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9 hours ago Topic: Indianhead East Ridge tekewin Posts: 367	tekewin Posts: 367 Topic: Indianhead East Ridge My friend Henry and I took on the east ridge of Indianhead a few days ago. I had climbed Indianhead twice: the standard DPS route B up Palm Canyon, and also the north ridge (the easiest route), but this would be Henry's first time on the mountain. The first mile was steep, 1700' of up, but presented no serious obstacles. The ridge mellowed as it rose slowly to the unofficial Borrego Point (2,925'), marked with a small cairn. Then, we faced the first of three challenging bumps. Borrego Point with the hard part ahead As we got near the first bump, the slope was at a 50-60 degree angle. Even before we got there, I was planning for a bypass on the north side. When we hit the first class 4 slab, I spotted a gully a couple hundred feet north that looked class 3. I decided to downclimb about 100' to reach the gully. Henry climbed one of the red boulders to explore above. The gully was easier and less exposed than the ridge and I made good time. Henry didn't like the continuation, so he dropped down and came up behind me. We made steady progress and reached the second major bump. We got very near the top of the second bump when we hit the next class 4 section. There were two options to continue up. Both hung over a 300' drop. The downclimb to get around this one about 400' down (ugh) but staying on top of the ridge felt too risky. We kept going down until we reached the second gully. If we had gotten turned back again, we would have bailed due to lack of water. Fortunately, we made it to the ridge and proceeded to the last major bump. I didn't seriously probe the rocks on top, but looked for downclimb number three on the north side. I dropped through a little portal, down a slab going away from the summit, then skirted the side of the bump to attain the ridge about 200' below the top. Looking back, it might have been possible to go over the last bump without undo risk. This was a nope. Downclimb on north side. Summit in view Looking back at the final obstacle on the east ridge The tough terrain had cost us about two hours, but now I was on familiar ground. We signed in and took a well earned respite. We descended down the NW ridge, the standard DPS route B. It was a relief to hit the official trail past the oasis for an easy finish. The east ridge was fun, challenging, and humbling. It was the most difficult of the three routes I've done. A one and done for me. I still need to do the southeast gully, DPS route A, so my visits to this wonderful mountain are not over.

3 days ago Topic: Agua Caliente Cultural Museum dtoujours Posts: 11	dtoujours Posts: 11 Topic: Agua Caliente Cultural Museum Thanks for sharing your trip, Tom. I'll have to stop by the museum the next time I'm in the area. I recently went to the Barona Cultural Center & Museum and while it wasn't as large as the Cahuilla museum seems to be, they were showing a nice film about the Kumeyaay creation story and had exhibits about the Kumeyaay view of constellations and the Cerutti Mastodon site.

12 days ago Topic: Agua Caliente Cultural Museum surfponto Administrator Posts: 1364	surfponto Administrator Posts: 1364 Topic: Agua Caliente Cultural Museum Wow they have some beautiful pieces Will need to check that out sometime.

14 days ago Topic: The Santa Rosas Sawmill Trail (Sort Of) Brian Posts: 224	Brian Posts: 224 Topic: The Santa Rosas Sawmill Trail (Sort Of) tommy750 wrote: https://www.anzaborrego.net/anzaborrego/Forum/topic1438-martinez-peak-and-little-pinyon-flat.aspx He mentions it here. I saw a video on YT showing a few seconds of the spring and it looked good. But all this was up to five years ago, so... This is probably one of those cases of my memory being bad. Anyway I hope you're able to do it this season. That route between Santa Rosa MTN and Nicholias Canyon looks especially interesting. I remember seeing that on the historic map.

14 days ago Topic: The Santa Rosas Sawmill Trail (Sort Of) tommy750 Posts: 1048	tommy750 Posts: 1048 Topic: The Santa Rosas Sawmill Trail (Sort Of) https://www.anzaborrego.net/anzaborrego/Forum/topic1438-martinez-peak-and-little-pinyon-flat.aspx He mentions it here. I saw a video on YT showing a few seconds of the spring and it looked good. But all this was up to five years ago, so...

14 days ago Topic: The Santa Rosas Sawmill Trail (Sort Of) Brian Posts: 224	Brian Posts: 224 Topic: The Santa Rosas Sawmill Trail (Sort Of) tommy750 wrote: My understanding confirmed by Rockhopper a while back is the spring at Agua Alta was rehabbed and has a good flow. If that's no longer true, then you're right. Oh wow, that would be amazing. I remember asking him about it here and he said it was a no go, but that would have been a few years ago.

14 days ago Topic: The Santa Rosas Sawmill Trail (Sort Of) tommy750 Posts: 1048	tommy750 Posts: 1048 Topic: The Santa Rosas Sawmill Trail (Sort Of) My understanding confirmed by Rockhopper a while back is the spring at Agua Alta was rehabbed and has a good flow. If that's no longer true, then you're right.

15 days ago Topic: The Santa Rosas Sawmill Trail (Sort Of) Brian Posts: 224	Brian Posts: 224 Topic: The Santa Rosas Sawmill Trail (Sort Of) tommy750 wrote: I definitely remember this hike! Have been thinking about it recently as the start (or end) of a Cactus Spring-Agua Alta-Stifferino-Cottonwood-New Santa Rosa-Toro loop. Maybe something like this? https://caltopo.com/m/1TVFE I had considered that loop too. The only thing that gives me pause is that it seems like the stretch between Stifferino to Martinez Canyon to Horsethief Creek is a pretty long stretch with no reliable water source (AFAIK). But if you were planning to do it and wanted company, I would certainly be interested. I've hiked many individual sections of this but haven't connected them. The more modest loop I have been thinking about would be to park at Toro, hike Alta Seca Bench then descend to Stifferino, then over to the Cottonwoods, then back up to Toro. Or the other way around.

