dsefcik

all messages by user

3/21/2013
Topic: ABDSP is just too vast

dsefcik

Administrator

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!

3/27/2013
Topic: West Mesa and Ancient Lake Cahuilla

dsefcik

Administrator

That's all very cool Tom...I like the sea shell photo. Thanks for sharing all that info!

3/28/2013
Topic: 4 Day Backpack in Rockhouse Canyon / Dawns Peak

dsefcik

Administrator

I love the desert....not much more I can say, I just feel at home when I am there. I have been to the South American rain forests, the Western Sierras, the Mexican Tropicals, the European Mediterranean, etc...Nothing makes me feel at peace like the desert. It is alive with so many insects, plants and wildlife it is just amazing. My most recent trip to Rockhouse Canyon and the Santa Rosa mountains showed me an amazing amount of plant and wildlife that exists in extreme conditions. Sometimes you have to concentrate and look real close to find it. Desert life can be small...very small, but abundant. All of these insects have a symbiotic existence with the rest of the desert life, destruction of one has a domino effect for all the rest of them.

Now that Spring is here the plant and wildlife is coming alive, take a look..close down, it is there...

Can you see the small insects in this close up photo of a flower that is about as big as your fingernail?

No idea what this spider type insect is but there were hundreds of them near the water in upper Nicholas Canyon and it was hard to get a picture of them as they moved very quickly

I have to say I have never seen moths or butterflies feeding on scat before but this trip showed me that flies, moths and others all enjoy a good fresh crap for nutrition

A beetle enjoys the pollen of a Beaver tail Cactus

Craig and I headed out Friday after work in the dark and hiked close to 5 miles into Mojave Valley via Rockhouse Canyon to get to the base of Dawns Peak. This would be my third ascent of Dawns in a month, she was my buddy by now...I found a Geocache in the morning looking for a place to take care of morning business....

Following Craig up to Dawns Peak, no easy task with heavy packs on. This climb gains almost 3,000' in less than 1.5 miles.

This is looking towards peak 6300 and Toro in the distance

I brought my 7 ounce titanium loppers and crushed our way thru the brush...haha...

Looking back at Dawns Peak from peak 6300

Peak 6300 Register

Reminds me of pineapple

We found the old Indian trail down into Rockhouse Canyon. It was steep and somewhat difficult to descend especially at the end of a long day

We made camp the second night at what we think was an old ranchers camp. It had a great view of the valley and lots of birds since it was close to a seep

The micro life of plants and animals is amazing, here are some photos of the small (and a few larger) plants and cacti that live in the desert, to me they are amazing

Along the old indian trail I found some pottery, maybe a pot drop

Yours truly at the old Santa Rosa Village Ruins

This is the seep above the ruins, it had good water this time

Over in Nicholas Canyon you can find some remains of a mining operation, here is an old and deep shaft that remains uncovered

Nice view of the upper Cottonwoods with Dawns and Rabbit Peak in distance

Nicholas Canyon Spring...please do not leave the bucket under the water, it will fill with silt and mud, leave it cleaned and upside down under the small alcove nearby...thanks!

View of one of the old indian trails across the valley

I tucked my head inside a small shelter to see if there was any rock art but only found this 3' snake...!!

This was a great trip, 4 days wandering Rockhouse Canyon, the ridges above and the valley below. I will definitely be going back.

Total Mylar Balloons - 7 (not all pictured)

http://www.sefcik.com/2013/03/i-love-desert.html
edited by dsefcik on 4/5/2013

3/28/2013
Topic: 4 Day Backpack in Rockhouse Canyon / Dawns Peak

dsefcik

Administrator

Ranger Steve was kind enough to identify the spider for me as a female wolf spider. The large white ball is carrying her babies which will come out in a few days and stay on her back.

3/28/2013
Topic: 4 Day Backpack in Rockhouse Canyon / Dawns Peak

dsefcik

Administrator

Can't recall seeing any standing water near the cache. All the photos are from the S100. It seems to do fine in sunlight and up close but it cannot do night or star shots and the battery life is horrible...oh yeah, the digital zoom is not so great either. I will probably go back to my DSLR. I would not discount El Cajon Peak 4x in a month as easy...especially if you do it in July.

Jim (ziphius) wrote:

Looks great and peaceful Daren. I agree, having been in nearly all habitats except polar regions, I'd take the desert over any of them. Dawn's Peak 3x in a month...I thought I was tough doing El Cajon Mtn 4x in one month.....I change my mind.... I don't want to hike with you. Are these all with the new camera? I wonder if the butterflies were getting moisture from the scat? Did the tenaja at Jef's cache contain water? Those fishhook cactus fruits look awesome. - Jim

3/29/2013
Topic: West Mesa and Ancient Lake Cahuilla

dsefcik

Administrator

Thats all pretty cool...how about the fish traps, do you have any pics of those?

3/29/2013
Topic: 4 Day Backpack in Rockhouse Canyon / Dawns Peak

dsefcik

Administrator

mrkmc wrote:

Great pics! I love the butterfly's eating crap picture, buterflys and regular flys, enjoying a meal together. How was the pack weight since you brought the s100?

Probably closer to 40# but I made serious efforts to get the weight down, I still have a few more things to change out and should get even lower.

3/31/2013
Topic: West Mesa and Ancient Lake Cahuilla

dsefcik

Administrator

Interesting..they are much deeper than I thought..thanks..

rockhopper wrote:

Here are the fish traps located on the old USGS topo maps taken a few years back.

3/31/2013
Topic: West Mesa and Ancient Lake Cahuilla

dsefcik

Administrator

%3Cdiv%3EInteresting..they%20are%20much%20deeper%20than%20I%20thought..thanks..%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C/div%3E%5Bquote%3Drockhopper%5DHere%20are%20the%20fish%20traps%20located%20on%20the%20old%20USGS%20topo%20maps%20taken%20a%20few%20years%20back.%20%3Cbr%3E%3Cimg%20src%3D%22http%3A//i67.photobucket.com/albums/h294/metalmeister/fishtraps20_zpsbfbfbe8b.jpg%22%3E%20%5B/quote%5D%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E

3/31/2013
Topic: ABDSP is just too vast

dsefcik

Administrator

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 "Iron Ranger" there to deposit your money in.

3/31/2013
Topic: Indio Fish Traps and SSTB

dsefcik

Administrator

Great stuff Tom...not sure how you have so much time out there but great to read your trip reports..keep it coming..thanks!

