dsefcik

all messages by user

3/1/2014 Topic: Peace and quiet, stars and pottery dsefcik Administrator	BTW, cool spidy pic....
3/14/2014 Topic: Last Days in the Desert movie dsefcik Administrator	$$$$ Here is a fee schedule for filming in state parks, I think they need to charge more.... http://film.ca.gov/Permit_and_Monitor_Fees.htm and http://film.ca.gov/
3/14/2014 Topic: Jamul Kiln Ruins dsefcik Administrator	2 weeks, no response to my email to the land manager....
3/15/2014 Topic: What Ollas Can Tell Us dsefcik Administrator	Colorado Desert Archaeology Society Presentation W H A T O L L A S C A N T E L L U S March 27, 2014 The CDAS Program scheduled for Thursday, March 27, 2014 at 2:00 pm in the Discovery Center at the Visitor Center - "What Ollas Can Tell Us" by Suzanne Griset, PhD, Principal Investigator SWCA Environmental Consultants, Tucson, Arizona. As a recipient of a Robert Begole Grant, Dr. Griset is analyzing whole vessels from ABDSP. Many of these ollas are currently displayed in the cases in the Discovery Room at the Visitor Center and each has a story to tell. The public is welcome.
3/19/2014 Topic: What Ollas Can Tell Us dsefcik Administrator	I have that day off so I am going to try and get out there, will report if I make it.
3/19/2014 Topic: Subject: Cactus Spring Trail backpack : March dsefcik Administrator	I most likely will not be backpacking anytime soon, my back problems persist (but are improving) so I will have to pass. I am hopeful I will be able to start backpacking (with a light pack Tom) next season, I pretty much missed the whole last 6 months because of my back problems...
3/20/2014 Topic: Subject: Cactus Spring Trail backpack : March dsefcik Administrator	Like most people I guess, just a long abuse of my youthful back and now it has had enough...that backbubble looks interesting.... rockhopper wrote: Daren, Hope your back gets better soon. How did you hurt it? I hurt mine pretty bad during my Gold mining days ( wear and tear) but I am doing pretty good the last 10 years. I credit this product with my recovery: http://www.thebackbubble.com/ along with stretching, MSM suppliments, fish oil, rest and exercise. Best of luck Regards
3/24/2014 Topic: Some benchmarks and Truckhaven Trail, March 2014 dsefcik Administrator	Nice quick trip...I am hoping to get out a couple times this spring break....just some easy stuff.
3/24/2014 Topic: Santa Rosa traverse (Toro-Dawns-Rabbit-Villager) dsefcik Administrator	I'd love to see your report but your link just spins and spins for me, never loads the page, tried yesterday too.
3/25/2014 Topic: 11th Annual Archaeology Weekend dsefcik Administrator	http://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/638/files/archy%20weekend%202014%20schedule%20of%20events.pdf 11th Annual Archaeology Weekend Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Visitor Center Borrego Springs, California April 5-6, 2014 Free Admission
3/25/2014 Topic: Santa Rosa traverse (Toro-Dawns-Rabbit-Villager) dsefcik Administrator	I have gotten thru about 4 pictures since yesterday..I will keep trying. Alexey wrote: dsefcik wrote: I'd love to see your report but your link just spins and spins for me, never loads the page, tried yesterday too. You are right. Looks like everytrail server has some problems right now, but, in general, this is a very good service to share your tracks. If everybody knows the better one, please share you experience.
3/31/2014 Topic: Fish Creek Mountains dsefcik Administrator	yeah....I don't know, a Teflon coated "miners" frying pan..?? Good you had a chance to explore that trail, been wanting to do that.
3/31/2014 Topic: Campo RR dsefcik Administrator	Just in case for those who may not have seen this already http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/Mar/29/pacific-imperial-railroad-mts-contract-trouble/
3/31/2014 Topic: Mojave Desert dsefcik Administrator	I have been out of commission for about 5 months now from sever back problems but recently was able to get out for a 3 day trip out to the Mojave Desert with Gary, car camping and easy 1-2 mile day hikes, lots to see. Here are some photos from the trip. The Turtle Mountains lived up to their name, this was the first Desert Tortoise I have ever seen The Blythe Intaglios, they are fenced off and kinda hard to get a good picture of from the ground, I am sure Google Earth would shsow them better Some random petroglyph photos with my S100 digital camera, I used that when I ran out of film I kinda liked this one, looks like a Christmas tree These next photos were all taken with my 1937 Zeiss Nettar 515/2 folding camera with Kodak Portra 160 film Here is Gary coming up out of one of the canyons we visited, I really like the colors on this photo A few more petroglyph panels In this photo you can see we are not the only ones visiting these sites, most of the sites we went to are on BLM land and you can find out more info about how to see them by going to the BLM website. We also stopped briefly to check out the Topock Maze I also brought along my recently aquired Graphic View II large format view camera These next few photos were all taken with that camera with Arista EDU ISO 100 B/W film and developed by me at home Spirit Mountain Some petroglyphs near our campsite And of course my star trail photos This one looks like there is a small light leak in the film holder, notice the white spot coming in from the top Another one but with some of the hillside in view
3/31/2014 Topic: Mojave Desert dsefcik Administrator	tommy750 wrote: That canyon Gary is climbing out of doesn't quite look like an "easy" hike! Tom Well, he did carry all my water, I just carried my camera in my hand, no backpack or anything....was kinda nice, all my hikes should be like that....