19 days ago Topic: The Santa Rosas Sawmill Trail (Sort Of) Rocko1 Posts: 596	Rocko1 Posts: 596 Topic: The Santa Rosas Sawmill Trail (Sort Of) tommy750 wrote: I definitely remember this hike! Have been thinking about it recently as the start (or end) of a Cactus Spring-Agua Alta-Stifferino-Cottonwood-New Santa Rosa-Toro loop. Maybe something like this? https://caltopo.com/m/1TVFE Now that looks like a great trip!

19 days ago Topic: The Santa Rosas Sawmill Trail (Sort Of) Rocko1 Posts: 596	Rocko1 Posts: 596 Topic: The Santa Rosas Sawmill Trail (Sort Of) dsefcik wrote: Rocko1 wrote: It looked pretty gnarly from the top. Do you have a gpx of a decent approach? I thought I did but after looking thru all my tracks I did not find anything. There was a period of time when my back was bad I didn't carry a gps, it may have been then. Basically just go up the ridgeline from the cottonwoods, you should should faint trail markings and cairns here and there. Here is the basic idea: Hope this helps -- ---Map Edit-- edited by dsefcik on 9/26/2024 Thank you.

20 days ago Topic: Storm Potrero Loop Britain Posts: 600	Britain Posts: 600 Topic: Storm Potrero Loop tommy750 wrote: Britain wrote: Nice pictures. Have that area on my list. How has your knee been, Britain? You out hiking again? Thanks for asking. Yeah Ive got some lost hiking to catch up on. Knees working well, age lol not so much. Got my eye on Piedras Grandes. Started working on it before summer hit. I'll get it this year. You from Imperial Valley also?

20 days ago Topic: Storm Potrero Loop tommy750 Posts: 1048	tommy750 Posts: 1048 Topic: Storm Potrero Loop Britain wrote: Nice pictures. Have that area on my list. How has your knee been, Britain? You out hiking again?

22 days ago Topic: Storm Potrero Loop Britain Posts: 600	Britain Posts: 600 Topic: Storm Potrero Loop Nice pictures. Have that area on my list.

22 days ago Topic: Storm Potrero Loop tommy750 Posts: 1048	tommy750 Posts: 1048 Topic: Storm Potrero Loop surfponto wrote: Wow great pictures Tom. Looks like a great trip. Love the shot looking down into the valley Did you see anyone out there? No, there was zero people and no fresh prints. You can see the fat bike tire track in the first pic. Saw it all over so that person had a nice ride.

22 days ago Topic: Storm Potrero Loop surfponto Administrator Posts: 1364	surfponto Administrator Posts: 1364 Topic: Storm Potrero Loop Wow great pictures Tom. Looks like a great trip. Love the shot looking down into the valley Did you see anyone out there?

23 days ago Topic: The Santa Rosas Sawmill Trail (Sort Of) tommy750 Posts: 1048	tommy750 Posts: 1048 Topic: The Santa Rosas Sawmill Trail (Sort Of) I definitely remember this hike! Have been thinking about it recently as the start (or end) of a Cactus Spring-Agua Alta-Stifferino-Cottonwood-New Santa Rosa-Toro loop. Maybe something like this? https://caltopo.com/m/1TVFE

23 days ago Topic: Storm Potrero Loop tommy750 Posts: 1048	tommy750 Posts: 1048 Topic: Storm Potrero Loop Man, this forum has been crickets for a long time! I get it, though. Every weekend I faithfully check the weather but nothing feasible either down on the desert floor or up in the Lagunas. Did my last hike of the season June 1 bagging Whale and it was almost 90 on the way down. Finally found a window September 16 when a storm kept the temps quite nice for a single day. Decided to head out to Storm and Potrero with a breezy low 70s forecasted. The forecast was absolutely right on making it a very pleasant trip. Parked at the equestrian lot with the pay station out of order. Nice view of the Vallecito Storm Potrero landscape. I decided to head right and then cross the hills that divide Potrero from Storm. Daren and I previously checked out a round trough and rock cistern at the east flank of the hills and I once climbed up to the top looking for the water source but only found a single bent pipe. Figured I'd try another route and see what I could find. IMG_9527 by tomteske, on Flickr Folks, it's Potrero, not Portrero! IMG_9528 by tomteske, on Flickr Nice picto site. IMG_9538 by tomteske, on Flickr Stumbled on this steel rod protruding from the ground. It's kinda close to a section line but not sure exactly why it's here. IMG_9540 by tomteske, on Flickr IMG_9558 by tomteske, on Flickr Found this on the top of a sandy ridge and am thinking it was a metate preform that broke before they could smooth it out. It's convex underneath. IMG_9561 by tomteske, on Flickr Climbed up to the saddle and nice views to the NW and SE. Didn't seen anything that looked like a tinaja or catchment basin that would have fed the aforementioned trough. IMG_9572 by tomteske, on Flickr IMG_9576 by tomteske, on Flickr About six years ago while I was home drinking coffee and looking at GE, Daren was out exploring Potrero. I happened to notice a round trough and a black pipe leading to a green spot. I texted Daren who then located a nice spring in need of a little attention. Later, Daren, Gary, Randy and I went out and did a little rehab but we've never been back. Was a little tough to locate in the overgrown brush, but I found it and it's still flowing well. Actually, the water before was warm and a "bit organic" but this time around it was ice cold and although I didn't drink any, it smelled fine. IMG_9584 by tomteske, on Flickr Nice abandoned Cottonwood point. If you saw the other side, you'd know why it was abandoned. IMG_9590 by tomteske, on Flickr Nice to finally be back out there! About 14 miles and another great day in the desert. Enjoy! IMG_9627 by tomteske, on Flickr

