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svcheerio Posts: 15
8/6/2011
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We are considering camping out by Clark Dry Lake for Labor Day. We've only camped during the winter and spring out there and wondered if anyone has some "first hand" knowledge of the weather at the beginning of September. I expect HOT....but is it "crazy hot like 115 or just HOT like 100 degrees? Any input would be appreciated!
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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622
8/6/2011
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I do not have "first hand" experience camping there in Sept but I suspect it will be hot. 100 or 115...that will depend on Mother Nature but suspect at least 100+. Why not pick a cooler spot if temps are a concern? Blair Valley is usually at least 10 degrees cooler and there really is a lot to go see and explore. Not sure what you like to do when camping but if hiking/exploring is it Little/Blair Valley has plenty to hike and explore and is usually much cooler and star gazing is great from there.
Daren
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http://www.sefcik.com
http://www.darensefcik.com
http://www.carrizogorge.com
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svcheerio Posts: 15
8/7/2011
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You know, we thought about Blair Valley. We have hiked up to Marshall's homestead and thought it might be a good place to go back to and see what else we could find. My only concern during the Labor Day weekend is "off roader" noise. We aren't young....just young at heart ....and have our motorcycle days with kids behind us! As you know, one of the beauties of Clark Dry Lake is that it is pretty quiet out there......even during the "busy desert" time. But it is a consideration and I know that it is cooler since it's higher up. Thanks for your input. And, again I say, you take great photos!! Is it your hobby or profession? A close friend took some AMAZING photos of the Big Horns in Borrego Canyon last Thanksgiving... up close and personal, blew it up and had it framed and matted for my RV. (poster size). Everyone who sees it thinks it's a poster.
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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622
8/7/2011
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svcheerio wrote:
You know, we thought about Blair Valley. We have hiked up to Marshall's homestead and thought it might be a good place to go back to and see what else we could find. My only concern during the Labor Day weekend is "off roader" noise.
Just speaking from personal experience, I can't recall ever really seeing (or hearing) "off roaders" in Little/Blair Valley. It really is not an off roader area unlike like the areas surrounding the roads going into Clark Dry Lake. In fact, I have seen far more off roaders at CDL than the southern areas of the park. If you drive back into Little Blair you can really find some secluded spots. As far as things to do, you can go see the pictographs, mortero village site, the dry fall and many morteros near the end of smuggler canyon, hike up whale peak, explore the desert area west of marshall south (full of indian occupation sites and a plane wreckage), etc...lots to do out there.
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http://www.sefcik.com
http://www.darensefcik.com
http://www.carrizogorge.com
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svcheerio Posts: 15
8/7/2011
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You know....that really DOES make more sense! I don't know why I thought of it as a bit "noisier" spot.....I'm thinking a change of plans is in order! Thanks so much for the insight!
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DHeuschele Posts: 87
8/8/2011
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ABSP is supposed to be for street legal vehicles only and not a motocross area. I realize that street legal could still be very motocross like but really those that are looking to tear it up on their bikes for the most part do it outside of ABSP.
I think Blair Valley should have little of that noise and going at that time of the year there will be even less noise and people than the other seasons (I mostly avoid the desert in Sept).
Have fun.
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svcheerio Posts: 15
8/21/2011
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Where is Plantation Rd in the Blair Valley area? Is this the road that leads into the camping area? I keep reading things about Plantation Rd but can't find it in my guidebook or on my maps. Can anyone help me out?
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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622
8/22/2011
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svcheerio wrote:
Where is Plantation Rd in the Blair Valley area? Is this the road that leads into the camping area? I keep reading things about Plantation Rd but can't find it in my guidebook or on my maps. Can anyone help me out?
I believe this is an unsigned dirt road just south of the main Blair Valley entrance. I usually see RV's and trailers out in that area. I also don't believe it has an exit, it just goes out for a way and you can camp out there. If you follow the main BV road out into Little Blair Valley it is huge and has many, many remote areas to camp. The dirt road is easily traveled by most vehicles.
I camped out there this last Friday and Saturday, people are beginning to show up again, I saw many campers. Temps were high 90's during the day and low 60's at night.
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http://www.sefcik.com
http://www.darensefcik.com
http://www.carrizogorge.com
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svcheerio Posts: 15
8/22/2011
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Thanks for the info. Do you think that a 31 ft motorhome (not particularly high clearance) would be able to negotiate the way to Little Blair? (not gonna hold you responsible for the answer! LOL) We like "more remote" and never run our generator as we run everything on solar. We're into peace and quiet! Thanks for the weather update as well. This will definitely be the better place for us over Labor Day.
