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tommy750 wrote:

Do they still do helicopter surveys for PBS? Does it correlate with what you guys find each year?

Great question, they briefly talked about that this year. They used to do them with some regularity but not any more, some reasons why were financial and others political. That is why the volunteer program is even more important now. In the days past golf resorts were able to buy up land that took away from the sheep but golf resorts are now passe and instead green energy projects have moved in and are taking their place. When you look at the "peninsular" range they once used it has now become fragmented by development and roadways, their "range" has shrunk considerably.

We got a few sprinkles here is all. But really humid all day! I took almost that same picture on our morning walk! We're near the Indian Head side of town so maybe other parts got more than we did!
edited by Borregolinda on 7/12/2012
edited by Borregolinda on 7/12/2012

Nice pics Daren, and video. I saw some cars and trucks parked along S-22 going down into Borrego Springs and I figured they were counting sheep too. It is great that you do this.

We were out there last weekend too but we were keeping cool by the pool. It was brutal but we managed.



David

Bob,
That is the Borrego Springs Resort and Spa. It used to be Borrego Springs Resort and Country Club but they changed their name. Nice place and good summer rates. We got a king room for $79. Very relaxing place. We have been going there for many many years. Here's the link.

http://borregospringsresort.com/

David

hikerdmb wrote:

We were out there last weekend too but we were keeping cool by the pool

How do you keep cool "by the pool" ?? When I looked at the photo all I imagined was me in a floaty thing and a drink in my hand, not an empty pool!

Excellent! Love those desert rains. Yes we also had a few sprinkles out here on the coast. Felt great, the sub-tropical Mexican air mass moving through.

With the weather way too extreme for me thought I would post a pic of an Olla I discovered about 10 years ago. As a kid I grew up right next to an Indian cermonial site in Ramona, Ca. I would come across broken pottery shards and has always been my dream to come across a fully intact Olla. In 6th grade I found a peace pipe and donated it to the Ramona Musuem. Exploring in ABDSP "way off trail" I came across a small cave. When I peaked inside there it was! A fully intact approx 3 gallon size Olla. I left it in place and just admired the awesome beauty of this thing, snapped a few pics and headed out. There are MANY treasures out there to find and please DO NOT touch, take, alter them in anyway if you come across them.

Bill and I are stewards in ABDSP so we went out to Coyote Canyon today to do some clean up. While we were cleaning up an old fire site near 2nd crossing this big Ram passed nearby. He was on his way to get a drink. When he was done drinking he stopped right in front of me and stared! Bill had the camera trying to get a shot of him drinking so I didn't have a picture of it! He then climbed up the hill and looked around for a long time. Pretty cool.



Our GSD Abi saw him too!

edited by Borregolinda on 7/17/2012

Hello all. Found these while looking through "my stuff". While not real "old" I thought this would be a start of an interesting thread.
Please continue to add any older maps you might find interesting. Older map information is often "removed" and or missing from the later generation of maps
and is of great information to us, the "explorer" community.

Map A : Army Corp of Engineers. 1953 road data.

[IMG]http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h294/metalmeister/ABDSP/CopyofABUSGS004.jpg[/IMG]

Map B: Army Corp of Engineers. 1977 road data.

[IMG]http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h294/metalmeister/ABDSP/CopyofABUSGS002.jpg[/IMG]


Few points of interest.

1. Notice the old spelling of "borego" on map A
2. Notice the new location of Borrego Springs on map B
3. Notice the town of Ranchita moved to the East on map B
4. Map a was created prior to the "ABDSP"
edited by rockhopper on 7/19/2012
edited by rockhopper on 7/19/2012

surfponto wrote:

Yep the mysterious Jeep Trail still shows up on the CalTopo maps

You know they have really fenced that trail off now right?? Lots of wood posts all around that area now.

Apparently the Border Patrol have been seen destroying some water jugs also.

http://www.10news.com/news/31291349/detail.html

I hope this money specifically designated for the state parks dosen't end up going down into the states general fund black hole.
When, where is the protest?

Hi all,

This website is a great resource. I enjoy reading all the trip reports. I am also quit fascinated with maps, I can't pass a map without stopping to look at it. So when I saw
this thread I figured I would share some of the results of my Google searching for maps.

There is a nice open-source data base of USGS 7.5 minute maps at link. You can search for maps using feature names or by feature type.

Another good website for USGS maps of Southern California is link. This site covers all of San Diego, Riverside, Imperial, and San Bernardino counties.