23 days ago Topic: Agua Caliente Cultural Museum tommy750 Posts: 1048	tommy750 Posts: 1048 Topic: Agua Caliente Cultural Museum On one of our annual Palm Springs summer weekend with a Mt. San Jacinto summit hike, my wife and I noticed the nearby Cahuilla Agua Caliente Cultural Museum. We finally stopped by a few weeks ago and were quite impressed. The visit commences with a very informative AV presentation of the Cahuilla cosmology which by itself is worth the visit. There's a nice collection of baskets and ollas, some collected and others from early 20th century artisans who satified a strong demand for their creations. IMG_9501 by tomteske, on Flickr IMG_9497 by tomteske, on Flickr IMG_9495 (1) by tomteske, on Flickr IMG_9492 by tomteske, on Flickr During museum construction, a cultural site was discovered and excavated down to sterile ground yielding numerous artifacts, some several thousand years old. Here's a few projectile points. IMG_9507 by tomteske, on Flickr IMG_9508 by tomteske, on Flickr IMG_9511 by tomteske, on Flickr Lots of other displays and regarding prehistory and recent Cahuilla history. IMG_9504 by tomteske, on Flickr IMG_9502 by tomteske, on Flickr Stopped by the gift store on the way out and "found" my first olla. The potter's name is Tony Soares and is worth checking out on youtube etc. Enjoy! IMG_9720 by tomteske, on Flickr

25 days ago Topic: The Santa Rosas Sawmill Trail (Sort Of) dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622	dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622 Topic: The Santa Rosas Sawmill Trail (Sort Of) Rocko1 wrote: It looked pretty gnarly from the top. Do you have a gpx of a decent approach? I thought I did but after looking thru all my tracks I did not find anything. There was a period of time when my back was bad I didn't carry a gps, it may have been then. Basically just go up the ridgeline from the cottonwoods, you should should faint trail markings and cairns here and there. Here is the basic idea: Hope this helps -- ---Map Edit-- edited by dsefcik on 9/26/2024

25 days ago Topic: The Santa Rosas Sawmill Trail (Sort Of) Rocko1 Posts: 596	Rocko1 Posts: 596 Topic: The Santa Rosas Sawmill Trail (Sort Of) dsefcik wrote: Rocko1 wrote: We have gained the Santa Rosa ridge from old native trail near Stiffereno. The trail was 'visible' in areas. Takes a keen eye to see these old trails. Just compacted enough that the vegetation can't really take off on it. That is a fun trail up and tough on the knees down. The climb from the cottonwoods to Toro is a bit tougher, longer and can be hard to find if the brush is bad but makes a good day of hiking to relax later at the peaceful cottonwoods campsite. It looked pretty gnarly from the top. Do you have a gpx of a decent approach?

9/19/2024 Topic: The Santa Rosas Sawmill Trail (Sort Of) dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622	dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622 Topic: The Santa Rosas Sawmill Trail (Sort Of) Rocko1 wrote: We have gained the Santa Rosa ridge from old native trail near Stiffereno. The trail was 'visible' in areas. Takes a keen eye to see these old trails. Just compacted enough that the vegetation can't really take off on it. That is a fun trail up and tough on the knees down. The climb from the cottonwoods to Toro is a bit tougher, longer and can be hard to find if the brush is bad but makes a good day of hiking to relax later at the peaceful cottonwoods campsite.

9/19/2024 Topic: The Santa Rosas Sawmill Trail (Sort Of) dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622	dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622 Topic: The Santa Rosas Sawmill Trail (Sort Of) Scooter wrote: Wow. That would be a tough one. I should have a GPS track if you want..yeah, good "day hike" for sure.

9/19/2024 Topic: The Santa Rosas Sawmill Trail (Sort Of) dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622	dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622 Topic: The Santa Rosas Sawmill Trail (Sort Of) Sooo....everybody knows this post is 8 years old right..??? AWESOME post Tommy750..!!

9/18/2024 Topic: The Santa Rosas Sawmill Trail (Sort Of) Rocko1 Posts: 596	Rocko1 Posts: 596 Topic: The Santa Rosas Sawmill Trail (Sort Of) Scooter wrote: Wow. That would be a tough one. Was in Rock house earlier this year, the road is completely impassable about a mile before Hidden Spring. When we were exploring the Alta Seca Bench, we hiked down to the area where the old topographical maps show the Native American trail crossing the ridge line. We had plenty of time and could find no evidence of the old trail coming up from the upper rock hoses in Rock House Valley. I think my days of doing a day hike from the cottonwoods to Toro and back are over !! We have gained the Santa Rosa ridge from old native trail near Stiffereno. The trail was 'visible' in areas. Takes a keen eye to see these old trails. Just compacted enough that the vegetation can't really take off on it.

9/18/2024 Topic: The Santa Rosas Sawmill Trail (Sort Of) Scooter Posts: 113	Scooter Posts: 113 Topic: The Santa Rosas Sawmill Trail (Sort Of) Wow. That would be a tough one. Was in Rock house earlier this year, the road is completely impassable about a mile before Hidden Spring. When we were exploring the Alta Seca Bench, we hiked down to the area where the old topographical maps show the Native American trail crossing the ridge line. We had plenty of time and could find no evidence of the old trail coming up from the upper rock hoses in Rock House Valley. I think my days of doing a day hike from the cottonwoods to Toro and back are over !!

9/17/2024 Topic: The Santa Rosas Sawmill Trail (Sort Of) dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622	dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622 Topic: The Santa Rosas Sawmill Trail (Sort Of) Rocko1 wrote: I really like the Alta Seca area. has some really great pines and views. Brian and I went up there a few years ago and saw cairns leading down to Cottonwoods. Hope to plan a trip from RHC up to Alta Seca some day. That is a good trip, base camp at the cottonwoods and day hike up to the peak, good long day hike.

