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Britain
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2/1/2020
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While hiking out of Gert I notice a trail going up the western wall. On the eastern wall on top of the mesa another trail seen by satellite. I didn't take a picture of the trail but reviewed the one on the western wall by satellite. I don't think there are any mines in the area so perhaps a Native American trail? It's a 6-mile oneway trip to get there. I'll hit it next week.

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tommy750
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2/2/2020
tommy750
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I walked on that trail ( http://www.anzaborrego.net/anzaborrego/Forum/topic1344-carrizo-creek-bm-lost-and-south-mesa.aspx ) and it certainly could be a native trail. Found a large cairn and rock circle on it and looks like it may continue NW on the other side of the wash through South Mesa. Could also have been an access trail to the rock square which appears to be along a chain of 7-8 squares on a NS line. Assuming the squares were some sort guidance for bombing runs but who knows.
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2/2/2020
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tommy750 wrote:
I walked on that trail ( http://www.anzaborrego.net/anzaborrego/Forum/topic1344-carrizo-creek-bm-lost-and-south-mesa.aspx ) and it certainly could be a native trail. Found a large cairn and rock circle on it and looks like it may continue NW on the other side of the wash through South Mesa. Could also have been an access trail to the rock square which appears to be along a chain of 7-8 squares on a NS line. Assuming the squares were some sort guidance for bombing runs but who knows.


Cool. I got the square, I'll hit That trail I a day or so. On the other side of Gert, on the mesa theres another trai that goes ne for a while. I'll see if I can get that one also.

Seen your post on the square needed. To get it.

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Rocko1
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2/3/2020
Rocko1
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Nice find. I love looking for well worn trails that are not from modern use. This one on the south east side of Chariot has intrigued me.

edited by Rocko1 on 2/3/2020
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2/3/2020
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GE just gets me into trouble. Need to know what that is. Haha

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tommy750
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2/3/2020
tommy750
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Rocko1 wrote:
Nice find. I love looking for well worn trails that are not from modern use. This one on the south east side of Chariot has intrigued me.

edited by Rocko1 on 2/3/2020



That's the Lassater Hay Road. Also spotted that on GE and went out there a while back and hiked the entire section. Reportedly Lassater would take the wheels off the fully loaded wagons and slide them down the steep slope till they got to the bottom of Oriflame. Then the wheels were replaced and the wagons continued to the Vallecito Stage station. There's historical accounts indicating this one section was really sketchy even to the 19th Century crowd.

Lassater Hay Road by tomteske, on Flickr
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Rocko1
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2/3/2020
Rocko1
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tommy750 wrote:
Rocko1 wrote:
Nice find. I love looking for well worn trails that are not from modern use. This one on the south east side of Chariot has intrigued me.

edited by Rocko1 on 2/3/2020



That's the Lassater Hay Road. Also spotted that on GE and went out there a while back and hiked the entire section. Reportedly Lassater would take the wheels off the fully loaded wagons and slide them down the steep slope till they got to the bottom of Oriflame. Then the wheels were replaced and the wagons continued to the Vallecito Stage station. There's historical accounts indicating this one section was really sketchy even to the 19th Century crowd.

Lassater Hay Road by tomteske, on Flickr



Thanks Tommy. I thought it was close to the hay road but what threw me was how well worn and narrow the path is now in that section. I assume from big horn sheep use maybe?
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tommy750
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2/3/2020
tommy750
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Rocko1 wrote:

edited by Rocko1 on 2/3/2020


Thanks Tommy. I thought it was close to the hay road but what threw me was how well worn and narrow the path is now in that section. I assume from big horn sheep use maybe?


I think the road is much easier to see on GE than on foot. To the left of the drainage and heading to the west, you're right, it's mainly a game trail. The section from that ridge to the truck trail is really difficult to find since fire breaks and newer roads/trails have popped up but it's still visible on GE images from the 1990s and comparing them to old topo maps. Was hoping to find some historical stuff along the route but didn't see anything. James Lassater was an interesting guy running the Vallecito Stage station and supplying it with hay from his Green Valley ranch in the Lagunas. Supposedly his stone house is somewhere in the Green Valley Campground but not sure if it's still there.

This is a view from the road toward where it crosses the drainage. There's a similar pic in a 1970's San Diego Union newspaper article about some guy who spent 30 years trying to find the hay road through Oriflame. He found this section but misidentified the steep descent placing it about a mile or so to the east.

P1050816 by tomteske, on Flickr

This is the steep descent to the truck trail. You can see a faint white line in the center of the pic. Like I said, much easier to find on GE.

P1050844 by tomteske, on Flickr

Sorry for ripping off your post, Britain!
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Britain
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2/3/2020
Britain
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Posts: 590
Cool find. Love that area!

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