Pretty much confirms what we already know. Scientists have confirmed the the deserts have moved North approx. 100 miles in the past 100 years.

dsefcik wrote:

Borregolinda wrote:

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

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

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

Looks like we may be done with the rain for now. Just super humid! But the roads are still a mess!

Excellent report! Thanks for sharing.

I'll be in the Sierra one more time before school starts. I am hoping it will be great viewing.
David

It's definitely a 4WD road

This morning at the Take a Stand in the Sand Protest.


2012-08-11_08-16-01_377 by tomteske, on Flickr

surfponto wrote:

Crazy pics.

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

Have heard anything out here in Borrego. Great lightning storm over there last night though!

Can we boycott the Ocotillo Fuel Mart?

Saw this photo posted on ECM this morning http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/node/10729

Now that is a bumper sticker I would put on my Rig! Where can I get mine?

If you want to see the day-to-day destruction from the eyes of an Ocotillo resident take a look at this site where he uploads daily photos.

http://saveocotillo.picturepush.com/album/225256/p-OWEF-08252012.html

It is heart wrenching to anyone that loves the desert.

Cool article in the "Ramona Journal" about Lost Valley

Anybody ever been out there?

http://ramonajournal.com/on-memorys-back-trail-tales-of-lost-valley-p4499-88.htm

Just going thru some old posts, getting reading for desert camping. I noticed you used an iPhone to take your pictures? If so, then the pictures (usually) also have the GPS coordinates attached to the image. I use my iPhone almost exclusively for taking pictures now, as it helps me remember where I took the picture. On my Macintosh computer, using the app Preview, I can open a picture and easily view the picture's location. Or I upload them to Flickr which also displays a map with the image location -- see this example: http://www.flickr.com/photos/modesitt/7127141619/in/set-72157629565943292/. Wouldn't it be great if we could click on a photo in this forum and it takes us to a Google map using the GPS coordinates associated with the picture?


anutami wrote:

Still trying to figure out how to do the google map screen shot w/ the route, but It looks like I went through Palm Wash. There is the south fork which is west of the calcite mine rd, and Palm wash due east and north east of the rd. Then there is the North fork which is way east of the calcite mine road. When I looped back around I was about in the middle of the North Fork and main Palm Wash.

edited by kylekai on 9/3/2012
edited by kylekai on 9/3/2012

Well, I am pretty much over the crowded beaches and Finally I think/I hope today was the turn towards fall Looking forward to a great season!!!!! I am sure everyone is craving some desert solitude. Curious to know what your first trips are going to be for the season (some of you the season never ended

I will probably end up checking out Indian hill area again and the wind turbine project going on.

So much for a cool down

http://www.basinandrangewatch.org/OcotilloWind-Spring2011.html

http://www.basinandrangewatch.org/OcotilloWind-Spring2011.html

Been cooler out here in Borrego than west of the mountains! Barely hit 100 today. Humidity is gone. Nights are in the mid 70's. Nice!

Not specific to Anza Borrego, but could be a somewhat elegant solution to a sea of 400 foot wind turbines.

You may have already seen stuff on this but I thought it was an interesting option.
Solar Roadways

link


TED Talk on same stuff
link

I like the idea of something serving several purposes...

Not sure what it means when they say The Forest Service "took charge" of the artifacts. But I'm assuming they were removed from their resting site. It's one reason I never report the locations of anything I find to ANY 'authorities'. The chain of history is forever broken when artifacts are removed from the wild, notwithstanding the usual arguments of "well, they have to be protected from those who might REMOVE them illegally." Same result. We have enough stuff in dusty drawers in locked rooms.
edited by ziphius on 10/15/2012

I know this is kinda last minute but I figured I'd post this up anyway for anyone who might be interested. BorregoFest is an annual event hosted by OutdoorAdventureUSA. Folks from many different SoCal forums attend for a weekend of good times spent in the desert. I'll be heading out Friday evening with my family. Here's some info and a link to the site:

Well it's time to start planning our annual OAUSA BorregoFest event. The dates are set for the 19th through the 21st of October. This is a family friendly event that never fails to impress. We will be holding trail runs, ham radio testing, a potluck, wine and beer tasting, and probably a small raffle. Please let us know if you plan on attending. Fees and sign up info are below.