4/1/2013
Topic: Mojave Desert and Las Vegas

dsefcik

Administrator

Are you suggesting they have been cut off on purpose?

mrkmc wrote:

I saw a few of those saguaro skeletons in AZ this weekend! The ones I saw didn't have arms left:

4/1/2013
Topic: Rattlesnake Spring / Pyramid Peak

dsefcik

Administrator

We went out last weekend to stash water for the Bighorn Sheep count this year, not to many photos since this was mostly a "business" trip. We went up Rattlesnake Canyon and then looped out around Pyramid Peak on the old indian trail and exited out in Palo Verde Wash. Probably around 13-14 miles total and a long day, weather was great.

Barrel Cactus flower

Beaver Tail Cactus Bloom

Small sheep carcass

Rattlesnake Spring

More carcass

Lots of old sleep circles along the way

Blister Beetle, real shiny guys

360 panorama looking towards the Salton Sea and Pyramid Peak

4/1/2013
Topic: Rattlesnake Spring / Pyramid Peak

dsefcik

Administrator

More of a seep that drips down into a shallow pit.

Jim (ziphius) wrote:

Great photos Daren! Love the ram skull. Is that 'standing water' at Rattlesnake Spring, or more of a seep? Can't tell from photo.

Jim

4/1/2013
Topic: Rattlesnake Spring / Pyramid Peak

dsefcik

Administrator

The cactus are all trying to bloom and are beautiful, the Creosote are bright gorgeous yellow and the small sandy wash flora are trying. This weekend may be a good time to go.

surfponto wrote:

Nice Daren
So are there a lot of blooms out there?
Thinking of trying to get out for the day Sunday to take some pics for the website.

Bob

4/1/2013
Topic: Rattlesnake Spring / Pyramid Peak

dsefcik

Administrator

Forgot this photo, we stopped off at Troutman on the way home and climbed up to the top. The view is from the Troutman looking towards the Laguna Observatory.

4/1/2013
Topic: 4 Day Backpack in Rockhouse Canyon / Dawns Peak

dsefcik

Administrator

surfponto wrote:

Awesome pictures Daren! The closeup pics of the cactus spines are great
Looks like you have the S100 figured out.

Thanks...I am still not totally sold on the S100, I will probably go back to my DSLR.

4/1/2013
Topic: Eureka Sand Dunes

dsefcik

Administrator

Love it, love it, love it....I need to get back out to DV and the Sierras. I heard today we are something like 55% of rain/snow melt this year....it will be a dry year.

4/1/2013
Topic: Rattlesnake Spring / Pyramid Peak

dsefcik

Administrator

tommy750 wrote:

Love that sheep skeleton. Can you ever find telltale signs of big predators on those things, like bite marks or broken long bones?

I have not seen anything that was obvious...broken bones yes though....

tommy750 wrote:

Also, where exactly is "Desert Cahuilla," the newest annex to the park? Somewhere north of Rattlesnake Canyon? Can't seem to find any updated maps. Thanks. Tom

Can't say I have much knowledge about that, will look into it though...

4/1/2013
Topic: Rattlesnake Spring / Pyramid Peak

dsefcik

Administrator

hikerdmb wrote:

I love the photo of the skull and bones under the boulder. Great shot. Is that the vertebrae in the photo of the small sheep carcass?

Yep..looked like it still had some dried flesh on it.

4/1/2013
Topic: Rainbow Wash

dsefcik

Administrator

Nice photos...yeah, the bottom of my truck is pretty messed up also, I thought they were scrapes but they turned out to be doubled over bent spots on the cross beams. Rainbow Wash looks very nice....

4/3/2013
Topic: Anza Borrego Peak Wildflower Bloom For 2013

dsefcik

Administrator

The cactus seem to be really putting on the show so far this year....I concur on the wind Sat night / Sunday morning, I got up to pee and my bag/bivy/pad blew into a nearby cholla patch.

4/3/2013
Topic: What are you reading?

dsefcik

Administrator

I am thinking of buying the Survival Skills of Native California book, any of you reading this have any reviews/comments?

4/4/2013
Topic: Cedar Creek Falls to Re-Open

dsefcik

Administrator

@X Eagle: You must have gone the same day I did, we took off our shoes and crossed waist high, my dog was loving it, swimming around. I have been down there several times and up to Eagle Peak. I think the opening of the Ramona Trail brought too many people there and made it easy, They should just get rid of that trail, it was a bad idea. Many people and dogs have died there, either from stupid jumping, not bringing water, snake bites or accidents. We drove down the old road behind Cuyamaca/Descanso on the way back from ABDSP last weekend and there must have been 30+ cars parked on the narrow road where you go down to Three Sisters, that is another lawsuit waiting to happen.

4/4/2013
Topic: Cedar Creek Falls to Re-Open

dsefcik

Administrator

That hike has been on my list for some time, it just screams ticks and snakes....love the photos...I did it via a helicopter a couple years ago... smile

Bummer about Hurly.....I lost one of my best dogs ever...ever.....in Canyon Sin Nombre, bit by a rattle snake and died within minutes.

Here is that same waterfall but from the helo

edited by dsefcik on 4/4/2013

4/5/2013
Topic: Ranching around Anza Borrego

dsefcik

Administrator

Thanks for that Andy...I have actually already started reading the 240 years of ranching document some time ago, there is some very interesting things in there.

4/5/2013
Topic: Table Mountain day hike

dsefcik

Administrator

That is a great area to explore. Looks like you found a rosy boa snake. When you find pottery like that or other artifacts do you put them back in the same spot as you found it? I guess maybe that is question for anyone...I know as a Site Steward we have been trained to either leave artifacts in place and not move them or to put them back exactly as we found them.

4/5/2013
Topic: Table Mountain day hike

dsefcik

Administrator

Oh yeah, looking at the antler made me remember a trip I was out there on and a big deer jumped out of a sumac shrub right in front of me...my heart almost jumped out of my chest....I have seen bighorn out there also.

4/5/2013
Topic: West Mesa and Ancient Lake Cahuilla

dsefcik

Administrator

Interesting document...thanks for the info!

4/5/2013
Topic: Table Mountain day hike

dsefcik

Administrator

mrkmc wrote:

I think the snake is a desert patch nose.

Good call Mark...I think you are probably right....

4/6/2013
Topic: Villager/Rabbit/Dawns Via Mojave & Rockhouse Cyn

dsefcik

Administrator

Gut check king of the hill

http://gutcheckfitness.com/king-of-the-hill/registration-2013/

4/8/2013
Topic: Villager/Rabbit/Dawns Via Mojave & Rockhouse Cyn

dsefcik

Administrator

Thanks DesertWRX....I used to do races like that for years but not much anymore. Once they stared getting popular the entry fees went way up, the participant numbers turned into crowds and there were too many rules/regulations. They were much more enjoyable when they were just a group of people who went out doing it for fun.