4/1/2014 Topic: Fish Creek Mountains dsefcik Administrator	And Borrego Mtn as the nub to the left...
4/1/2014 Topic: Campo RR dsefcik Administrator	hikerdmb wrote: I like the photo better than any part of the story. It all sounds a little suspicious. Kinda what I thought also, I sorta lost interest by the end of the first page.
4/1/2014 Topic: Mojave Desert dsefcik Administrator	hikerdmb wrote: Lots of good stuff out there. Glad you got to hike again. Thanks David...though I wouldn't really call anything I did hiking, even the canyon photo hike was maybe 3 miles total. Most of our stops involved less than a mile of walking...but yes, it was good to get out again.
4/1/2014 Topic: Another Journey Up Fish Creek with a Backpack trip dsefcik Administrator	Smart man giving the kids radios to carry along... I think Tom and I did a very similar route back in December, the tanks were full at 12,000 gallons each (if I remember correctly), that is sheep country for sure. Guess we need to go back again and look for memory cards.. Nice TR, good to see the kids out there with you, lots of great pics.
4/1/2014 Topic: Another Journey Up Fish Creek with a Backpack trip dsefcik Administrator	BTW, hard to tell but that looks like 3 ewes and 3 lambs.
4/2/2014 Topic: Another Journey Up Fish Creek with a Backpack trip dsefcik Administrator	Good catch Tom... Nolan, did you guys check the water level in the tanks?
4/2/2014 Topic: Campo RR dsefcik Administrator	I saw that on the news, I did not have a chance to watch it though...thanks for the info. I looked thru this book the other day while at the book store, it had some great pictures of the railway and I recognized some of the camps down in the gorge. I am going to buy online, it is cheap enough.
4/2/2014 Topic: Chuckwalla Mountains, The Bradshaw Trail dsefcik Administrator	ImpatientHiker wrote: We awoke to find the beer gone and in its place a small poop. -Robert That is awesome..!!!!!
4/3/2014 Topic: Another Journey Up Fish Creek with a Backpack trip dsefcik Administrator	BLM has tons of guzzlers all over the country...I would guess state or park employees are responsible for the ones in ABDSP. F&G may have hand in all of them..I am not sure.
4/7/2014 Topic: Carrizo Valley this week dsefcik Administrator	Wish I could go, have fun and lets us know how it went.
4/7/2014 Topic: Jacumba Mtn from Tule Mtn dsefcik Administrator	That is a great area and where I started doing a lot of my hikes in ABDSP. Tule to the Trestle was some of the first and then later the whole gorge on backpack trips. The remains of the Impossible Railroad are fun to find. I want to get back out there again soon. I am reading this book and am really enjoying it. I now understand a little better some of the remains I have seen out there. Awesome and tough terrain out there, thanks for sharing and post any pics you may have. edited by dsefcik on 4/7/2014
4/7/2014 Topic: Campo RR dsefcik Administrator	This book about the Impossible Railroad is pretty good (I think). It has very little narrative but instead has 2-3 pictures on each page telling the entire story of the railroad with photos (many never published before) and a paragraph or so with each. Highly recommended for anybody interested in knowing the history of the railroad. There is much, much more to it than just the trestle.