9/17/2024 Topic: The Santa Rosas Sawmill Trail (Sort Of) Rocko1 Posts: 596	Rocko1 Posts: 596 Topic: The Santa Rosas Sawmill Trail (Sort Of) Scooter wrote: Did a car camping trip to Toro Peak last September. Nice place to explore without the desert heat. About a half mile before the gate at the peak is a very nice campsite on the left. About 8200’ level. Flat with a large rock fire pit. A nice day hike is exploring the Alta Seca bench. This is a high valley just east of Toro Peak. Also the forest service website has information on if the lower gate is locked due to snow. San Bernardino Forest website. I really like the Alta Seca area. has some really great pines and views. Brian and I went up there a few years ago and saw cairns leading down to Cottonwoods. Hope to plan a trip from RHC up to Alta Seca some day.

8/25/2024 Topic: The Santa Rosas Sawmill Trail (Sort Of) dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622	dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622 Topic: The Santa Rosas Sawmill Trail (Sort Of) tommy750 wrote: The CH-53 wreckage location is now labeled on GE north of the Toro summit and is clearly in the reservation. Not sure if it's accessible before the locked gate with signage, though. Can't say I recollect seeing any fences or signs when we looked for it. IIRC it was just off the road at some point. On a side note, for any HAM's, I was able to do a check in from Toro peak to the repeater in Otay with 5w and full quieting on a handi talkie. -- edited by dsefcik on 8/25/2024

8/25/2024 Topic: The Santa Rosas Sawmill Trail (Sort Of) tommy750 Posts: 1048	tommy750 Posts: 1048 Topic: The Santa Rosas Sawmill Trail (Sort Of) Was up there July 5 with friends to escape the heat dome or whatever they were calling it. Was 122 in Palm Springs before we ascended Hwy 74 and in the 90s climbing the Santa Rosas truck trail. Was planning on doing some hiking toward Alta Seca but not at those temps. Glad we brought the camp shower and lots of ice and booze Last weekend, it was 63 at the San Jacinto tram station at nearly the same elevation. Than would have been great camping/hiking weather. The CH-53 wreckage location is now labeled on GE north of the Toro summit and is clearly in the reservation. Not sure if it's accessible before the locked gate with signage, though.

8/25/2024 Topic: The Santa Rosas Sawmill Trail (Sort Of) dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622	dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622 Topic: The Santa Rosas Sawmill Trail (Sort Of) There is an old helicopter crash site up at the top also. Near Alta Seca if I remember correctly.

8/24/2024 Topic: The Santa Rosas Sawmill Trail (Sort Of) Scooter Posts: 113	Scooter Posts: 113 Topic: The Santa Rosas Sawmill Trail (Sort Of) Did a car camping trip to Toro Peak last September. Nice place to explore without the desert heat. About a half mile before the gate at the peak is a very nice campsite on the left. About 8200’ level. Flat with a large rock fire pit. A nice day hike is exploring the Alta Seca bench. This is a high valley just east of Toro Peak. Also the forest service website has information on if the lower gate is locked due to snow. San Bernardino Forest website.

8/19/2024 Topic: Borrego Springs under fire again - Regional Decarb Buford Posts: 456	Buford Posts: 456 Topic: Borrego Springs under fire again - Regional Decarb Having "participated" in something like this in the past, it felt like the overall outcome was predetermined. Our only realistic hope was to get small concessions rather than any substantive changes.

8/19/2024 Topic: Golf Courses and Bighorn Sheep dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622	dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622 Topic: Golf Courses and Bighorn Sheep Oleander poisoning is 2% of the known causes of death, automobile collisions being the highest at 39%. Great info on BHS here: https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=192914&inline Janene Colby, one of the authors was an incredible resource and advocate for the BHS.

8/18/2024 Topic: Golf Courses and Bighorn Sheep blazermax Posts: 2	blazermax Posts: 2 Topic: Golf Courses and Bighorn Sheep ziphius wrote: I knew that sheep eating oleander was a problem up there, but I didn't know about the drownings. Golf... one of the dumbest and most environmentally-unfriendly pastimes. But golf courses are better than pavement I suppose. edited by ziphius on 3/26/2016 It's surprising how something as serene as golf can have hidden dangers, like sheep eating oleander and even drownings. While not the most eco-friendly, golf courses do offer more green than pavement.best outlets in new York

8/16/2024 Topic: Borrego Springs under fire again - Regional Decarb dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622	dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622 Topic: Borrego Springs under fire again - Regional Decarb So do SD citizens actually have a chance in this or is it a done deal and just hopeful theater?

8/16/2024 Topic: Borrego Springs under fire again - Regional Decarb blazermax Posts: 2	blazermax Posts: 2 Topic: Borrego Springs under fire again - Regional Decarb The situation in Borrego Springs echoes the Sunrise Powerlink debate, with the area being eyed for large-scale solar farms. This development brings extensive transmission lines to connect with populated regions. A petition is now circulating to delay the San Diego County Board of Supervisors' vote on the Regional Decarbonization Plan. The request is for independent consultants to update the Technical Report to ensure accurate and thorough planning.

7/22/2024 Topic: 2025 Photo Contest Buford Posts: 456	Buford Posts: 456 Topic: 2025 Photo Contest I'll see if I come up with any entries this year. Didn't get it together last year.

7/22/2024 Topic: Middle Ysidro Buford Posts: 456	Buford Posts: 456 Topic: Middle Ysidro One of my favorite areas too. One of the less visited areas in the park.

7/22/2024 Topic: Solstice Cave dtoujours Posts: 11	dtoujours Posts: 11 Topic: Solstice Cave Thank you for sharing!