4/9/2013
Topic: Pegleg Smith's Liars Contest

dsefcik

Administrator

Looks like it was fun glad, you reported on it....I may have to go next year!

4/9/2013
Topic: Cougar Canyon and Boulder Alley

dsefcik

Administrator

This photo shows why I love being out there so much, awesome photo, great TR.

Nolan (anutami) wrote:

4/9/2013
Topic: The Killing of Frank Fox

dsefcik

Administrator

tarradiddle ??

Great write up...I first read about about Frank Fox in Lester Reeds book and have wanted to try and find the grave site also. Hopefully someone else may know more info.

4/9/2013
Topic: Cougar Canyon and Boulder Alley

dsefcik

Administrator

surfponto wrote:

When do they close the gate for the summer?

June 1'st - Sept 30th I believe.

4/9/2013
Topic: Exploring The Island and Myer Valley

dsefcik

Administrator

There are no trespassing signs on the roads going to the buildings. I hiked around them to get to the palms and the historic marker location. Along the old road down the middle it is nothing but sections of shooting debris left by thoughtless target shooters. I have been there twice when Border Patrol agents were putting undocumented folks into their vehicles.

Space Cowboy wrote:

There's a historical marker for the old stage coach station up at the Desert View Tower. I suspect they moved the marker from its original spot to there when they put in the freeway. Although, I remember seeing the marker/monument there as early as 1964. The freeway wasn't completed yet, I don't think, but maybe someone was thinking ahead.

Now, does anyone know what's going on at Mountain Springs, the town, I mean. Its one of the few ghost towns that I know of with its own interstate off-ramp. I would love to walk through there. Some of those structures I remember being a bar and store in the '60's.
edited by Space Cowboy on 4/9/2013

4/10/2013
Topic: 4-8-13 Windstorm

dsefcik

Administrator

mrkmc wrote:

I like "99% of the dust was coming from the project access road" Good one!

That was one of the very concerns from the beginning, once they tear back the centuries old desert pavement, it will just be dust for another few centuries. I heard on the news coming home that day how much green wind energy was being produced because of the high winds, record amounts. The news did not cite the sources, only that vague snippet.

4/10/2013
Topic: Cougar Canyon and Boulder Alley

dsefcik

Administrator

Nolan (anutami) wrote:

Does anyone know why horses are allowed on the trail, but not dogs?

In general dogs are allowed only where vehicles are allowed and are required to be on leash at all times. I believe the idea is that dogs are more of a natural threat to other native wildlife and horses are not. Dogs will leave scents and such that may cause other wildlife not to go back to the area.

4/10/2013
Topic: 4 Day Backpack in Rockhouse Canyon / Dawns Peak

dsefcik

Administrator

Way cool photo Nolan...thanks!
Here is a Google Earth image that I tried to make look like your airplane photo with my GPS tracks for perspective.

4/12/2013
Topic: Nolina to Palo Verde and Spots in between

dsefcik

Administrator

Good luck on your JM trip, should be fun and beautiful. I have noticed mostly cactus blooms in all of my last few trips out and also the Creosote. Lots of great beetles in them. It looks like those roads/washes are not too bad, my big truck could cruise thru them? I have not been out in that area yet.

4/15/2013
Topic: Fish Creek Mts and Ancient Lake Cahuilla

dsefcik

Administrator

Great stuff Tom, I enjoy reading your trip reports and photos. Great subject, post all you want, it is inspiring and makes me want to head out that way. Some of those circles looked pretty small, almost uncomfortably small to sleep in....hard to tell though from the photos.

4/15/2013
Topic: Toyota 1HZ Diesel Motor Rebuild Complete

dsefcik

Administrator

That will be pretty sweet when it is all ready to go....

4/16/2013
Topic: Weather Watch

dsefcik

Administrator

http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=33.48758079074844&lon=-116.4166259765625&site=sgx&smap=1&unit=0&lg=en&FcstType=text

4/19/2013
Topic: Weather Watch

dsefcik

Administrator

tommy750 wrote:

Touche Jim! Any good webcam sites out in ABDSP?

Lots of them out there, the local NOAA office has them streaming all day. Try this one, just click the Next Cam for more:

http://weather.weatherbug.com/CA/Borrego%20Springs-weather/weather-cams/local-cams.html?zcode=z6286

4/23/2013
Topic: Culp Valley and Upper Hellhole Canyon

dsefcik

Administrator

Nice TR....the rattlesnake shot is great, up in the air and tongue out...

What were the temps like?

4/24/2013
Topic: Inner Pasture Day Trip

dsefcik

Administrator

Took a quick day trip out to Inner Pasture. Mostly hiked the ABDSP boundary lines out there, 9 hours and about 14 miles in low to mid 90 temps. Gorgeous day as always other than the gnats and flies which were kinda bad. I was hoping to see some snakes but all I got was more bighorn sheep...

My new Canon Powershot S100 did OK but I don't think it liked the heat much, it was acting kinda goofy as it got hotter out.

Bighorn Sheep are really are hard to spot up in the hills with the boulders, can you se them in this photo?

Here are a few more random shots

I remembered my new S100 had a video mode so here is some video footage

Wish I could run that fast up in the rocks

Looks like the ewe is kicking down some cactus to eat

Some red ocotillo covering the valley floor

Nice bony scat with a small rodent skull

Total mylar balloons this trip - 7

4/24/2013
Topic: Inner Pasture Day Trip

dsefcik

Administrator

Wow...seems the BHS have generated more interest than I thought...

So yeah, when I started out from the S2 I started seeing lots of tracks and fresh scat and lots of busted barrel cactus so I knew they were around. About a mile or so in I turned a corner and there were 2 ewes and 2 lambs in the wash. They scurried up the hill a bit and I took some photos of them as they watched me. After a few minutes it was clear they wanted to continue up the wash so that is what you see in that first video, they ran down the hill and off into the wash ahead. I kinda played leap frog with them for awhile, I would spot them again and they would run up ahead again. It was quiet enough in the canyon that I could hear them up in the rocks, finding them though is another story, they blend in so well with the landscape.

The whole Inner Pasture area had fresh tracks, scat and bedding down spots so they were roaming the valley area. On the way back out I started seeing them again, I didn't take any more photos, just the videos. No tripod, just my sweaty two hands trying to see thru the viewfinder in the bright sunlight while the 5 billion gnats and flies flew in and out of my nose and ears....ughhh...

They were quite calm as long they were up in the hillside, they did not mind me watching..in fact I am the one who left them, I needed to get moving as daylight was slowly fading away. I saw several more BHS on the way back, 3 ewes, 4 lambs and one older ram. I half suspect they are the same herd I saw in Squaw Cyn back in Dec but I could be wrong. The lambs were probably 4 weeks or so...cute little guys.

