Hard to get places in Anza Borrego which require 4WD or hiking
Spring at Cottonwoods/Nicholias Cyn/Upr Rockhouse?
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MarkG Posts: 22
2/11/2017
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Hi All - I'm planning a 6-day backpacking trip through Rockhouse Valley for next week and I'm hoping someone might be able to give me some tips for finding the spring that's near the Cottonwood Camp at the upper Rockhouse ruins. From what I can tell it's down in the canyon from the bench. The USGS map puts it on the west side of the canyon but Schad describes it as "200 yards east of the main canyon in a tributary ravine". The Lindsays also describe it on the east side. I'm guessing it's somewhere around 33.492784,-116.41761. Am I close? With all the recent rains and patches of snow still on Toro Peak I'm thinking it should be pretty reliable. Thoughts? Also how much can I count on Toro Spring? Any info would be much appreciated. Thanks!
Mark
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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622
2/11/2017
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That spring is reliable, it is on the east side of the canyon, when you are at the cottonwoods you will find an obvious use trail to it. Toro Spring also has water but the seven leaf cultivators use that area so be careful when near that area.
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http://www.sefcik.com
http://www.darensefcik.com
http://www.carrizogorge.com
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MarkG Posts: 22
2/11/2017
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Thanks for the info and the heads-up Daren! I enjoyed the photos from your October, 2012 trip too!
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rockhopper Posts: 668
2/11/2017
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Mark, Sounds like great timing with the recent rains. Have you been there before? You may need 4wd to get closer to the entrance to Rock house canyon. It's a fantastic area, even better with good weather. Please post your intended route or your trail report when done.
Daren: Seven leaf cultivators! Yikes, I am allergic to lead! Be careful. Damn, Feds should eject them IMHO. I've seen the damage done to the wilderness environment with herbicides, pesticides and trash. Water quality is damaged, and water is so scarce in that region.
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MarkG Posts: 22
2/11/2017
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Thanks rockhopper. I haven't hiked up the canyon before but I have been out to the end of the road with my Wrangler. I hiked the road a couple of weeks ago, down from Jackass Flat to the Butler Canyon junction and it's in relatively decent shape.
The plan is to camp near the lower rockhouses the first night. Next day I was going to go back to the car to port a 5-gal water supply back up and cache it by the lower rockhouses. Maybe I don't need to do that? I'm a wimp when it comes to betting on a source of water. Next day's plan is head to the camp at Cottonwood Bench and hang out there for a couple days, assuming a sufficient water source, and day-hike the area, probably over toward Toro Spring. Leaving there I'll head back to the lower rockhouses via the Santa Rosa native village site, to pick up my water cache and then back down the canyon and home on Day 6. If for some reason I don't get water at Cottonwood, I'll return directly to the lower rockhouses the next day and then day-hike to the Santa Rosa site the following day.
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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622
2/11/2017
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I doubt with this cold weather you will need to cache water at the lower rock houses. You will have plenty of water at the cottonwoods. We can usually carry enough water for 3 days in this weather, 6 liters would easily get me thru 2 days in these temps. Just my 2 cents.
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http://www.sefcik.com
http://www.darensefcik.com
http://www.carrizogorge.com
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MarkG Posts: 22
2/11/2017
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I'll be carrying my 6-liter dromedary and yes, that should last for a couple days. Maybe I will re-think the trek back to the car on Day 2 for water.
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