7/22/2024 Topic: Solstice Cave dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622	dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622 Topic: Solstice Cave @dtoujours: Yes, I have been there and yes, it happens fast and depending on the exact date light will pass over different pictos. This has all been detailed in archeo docs. All it takes is a slight layer of smog or dust at sunrise and you will not see anything, you have a 50/50 chance from my experience. Winter solstice, no, the sun is too far south and doesn't even hit the cave in the AM, just hits the draw outside. --

7/22/2024 Topic: Solstice Cave dtoujours Posts: 11	dtoujours Posts: 11 Topic: Solstice Cave That article about the winter solstice was interesting. The summer solstice sunrise is somewhat to the northeast and the winter solstice sunrise is somewhat to the southeast. That would make the winter solstice sunrise more directly and fully illuminate the cave from an area with fewer obstructions, but probably wouldn't lead to the type of pinpoint moving light effect I was expecting. Also, an interesting point about the smog/dust in the valley. It was surprisingly clear that day, so maybe I arrived too late or maybe the effect doesn't take place in this location. @dsefcik, have you witnessed the summer solstice from this location and timed it to be 12 minutes? Or did you get this information from a particular source? Indeed, we need to respect and protect these precious sites.

7/18/2024 Topic: Solstice Cave dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622	dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622 Topic: Solstice Cave Winter solstice site? No Summer Solstice site? Yeah, it could be back before all the of the smog and dust from the valley. Light rays passage across the pictos is about 12 minutes long if the morning smog and dust doesn't obscure the sun's rays. You don't have to be there exactly on the 21'st to see things. Good luck and please respect this very special place.

7/18/2024 Topic: 2025 Photo Contest dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622	dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622 Topic: 2025 Photo Contest Just FYI for those of you camera desert people. https://theabf.org/2025photocontest/

7/18/2024 Topic: Solstice Cave Rocko1 Posts: 596	Rocko1 Posts: 596 Topic: Solstice Cave What lends you to believe it is a summer solstice location? Winter solstice is the more important time and likely would find the light hitting some of the markings during the period surrounding winter solstice. Here is a good read-https://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/1988/dec/22/cover-daggers-of-light-patterns-of-power/

7/16/2024 Topic: Panamint City Britain Posts: 600	Britain Posts: 600 Topic: Panamint City dsefcik wrote: Nice trip! I always wanted to go visit but never got to it. I did do some hikes up to Telescope Peak and along the ridge lines looking down to Panamint. That would be a good backpack trip with two cars. A Buddy of mine did Telescope a few years back. One day hike but most everything he hikes is one day. His write-up is here. https://www.icorva.com/index.php/contributing-authors/2013-10-27-17-36-31/articles-from-cabin-96/57-telescope-peak

7/16/2024 Topic: Panamint City dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622	dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622 Topic: Panamint City Nice trip! I always wanted to go visit but never got to it. I did do some hikes up to Telescope Peak and along the ridge lines looking down to Panamint. That would be a good backpack trip with two cars.

6/23/2024 Topic: Solstice Cave Britain Posts: 600	Britain Posts: 600 Topic: Solstice Cave Good hike even when cooler.

6/20/2024 Topic: Solstice Cave dtoujours Posts: 11	dtoujours Posts: 11 Topic: Solstice Cave Since today is the Summer Solstice, I took the day off work and headed out in the middle of the night to hike and scramble to the so-called "Solstice Cave" in the Anza Borrego Desert, a boulder cave with Native American pictograph paintings of the sun and other objects. One of these pictographs is supposedly illuminated at sunrise on the Summer Solstice, so I wanted to check it out. I had a high-lumen flashlight in addition to my headlamp, but unfortunately I still had difficulty finding the way at one point and arrived at 5:49am, 12 minutes after official sunrise. Looking at the angle of the sun to the various pictographs, I didn't think it would have illuminated any of them. But I waited around for a little over an hour to see if anything else would happen, until the sun had risen high enough in the sky that I didn't think the angle would allow it to shine into the cave anymore. None of the pictographs had been illuminated during my time on site. The number of sun pictographs (with none of them standing out as the main one) and their angles to the sun makes it seem unlikely to me that one of them could have been illuminated exactly at sunrise, but I'm disappointed that I wasn't there to know for sure. I wonder if anyone had any sources or information on this or if you've had personal experience or know someone who has. To me, it seems this cave may have been misnamed and doesn't have anything to do with the solstice. Perhaps this eastern facing boulder cave was just a good place for the Native American Shamens to watch the sun rise year round. You can check out my Reddit post on this topic for photos: https://www.reddit.com/r/sandiego/comments/1dko5h4/solstice_caveanza_borrego_desert/

5/28/2024 Topic: Middle Ysidro tekewin Posts: 367	tekewin Posts: 367 Topic: Middle Ysidro Rocko1 wrote: Congrats! That whole area is so ripe for exploring. Thanks! The triangle from the Thimble to Ysidro East to Webo is one of my favorite areas in the park. But I have many favorite areas.

5/28/2024 Topic: Middle Ysidro Rocko1 Posts: 596	Rocko1 Posts: 596 Topic: Middle Ysidro Congrats! That whole area is so ripe for exploring.

5/28/2024 Topic: Panamint City Rocko1 Posts: 596	Rocko1 Posts: 596 Topic: Panamint City Great pictures.

4/17/2024 Topic: Middle Ysidro tekewin Posts: 367	tekewin Posts: 367 Topic: Middle Ysidro deborah wrote: That injury sounds like it was rough - good to hear you are back at it! And nice job reaching the peak. It's a good feeling when you get a "project" completed. Deborah, thanks for the kind words. The break could have been much worse. At least I didn't need surgery. The only thing I can't do on it now is sustained jogging, but it doesn't hamper my hiking plans. I missed the meaty part of desert season, but the mountains aren't going anywhere.

4/16/2024 Topic: Middle Ysidro deborah Posts: 115	deborah Posts: 115 Topic: Middle Ysidro That injury sounds like it was rough - good to hear you are back at it! And nice job reaching the peak. It's a good feeling when you get a "project" completed.