The long video shows the ewe digging at a cactus in several locations, she moved around the hillside digging at several others while her lamb watched and waited, in fact you can see the lamb rough up a spot to lay down and wait. I probably could have recorded more but I got tired of holding the camera while all the bugs flew in and out my ears and nose.

Glad everyone enjoyed the photos and videos. I do need to give credit to the S100 for the zoom on the video, that worked pretty well. I am still disappointed with some of the close up shots and bright sunlight photos but I am still trying to "learn" the camera, I almost took my DSLR instead but wanted to go light and fast. It is a great camera but it is not a DSLR.
edited by dsefcik on 7/21/2013

4/27/2013
Topic: Dos Cabezas and Goat Canyon

dsefcik

Administrator

That looks like it was a great trip, the trestle, bighorn sheep, snakes, historic artifacts, great weather...I love the whole Carrizo Gorge area...great TR..

4/28/2013
Topic: Inner Pasture Day Trip

dsefcik

Administrator

Nolan (anutami) wrote:

Nice trip. Was that a solo trip? Your kids didn't join you for any trips this year? Is that something I can look forward to?... you bring your kids along on your adventures throughout their youth and they end up pursuing their own adventures?

Solo...sorta spur of the moment thing. My kids are mostly grown up, my oldest goes out with me sometimes.

4/29/2013
Topic: Inspiration Wash: Must Do

dsefcik

Administrator

Ahhh...there is "that" ridgeline.....I will be heading back out there again this weekend.

Nolan (anutami) wrote:

top of the wash with great views. This also would make a very nice campsite and stargazing

4/30/2013
Topic: Inspiration Wash: Must Do

dsefcik

Administrator

Good stuff Tom.....thanks for more amazing and great info.

5/6/2013
Topic: Good Android GPS Software

dsefcik

Administrator

Not sure I understand why the switch but....yea!!

Ditto mrkmc, BCN is worth the $10. Be sure to switch into "Airplane" mode when using it to get the longest battery life. I can get 8-9 hours out of my 4 year old Droid.

5/7/2013
Topic: Good Android GPS Software

dsefcik

Administrator

To use the GPS on the phone does not cost any money so the bill is the same no matter how much GPS you use. I don't use the phone much anymore for a GPS, only sometimes for short day trips. The reason mostly being is because of the battery life and I can't carry tons of extra batteries for my phone.

5/8/2013
Topic: Rockhouse Canyon / Toro Peak BackPack Trip

dsefcik

Administrator

Gary invited Randy and I out to explore some more of Rockhouse Canyon over a 4-1/2 day trip. No real agenda, just explore and enjoy the desert...plans were extremely flexible. We hiked out at night after work in the dark and camped out the first night on some low benches at the mouth of Rockhouse Canyon. The next day we explored some side canyons and ridges of the Santa Rosa Ridgeline.

There are some great views of Rockhouse Canyon from above, here is a view of Buck Ridge and the valley from a ridge near the "necklace" vein.

On the way up the ridge Gary saw this large lizard, I am pretty sure it is a Baja California Collard Lizard

We made our way over to Box Spring and had some lunch under the shade of the trees near the spring. The spring was not currently a good source of water since previous repair work had deteriorated and only thin surface water was available. Using some materials left from prior repairs I made an effort to get the spring back to usable order. Gary and Randy helped out by supplying the rocks. If anybody goes out there after reading this please let me know how it is doing. Hopefully the animals will not kick it all over.

Here is the spring before I made repairs

Here is the spring after repairs

There was quite a bit of insect wildlife down around the water, I especially liked all the Damselflies. Here is a Male Bluet Damselfly

This one was sharing a branch with some type of beetle

Here a male and female are mating

We spent the second night at the Old Santa Rosa Village ruins. The lowest rock house at the village had a gate keeper there waiting for us

We stayed in the upper rock houses and enjoyed some great views of the valley and a colorful sunset

As might as I tried I could not get my new Canon Powershot S100 to take good long exposure pictures, even with the CHDK scripts. This is a night shot of Rockhouse Canyon with Clark Dry Lake and probably Ocotillo Wells in the far distance

Most of the wildflower blooms in the lower elevations were done but as we continued to climb higher towards the Cottonwoods we started seeing lots of new blooms. At around the 4,000' level many of the wildflowers were still blooming like this Purple Prickly Pear Cactus

Something I noticed on many of the agave stalks and am still researching is what looked like hundreds of pupae type skins that had been shed in small holes in the stalks. Anybody know more about this?

Exploring up another unnamed drainage near the base of Toro Peak we found some old historic debris and had a great view of Buck Ridge

After a long day we finally reached the Cottonwoods and upper rock house ruins where we spent the third night. It was getting windy and cloudy and rain was in the forecast. We didn't get any rain that night but the morning clouds made for a brilliant sunrise

On the third day we climbed up to Toro Peak from the Cottonwoods. It was a long climb and the weather was getting cold and windy. From the Cottonwoods we climbed straight up the ridgeline to the Alta Seca Bench area. This is quite a change from the desert terrain below, it is much more of a forest at the 8,000' elevations

Lots of these Snow Plants were popping up out of the ground

After almost 4 hours of climbing we got to the top of Toro Peak. It was very cloudy, super windy and we were getting some light snow falling on us. We checked out the towers and surrounding views of Rockhouse Canyon, Pinyon Flat and the Cochella Valley. Not the clearest day but great views anyway.

Looking down into Rockhouse Canyon from Toro Peak

On the way back down to the Cottonwoods we saw a nice Gopher snake, maybe 4' or so

Knowing it was going to start raining we decided to hike down to the lower elevations of Rockhouse Canyon so after getting back down from Toro Peak we put our packs on and hiked down towards the lower ruins and camped out for our fourth night. We got some light drizzle overnight and the next morning but nothing too bad. We were treated to a nice double rainbow in the wash we camped out in

Here is a morning shot of Dawns Peak covered by a cloud bank and peak 6300 to the left

On the last day out we decided to go explore the upper ridge areas above the Corps BM. There are some spectacular open valleys up there. You could easily spend days just exploring there. Here is just one view of those upper ridges looking towards Clark Dry Lake

Gary knew where some old pot sherds were

Total Mylar Balloons this trip - 6

http://www.sefcik.com/2013/05/rockhouse-canyon-toro-peak-backpack.html

5/11/2013
Topic: Rockhouse Canyon / Toro Peak BackPack Trip

dsefcik

Administrator

Randy got a picture of Gary and I looking down into Rockhouse, it was cold and windy up there at 8,000+', we got some light snow while we were there.

