Hi All, I am migrating my Anza Borrego site over to a new platform. I will slowly be moving trip reports over in the coming month so check it out when you have a chance. It is a bit of work but the new site will be mobile friendly and better search functionality.   You can check it here : www.anzaborrego.net   Thanks, Bob

Vintage post card of our favorite desert plant, the Ocotillo. (found this on EBay) Some interesting facts about the Ocotillo Plant   Can reach 30 feet tall Sheds its' small green leaves during dry spells. Is pollinated by hummingbirds Generally will bloom March - June, with a display of orange/red tube like flowers

"Looks like we have some pretty thick fog", Mary commented as we made our way east past Alpine towards Anza Borrego. What started out as an overcast morning on the coast transformed into a damp, drizzly mist that shrouded the freeway. Lucky for us, as we started our descent into the desert town of Ocotillo, the fog lifted and the mountains blocked any further advance of the wet weather. The S2 highway was deserted on this late Monday morning as we headed north towards the Indian Gorge turnoff. The Ocotillo plants swayed in the wind adding motion to an otherwise still desert morning. The wind, which was blowing hard at the Torote Canyon ... [More]

Snapped a closeup of a Monarch Butterfly while we were camping in Carrizo Gorge on Thanksgiving. We also managed to mount the Maggiolina Rooftop Tent onto Mary's Toyota Tacoma which takes a little bit of tweaking. :)    

Borrego Days marks the start of the desert season in Anza Borrego. Temperatures are beginning to drop from their summer highs allowing hikers, campers and 4-wheelers to return and enjoy the beautiful Anza Borrego Desert.  Unlike most of our trips to Anza Borrego, the Maggiolina Rooftop tent, propane stove and other various types of expedition gear were left behind. We had an invite to stay with friends in Borrego Springs at their beautiful rancho style home. (Thanks Jon and Elena)  After a quick morning hike along the old De Anza trail, Mary and I headed over to the Borrego Days festival, checking out some of the Galleta Meadows s... [More]

This small desert mouse stole a cracker while we were enjoying the campfire on our last camping trip. Unfortunately for him it wouldn't quite fit in his den.  Click title of post to view video.

Jon Grasson has done an excellent job of putting together an awesome resource for Desert lovers everywhere. Dezert Magazine, an online periodical, is reminiscent of the printed Desert Magazine that ceased publication in 1985 after 40 + years of circulation . I was honored when John asked to include one of our blog entries in the first issue. Check it out if you have a chance.   Best, Bob

I left early Wednesday morning with the plan to do a solo day hike out to the Goat Canyon Trestle in the southern Anza Borrego desert. According to weather reports the rain that was hitting the coast wasn't suppose to hit Ocotillo until Thursday. Sure there were high wind warnings for  the deserts and the mountains but hey, what's a little wind ? As I began to drive up the grade past Pine Valley for my eventual descent into the desert, I quickly realized that this was not an ordinary Spring storm. Rain had quickly turned to snow as I approached the Sunrise Highway turn-off. Snow? Wait, isn't  Memorial Day weekend with it... [More]

April 04, 2010 The girls over at DzrtGrls.com forwarded me some great pictures from  the recent 7.2 earthquake. The quake itself occured just over the border in Mexicali on April 4, 2010 and apparently shook things up pretty well in Anza Borrego. These pictures are from the Fishcreek / Sandstone Canyon area and are from a post on the Ford Truck Enthusiast forum. We missed this by one day on our recent trip to the Arroyo Tapiado Mud Caves. What you should take away from these pictures is that camping in a narrow canyon is a very bad idea. There are more pictures and a trail report over at the Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums

What I love about living in San Diego is that within two hours you can leave the coast, drive over the mountains and then drop down into the desert. Incredible diversity in my opinion.  With that in mind, I decided to take the day off work and check on the wildflowers out in the Anza Borrego desert. My preferred area of Borrego is the southern section where you can get away from the crowds, hike up a trail and be completely immersed in the solitude of the Desert.   Driving up the S2 I knew I was in for a great show. The road was lined with Desert Dandelions, Lupine amd Brittle Bush. The only downside was watching a Bord... [More]