4/7/2014 Topic: Campo RR dsefcik Administrator	I think you will like it..! Nolan (anutami) wrote: dsefcik wrote: This book about the Impossible Railroad is pretty good (I think). It has very little narrative but instead has 2-3 pictures on each page telling the entire story of the railroad with photos (many never published before) and a paragraph or so with each. Highly recommended for anybody interested in knowing the history of the railroad. There is much, much more to it than just the trestle. Thanks! Just ordered it
4/7/2014 Topic: The Impossible Railroad dsefcik Administrator	After reading this book about The Impossible Railroad I now understand a bit better some of the things I have seen in Carrizo Gorge and on the railway tracks. This was one of many telephone booths placed along the tracks in the 1940's, it helped communications between the long distances of the railway About a mile and a half north of the De Anza Resort there are some wheel and axle debris on the side of the Gorge and down in the bottom. I always thought this was from the railway efforts, turns out to be from a 1928 movie called Beggars of Life (the train wrecks at the end but watch the whole movie anyway) Here are some photos of the debris in 2011-2013 Workers along the route made camps as needed and many were just below or above the current tunnel or trestle project Here are a few remains Scotty C and I found I believe this to be the air compressor plant remains This is at the air compressor plant area but shows an east view. You can see foundations and remnants of a tram/trail going up the canyon Some of the incredibly tough cholla landscape they had to deal with, even with modern REI gear this is tough terrain Rattlesnakes were always a problem as well, here is one Scotty C and I saw at the bottom of Goat Canyon Trestle on one trip...it was gorgeous but huge!! Scotty C whacking his way thru the thick Carrizo brush in the Gorge Part of the seven sisters trestle cluster, view from down in the Gorge The Coors Beer car you see in the distance was an accident from a junior engineer that over throttled the train on his first run. Two Coors Beer trailers derailed.
4/8/2014 Topic: The Impossible Railroad dsefcik Administrator	railexplorer wrote: Great photos. My son and I are going to try and head out to the movie wreck site before the weather shuts it all down for the summer. Prepare yourself with long pants, boots, long sleeves and leather garden gloves, the catsclaw is intense. If you look closely at the pictures of Scotty C you will see red plastic all around his legs and sides of his pack, that was to allow the catsclaw to just swipe over him...worked pretty well, I used some also.
4/8/2014 Topic: Carrizo Valley this week dsefcik Administrator	Like the shot of Sombrero Peak and nice vignetting of the blue sky...
4/10/2014 Topic: Davies Valley and Pinto Canyon dsefcik Administrator	tommy750 wrote: Have yet to see a single person while hiking out there. Tom Alive.....
4/10/2014 Topic: The Impossible Railroad dsefcik Administrator	railexplorer wrote: [I'm thinking we'll stay up trackside...... the Robo Hiker look is a bit over more than we'd be up for, especially to get a look at some old wheel sets. Although my son my have other ideas From up above you won't see too much, maybe with some binos. Here are some more photos from another trip I did solo with shorts on. This is near the debris and I think is almost the same photo as the one that spreads across pages 32-33 of the book You can see some wheel sets way down, almost dead center The wheels seen in the above picture up close Kinda old The catsclaw is thick down there Misc debris on the hillside Wear pants..!! And find good bony scat!
4/12/2014 Topic: The Impossible Railroad dsefcik Administrator	If just a day hike I usually will park in the shade under the freeway overpass near the resort and just walk the tracks until wherever you want to go down. I think the debris starts around a mile and half or so past the resort.
4/14/2014 Topic: Southern AB, April 2014 dsefcik Administrator	Nice jet photo... Never seen the marble dust collectors, was that actually in ABDSP or BLM? Vallecitos has a direct line of sight with communications on Mt Laguna so you can get cell reception all through out the valley there.
4/14/2014 Topic: Southern AB, April 2014 dsefcik Administrator	I have shopped at the Butterfield store many times, they have block and crushed ice at reasonable prices and some IPA's as well. For $5 you can park in their lot and they will give you a map to explore the Cottonwood Cyn area.
4/14/2014 Topic: Quick Trip Thru Storm Cyn from Pine Valley dsefcik Administrator	Sounds like training runs back when I did ultra running....There were a number of great ultras thru the desert and mountains that have long since past. Lost Boys, Cuyamaca 50k, Smugglers, SD 100 (which still lives on but not like the original at all), etc. Can't say I do much long distance running now...Lost Boys was one of my favourites. Thanks for the TR
4/15/2014 Topic: Southern AB, April 2014 dsefcik Administrator	When Tom's truck was new.....
4/22/2014 Topic: Blair Valley Meditation Retreat 4/11 - 4/20 dsefcik Administrator	That was a good TR I usually will camp there also and have spent many summer nights there when nobody is around at all. That boulder is special and should be taken care of, Blair/Little Blair has significant cultural history. The nails you are finding is from all the palettes and other debris wood people bring out there and burn for campfires, the nails get left behind on the ground. I remember one night I camped there solo in the summer and one group showed up right at dusk at the Marshal South parking area, they made lots of noise and backpacked up to Ghost Mtn. I could hear and see them the whole way. Once up at the top (in the dark now) they proceeded to shine some really bright laser lights down at me, my truck an the boulder. they were laughing and making jokes about how bright it was and they could see me so easily that far away....they didn't get the fact I could easily hear everything they were saying way down below. On another trip to Home Depot Rock, it was about dusk and I was sitting on the ground having a nice warm beer in 100+ degree heat and a jack rabbit came hopping around my truck and stopped about 10' in front of me....he just sat there twitching his nose and whiskers around staring at me for awhile, maybe 5 minutes or so....then hopped away. On another summer trip, I think it was returning from the BHS count, a summer monsoon blasted the area and filled the morteros behind the boulder and about 8 million bees came in and sucked them dry in about 10 minutes. @Nolan: Yes that is the same spot Great post DanSimon, thanks for sharing...that is a great camp spot and that boulder should be looked after and cared for. Daren
4/22/2014 Topic: Blair Valley Meditation Retreat 4/11 - 4/20 dsefcik Administrator	PS, I fixed your inline images. Once you upload them you can edit by adding the url of the uploaded images as inline images.