I need to get back to the south end of the park, I have been neglecting it and it is calling me for some summer adventures......

5/11/2013
Topic: Cattelmen's Shack in Rockhouse Cyn Carrizo Gorge

dsefcik

Administrator

I was looking thru the April 1947 issue of Desert Mag and saw an article about Carrizo Gorge and it had a picture of the cattlemen's shack in it. I thought it would be interesting to compare it to how it looks today. Technically though it is out of ABDSP and is in BLM land.

Here is the 1947 article photo

And here is a photo from July 2010 when Bob, his wife and I visited it

This is a great "what is different in these pictures" game. There are some subtle differences but the fact that the most of the Ocotillos are still there says something about them.

I would like to get back out there and explore the surrounding hills some more.

5/12/2013
Topic: Fish Creek Mts and Ancient Lake Cahuilla

dsefcik

Administrator

Good story, looks like some lizards or such were near your verbena....

DesertWRX wrote:

Drove out 085 2 days ago and got fixated on seeing the border of the Carrizo Impact area. Drove under the trestle and went up the wash to the warning signs. looked around some and wanted to get up on a hill and look for a camping spot. Heading up a sandy off-camber section I failed!
Sand Verbena!

5/12/2013
Topic: Fish Creek Mts and Ancient Lake Cahuilla

dsefcik

Administrator

So is where you went largely a passable road in a regular 4wd truck? I have wanted to go out that way but was not sure of the "roads".

DesertWRX wrote:

Yes, there was a nice big one that came out to look at me a couple times. Lots of tail dragger marks too. Here's a track from My Tracks of my trip from the gypsum mine to my stuck area... https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=214727587460963019902.0004dc877c5285d1d62d7

Just above my stuck area you can see a defined road heading to the top... that is now a deep ravine thanks to last summer's storm that dropped 2" in an hour in that area.
edited by DesertWRX on 5/12/2013

5/13/2013
Topic: Cattelmen's Shack in Rockhouse Cyn Carrizo Gorge

dsefcik

Administrator

tommy750 wrote:

Always interesting to reproduce someone's pic from 50 years ago. Looks like some interesting palm groves about the shack. Do you know if the water source to the cabin has dried up or is the plumbing just broke?

The plumbing is there but dry, in fact I remarked to Bob and Mary that we should go back and trace it up the canyon. Looking on a topo you can see a spring is there, in fact there are lots of water sources in that whole area. One more thing still on my ever growing list.....

5/13/2013
Topic: Rockhouse Canyon / Toro Peak BackPack Trip

dsefcik

Administrator

tommy750 wrote:

Another amazing trip, Daren. Have only been on top of Toro once and it was the easy way. What was your gain/loss? Certainly an impressive climb. Tom

I didn't really think about it too much and I didn't take a GPS with me that trip but it was a lot of uphill...!! Just looking at the topo, Toro Peak is at 8716 and the Cottonwoods are at 5000 so a minimum of 3716/3716 but I would pad it at 4000. The trek is about 3 miles each way so easily 1000' per mile.

Tracing a route on CalTopo shows 4042' @ 2.8 miles.

The trek up took just under 4 hours, we got down much quicker. Left at 8am and got back at 2:30pm. The hardest part was going to get water at the spring afterwards and putting our packs on to hike several more hours to get down to the lower ruins and stay out of the rain. Good trip and Gary and Randy are about as tough as they get. We did a lot of exploring and 4.5 days out there is really just a nice break. We saw a lot of Tanager birds, they are just gorgeous.

5/13/2013
Topic: Rockhouse Canyon / Toro Peak BackPack Trip

dsefcik

Administrator

I forgot to note that in this photo you can see Dawns, Rabbit & Villager Peaks on the left ridge. Buck Ridge looks awfully small this high up. You should be able to click the image to see a larger, higher resolution version.

dsefcik wrote:

Looking down into Rockhouse Canyon from Toro Peak

5/13/2013
Topic: Login Username Issue

dsefcik

Administrator

That sounds like maybe a cache issue? Can you clear the cache on your browser or try a different browser? If your wife's computer works fine but yours does not then I suspect something has gone astray with your browser.

5/13/2013
Topic: Login Username Issue

dsefcik

Administrator

Sorry Bill, I am not understanding how it is a case issue if it works on your wife's computer, it sounds like a computer problem.

5/13/2013
Topic: All American Man

dsefcik

Administrator

So what's your take...real or fake..??

5/14/2013
Topic: 2013 Bighorn Sheep Count now accepting application

dsefcik

Administrator

For anyone interested in participating in the 2013 BHS count have a look at the attached sign up doc.

5/14/2013
Topic: My Jeeps (and past rides)

dsefcik

Administrator

Hey Shell...you have some really, really nice photos on your site! Hopefully someone here will take you up on your offer.

Michelle Geer wrote:

Hi everyone! I am a young automotive photographer looking to build my portfolio.

I will be traveling to the Anza Borrego Desert/ Salton Sea/ Joshua Tree area from June 3-7. I am looking for awesome cars/ motorcycles to photograph at these beautiful locations. Please let me know if you or someone you know may be interested in a photoshoot!

Please see my online portfolio at www.michellegeer.com

5/14/2013
Topic: Sheep & Lower Coyote Canyon Trip

dsefcik

Administrator

Where is the metal scorpion and grasshopper at??

5/14/2013
Topic: 2013 Bighorn Sheep Count now accepting application

dsefcik

Administrator

Nolan (anutami) wrote:

Daren, do you know if there is a certain age requirement? How long are you sitting waiting for? What about the temps?

I do not know but I am guessing 18...you should email your now good buddy Ranger Steve who leads the BHS count program. You may be able to get a site that does not require much hiking and you could take your camper but you are *required* to be at the count site location from 7am-5pm for 2 days and then the third until about 1pm. Temps can reach 115+ so you need to consider that. Also, the park does not furnish you with anything except information about how to count, you are responsible for shade shelters, binoculars, scopes, pen/paper, food,water, etc...You could very well be sitting doing nothing for 3 days but you could also see lots of BHS, you never know.

If anything you should consider it a time to get away and bond with nature and mother heat....and rain if the monsoons come early....

5/15/2013
Topic: Sheep & Lower Coyote Canyon Trip

dsefcik

Administrator

BorregoWrangler wrote:

The giant bug sculptures are between Borrego Springs Road and Di Giorgio Road, north of Christmas Circle.

I thought I had seen all of them...!! They don't look new..at least in the last 2 years...or are they??