4/16/2024 Topic: Panamint City deborah Posts: 115	deborah Posts: 115 Topic: Panamint City Great trip report! Love the pictures. I've only done a little exploring in Death Valley, and that was a long time ago. On one trip I did a really pleasant hike up to Telescope Peak. It was blazing hot on the desert floor, but the temps on the hike were great because of the elevation. This is a good reminder for me to get back out there. So much I haven't seen yet. Thanks for sharing!

4/14/2024 Topic: Pinyon Wash to Harper Cabin Brian Posts: 224	Brian Posts: 224 Topic: Pinyon Wash to Harper Cabin Britain wrote: Wasn't there some kid that took his dad's Tahoe stuck in the squeeze and disappeared years ago also? Yep. I think he actually went in from the other end. From Fish Creek. But the truck was found near the bottom of heart attack hill and one of the tires was completely destroyed, so he wouldn't have been able to make it out that way even if that was a 2 way road (which it isn't). I first found out about that when I was looking at Google Earth to familiarize myself with the area and someone had posted a bunch of pics from the search for the kid.

4/14/2024 Topic: Pinyon Wash to Harper Cabin Britain Posts: 600	Britain Posts: 600 Topic: Pinyon Wash to Harper Cabin Wasn't there some kid that took his dad's Tahoe stuck in the squeeze and disappeared years ago also?

4/12/2024 Topic: Pinyon Wash to Harper Cabin Brian Posts: 224	Brian Posts: 224 Topic: Pinyon Wash to Harper Cabin tommy750 wrote: Was able to find the Tacoma location on GE and the news reports gave info on where the individuals were located. Wow, the Tacoma was located much further west than I imagined. I had assumed he had driven to a point much closer to Harper Canyon since that is the way he tried to get out. Would have been much easier for him if he had walked down to Pinyon Wash. The truck hadn't been airlifted out last September when I was there, but I didn't see it. I must have been fairly close. I was taking a friend up that canyon from Pinyon Wash and then over to see the ruins of the cabin. If I had been by myself, I might have explored a bit more and followed the wheel tracks which were still fresh at the time.

4/12/2024 Topic: Pinyon Wash to Harper Cabin tommy750 Posts: 1048	tommy750 Posts: 1048 Topic: Pinyon Wash to Harper Cabin Brian wrote: tekewin wrote: Those blooms are amazing. Sounds like a successful trip and kudos for being kind to the biker. Is the road OK all the way to Harper Flat or even Hapaha Flat? I've only been down that road a little ways to hike to Sunset Mountain. That road ends at a canyon which is a short hike up to Harper Flat. The road that passes Harper Flat on the other side can be accessed 2 ways. One end goes in from Pinyon Mountain Road (which necessitates negotiating the squeeze and heart attack hill). The other end goes in from Fish Creek and passes through Hapaha Flat. The biggest obstacle I know of on that route comes just before you get to Hapaha and looks like this: It's no longer legal to drive through Harper Flat (despite the fact someone did it last summer and was later found dead). edited by Brian on 4/12/2024 Definitely right, Brian. That's always been the fun spot to squeeze through although I thinks someone moved a few rocks from the right side that made it a speck easier in the past couple months at least for my pickup. Speaking of the ex-Navy Seal found dead in Harper Canyon, was wondering when someone would mention it on the forum. Here's a couple news reports if anyone is not familiar with the story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlW6PfpO1og https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZDzp74oj1w I bumped into a knowledgeable source who mentioned the Tacoma was airlifted out of Harper Flat since it was pretty beat up. Assuming we'll never hear what really happened but a very tragic story. Was able to find the Tacoma location on GE and the news reports gave info on where the individuals were located. Seal Woman and Tacoma (1) by tomteske, on Flickr Gary and I walked out there a while back and found ?helo landing gear imprints in the sand but no other vehicle tracks. Didn't have the Tacoma location at the time but apparently walked within twenty feet of its prior location and didn't see anything. IMG_6515 by tomteske, on Flickr Track by Tacoma by tomteske, on Flickr

4/12/2024 Topic: Pinyon Wash to Harper Cabin surfponto Administrator Posts: 1364	surfponto Administrator Posts: 1364 Topic: Pinyon Wash to Harper Cabin Most definitely. Makes it that much more enjoyable. 👍🥾 Britain wrote: Nice to have your wife into hiking. Mine loves it specially in the rocks.

4/12/2024 Topic: Pinyon Wash to Harper Cabin Britain Posts: 600	Britain Posts: 600 Topic: Pinyon Wash to Harper Cabin Nice to have your wife into hiking. Mine loves it specially in the rocks.

4/12/2024 Topic: Pinyon Wash to Harper Cabin surfponto Administrator Posts: 1364	surfponto Administrator Posts: 1364 Topic: Pinyon Wash to Harper Cabin It is a really nice hike. A little bouldering at the beginning of Pinyon Wash but nothing too technical Here is a shot of my wife coming up one of the sections. tekewin wrote: Thanks! That's great information. I might try a hike to Harper Flat from Pinyon Wash. ...I want no part of the squeeze or heart attack hill.... edited by surfponto on 4/12/2024 edited by surfponto on 4/12/2024

4/12/2024 Topic: Pinyon Wash to Harper Cabin surfponto Administrator Posts: 1364	surfponto Administrator Posts: 1364 Topic: Pinyon Wash to Harper Cabin Agree. I want to spend a day or two just exploring Harper Flat 👍 Britain wrote: I was on Granite a while back. Lots of jet traffic that day. Nice captures. I also live about 5 miles from NAF El Centro. Lol I get all the traffic to and from Yuma right over my house. It's really loud when the Blue Angles are in town. Harper flat area is a cool place to hike around and explore.

