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Follow-up question: what are the sizes of the feline fossil prints?

So very nice Daren, the Inner Pasture, last time I was up there it had water, good water. Sad to see it has been abandoned, but open grazing stopped some time ago in ABD, no need to maintain it I guess (I saw the same thing happen on the Arizona strip, where cattle had to be removed for environmental reasons, waterworks left to vandals). It seems so little time ago that ferrel cattle and burro tracks were everywhere in ABD, all the way out to Carrizo Marsh. But it is so nice to see the Borrego in your photos, more than an even exchange I think. I can see cattle at the grocery store cold case anytime I want.

Highly unlikely I will ever walk those trails again. So more photos

It is so beautiful, and all I am is more envious, lovely photos, still trying to figure out how to make mine larger, any advise?

How does is compare to
like hiking into Rock house canyon the first time?
btw What is the origin of the name Canebrake? Ol' Ranchers name?

Daren, you ought to consider growing a huge beard so you fit in better with that backpacking crew. I'm envious that you get to spend time with such a knowledgeable and experienced desert gang.

but I am sorry to say after that, I click and drag to post. I do not know how to link? I have tried increasing pixels, resizing in google upload etc. (was successful once), but last post was small size again until I see Bob edited, (Thank you Bob)

dsefcik: The photo was taken a few miles north of obsidian butte near the mud pot/ volcanoes.
Red sea? Are you talking about the New River? It looked a little muddy color but no suds.
actually looked better than I would have thought

Paul Remeika will be giving a two-day course on Anza Borrego geology the weekend of Feb 9-10. Thinking about attending. Sat morning in a lecture and the rest of the weekend out in the desert. Here's the link:

http://theabf.org/event/driving_tours/anza_borrego_land_rain_shadow_0

dsefcik wrote:

Nice TR David, I still want to do an Alma Wash/Harper Cyn backpack trip...anybody interested?

I wouldn't mind trying that route sometime. Assuming it's about a 20 mile one-way trip? Tom

Is that a B-M-W you're on, Daren?? Isn't that a little too bourgeois for that look?

Went ahead and looked up the patent on the canteen. It appears to only be a design patent. I'll bet if Mr. Boyle were still alive he would be proud to see a great find in ABDSP.

[A 5 lb camera is probably why the pics look clear

If anyone wants to do this trip, let me know! Tom

Any one have any experience with motion-activated trail cameras? Tom

the pre-Columbian Indians were not sparsely settled in a pristine wilderness; rather, there were huge numbers of Indians who actively molded and influenced the land around them.

Great post, thanks for sharing! You are lucky to have a knowledgeable companion to go with. I have been car camping a lot since I got my 4x4 a few years ago but did one night in RH back in June and man I have been looking forward to getting out on foot and pack ever since. I used to camp in AB back in the mid nineties before I had my truck- I got a Datsun 280ZX way up Coyote canyon one year and stayed a couple nights in Sheep Canyon. There was a lovely spring and pool near there. https://plus.google.com/photos/105266388149148864163/albums/5758276332908868161

Just picked up a copy of The Desert Bighorn Its Life History, Ecology, and Management. Lots of great information and first-hand stories about bighorn, including historical ranges, known locations (generalized) of rock art depicting bighorns, an account of two golden eagles cooperatively hunting and killing a bighorn lamb, etc. There is an image of a 'death trap tinaja' in the Chocolate Mountains, just 3 miles from the Colorado River, where the remains of 34 bighorn sheep were found in 1969. The image and text from the book is shown below.

Well, I had plans to be out in ABDSP this weekend but this crazy flu is taking its toll on our family.

Also I have some concerns about the duration of the trip; we would need to have some reliable water source.

Have fun Daren! One of these days I want to join you. We have a wedding to be be at....remember this proposal? http://www.anzaborrego.net/anzaborrego/forum/topic342-most-amazing-agua-caliente-proposal.aspx

How was the road going into rockhouse? The ocotillo look like they are getting ready to "pop"

Bob, At what elevation did you turn around?

So.... you picked up 10 cached liters near Villager.... how many liters did you carry prior to that point? The petroglyph / picto panel must be the one that Schad mentions in his book, heh? Who was your booze sponsor? The tower looks pretty stable after all this time, given how windy it gets up there, earthquakes, etc. Any evidence that it has been maintained / repaired over time?

65 lbs, Dang! Did you carry your rock collection with you? Was that Craigs cache you got to use?

mrkmc wrote:

65 lbs, Dang! Did you carry your rock collection with you?

Yeah I still have some old heavy backpack stuff, I am slowly upgrading and knocked about 12lbs off for this trip by getting a new down jacket and sleeping bag and leaving behind some crap I always take but never use.

Daren,
Weight was a serious consideration when I swithed from my point and shoot Nikon, to a DSLR. From what I read one of the lightest weight cameras was the Olympus E-620. With a 14-42 mm lens it weighs just 28 oz. I also carry a 70-300 mm lens which weighs 25 oz. I've been really happy with it so far. I bought it reconditioned through Cameta Camera out on NY. I bought the 70-300 mm lens used on E-bay.

Tom

Did you use 2 hiking poles or just one as in the photo?

By the way what did it cost you in gas to drive out to meet Daren? I spend approx $100 in diesel (or more) to get my rig out and back.

What time of day did you guys make it up to Dawns?

Hope you have a low insurance deductible, or maybe you will keep the war wound. You are one of few that actually uses their 4x4. I love the clarity and color of your pics. Did you do any photoshopping?

A little off-topic but what was your impression of the Canon S100?

The level of detail on those truck scratches says a lot about the Canon Powershot! Did you taste the fruit of the fishhook cactus? I hear they are pretty good. How much water did you cache?

Cuyamaca/eagle peak with rare snow in Ramona

Daren,
Were is your next trek in the area now you have your "stash" at Dawns peak.
There is a neat old trail from RHC up and over to Martinez canyon. The whole area is just amazing.
The biggest challange is that the trails have been unused since the last use about 150yrs-200yrs? ago
and are over grown as you well know. Now image the ridge trail from Dawns peak to Hwy 74/ Palm canyon
as the same condition as S22 to Villager. Thanks for bashing the trail through

I've found that storing your camp clothing in the freezer overnight DOES kill them.

Hi, thought I'd share these-- hope the links work...

Problem is when you are stuck in mud/muck you can't jack the car up and put stuff under the tires.. (another trick)