5/16/2013
Topic: 2013 Bighorn Sheep Count now accepting application

dsefcik

Administrator

More info here: http://theabf.org/blog/counting_sheep

5/28/2013
Topic: Subject: Late May

dsefcik

Administrator

Nice...I noticed lots of stuff blooming this weekend in Collins Valley. Where did you take the moon photo? I did not see much of a red moon.

5/28/2013
Topic: Subject: Late May

dsefcik

Administrator

Maybe smoked induced from the San Felipe fire..??

5/30/2013
Topic: Sheep Canyon Pot Farm

dsefcik

Administrator

Read my upcoming report about Memorial Day Weekend...my mention of car camping instead of backpacking because of water source reliability is semi true....we knew to stay out of certain areas already.....

5/31/2013
Topic: Indian/Cougar/Sheep Canyon Day Hikes

dsefcik

Administrator

For the Memorial Day weekend Gary and I went exploring some of the canyons in Collins Valley, specifically Indian, Cougar and Sheep Canyons. Because we were uncertain of reliable water sources in the area we decided to car camp and do day hikes instead of backpacking.

On the drive out I was able to locate a couple of the Sky Art sculptures I somehow missed when visiting the Farmers sculptures in the past...they are right in the middle of the field between the Farmers and other sculptures to the west

The Scorpion

The Grasshopper

Driving past the orchards and entering Coyote Canyon we passed thru the water crossings and got to the bypass road. I thought this was the beginning of the rough road

But not really...here is the real bypass..AKA Boulder Alley. My stock 4WD Dodge Diesel Crew Cab Truck made it up and down without too much difficulty, just used 4WD Low and let it crawl thru it all. I will say that at about 6pm in May the sun was just right to blind us the whole way up, it was very hard to see where wheel placement should be.

We were pretty low impact car campers this trip, we slept in our trucks and did not make camp fires so all we needed was a place to park our vehicles for the weekend. In the morning we set out to do a loop hike up the South Fork of Sheep Canyon and then cross over the saddle to Sheep Canyon proper and wind our way back down to the trucks near the campground. While this was probably less than 7 miles total it took us more than 10 hours to complete. The canyons are rugged and vegetation choked since fires have burned thru them and everything is growing back.

This is a nice waterfall in the South Fork of Sheep Canyon. It was semi dry like most of the falls we saw but that is expected this time of year and during the spring months you would probably see lots of flowing water.

When you are down at the Sheep Canyon campground you can see these palms way up the South Fork

Sheep Canyon lived up to it's name, we saw several older Rams getting water and relaxing in the sun. I am still amazed at how well camouflaged they are. These guys were across the canyon and my new (to me) 500mm lens turned out to be just perfect

I remembered movie mode on the camera, here is of one of the BHS doing a back scratch and munching some food

Up at the saddle looking back down the South Fork of Sheep Canyon. You can see Dawns, Rabbit and Villager Peaks from here as well as Lower Willows

Gary up at the saddle

Baja Collared Lizard

Heading down the saddle between the South Fork and main Sheep Canyons

The main Sheep Canyon is just as rough and vegetation choked as the South Fork

Down in the bottom of Sheep Canyon following the wash

The Lindsay book has a photo of this waterfall with lots of water. It was semi dry for us but I can imagine it being very nice during wet months

Still snake season...hi baby...

Back at the trucks we get a nice view of the Santa Rosa Mountains at sunset. From Sheep Canyon Campground you can see Dawns and Rabbit Peak, maybe not much of a real view but it holds a special place in my thoughts

The next day we headed up Indian Canyon with a first stop at Cougar Canyon. Cougar is just as rough and full of overgrowth as Sheep Canyon. There was little water down in the lower areas but up near the large fall and psychedelic eye we found pools of water.

There are lots of the beetles crawling the boulders

Here is Gary in the upper reaches of the canyon in the dense vegetation

The "psychedelic eye"

Gary remembers it being much more colorful years ago so I did a DStretch on it but it still is not the same

The large waterfall Schad describes in his book is now covered with so much vegetation you can hardly see the falls. We struggled with getting back in there to even see it. Floods have broken down trees over the years and have grown a canopy covering the area. This was the best shot I could get of the waterfall

After a long siesta under the cottonwoods and sycamores we left Cougar Cyn and headed up towards Deering Canyon. This is the old tin mine tunnel shaft on the topo maps. It is now just a packrat collection hole

Some Mule Deer near Deering Canyon, they were getting some water before we disturbed them

The was a group of butterflies playing in the flowers off in the distance and my 500mm lens was good enough to get these photos

Cougar tracks were present all the way up to Bennis Bowl and The Valley of the Thousand Springs. This is just one in the sandy wash we followed

Valley of the Thousand Springs

Long distance photo of a Granite Spiny Lizard with the 500mm lens

Heading south out of Indian Canyon on the thin bench that provides an easy trail thru the canyon

Here is a panorama view of the same bench looking south'ish into Indian Canyon on the left and Valley of the Thousand Springs/Bennis Bowl canyon on the right

After another long siesta under some shady palms we headed back to the trucks with another very long day behind us. The next morning we drove out and explored Lower Willows and the palms. Nothing to spectacular, but interesting. After negotiating the bypass road downhill we stopped and I looked over and spotted what looked like graffiti on a boulder

DStretched version

One last stop on the trip was at Culp Valley. We hiked over some ridge lines to get a good look at Hellhole Canyon. There is supposed to be a great waterfall up in there....another trip

I was not able to get any good star photos but managed a semi sober moon photo at early am hours....

Also found a petroglyph panel along the way

Total Mylar Balloons this Trip - 9 (not all shown)

http://www.sefcik.com/2013/05/indiancougarsheep-canyons-abdsp.html

5/31/2013
Topic: Indian/Cougar/Sheep Canyon Day Hikes

dsefcik

Administrator

surfponto wrote:

Was your moon shot with the canon S100?
Bob

The moon shot was with my new (to me) Minolta 500mm f8 Reflex Lens
The S100 seems to have difficulty when exposures vary in the scene.

5/31/2013
Topic: Indian/Cougar/Sheep Canyon Day Hikes

dsefcik

Administrator

Jim (ziphius) wrote:

Those are some healthy-looking rams Daren. That's an area that I've been plotting to backpack into from the west, near Comb's Camp. I still need to figure out additional locations of reliable water for a winter trip out there. Nice cougar track, that's on my bucket list to eventually see one in the flesh. I bet if you just sat around on a moonlit night, with your *back to a boulder*, you might see a cougar walk by in that wash.

The big circular graffiti / pictograph, what's your opinion on that one? By the way, the upper reaches of Hellhole Canyon are quite vegetation choked too, I'll be returning there from Culp Valley when the weather cools in autumn.