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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622
8/22/2011
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svcheerio wrote:
Thanks for the info. Do you think that a 31 ft motorhome (not particularly high clearance) would be able to negotiate the way to Little Blair? (not gonna hold you responsible for the answer!
hummm...I don't see why not..I wouldn't want to be the driver going the other way though, there are only a few places to turn around or pull over. The road is graded fairly well but is mostly single track. I see a lot of trailers out there but it does seem most of the RV's stay closer to the main entrance. It is a big area, you should have no problem finding a place to yourself.
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http://www.sefcik.com
http://www.darensefcik.com
http://www.carrizogorge.com
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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622
8/22/2011
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Here is a link that shows the road going into BV and then loops around into Little BV
http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=33.02388611148574~-116.39550165563982&lvl=14&dir=0&sty=h&form=LMLTCC
This link shows your Plantation road
http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=33.018562246016586~-116.41287098400295&lvl=16&dir=0&sty=h&form=LMLTCC
Hope this helpful
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http://www.sefcik.com
http://www.darensefcik.com
http://www.carrizogorge.com
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svcheerio Posts: 15
8/22/2011
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Ok, Thanks !
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svcheerio Posts: 15
8/22/2011
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Your links were really helpful in getting our bearings. Thanks again!
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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622
9/2/2011
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I drove out the "plantation rd" last week. It goes for about 3/4 mile and dead ends at the base of hill. It seemed good enough to pass in a large rv with a few spots to pull over or turn around. If you go out to little blair valley make sure to go on the main south side rd into blair valley and not the north side as it is not large rv friendly with a few rutted and off camber sections.
BTW it was 104 at 1pm last friday in blair valley, it may be cooler this weekend but figure approx 10-15 degrees cooler than whatever borrego springs is.
Daren
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http://www.sefcik.com
http://www.darensefcik.com
http://www.carrizogorge.com
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svcheerio Posts: 15
9/7/2011
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We did go to Blair Valley for 6 days over Labor Day. Out of the 6 days it was really uncomfortable only 1 out of the 6. The rest were "hot" but ok for us. The last 2 days we had overcast sky and rain on and off. Those were our favorite days although the stargazing suffered! Thanks, Daren for suggesting it as it would never have been on our radar. We found a good spot up against a hill off of Plantation Rd. We seemed to be the only campers there (us and our friends) and loved the solitude. We took our car into Little Blair and YES....the north side wasn't doable for the RV but we agree that the other probably would have been. It's really nice back there! As we watched a car or two amble along the desert heading to Ghost Mountain we wondered if one of them might have been you since I can see that you go out to Anza-Borrego frequently.
Thanks for all of your help. This was a perfect spot for us over the holiday!
Jo Ann
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hikerdmb Posts: 423
9/7/2011
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How about some photos?
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svcheerio Posts: 15
9/7/2011
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hikerdmb: Yes, well, one would THINK we would have taken a bunch of photos....but it seems my camera was still sitting on the kitchen table when I got home! I guess we just had a "Senior Moment" as we were leaving. Maybe next time!
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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622
9/7/2011
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Jo Ann, glad you had a good time, Blair Valley is a great place to camp when it it is not too busy.
I did not go out this last weekend, instead I went out to Cameron Valley in hopes of photographing some golden eagles. Unfortunately they were elusive during the heat of the day, it was 97 and very muggy. I did manage to spot some Turkey Vultures, a few very large hawks and a small indian habitation area with "Cuyamaca Ovals" and a somewhat intricate rock shelter and pottery sherds.
Next time you are out in ABDSP look for a big red Dodge diesel crew cab with shell....that will be me!
Daren
<em>edited by dsefcik on 9/7/2011</em>
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http://www.darensefcik.com
http://www.carrizogorge.com
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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622
9/26/2011
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Jo Anne, I was wondering what wildlife you saw during your 6 days out there? Anything other than crows, roadrunners and jackrabbits?
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http://www.darensefcik.com
http://www.carrizogorge.com
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svcheerio Posts: 15
9/27/2011
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Unless you consider ANTS wildlife, we saw nothing other than rabbits and crows. We only heard coyote's 1 night and they sounded as though they were pretty far away. We even commented on it since we seldom get out of Anza Borrego State Park without at least 1 snake sighting (of the rattling kind) and an occasional scorpion. When we went over to Little Blair and started down the trail to the Moteros we did see some snake prints in the sand. But...that was it!
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