We will be using Butterfield Ranch RV Resort for this year's event. OAUSA depends on the donations from this event, and SummerFest, to help it stay in operation. Campsite fees, taxes, website expenses all add up, and OAUSA is comprised of a completely volunteer, unpaid staff. We have done our best to keep the fees reasonable, and ask that all that can, please join us at Butterfield Ranch to help support OAUSA. BorregoFest, with it’s group camping, promotes a feeling of camaraderie among the members, and creates an opportunity for those who many not know each other to share in the event face to face, as well as contribute to the future of Outdoor Adventure USA.

However, no fee is required if you are only coming out for one day or are making other accommodations outside of the group camp for spending the night. You are still allowed to come into the group site for the trail run meetings, potluck, and evening festivities each day. Fees are the same whether you stay for one night or two in the group site. Please post your interest in attending in the format you see below and your name will be added to the OAUSA Roster…

For fees, payment information, and other details go to the following link…

http://forums.oausa.net/viewforum.php?f=165

anutami:

If you're worried about your rig making it through the one steep, rutted section of Dos Cabezas road,
there's a way around this section of road. It starts from Mortero Wash about 300 or 400 yards short of the tracks, and goes down and to the right. It winds it's way around and comes out right at the top of the steep, rutted section.

Daren has made it through the steep, rutted section with his truck, albeit with a little mudflap damage if I recall correctly. But he doesn't have the camper on the back. My Land Cruiser just walks up that section like it was paved.

Tom

Went out this past weekend to the cabin and had a splendid time! Weather was awesome, with highs in the 80's and lows in the 50's, some wind but not too bad. Worked a lot, maybe next time some 4 wheeling or hiking. That beer sure tasted great after a days work!

My faves are the Mexican beers, usually Tecate in the can. Although last trip I fell for Corona bottles. Yummmmm, after a hard day, a nice shower and then an ice cold cerveza from an ice chest, what a great combo....My faves are:
Tecate
XX Dos Equis Amber
Corona
Carta Blanca
Modelo

Then in the winter, i bring in the heavier beers, Newcastle, Bass, etc......

what about you guys?

Yeah it is pretty lame how they make you feel like you are doing something wrong. I got questioned pretty hard on the checkpoint on S-2 right before the mortero wash turnout, the guy even freaked the kids out a little bit by his tone and multiple questions.

Well third attempt to post

Anutum,

If I may suggest, look into a set of air bags for your rear axle, your truck has very stiff suspension as is, but your overloads do not engage until you are already tilting, air bags will stop this. You can order online and install yourself as I did or have them installed. I usually put in 35 to 40 pounds (camper on) with an air chuck, they also have an auto system with a pump, costs more though. I installed on my Ford 7.3 Turbo 12 years ago, never regretted it.

On swaying when camped, I will drop two of my camper struts if it is bad enough where I cannot sleep, I see you have auto struts, lucky you, I went for cheaper version "hand cranks"

Your photos are wonderfull, looks like you made it to tunnel 11

Hope this helps

Just FYI as of 10-22-2012 the road from the highway to Butler Canyon / Rockhouse Cyn junction has about a 1 mile stretch of very deep soft sand right around where Alcoholic pass is, 4WD for sure, no more 2WD to the junction. From there the "road" to Rockhouse Cyn is mostly gone, we were in an Isuzu Trooper and had to rock pile in 3 spots and made many new routes to get in. It took us 1-1/2 hours to/from the junction to get to the RH trailhead. The whole Rockhouse canyon floor and Nicholias Canyon floor are cement hard sand bottoms. The recent rains really worked the canyons hard out there.

A TR on my 4 day backpack trip is coming soon.....
edited by dsefcik on 10/24/2012

Never had any real problems at the S-2 checkpoint but they do ask a lot of the standard questions. Always figured it's where they send the newbies to learn the ropes. On my first trip a few years back to the Coyote Mts Wind Caves, I missed the turn off and did an apparently very provocative U turn in front of the checkpoint. Was stopped with lights flashing and both agents' hands on their holsters. Didn't help I was driving a white cargo van at the time!

Bob;

Are there any tunnels that have collapsed, that you had to hike around, in taking the tracks down to the trestle?

Tom

What's out in June Wash? I always drive by it but have never really thought much about exploring that area.