4/22/2014 Topic: Approval of Ocotillo Sol Solar Facility dsefcik Administrator	What is SDG&E gonna do, pick up all the FTHL's and put them on 600 acres of "other" land??
4/22/2014 Topic: Blair Valley Meditation Retreat 4/11 - 4/20 dsefcik Administrator	OK, maybe 8 million was an exaggeration but it sure seemed like that many when I had to lock myself in my truck to keep them away from me. I briefly took a video of them sucking all the water from the mortero (click photo to play video)
4/28/2014 Topic: The Impossible Railroad dsefcik Administrator	@Anutami: Yeah, great book...I learned lots of things about the railway reading it...highly recommended!
4/28/2014 Topic: Cactus spring trail to Martinez Canyon Rock House dsefcik Administrator	Looks like a great trip, I wish I could have gone with you...thanks for posting.
5/1/2014 Topic: Adventure passes take a hit in court dsefcik Administrator	I stopped going to the Lagunas largely because of the fee. I bought yearly and then daily passes and now I rarely go anymore.
5/1/2014 Topic: The Impossible Railroad dsefcik Administrator	Was he actually giving citations to people?? The blue rail cars disappeared about a year or so ago and the wind turbines were in the video so within the last year or so it was made. The Shell/Subway parking area has become pretty much the staging area for mountain bikers to ride the tracks, there were probably 20 or so a couple weeks ago. Not sure what day the guy in the video went out but I am guessing it wasn't a weekend or else he would have seen tons of mountain bikers out there. Cool car though...
5/4/2014 Topic: Sombrero Overnight Backpack dsefcik Administrator	Nice TR Tom, I wish I could have joined you.... Once you get off the jeep road it can get sketchy finding a route. I never got that close to red barn building, have always started heading towards the peak before that point. I just love that area, thanks for the pictures and TR.
5/5/2014 Topic: Sombrero Overnight Backpack dsefcik Administrator	Nolan (anutami) wrote: Are there going to be wind turbines out there one day? Probably not that far out but in the general area of McCain Valley is what they are trying to do. http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/elcentro/nepa/tule.html http://www.10news.com/news/proposed-wind-turbine-farm-in-mccain-valley-met-with-opposition-05062013 http://iberdrolarenewables.us/tulewind/about/index.html
5/5/2014 Topic: Sombrero Overnight Backpack dsefcik Administrator	I like the Sombrero Sunrise photo...so much for the security bars on the red building...
5/9/2014 Topic: Hike in the Grand Canyon dsefcik Administrator	Looks awesome, I love the ooh ahh point and Grand Canyon beer...I have yet to see the Grand Canyon...I need to get out more often....
5/11/2014 Topic: IMG vs img issue dsefcik Administrator	Bob needs to reply to this, he does the programming for the site.
5/18/2014 Topic: Short overnight in northern AB dsefcik Administrator	How is the (bypass) road into Coyote Cyn these days, I have not been there since last May.
5/19/2014 Topic: Another shot at Storm Canyon dsefcik Administrator	Great to hear Cappy is still out running around, I haven't seen him in years....
5/19/2014 Topic: 2014 Bighorn Sheep Count now accepting application dsefcik Administrator	If you are interested in participating in the 2014 Bighorn Sheep Count just fill out the attached application and email to ranger Steve.
5/19/2014 Topic: 44th Annual Bighorn Sheep Count dsefcik Administrator	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
5/20/2014 Topic: 44th Annual Bighorn Sheep Count dsefcik Administrator	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.
5/20/2014 Topic: 44th Annual Bighorn Sheep Count dsefcik Administrator	Borregolinda wrote: It had already been removed..... Thanks!
5/20/2014 Topic: 44th Annual Bighorn Sheep Count dsefcik Administrator	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.
5/20/2014 Topic: 44th Annual Bighorn Sheep Count dsefcik Administrator	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.
5/20/2014 Topic: 44th Annual Bighorn Sheep Count dsefcik Administrator	DesertWRX wrote: Daren, you were with our friend Dennis at Hellhole. I was going to be with you guys but got a case of E.coli right before the count. Yeah, I remember...hope you have a good site this year.
