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hikerdmb Posts: 423
11/20/2012
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I had a trip planned for Joshua Tree this week but my buddy got sick and couldn't make it so I decided to do this hike instead. This would allow me to get out still but not have to go so far. I have camped in Indian Valley too many times to count but had never taken the time to hike up Torote Canyon. A couple of years ago Daren did a TR on this area and I think I pretty much did the same route he did on that trip. The drive out in the jeep was very nice. The temps were in the mid 70s and there was hardly any wind at all. When I turned up into Indian Gorge the weather was still perfect. I pulled into the parking area for Torote Canyon, parked, and started hiking about 1:30. It wasn't long before I saw the first Elephant Trees above the canyon floor.
Most of the way up the canyon was easy walking but ever so often I would come to a spot like this that took a little more effort to get up and over.
I eventually made it to the upper reaches of the canyon and it started opening up a bit. Here was my first view of Sombrero Peak. Notice the tracks in the wash. These were mostly bighorn sheep tracks. There were plenty of human tracks the first mile, then only one or two sets of tracks, and after a couple of miles nothing but lots and lots of animal tracks.
The farther I went up past the end of the canyon the better the view became. This is looking south, I could see the Goat Canyon Trestle with my binoculars, from near the spot where I would camp for the night.
I awoke to a wonderful sunrise with Venus rising in the east. My iPhone does not take good low light pics.
Here is a pic I took from my sleeping bag. I always have called this mountain Little Sombrero but I think it's real name is Red Top. It is quite red in the morning light.
There wasn't much room on top of the hill where I made my camp but my sleeping pad and bag fit nicely between the rocks and plants. Not to mention there was a great view.
I had originally thought I would just backtrack the way I came in but decided instead to complete the loop by dropping down a small canyon just west of my campsite. Here is a pic about halfway down, looking up.
And this is the view of the entire drop from the floor of North Indian Valley. It was quite the rocky descent. Of course I have to say it never looks as steep in pics as in real life.
Once to the bottom it was a couple miles back to the jeep on nice easy washes and the hard packed road. This is the map of my route. I went in a counter clockwise direction from the parking area. Notice the tent symbol at my campsite.
I didn't see another person on this hike until I was almost back to the jeep where I saw a couple of car campers. I think if one were to spend some time up in this area you would see some sheep. I didn't, but I did see lots of scat and tracks.
A good trip for starting Thanksgiving vacation.
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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622
11/20/2012
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Yep that is pretty much exactly the loop my son and I did awhile back...almost 10 miles if I remember but we parked out near the road entrance. Once you get past the couple of rocky areas and dry falls it opens up into a beautiful sandy open area, perfect for camping.
I think your "little Sombrero" is False Sombrero, it is right at the end of the North Fork and up on the north side.
Nice TR David..
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http://www.sefcik.com
http://www.darensefcik.com
http://www.carrizogorge.com
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rockhopper Posts: 668
11/21/2012
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Nice report. Great pictures. Looks like you had a great solo trip. Temps in the 70's and no wind , now that's what I say
is excellent desert hiking / camping weather. You've got me pumped! Looking forward to my next ABSP "expedition" very soon.
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ziphius Posts: 911
11/21/2012
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Nice trip. Sounds like there is a lot of sheep activity in that area lately, heh? Did you run across any water / springs? I'm debating whether or not to lug my tent with me this weekend. It would be great to leave it behind if the wind isn't going to come up. Like you, I'm planning on "camping high" for the views and opportunities to look into some nooks and crannies that I've spied through binoculars on my last trip.  Jim
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http://www.coyotelearning.org
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hikerdmb Posts: 423
11/21/2012
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Daren... I went back and looked at your old TR and I did indeed do the same loop. I figured my trip somewhere between 6-7 miles. That is exactly where that mountain is so it must be False Sombrero.
ziphius... I did NOT see any water or springs on this trip but I did see the palm grove that is above the north fork of Indian Valley and it might have water. It looked very green in there. Maybe someone else has been up there. It looked really rugged up there from the vantage point of my camp. I like going without a tent as long as there is no wind. Nothing like "camping high" in the desert.
rockhopper... There were plenty of side canyons/valleys and peaks and peaklets all over that area just begging to be explored and I couldn't believe the amount of animal tracks through there.
David
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ziphius Posts: 911
11/21/2012
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hikerdmb wrote:
Daren... I went back and looked at your old TR and I did indeed do the same loop. I figured my trip somewhere between 6-7 miles. That is exactly where that mountain is so it must be False Sombrero.
ziphius... I did NOT see any water or springs on this trip but I did see the palm grove that is above the north fork of Indian Valley and it might have water. It looked very green in there. Maybe someone else has been up there. It looked really rugged up there from the vantage point of my camp. I like going without a tent as long as there is no wind. Nothing like "camping high" in the desert.
rockhopper... There were plenty of side canyons/valleys and peaks and peaklets all over that area just begging to be explored and I couldn't believe the amount of animal tracks through there.
