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tommy750 Posts: 1040
5/4/2014
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Friday after work, I finally threw all the overpriced lightweight backpacking stuff I bought at REI about a year ago into my pack and headed out for a little trip. Actually, this was my first overnight trip ever excluding once in a college backpacking PE class. Decided to head out to Sombrero Peak and muck around since the desert floor was heating up. My pack weighed in at 40lbs which is insanely heavy for a dayhiker but apparently no big deal for the backpacker crowd which I have yet to join.
This must be the way.
 The Way to Sombrero by tomteske, on Flickr
Headed down Canebrake road toward Sombrero Peak. On the way back found a nice uniface right in the middle of the road about here. If you start at Cottonwood East and take Canebrake Rd, you can now hit an ATV trail (BP?) that will take you right up to the ridge west of Sombrero and skip traversing the brush choked ravines you used to cross in the last mile. Progress?
 Canebrake Road by tomteske, on Flickr
An old abandoned ranch on the way. Old magazines lying around were dated to 1992 which seemed about right.
 Canebrake Ruins by tomteske, on Flickr
 Canebrake Ruins2 by tomteske, on Flickr
An old corral and chute to the north just outside of the ABDSP boundary.
 Canebrake Chute by tomteske, on Flickr
Entering the park. A small portion of it jogs south to this point after passing just below Sombrero Pk.
 Canebrake Boundary by tomteske, on Flickr
Tule Mt and Jacumba in the distance.
 Toward Jacumba and Tule by tomteske, on Flickr
Decided to camp at the saddle below the peak.
 Sombrero Saddle by tomteske, on Flickr
Nice view of the Tierra Blancas and Carrizo Badlands.
 Sombrero Saddle Dusk by tomteske, on Flickr
Mandatory night sky with tent illuminated by headlamp time exposure 
 Sombrero Night by tomteske, on Flickr
The next morning.
 Sombrero Sunrise by tomteske, on Flickr
Packed up and headed down into the draw below. Found a few rock features and sherds but couldn't really explore much because of time commitments.
On the way back started seeing sherds and flakes in the trail which apparently crossed a large village site.
Lots of morteros.
 Villiage Morteros by tomteske, on Flickr
Nice core. Almost looked like it could have been some sort of hammer stone since it had a lot of pitting and abrasions on it.
 Village Core by tomteske, on Flickr
This loo looks like a modern addition to the site
 Village Loo by tomteske, on Flickr
The site was well onto BLM land so I'm not sure how this sign fit in.
 Village Sign by tomteske, on Flickr
Almost stepped on this guy as I was approaching Cottonwood.
 Cottonwood Horned Toad by tomteske, on Flickr
Eleven miles, 2000ft gain/loss, 5 liters and a nice time. Not convinced I'm cut out for the heavy backpack "Lug Life" but time will tell. No heavy DSLRs next time for sure! Enjoy. Tom
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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2609
5/4/2014
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Nice TR Tom, I wish I could have joined you....
Once you get off the jeep road it can get sketchy finding a route. I never got that close to red barn building, have always started heading towards the peak before that point. I just love that area, thanks for the pictures and TR.
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http://www.sefcik.com
http://www.darensefcik.com
http://www.carrizogorge.com
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hikerdmb Posts: 423
5/5/2014
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I've never been to Sombrero from that side. Looks like a nice campsite though. Did you go to the top? Sombrero was my first ever desert peak that I climbed solo. That was a long time ago. Thanks for the TR and good luck getting the weight of the pack down.
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anutami Posts: 491
5/5/2014
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Thanks for the TR. Pretty bummed the season is coming to an end. I usually try to avoid REI and find better deals online.
Are there going to be wind turbines out there one day?
edited by anutami on 5/5/2014
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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2609
5/5/2014
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Nolan (anutami) wrote:
Are there going to be wind turbines out there one day? Probably not that far out but in the general area of McCain Valley is what they are trying to do.
http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/elcentro/nepa/tule.html
http://www.10news.com/news/proposed-wind-turbine-farm-in-mccain-valley-met-with-opposition-05062013
http://iberdrolarenewables.us/tulewind/about/index.html
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http://www.sefcik.com
http://www.darensefcik.com
http://www.carrizogorge.com
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rockhopper Posts: 668
5/5/2014
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Nice TR Tom. Backpack tent camping connects with the surrounding environment in a higher level IMHO. Going up in elevation was the smart thing to do. Water sources for boiling, water weight and consumption becomes a huge factor.
Re: Back pack camping: The older I get the "thicker" my foam sleeping pad gets.
edited by rockhopper on 5/5/2014
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ziphius Posts: 911
5/5/2014
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First overnight backpack since college, heh? See what hanging out w / Daren will do to you?! Great photos, love the night sky. If you keep at the backpacking, you will get to places that no 4wd would ever get you near.
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http://www.coyotelearning.org
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tommy750 Posts: 1040
5/5/2014
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Ziphius: I blame all you guys posting great TRs about backpacking in the boonies! Finally, couldn't resist.
Rockhopper: Agree they made water way too heavy I hear you with the sleeping pad. Ended up with an inflatable one which worked well except almost passed out trying to inflate the thing.
Dsefcik: Have been to Sombrero from the west multiple times dayhiking and never end up taking the same route since as you said, the trail kinda fades out. The red building is fairly recent so not a lot of cool stuff lying about.
Nolan: Yeah, definitely heating up out here; will you be sporting an A/C unit on your new camper?
Hikerdmb: Didn't go to the top this trip out but have in the past; amazing how you can see Sombrero from just about anywhere; weighed my camera and jacket when I got back: 6.5lbs. That's 3 liters of water right there!
Thanks for all the positive feedback. Definitely need to get back out there. Tom
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anutami Posts: 491
5/5/2014
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tommy750 wrote:
Nolan: Yeah, definitely heating up out here; will you be sporting an A/C unit on your new camper?
Tom
Yes, I am actually driving up to Portland next week to pick up the camper (avoiding sales tax and delivery fees) I am going to take several weeks to work and explore the northwest. In addition to the ac unit I also ordered thermal pane windows which should help with insulation.
edited by anutami on 5/5/2014
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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2609
5/5/2014
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I like the Sombrero Sunrise photo...so much for the security bars on the red building...
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http://www.sefcik.com
http://www.darensefcik.com
http://www.carrizogorge.com
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tommy750 Posts: 1040
5/6/2014
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Nolan (anutami) wrote:
tommy750 wrote:
Nolan: Yeah, definitely heating up out here; will you be sporting an A/C unit on your new camper?
Tom
Yes, I am actually driving up to Portland next week to pick up the camper (avoiding sales tax and delivery fees) I am going to take several weeks to work and explore the northwest. In addition to the ac unit I also ordered thermal pane windows which should help with insulation.
edited by anutami on 5/5/2014
Glad to hear you'll be up and running again. Sounds like a great way to spend a few weeks. Enjoy. Tom
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tommy750 Posts: 1040
5/6/2014
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dsefcik wrote:
I like the Sombrero Sunrise photo...so much for the security bars on the red building...
Was a real pretty sunrise; was surprised how the red building had no real signs of any animal occupation; expected it would be full of rats and bird poop etc at the least. Tom
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