Bob, did you guys make it to the trestle? Thinking of heading out to the trestle through mortero palms. How hard is the hike to the trestle once you get to goat canyon? Or is it better to follow the tracks from dos cabezas?

ziphius wrote:

What was your menu like?
Jim

Hah..! Great question, I was already thinking about posting something about it.....
Pretty simple stuff on the menu, no stove or cooking, just ready to eat out, of the bag foods.
I took a cue from a backpack of food left by an undocumented traveler out in Myer Valley I found. It had 16oz bags of refried beans ready to eat.


I went to my local Northgate Market and found SunVista makes a similar product but also in black bean flavor (which was my favorite). I bought a couple packages and tried them out at home first, they were good so I figured I would take them out on a backpack trip. The ingredients really are not too bad either.

---

---


My nightly dinner was bean & cheese burritos. I brought a 12 pack of Trader Joe's tortillas in a ziplock bag and Gary brought some mozzarella cheese so we shared.

Other foods were mostly Trader Joe's dried apples rings, trail mix, peanut butter filled cracker things, dried banana chips, oriental salty snack chip things and one of my favorites, pumpernickel pretzels. Also brought one fresh apple for each morning and two Cliff Bars for each day. I also brought a couple packages of ready to eat tuna, I am not a tuna eater but they did taste good.

The burritos were the best..I will definitely be taking refried black beans and tortillas on my next trip!

Oh yeah...the big bottle of Jack Daniels mixed with Bacardi spiced rum didn't hurt much each night either.....

Heading out tomorrow for the weekend, gonna go with Dos Equis due to the weather cooling down. Some good scotch, too.......mmmmmm

Nice pics and report. Made it up to Carrizo Palms in Februrary 2009 via the East Fork. Was under 4 miles to the southern Carrizo Palms. The northern Carrizo Palms doesn't seem to exist except on the topo map. Found running water and some nice pools, but maybe dried up this time of year. Also, found this guy's remains. Thanks. Tom


East Fork Carrizo Pool by tomteske, on Flickr


East Fork Carrizo Ram by tomteske, on Flickr

surfponto wrote:

Great post. Love that hike.

Looks like your big camper had no trouble getting up into Carrizo Gorge. Seems certain times of year the sand gets pretty soft.

Bob

I took it out of 4wd when heading up the east fork and ended up burrying my rear wheels. As soon as I put it back in 4wd I climbed right out.


http://youtu.be/8YWJgXlQhwM

You need to go past the signed pictos and keep poking around, you can't miss it....it's right next to the big boulder....

I wrote a few tutorials on getting started with DStretch. I plan to try and write a few more with some of the more advanced techniques.

http://www.sefcik.com/2012/10/dstretch-tutorials-getting-started.html
http://www.sefcik.com/2012/11/dstretch-tutorials-modifying-default.html
http://www.sefcik.com/2012/11/dstretch-tutorials-batch-mode.html

Spent some time at the SEMA show (Specialty Equipment Market Assoc.) in Vegas this week and took a few quick pictures of some of the off-road/camping/safari type vehicles. Clearly some are more for show, but interesting to look at. Lots of individual vendors as well, there must have been at least 50 booths just for Jeep stuff, I think if you only had a door hinge, you could still probably restore it back to normal with all the stuff available : ) Not much for our little Suzuki...

Sorry about the blurriness, lack of close ups, etc. but I was trying to move fast and people were everywhere

link

It's funny you mentioned that, because after reading your post that was one of my concerns. I can't see rocks cactus and brush on the map, or even sand in the wash. I'll have to wait and see.

This looks like the most treacherous part of the path. Rocks seem to obstruct the creek path. Not sure how big the rocks are.
Image In Photo Stream


edited by harmono on 11/8/2012

We're going camping at Fish Creek Tuesday, I know, we live here in Borrego but still like to camp in the Park! But plan to driving up to Sandstone and into so will report back when we return at end of week.

"Do not fill your hearts with pain and sorrow more memories each morning memories the laughter and joy they quiver solemente ad I've gone though I rest a bale Ascencia dollar and cause" best I could do to translate it.

Great trip Tom, I always wanted to go out there. There are some pictos you passed by also but they are very faint.

here is what I got from the sign:

"In memory of Martin Zam Torres born 11/29/1969 and passed on 07/20/2008 Do not fill your hearts with pain and guilt instead remember me each day, remember the joy, the smiles and the laughter. I have gone to rest a bit even if my absence causes pain and .....diminishes my pain..."

Every time I find undocumented packs and such I wonder how they do it and why it is worth so much......next time you are out hiking with your cushy Camelbak and name brand boots think of that sign and skull......