4/12/2024 Topic: Pinyon Wash to Harper Cabin Britain Posts: 600	Britain Posts: 600 Topic: Pinyon Wash to Harper Cabin Brian wrote: Britain wrote: I always thought Harpers was a closed area for vehicles. Park maps show no vehicle trails in it. Weekend warriors. Older topo maps do show a jeep trail going through Harpers, but it's been closed to vehicles for probably about 30 years. I hiked through there last September and saw the wheel tracks of the guy who drove in over the summer. He went around a fence that's supposed to keep it closed off from the main road. It was fenced on the heartsttack hill side or was 10 years ago. Haven't been there for a decade or so. Indian hill area is getting trashed from wheelers and the carrizo creek area is trashed by the painted gorge wheelers.

4/12/2024 Topic: Pinyon Wash to Harper Cabin Brian Posts: 224	Brian Posts: 224 Topic: Pinyon Wash to Harper Cabin Britain wrote: I always thought Harpers was a closed area for vehicles. Park maps show no vehicle trails in it. Weekend warriors. Older topo maps do show a jeep trail going through Harpers, but it's been closed to vehicles for probably about 30 years. I hiked through there last September and saw the wheel tracks of the guy who drove in over the summer. He went around a fence that's supposed to keep it closed off from the main road.

4/12/2024 Topic: Pinyon Wash to Harper Cabin Britain Posts: 600	Britain Posts: 600 Topic: Pinyon Wash to Harper Cabin tekewin wrote: Brian wrote: I always thought Harpers was a closed area for vehicles. Park maps show no vehicle trails in it. Weekend warriors. It's no longer legal to drive through Harper Flat (despite the fact someone did it last summer and was later found dead). edited by Brian on 4/12/2024 Thanks! That's great information. I might try a hike to Harper Flat from Pinyon Wash. I want no part of the squeeze or heart attack hill. Coming from Fish Creek is a lot of driving. The Vallecito Mountains and surroundings seem like a really remote part of the park. edited by Britain on 4/12/2024

4/12/2024 Topic: Pinyon Wash to Harper Cabin tekewin Posts: 367	tekewin Posts: 367 Topic: Pinyon Wash to Harper Cabin Brian wrote: That road ends at a canyon which is a short hike up to Harper Flat. The road that passes Harper Flat on the other side can be accessed 2 ways. One end goes in from Pinyon Mountain Road (which necessitates negotiating the squeeze and heart attack hill). The other end goes in from Fish Creek and passes through Hapaha Flat. The biggest obstacle I know of on that route comes just before you get to Hapaha and looks like this: It's no longer legal to drive through Harper Flat (despite the fact someone did it last summer and was later found dead). edited by Brian on 4/12/2024 Thanks! That's great information. I might try a hike to Harper Flat from Pinyon Wash. I want no part of the squeeze or heart attack hill. Coming from Fish Creek is a lot of driving. The Vallecito Mountains and surroundings seem like a really remote part of the park.

4/12/2024 Topic: Pinyon Wash to Harper Cabin Brian Posts: 224	Brian Posts: 224 Topic: Pinyon Wash to Harper Cabin tekewin wrote: Those blooms are amazing. Sounds like a successful trip and kudos for being kind to the biker. Is the road OK all the way to Harper Flat or even Hapaha Flat? I've only been down that road a little ways to hike to Sunset Mountain. That road ends at a canyon which is a short hike up to Harper Flat. The road that passes Harper Flat on the other side can be accessed 2 ways. One end goes in from Pinyon Mountain Road (which necessitates negotiating the squeeze and heart attack hill). The other end goes in from Fish Creek and passes through Hapaha Flat. The biggest obstacle I know of on that route comes just before you get to Hapaha and looks like this: It's no longer legal to drive through Harper Flat (despite the fact someone did it last summer and was later found dead). edited by Brian on 4/12/2024

4/11/2024 Topic: Pinyon Wash to Harper Cabin Britain Posts: 600	Britain Posts: 600 Topic: Pinyon Wash to Harper Cabin I was on Granite a while back. Lots of jet traffic that day. Nice captures. I also live about 5 miles from NAF El Centro. Lol I get all the traffic to and from Yuma right over my house. It's really loud when the Blue Angles are in town. Harper flat area is a cool place to hike around and explore.

4/11/2024 Topic: Pinyon Wash to Harper Cabin surfponto Administrator Posts: 1364	surfponto Administrator Posts: 1364 Topic: Pinyon Wash to Harper Cabin I am guessing that is the flight path. El Centro NAF over Jojoba Wash then to the coast. It has gotten so noisy there. Still love the area but most likely will overnight camp elsewhere in the future. I will have to check out some of those areas you mentioned near Pinyon Wash. Haven't been over by Split Rock in a long time Harper Flat is huge and I am sure you could spend a few days just exploring that area. tommy750 wrote: Nice TR, Surfponto! I feel your pain regarding the Marines flying stuff overhead. I live five miles away from El Centro NAF and see/hear/feel their big birds at all hours of the day including midnight. The Blue Angels practice here every winter and 5-6 F-18s flying overhead makes your ears ring. Have never visited Harper Cabin. Glad to hear it's surviving. Agree, Pinyon wash is a great camping spot and great starting off point for lots of hikes to Sunset, the four nearby guzzlers, Pinyon Mt, Whale, Harper Flat. Was out at Split Rock a couple months ago and met hikers coming in from Pinyon to check out the pictographs.

4/11/2024 Topic: Middle Ysidro tekewin Posts: 367	tekewin Posts: 367 Topic: Middle Ysidro tommy750 wrote: I've never even heard of Middle Ysidro but looks like a great day hike. Glad you were able to recover from your ankle injury and keep going. Haha, yeah, it's an unofficial peak with a topo mark in the middle of the range. There were no official marks on the summit. I wanted to hike there because I like the peaks on both ends of the range and it felt incomplete. I am glad to be able to do longer hikes again and not have it be the limiting factor.