5/21/2014 Topic: 2014 Bighorn Sheep Count now accepting application dsefcik Administrator	surfponto wrote: I think Mary and I may try to do it this year. Not sure I am up for a backpacking spot since my back , like yours, has been out of commission. Was not aware you had bad back problems...8-( They have plenty of hike in/out sites, it would be good to see you guys out there, hope you can make it.
5/21/2014 Topic: A few nice blooms still out there dsefcik Administrator	Went poking around the boulders off the 8 freeway the last couple of weekends with Tom and there are still some nice blooms on the cactus. Saw a nice 5' Gopher(?) snake laying in the road on the way home Tom found some old mining debris and 2 large pits. One had some of the rocks piled up to form a couple of walls Some old honeycomb That's it...I think we picked up 3-4 mylar balloons.
5/22/2014 Topic: The Border and Pinto Wash dsefcik Administrator	Looks like fun, I like how you managed to get a picture of the boundary marker on the Mexican side without crossing into Mexico...
5/22/2014 Topic: A few nice blooms still out there dsefcik Administrator	tommy750 wrote: Nice. How did your 4X6" film pics turn out? Technically it is a 4x5 negative...I have not developed it yet, waiting to take a few more so I don't waste all the chemicals on one negative. Bought a couple new lenses for it that just showed up so maybe this weekend I can take it out again. This is the camera (not my actual camera, from the web)
5/22/2014 Topic: A few nice blooms still out there dsefcik Administrator	Jim (ziphius) wrote: Nice snake, really sharp pics. Which camera? That's a massive amount of honeycombs. These were from the S100
5/22/2014 Topic: A few nice blooms still out there dsefcik Administrator	tommy750 wrote: Jim (ziphius) wrote: Nice snake, really sharp pics. Which camera? That's a massive amount of honeycombs. Any one seeing live hives out there anymore? Have found several abandoned ones filled with honey but no bees in the last couple years. Just me? I would say a couple years for me also but it seems like bees are back this year, at least what I have seen.
5/24/2014 Topic: Post new product info? dsefcik Administrator	I would say sure, why not....post it.
5/24/2014 Topic: A few nice blooms still out there dsefcik Administrator	tommy750 wrote: Nice. How did your 4X6" film pics turn out? Here you go...over exposed, the shutter needs adjustment. You can see De Anza resort, Gray Mtn & Table Mountain way off in the background. The one thing with these big negatives is you can zoom 100% in and still see lots of detail.
5/28/2014 Topic: Memorial Day Hikes dsefcik Administrator	Tom, Gary and I camped out for a couple days and hiked around Indian Valley/Sombrero Peak and up to the meadows just below the top of Whale Peak. Can't say I would recommend either of those hikes with this heat, we told ourselves we were having fun the whole time we downed salt tablets and looked for shade to coward in. Temps were in the high 90's and we only saw a few campers in Little Blair, no hikers either day we we hiked. I have a few meager photos to show for our trip, I think Tom has some good ones, he was the one carrying a big DSLR this trip. Love the bright green lichen on this massive 30' high boulder I am a sucker for wildlife, bugs and insects...the early morning sun woke up the large harvester ants and one of them decided to haul half a bee carcass around the sand. What is small sand/alluvium to us is boulders to the ants This is a video of the ant carrying it around, you will probably have to click the photo to play the video Up at the meadow area of Whale Peak it was hot, dry hot. Here is a panorama of the north'ish area of Borrego Springs, Sunset Mtn lower middle right Total Mylar Ballons this trip - 1 + a string
5/28/2014 Topic: Memorial Day Hikes dsefcik Administrator	Jim (ziphius) wrote: Love the boulder lichen. Don't think I've ever seen a lichen-covered boulder in AB before. Great ant video too. How much water did you consume? Do your salt tablets also contain potassium? I carried 3 liters each day and usually chug a liter or more before departure. Yes, my tablets have potassium, I use a product called Succeed!, it is what I used when I did all my ultra running and works great.
5/28/2014 Topic: 2014 Bighorn Sheep Count now accepting application dsefcik Administrator	Hope you can make it Bob....yeah, maybe all my years of skateboarding and surfing helped take me out also...but hey, lots of fun doing it...
5/29/2014 Topic: Memorial Day Hikes dsefcik Administrator	hikerdmb wrote: Did you enhance the green on the boulder? Does this mean your back is better? Not too much, just used the "Vibrance" slider a bit, it really was a huge boulder near Sombrero Peak with amazing bright lime green lichen all over it. I took that picture laying down on my back looking towards the top. My back is "better" but not good and I am probably playing with fire, the Whale Peak hike was too much, I was starting to have back pain coming down thru Smugglers. I bought a Mountainsmith fanny pack so no backpacks....Tom has some good pictures, he needs to post a few.