David
David, thanks for the info. Your description of the many animal tracks has got me thinking that I should take 1/2 day or more on my upcoming trip to find a good vantage point and "just sit" and see what walks or flys by. That's a hard thing to do, because I always feel like I should be "on the move". - Jim
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http://www.coyotelearning.org
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AdventureGraham Posts: 170
11/21/2012
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Looks like a fun solo outing. Sleeping under the stars- it doesn't get much better than that!
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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622
11/21/2012
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Oh yeah, I forgot to to ask, did you take the refried beans in a bag? I just bought some more for my trip this weekend and they are $0.99 a bag! A pound of food for $0.99!
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http://www.sefcik.com
http://www.darensefcik.com
http://www.carrizogorge.com
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hikerdmb Posts: 423
11/21/2012
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Took a couple PB&J sandwiches and some granola bars. It was a quickly planned trip. But I will definitely be trying the beans in a bag and making burritos on my next desert backpack trip.
David
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tommy750 Posts: 1049
11/22/2012
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Nice trip. Was in Torote Canyon on 12-11-10 and noted the Ocotillos were changing colors. There seemed to be two distinct groups, red and yellow. Not sure this was a transition they all went through or two different hybrids. Anything similar this year? Also noted our Torotes have nothing on the Baja Torotes! Tom
Christmas Lights10 by tomteske, on Flickr
Christmas Lights9 by tomteske, on Flickr
Senor Torote by tomteske, on Flickr
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surfponto Administrator Posts: 1364
11/22/2012
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Hey Tom,
Thought the same thing about the Torote.
That protected desert area area around Catavina, Baja Norte is loaded with them and some are huge.
Interesting that they are rare in Borrego when they seem so prolific to the south
Bob
tommy750 wrote:
Nice trip. Was in Torote Canyon on 12-11-10 and noted the Ocotillos were changing colors. There seemed to be two distinct groups, red and yellow. Not sure this was a transition they all went through or two different hybrids. Anything similar this year? Also noted our Torotes have nothing on the Baja Torotes! Tom
Christmas Lights10 by tomteske, on Flickr
Christmas Lights9 by tomteske, on Flickr
Senor Torote by tomteske, on Flickr
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https://www.anzaborrego.net/
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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622
11/22/2012
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ziphius wrote:
I'm planning on "camping high" for the views and opportunities to look into some nooks and crannies that I've spied through binoculars on my last trip. Jim
Be careful of what you might find up in those nooks and crannies...
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http://www.sefcik.com
http://www.darensefcik.com
http://www.carrizogorge.com
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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622
11/22/2012
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tommy750 wrote:
Nice trip. Was in Torote Canyon on 12-11-10 and noted the Ocotillos were changing colors. There seemed to be two distinct groups, red and yellow. Not sure this was a transition they all went through or two different hybrids. Tom
Beautiful red ocotillos Tom, has anyone ever seen a white ocotillo?
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http://www.sefcik.com
http://www.darensefcik.com
http://www.carrizogorge.com
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hikerdmb Posts: 423
11/22/2012
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tommy750 wrote:
Nice trip. Was in Torote Canyon on 12-11-10 and noted the Ocotillos were changing colors. There seemed to be two distinct groups, red and yellow. Not sure this was a transition they all went through or two different hybrids. Anything similar this year? Also noted our Torotes have nothing on the Baja Torotes! Tom
I saw several ocotillo changing from green to red but I only found one picture in my album that showed some red. It's mostly in the shadow in this pic. There were also some green ocotillo changing to yellow but no pics of those. I did not see anything as nice as the 2 pics you posted.
David
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tommy750 Posts: 1049
11/23/2012
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Daren Sefcik wrote:
ziphius wrote:
I'm planning on "camping high" for the views and opportunities to look into some nooks and crannies that I've spied through binoculars on my last trip. Jim
Be careful of what you might find up in those nooks and crannies...
That is an awesome pic!!
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ziphius Posts: 911
11/25/2012
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Awesome Daren! Exactly what I'm hoping for. I'll be careful. Daren Sefcik wrote:
ziphius wrote:
I'm planning on "camping high" for the views and opportunities to look into some nooks and crannies that I've spied through binoculars on my last trip. Jim
Be careful of what you might find up in those nooks and crannies...
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http://www.coyotelearning.org
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