- Jim

We originally planned to do a loop backpack trip from Lost Valley down to Alder and then back up Sheep but we were advised to stay out of the area for reasons in Bill's post. It is true I have come across several growing sites in the back country but I was not the extreme hiker mentioned in the article. Those cougar tracks went all the way up the wash for a good half mile or more and there was a second set only smaller adjacent. Best set of tracks I have come across. I think the circle thing was graffiti, just very faded and hard to see. I saw several other circle/cross paintings on rocks in Sheep canyon as well. Seems someone likes to paint on boulders in the area.

5/31/2013
Topic: Sheep Canyon Pot Farm

dsefcik

Administrator

Jim (ziphius) wrote:

Daren,

The 'extreme hiker' mentioned in the story wasn't you, heh?- Jim
edited by ziphius on 5/31/2013

I can't take credit for that one...

5/31/2013
Topic: Indian/Cougar/Sheep Canyon Day Hikes

dsefcik

Administrator

Jim (ziphius) wrote:

dsefcik wrote:
We originally planned to do a loop backpack trip from Lost Valley down to Alder and then back up Sheep but we were advised to stay out of the area for reasons in Bill's post.

Man, that is *exactly* one of the routes I was planning to do, it's so peaceful in that Lost Valley / Chihuahua Valley area. Some nice pockets of water too.

There was water everywhere we went and I know of some water in Lost Valley...wet months should pose no problem with water. We will definitely try the loop trip at a later date. We enjoyed several peaceful siestas under the cottonwoods and sycamores, yes it is very peaceful out there....

6/1/2013
Topic: Indian/Cougar/Sheep Canyon Day Hikes

dsefcik

Administrator

Nolan (anutami) wrote:

Nice trip! Gotta love the shade of a cottonwood. That ram video is amazing. The clarity is great! Felt like I was watching national geographic. All you have to do now is find someone with a deep voice to add some narration wish I could have followed you up boulder alley. If you do that trip again let me know a couple weeks in advance And I will follow you up with my rig so out of all the canyons you visited what is your favorite?

Thanks Nolan..I wish I could afford a better lens but I am happy with the 500mm, it was able to get close up even from across the canyon. While all the canyons were interesting it seemed more remote and peaceful up in canyons past Cougar, Valley of the Thousand Springs was pretty cool. Once the weather cools down a bit we will probably do an Indian/Palm Canyon trip.

6/3/2013
Topic: The reason you rarely find mortars with morteros

dsefcik

Administrator

I read thru a few of the threads, that is a very disheartening site...posts like "these were my keepers for the trip" and pictures showing handfuls of points.

6/3/2013
Topic: Indian/Cougar/Sheep Canyon Day Hikes

dsefcik

Administrator

tommy750 wrote:

Just when you thought the Daren Sefcik backpack couldn't possibly get heavier, in goes a 500mm lens! Thanks for bringing it because your pics are awesome. You shot the video with than lens as well? Really neat seeing those sheep pics. Great TR. Tom

Yeah..I think the DSLR is back in my pack, not sure where the S100 will reside. I think between the new 500mm lens, felt lined leather carry case, Manfrotto tripod, 10mm ultra wide angle lens, spare battery, DSLR AND the S100 I must have been carrying 20lbs of camera gear. Throw in 7 liters of water per day, food, gear, etc...ouch...

Yes, I did the video with the 500mm lens mounted on the mini Manfrotto tripod. Sound was off since it seems like wind is always a problem.

Thanks!!

6/5/2013
Topic: What are you reading?

dsefcik

Administrator

Nolan (anutami) wrote:

Geology of Anza-Borrego: Edge of Creation

This is a great book and a must read.

My son just bought this for me...looks good so far

Geology of Anza-Borrego: Edge of Creation

6/5/2013
Topic: What are you reading?

dsefcik

Administrator

tommy750 wrote:

dsefcik wrote:
I am thinking of buying the Survival Skills of Native California book, any of you reading this have any reviews/comments?

Get it. Lots of interesting brief chapters on making bows, arrows, slings, shoes (e.g. emergency yucca sandals), ollas, snares, hunting (liked the description and graphic pics of shooting, grilling and eating wood rats), shelters, all from an Indian perspective. Haven't finished it cover to cover but it's an interesting read. Tom

I ended up buying this, definitely not a sit down and read cover to cover book. Very interesting though, the photos make it seem like it is from the 50's or 60's but they are not.

6/6/2013
Topic: Indian/Cougar/Sheep Canyon Day Hikes

dsefcik

Administrator

BorregoWrangler wrote:

Looks like you found the bugs and made it up Boulder Alley okay. Great trip. I am always amazed at the amount of ground you cover on foot. I'm looking forward to getting out there again in October.

Thanks to you and Nolan and DeseretWrx for giving me the courage to drive up the bypass...worked out fine and I am just glad I did not run into oncoming traffic either way, that would have sucked!!

Both days we loaded up our packs with 7 liters of water and food (and my 20lbs of camera crap) and started out around 7:30am and got back to the trucks around 6:30-7pm...long days.

6/10/2013
Topic: Forest Service Topo Maps

dsefcik

Administrator

Yeah, thanks to mrkmc caltopo has become my first stop for map services and the guy who made the site is constantly adding new features. He occasionally posts stuff here http://caltopo.blogspot.com/

6/12/2013
Topic: ABDSP forum rally

dsefcik

Administrator

Jim (ziphius) wrote:

I'm in! We should replicate Daren's Santa Rosa Mountains ridge hike....

I am also in...would like to do a 6-7 day trip on the ridge and thru Rockhouse but I suspect not too many people would want to do that....what are you thinking Nolan??

6/13/2013
Topic: ABDSP forum rally

dsefcik

Administrator

I would probably be up for any of those. Indian Gorge has day hikes and also great backpack trips into Canebrake, possibly youth friendly since there are jeep roads once you get down in there. I would be happy to lead a group out there if wanted. In Indian Gorge you have False Sombrero, Torote Cyn, trails over to the palms in Mtn Palm Spring area, etc...

6/18/2013
Topic: Anza Borrego Misc Summer Backpack Trip

dsefcik

Administrator

Summer brings brutal heat and wonderful sunrises to the Anza Borrego Desert State Park. I have a favorite place up in the In-Ko-Pah mountains I like to backpack to and spend the night during the summer months. Desert floor temperatures can be in the triple digits while the sheltered boulder crevices of the In-Ko-Pah mountains can be much cooler with gentle breezes making you forget about the heat below.

Here is a wonderful sunrise photo looking at the Fish Creek Mountains this last weekend. It is a stitched panorama of 5 images at 500mm focal length. Click to view/download the original full size image.