5/29/2014 Topic: Memorial Day Hikes dsefcik Administrator	hikerdmb wrote: I thought you were taking the easy way up? It was a good idea...what can I say..???
5/29/2014 Topic: Memorial Day Hikes dsefcik Administrator	tommy750 wrote: Yes, I took a few pics out there in the 95 degree heat with Daren and Gary. Here's a representation of what the Pictograph Trail site would look like in the 1960's complete with actors in period clothing Great photos Tom!! edited by dsefcik on 5/29/2014
5/30/2014 Topic: DStretch tutorials dsefcik Administrator	DStretch is pretty cool...it's algorithms originated from aerial surveillance techniques.
6/1/2014 Topic: Memorial Day Hikes dsefcik Administrator	rockhopper wrote: Great photography. I miss the old negative film in one regard. Blow up Detail! My old photo wall was full of blow up prints from negs. Outstanding detail. Can you still get prints from negs. anywhere still? Yes! Lots of places, even Walgreens will do 35mm although I think most of it is scanned and then printed from the digital version.
6/1/2014 Topic: McCain Valley dsefcik Administrator	I am under the impression most of the off road stuff now is from border patrol but could be wrong. I have never seen off roaders that far past their designated areas.
6/1/2014 Topic: McCain Valley dsefcik Administrator	You are probably right, I ahve only seen them on ATV's also...I camped there a couple years ago on Memorial Day weekend and it was fine, just lots of rattlesnakes everywhere.
6/2/2014 Topic: McCain Valley dsefcik Administrator	kylekai wrote: What does BP stand for? Border Patrol
6/2/2014 Topic: EC O85 dsefcik Administrator	That thing is 2WD only isn't it?
6/3/2014 Topic: First Trip Report with my new rig dsefcik Administrator	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...
6/3/2014 Topic: EC O85 dsefcik Administrator	tommy750 wrote: How do you roll the windows up on that thing? 100 degrees and billowing silt, nice Tom Tom, you are the only silt cryer I have met...most of us just brush it off...
6/3/2014 Topic: EC O85 dsefcik Administrator	Interesting, the largest in the US...thanks for posting that... tommy750 wrote: This is something I found recently online. It comments on U.S. Gypsum and the history of the mining railway next to EC085. Mineral Resources of the Fish Creek Mountains Wilderness Study Area, Imperial County, California By VICTORIA R. TODD, DAVID E. DETRA, JAMES E. KILBURN, ANDREW GRISCOM, and FRED A. KRUSE U.S. Geological Survey HARRY W. CAMPBELL U.S. Bureau of Mines 1987 A large gypsum mine owned and operated by the U.S. Gypsum Company lies 1.5 mi west of the study area (the U.S. Gypsum quarry). The Imperial Gypsum quarry produced a small, unknown tonnage of gypsum that was marketed as a soil conditioner in the Imperial Valley. The U.S. Gypsum Company has 18 unpatented placer claims inside the study area. Completion of the San Diego and Arizona Eastern Railroad in 1920 permitted the Fish Creek Mountains gypsum deposits to be mined. Imperial Gypsum and Oil Corporation acquired a large block of gypsum claims in the Fish Creek Mountains and constructed a narrow gauge railroad from the San Diego and Arizona Eastern track to the deposit in 1922. The first shipment of crude gypsum was made in 1922. In 1924, Pacific Portland Cement Company bought the Fish Creek Mountains gypsum operations and built a calcining plant (Plaster City plant) at the junction of the narrow gauge railroad with the main line. The Plaster City plant and quarry were sold in 1945 to U.S. Gypsum Company who modernized and expanded the operation. In 1971, the U.S. Gypsum quarry produced 742,000 tons of gypsum, making it the largest operating gypsum mine in the United States.
6/4/2014 Topic: New Camera Lens dsefcik Administrator	New to me 1927 Kodak lens on my wooden Anba Ikeda field camera, will be taking it out to the desert soon for some photos, this test ABDSP related photo will have to do for now. The old lenses are quite good, I just need to learn how to use them. 4X5 Sheet FIlm, 147mm, f/6.3 10 seconds indoors at night, develoed with Adonal @ 1:50 10 minutes and fixed with TF-5
6/4/2014 Topic: EC O85 dsefcik Administrator	dsefcik wrote: most of us just brush it off... And wash the trail dust down with a bit of Jack Daniels...
