's easy to have a plan B if the CG is full.

Just FYI, I have already posted the application form in the Events forum:

http://www.anzaborrego.net/anzaborrego/forum/topic794--bighorn-sheep-count-now-accepting-application.aspx

DesertWrx, probably better not to put ranger Steve's email on a public forum, he will be flooded with spam...better to edit the post and remove his email and use the application form instead.

Daren

Borregolinda wrote:

I hope you dismantled your illegal firepit before you left.

Linda, you were joking about the fire pit right? I didn't build it. Looks like it's been there a while. It's up a ridge north-east of the main Coyote Canyon road.

-Florian
edited by Florian on 5/19/2014

Borregolinda wrote:

Um....isn't his email address on the application?

What I mean is that by posting his email address on a public page will allow automated systems to pick it up easily and he will be flooded with spam, it would best to edit and remove his email address from the post.

DesertWRK/BorregoLinda, are guys gonna count this year? I signed up for Rattlesnake Spring again, I think I have a system worked out that will get me up and back with my bad back.

Borregolinda wrote:

dsefcik wrote:

DesertWRK/BorregoLinda, are guys gonna count this year? I signed up for Rattlesnake Spring again, I think I have a system worked out that will get me up and back with my bad back.

Bill (desertwrx) is, not me! I can't stay in 1 place that long....I get bored!!

The first year I counted at Hellhole, we saw 16 sheep in 3 days, that was tough for sure. At Rattlesnake you see sheep all day, every day. I have had some mornings where they walk thru our camp area on the way to the spring, it is hard to get bored at Rattlesnake.

Borregolinda wrote:

Why would I joke about an illegal fire pit. Since it was in your trip photos and didn't say you found it out there and there was wood in it I figured it was yours.

If you click on the flickr photo and read the description you'll see that i mentioned it was old. It's up a ridge a ways from the main road. It may be historic. Thanks for your volunteer work in the park. I do a lot of "free-lance" cleanup myself and would NEVER build a fire pit nor have a ground fire of any kind.


I clicked again...just see that it says "Firepit" Sorry again.


-Florian

That thing is 2WD only isn't it?

As usual, amazing TR Nolan, you have some of the luckiest kids....I still struggle with the "Desert Season" phrase everyone uses....the desert is open for use 365 days a year and each "season" offers different enjoyments. Try the mud caves in 118 degrees, the cool breeze slot is amazing and there are not 110 cars parked in the wash...just one, yours...

In March I was considering an Indian Canyon to Borrego Palm Canyon Traverse with side trip up Indian Head. I have done the traverse before and Indian Head before.

A while back they graded Bolder Alley (maybe 3 years ago). I was wondering how difficult that stretch is now. My vehicle could handle Boulder Alley pre-grade but I need to make sure we have another vehicle that can handle that stretch.

If I do not do Indian Canton to Borrego Palm Canyon I may do Anza to upper Coyote Canyon traverse. Anyone have an idea of how long that shuttle would be? I was thinking maybe 4 hours with the slow speed getting down from the upper part of Coyote Canyon (Upper part being as high as the road currently goes). Due to the expected shuttle time I am heavily leaning toward the above trip.

Were there any other people out and about? Sounds like the bypass is not too bad right now. I need to post something up from last weekend, hopefully in the next couple of days.

Borregolinda wrote:

We were all the way up to Sheep Canyon Thursday doing our clean up. The bypass road is not as rough as it was years ago. But rougher than the last time we were up earlier this year. Need a little bit of thinking to get up it but not bad. A 2wd SUV isn't going to make it!

Thanks for that update Borregolinda, road will be closed for awhile now, hopefully I can get out there when it opens up again.

Why is Yaqui Pass so cushy? Are you in the shade of the tamarisks?

dsefcik wrote:

I use to think model airplanes and gas helicopters were cool (well helicopters still are).

Daren,

Have you ever noticed that large &quotbarn&quot like building along S22 east of the BS airport. It's on the north-south portion of S22 about halfway between the Pegleg marker and the corner where the dump road joins. The guy flies model planes there all the time. I've seen them multiple times. Haven't seen a model helicopter there yet but maybe someday. I was just camping on Friday night out near Arroyo Salado and went for bike ride on Sat and he had a plane up when i rode by.

-Florian

When is this movie supposed to be out? I looked at all of the social media pages and I just don't get it...

I rather like the idea of having certain areas where people can't go. Especially if they are ecologically or culturally sensitive.

-Florian[/quote

That means, for instance, that people could no longer climb around on rocks or walk up a wash, canyon, or ridge in any of our 8 cultural reserves. Think of hiking in Cougar or Sheep Canyon, primitive camping in Blair Valley, or rock climbing in Culp Valley. We and our park visitors would not be allowed to experience this park the way we have been invited to do since the park's establishment. It is also a law that would be virtually impossible for park peace officer rangers to enforce in a park so open and large.

This might be fine for a small park but not for our park. We want visitors to have the whole experience and for the most part they are respectful.

I can't believe there are still no details on this. I don't know why the story would not be released, but it is somewhat unsettling. RIP ranger Steve.
edited by tekewin on 4/20/2017

Borregolinda wrote:

What story? What details do you want? Unfortunately he ended his life in his desert. Not sure what other details are needed to be released.

Oh, I didn't automatically go there. I read it as either an accident or someone shot him. I didn't mean to disparage him or this tragedy.

I continue to see drone use videos at YouTube. I add a comment about drones being illegal at the park, but is there much else that can be done when I see these videos? Ironically I was pointed to one from the SoCal Off Road Recovery FaceBook page that was referred to me somewhere on this forum: https://youtu.be/1WKfqw_w_-0
Nice video, but I'd hate to hear that thing buzzing around me if I was there.