A few minutes later the sun will rise showing it's size and intensity, the beginning of a 105+ degree day

On the opposite side of the sunrise is the sunset, here is the last breath of daylight on Carrizo Mountain, it was the last peak of the day with sunlight before the valley went dark

Lets not forget the moon....

Getting my pack ready I saw my reflection in the truck rear window...maybe the heat was getting to me

All my gear and camera crap strapped on

I brought it all this trip, extension tubes, flash, everything. I wanted to try some macro shots of the small critters that always seem to be with us in the desert

Small grasshopper, the kind that is the same color as the alluvial sand

Harvester Ant

No idea what this guy is. He was on my red shirt in the morning, look at the fibers of my shirt, he was small! He even has the compound eyes found on many insects.

This little guy decided to crawl up under my sleeping bag during the night to get warm but I think I crushed him. The blue is my closed cell foam pad, macro small...

Pesky flies looking for water

Very small moth feeding on some fresh scat

On my way back home I spotted the wind turbine with the broken blade. Because of this all the turbines are shut down and producing no energy. You figure it out, San Onofre closes and they claim we will have enough power with the Sunrise Powerlink and the new wind energy turbines.

Total Mylar Balloons this trip - 5 (sorry no photos)

http://www.sefcik.com/2013/06/anza-borrego-misc-backpack-trip.html

6/18/2013
Topic: Anza Borrego Misc Summer Backpack Trip

dsefcik

Administrator

surfponto wrote:

Dude what is with the reflection shot? You been pumping iron or what?

Your funny Bob...I appreciate the comment but I am probably in the worst, flabby shape I have been in the last 20 years...I need to get back to the gym..!

6/18/2013
Topic: Anza Borrego Misc Summer Backpack Trip

dsefcik

Administrator

Jim (ziphius) wrote:

Great shots Daren, glad you are using the big camera again. I guess it was cool enough for long denim pants at some point, heh?

Yeah, the S100 just wasn't doing it for me so I got more camera crap to carry... wink

It was 104 on my truck thermometer when I started up into the hills, and that was at 5pm. It is just too brushy out there for for shorts, the desert bites back.

6/18/2013
Topic: 3D Panoramic Virtual Tours

dsefcik

Administrator

Jim (ziphius) wrote:

They work great, love 'em.

Thanks, they are fun to make..I need to do some more.

6/18/2013
Topic: Breaking Down a Sunrise Photo

dsefcik

Administrator

When I got home and looked at this photo on the computer I thought to myself how could the whole sky really look like that, full of deep rich orange color across the whole horizon...it can't be real, you must have Photoshop'd it. But I was there, I took the photograph, it was real. The magic comes from a 500mm zoom lens.

Here is a photo of the same sunrise with a 70mm lens

Here is a photo of the same sunrise with a 500mm lens

You can see in the photo with a 500mm lens the entire sky does seem to be filled with a deep rich orange color but in the 70mm photo you can see that really only a small portion of the sky above the mountains is filled with that wonderful color.

To achieve the panoramic sunrise photo I took 5 photographs with a 50% overlap with the 500mm lens and then stitched them together to get the final result. Zoom lenses can be fun with sunrises or sunsets.

http://www.sefcik.com/2013/06/breaking-down-sunrise-photo.html

6/18/2013
Topic: Anza Borrego Misc Summer Backpack Trip

dsefcik

Administrator

Jim (ziphius) wrote:

Yes, but.... denim? I realize you are immune to heat though. Get yourself a pair of bomb-proof nylon pants (they won't rip). I bash right through catclaw with them. Try these: Extreme Adventure Pants by Railrider

Yeah I have some fancy hiking pants and they are OK but I don't really like wearing nylon pants much...but I do sometimes. If I see a pair in the thrift store I may pick them up, I have several REI hiking pants I picked up for a couple bucks each.

6/20/2013
Topic: Verizon Does It, Why Not Pattern?

dsefcik

Administrator

Great idea, I like it.....my guess would be the problem is it will attract wildlife that would get smashed by the (now not) rotating blades.

6/21/2013
Topic: Verizon Does It, Why Not Pattern?

dsefcik

Administrator

So we build turbines to power the lights that hide them??? Hammer Time

They just need to go away, what a disaster.....

6/23/2013
Topic: Any Home Brewers out there?

dsefcik

Administrator

I'll drink to that... Toast

6/23/2013
Topic: Breaking Down a Sunrise Photo

dsefcik

Administrator

surfponto wrote:

You have me seriously thinking about getting a "real" camera with a nice lens.

You probably won't have any extra money for your beer brewing hobby if you do... wink

6/26/2013
Topic: The Biggest Load of Bullshit I ever Heard

dsefcik

Administrator

Just got this from SDG&E

=======================================

I am writing you today to share information regarding some of the region’s energy challenges, some important changes in the coming months, and some help in reducing the effect on your household.
While the closure of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station has created an untimely reduction in our region’s energy resources, we have taken steps to ensure a reliable supply of energy for the region. At the same time, we have revitalized our network with smart technology that will allow you to more efficiently control your energy use - especially during peak demand times. We have been increasing the supply of clean, renewable energy like solar and wind. And, we have made the ongoing delivery of energy more efficient through modernization and upgrades.
These are important investments to assure a continued high level of energy service for the future, but they do come with added expense. In addition, the cost of producing and delivering the renewable energy we all desire is more expensive than traditional sources. I am letting you know that as a result, about a quarter of our customers will see a noticeable increase in their bills in September.
What can you expect? Based on your historical energy use, you are likely to be affected by this increase. If your bill is typically around $100 a month, you will see an increase of about $15. If your bill is usually about $250 a month, you will see an increase of around $75.
We understand that increased costs can cause belt-tightening in any household. So you would be right in asking what we are doing to lower costs and operate as efficiently as possible on behalf of customers. Here are a few of the steps we have taken:

	Switched out 90% of our passenger fleet vehicles to high-mileage or clean-energy vehicles
	Installed smart switches on our electric system to help with service reliability
	Saved over $2 million annually on paper and postage with online services
	Cut our own energy and water consumption by over 20%
	Substantially increased our ability to import lower-cost power into the region

We have set up a special website to provide more details on this upcoming change. I invite you to visit this site at www.sdge.com/2013Rates and if you have further questions, please call us toll-free at 855-846-7174.
Our goal is to help all of our customers find ways to manage energy costs with efficiency programs, rebates and new energy management tools. In the coming weeks we will be communicating with you again, providing what I hope will be helpful information to meet your energy needs in the most efficient and cost-effective way possible.
Thank you.
Sincerely,

Jessie J. Knight Jr.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

6/30/2013
Topic: Hot weather in Anza Borrego

dsefcik

Administrator

Yes, it was 120 in Borrego..I can confirm.....