6/5/2014 Topic: Free California Wilderness Wall Map dsefcik Administrator	http://www.blm.gov/ca/forms/offers/index.php?issueReq=627
6/7/2014 Topic: Memorial Day Hikes dsefcik Administrator	Got my slide film developed, great stuff..Fuji Velvia 100 ISO, Zeiss Ikoflex TLR camera Start trails, either a car tail light or somebody's headlamp in the lower left, not sure which. This was about a 7 hour exposure Works good on pictographs also
6/18/2014 Topic: Borrego Palm Canyon "Fannypack" Trip dsefcik Administrator	After our Bighorn Sheep Count orientation meeting we headed up to the 4th grove to see how the canyon was doing water wise. The droughts suggested the sheep would have another very dry summer. I am going on 8 months now of L5/S1 sciatic nerve impingement and my left leg is impaired with about 30% loss of strength and numbness but improving each day. With a Mountainsmith Day TLS fanny pack I can get out and do things now, like a single overnight "fannypack" trip. No backpack trips in sight for some time. I drove out the night before the orientation and slept out on the ground on a bluff at Fonts Point. Camera gear was a 1916 Kodak Junior No. 1 Autographic I picked up on craigslist last week and my Canon S100 point-n-shoot. Wind was just way, way too much...sand blowing all night and my bivy was filled with sand thru the no-see-em mesh. Foints Point at sundown Fire Moonrise Fonts Point Wash and Toro Peak off in the distance. One shot from the 1916 camera and one from the S100 Kodak Jr S100 Fonts Point long exposure with a full moon. A bit under exposed I had 2 rolls of 120 film to shoot so I stopped to take some photos of the Sky Art with the old camera. I used some filters and Series VI adapters that got on Ebay from Caroles314, you won't find a better seller on ebay than her. The 1916 Kodak Jr No. 1 Autographic Over at the Visitor Center I put a roll of Redscale film in the old camera. With Redscale film you can over expose quite a bit, the film was 400 ISO and I exposed it at 25 ISO. The VC and Indianhead Indianhead from the VC Our trek up into the canyon was uneventful but enjoyable. There were no other hikers past the first grove (in 100+ temps mind you) so we had the whole canyon to ourselves. Plenty of water was flowing for the sheep, birds, bugs and humans. Some gorgeous scat on the trail Check out the detail of the red seeds or whatever they are Coming up to the 1'st grove we can see plenty of water flowing, no huge punchbowls like in years past but enough for wildlife to drink 1'st Grove More water flowing up near 3rd grove Indianhead While we were making camp around 7pm we heard some rocks falling on one of the hillsides and started looking around, after about 15 minutes we spotted the bighorn sheep. There were 9 of them, 3 older rams, 3 ewes and 3 lambs. They were quite happy to frolic around while we watched and as the sun went down they sauntered off past our camp. As the sun set they made great silhouettes as they climbed the ridge Lots of wildlife, insects and other living creatures in and near the water. I probably spent an hour photographing stuff in the water while the rest of our gang went hiking around. The reflections from the Palm Grove on the water surface were really cool Lots of really cool looking rock surfaces all thru the canyon A really big "Moss Blanket" On the way out we found a dead lamb, probably from disease or injury Palm Canyon was a great overnight trip, recommended for anyone but watch out for high temperatures during the summer. Here is a video of the sheep frolicking around on a boulder, they did this for 10-15 minutes, chasing each other around like "catch me if you can" On my way home I still had some film left to burn so here are a few more photos from the old 1916 Kodak folder View Point going up Montezuma Grade ABDSP Sign The now restored Butterfield Stage Shop. It is open for tours, be sure to stop by and check it out. Total mylar ballons this trip - 2 (no photos but they were fresh ones)
6/18/2014 Topic: Borrego Palm Canyon "Fannypack" Trip dsefcik Administrator	Nolan (anutami) wrote: What a great trip! What were the night temps? That has to be one of the craziest frog/toad I have ever seen. How is the truck working out for you? I may be headed out over the weekend to experience another season of the desert Low 100's during the day, probably low 70's at night, I just slept in a nylon bivy and the other guys just used a bed sheet, no need for much more. I could pack really light and small because of that.Truck works great, zips right along on the dirt roads, way faster than my old Dodge. I want to try and start getting back out there.
6/18/2014 Topic: Borrego Palm Canyon "Fannypack" Trip dsefcik Administrator	Florian wrote: Great pictures. Such variety. -Florian Thanks!
6/18/2014 Topic: Borrego Palm Canyon "Fannypack" Trip dsefcik Administrator	Jim (ziphius) wrote: That scat looks "ready to eat"! Love the aquatic insect photos. Glad you got out. Your post reminded me that I wanted to alert you to a couple of Radiolab stories that just aired, involving ancient pottery: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dvQDNgYmKU http://www.radiolab.org/story/seed-jar/ I 'll have a listen tomorrow, love radiolab....I was hoping you would be able to provide some ID'ing of the critters...I think a couple of those frogs/toads have parasites but I am not very knowledgeable on that subject.
6/18/2014 Topic: Borrego Palm Canyon "Fannypack" Trip dsefcik Administrator	hikerdmb wrote: Glad you are able to get out there Daren. Sorry you are still having back troubles. But you are making the best of it. Way to adapt to an ultra ultra light weight pack. Thanks David...yeah, compact and light now..I even got a new, lighter hat, a smaller/lighter snow peak stove/cup/fuel canister combo that weighs nothing and is ultra compact. Now I just need to figure out how to make 8 liters of water small and light... For this trip I carried 5 liters of water and all the essential gear, stove,food,coffee,sleep stuff, big ridgecrest sleep pad, flashlight,canon s100 camera, etc and a 375ml bottle of jack all in that fannypack...works great. For a day trip it will barely hold everything I need for my 4x5 camera...ask Tom...
6/18/2014 Topic: Borrego Palm Canyon "Fannypack" Trip dsefcik Administrator	Jim (ziphius) wrote: Well, I want to call your really warty toad a Red-spotted toad, Bufo punctatus, but it looks so unlike every other toad that's supposedly in our area.... best guess. I think the frog is a Pacific tree frog. Your giant water beetle is a member of the Family Belostomidae. I posted a short video of one from Big Spring awhile back. They have a really painful bite and the are fierce hunters of baby turtles, fish, frogs, whatever they can get. Apparently, they have to surface for air ... they also fly at night and can be attracted to lights like other insects. Also a popular food in Thailand (all this from wikipedia, not in my head). 99% sure your damselfly is a Vivid Dancer (from my copy of Dragonflies and Damselflies of the West, which weighs 2.5 lbs and is never carried on backpack trips!).... photographed one at Pena Spring last year. The things with the spikes on their heads are bighorn sheep. The SD Nat. Hist. Museum checklists of the animals and plants of the county are always a good starting point: http://www.sdnhm.org/science/field-guide/ That s a great resource...thanks!! There were tons of those water beetles.
6/19/2014 Topic: Borrego Palm Canyon "Fannypack" Trip dsefcik Administrator	tommy750 wrote: All the macro pics with your S100? Very nice. Like the toad and damselfly pics especially. So what kind of film does your 1916 Kodak use again? Tom The toads were about as big as half my thumb...the really warty one caught a couple flies but my camera was not fast enough to catch it (OK, maybe I wasn't but it is easier to blame the camera). The old Kodak uses 120 roll film, still readily available and is a 6x9cm negative. When I got home I realized that the old Kodak series VI filters for my vintage cameras would fit on my Canon S100 digital camera so I now have a new arsenal to use with the digital compact..!!
6/20/2014 Topic: Borrego Palm Canyon "Fannypack" Trip dsefcik Administrator	Randy shared some of his photos with me... Here we all are for a group photo that I didn't even realize was happening...news to me... Once again, blissfully unaware someone else was near...too busy taking pictures of fascinating water bugs.. Hummm...I never even knew there were people behind me. Froges were all over That's my fanny pack setup, complete with bed roll..guess what I am doing... Crap, I don't have any hair....
6/21/2014 Topic: Borrego Palm Canyon "Fannypack" Trip dsefcik Administrator	Nolan (anutami) wrote: You look like a kid in a candy store What can I say....yeah, candy everywhere....love bugs and stuff...
6/22/2014 Topic: Borrego Palm Canyon "Fannypack" Trip dsefcik Administrator	I am beginning to see a theme of photos of me by others...
6/25/2014 Topic: Borrego Palm Canyon "Fannypack" Trip dsefcik Administrator	Hey, what year was that, I finally have to replace those boots...!! surfponto wrote: OK I'll play dsefcik wrote: I am beginning to see a theme of photos of me by others...
6/25/2014 Topic: Hikes to Local native American campsites dsefcik Administrator	Probably Saber Tooth.... Nice, hike, close to the coast and much cooler temps. I am heading back to ABDSP to Rattlesnake Spring next week for 4 days of sheep counting, still a fine time of year to go to the desert..!!
6/25/2014 Topic: Hikes to Local native American campsites dsefcik Administrator	Probably%20Saber%20Tooth....%3Athumb%3A%3Cdiv%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%3ENice%2C%20hike%2C%20close%20to%20the%20coast%20and%20much%20cooler%20temps.%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C/div%3E%3Cdiv%3EI%20am%20heading%20back%20to%20ABDSP%20to%20Rattlesnake%20Spring%20next%20week%20for%204%20days%20of%20sheep%20counting%2C%20still%20a%20fine%20time%20of%20year%20to%20go%20to%20the%20desert..%21%21%3C/div%3E

Anza Borrego Desert

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