4/11/2024 Topic: Panamint City tommy750 Posts: 1048	tommy750 Posts: 1048 Topic: Panamint City Nice trip, Brian! A quote from the NPS site: "Panamint City was called the toughest, rawest, most hard-boiled little hellhole that ever passed for a civilized town. Its founders were outlaws..."

4/11/2024 Topic: Middle Ysidro tommy750 Posts: 1048	tommy750 Posts: 1048 Topic: Middle Ysidro I've never even heard of Middle Ysidro but looks like a great day hike. Glad you were able to recover from your ankle injury and keep going.

4/11/2024 Topic: Pinyon Wash to Harper Cabin tommy750 Posts: 1048	tommy750 Posts: 1048 Topic: Pinyon Wash to Harper Cabin Nice TR, Surfponto! I feel your pain regarding the Marines flying stuff overhead. I live five miles away from El Centro NAF and see/hear/feel their big birds at all hours of the day including midnight. The Blue Angels practice here every winter and 5-6 F-18s flying overhead makes your ears ring. Have never visited Harper Cabin. Glad to hear it's surviving. Agree, Pinyon wash is a great camping spot and great starting off point for lots of hikes to Sunset, the four nearby guzzlers, Pinyon Mt, Whale, Harper Flat. Was out at Split Rock a couple months ago and met hikers coming in from Pinyon to check out the pictographs.

4/11/2024 Topic: Pinyon Wash to Harper Cabin tekewin Posts: 367	tekewin Posts: 367 Topic: Pinyon Wash to Harper Cabin surfponto wrote: We went via Pinyon Wash but yes the road in from the other side looked fine. I have never gone that way and it looks interesting. Yep the cactus flowers were great. Such a good time to take a trip out there. 👍 Thanks!

4/11/2024 Topic: Pinyon Wash to Harper Cabin surfponto Administrator Posts: 1364	surfponto Administrator Posts: 1364 Topic: Pinyon Wash to Harper Cabin We went via Pinyon Wash but yes the road in from the other side looked fine. I have never gone that way and it looks interesting. Yep the cactus flowers were great. Such a good time to take a trip out there. 👍 tekewin wrote: Those blooms are amazing. Sounds like a successful trip and kudos for being kind to the biker. Is the road OK all the way to Harper Flat or even Hapaha Flat? I've only been down that road a little ways to hike to Sunset Mountain.

4/11/2024 Topic: Pinyon Wash to Harper Cabin tekewin Posts: 367	tekewin Posts: 367 Topic: Pinyon Wash to Harper Cabin Those blooms are amazing. Sounds like a successful trip and kudos for being kind to the biker. Is the road OK all the way to Harper Flat or even Hapaha Flat? I've only been down that road a little ways to hike to Sunset Mountain.

4/7/2024 Topic: Pinyon Wash to Harper Cabin surfponto Administrator Posts: 1364	surfponto Administrator Posts: 1364 Topic: Pinyon Wash to Harper Cabin Not an extreme hike compare to what some of you guys do but thought I would post it anyway 😉 First night we camped down in Jojoba Wash but man oh man the military air traffic was ridiculous. The final straw was a military Osprey thundering through the sky at 1AM shaking the truck camper. On the positive side there was an amazing cactus bloom display. We spent the next day hiking around taking cactus pictures but decided we would camp further north the next night. Beavertail in bloom (Jojoba Wash) Barrel Cactus in bloom (Jojoba Wash) Hedgehog in bloom (Jojoba Wash) Next day we drove over to Pinyon Wash which I have now decided is my favorite area to camp. We have camped here before but it has been at least 10 years as all of our camping is usually south of Scissors Crossing. After a better night's sleep i.e. no air traffic, we decided we would hike up to see how much was left of the old Harper Cabin site. Last time we hiked here was on an Anza Borrego Foundation sponsored hike led by Mark Jorgensen, so we were curious as to how it has fared in the last 10 plus years. We got an early start and reached Harper Flat by 9AM. There was a great display of Desert Dandelions covering the valley floor so of course we had to take a bunch of pictures. A field of Desert Dandelions (Harper Flat) Not soon after we met up with a lone mountain biker that was doing a big overnight loop from Borrego Springs, unfortunately for him, he had run out of water so we offered to fill one of his water bottles. He mentioned that he had not slept that well the previous night since he was worried about his lack of water, so we were glad to help him out. After saying goodbye to our new friend and hiking up a couple incorrect tributaries we did find the old cabin. It was in much better shape than either of us predicted. Old water trough which is your clue you are close to the cabin Maybe to call it a "cabin" is a stretch but it is cool nonetheless.😀 The old dam is not going anywhere. This thing is solid and is truly an engineering marvel considering the time period it was built. Fishhook cactus blooming in Pinyon Wash Beavertail blooms in Pinyon Wash edited by surfponto on 4/7/2024

4/7/2024 Topic: Middle Ysidro surfponto Administrator Posts: 1364	surfponto Administrator Posts: 1364 Topic: Middle Ysidro Looks like a beautiful area . Thanks for sharing

4/7/2024 Topic: Panamint City surfponto Administrator Posts: 1364	surfponto Administrator Posts: 1364 Topic: Panamint City Really nice pictures, looks like a great trip 👍 Love the picture of the old diesel motor but I am a bit biased since we drive two diesels 😉

4/6/2024 Topic: Middle Ysidro tekewin Posts: 367	tekewin Posts: 367 Topic: Middle Ysidro Brian wrote: Nice trip report. I made a half hearted attempt at the western summit last spring but ended up not wanting to deal with the amount of brush on the final approach to the ridge. I get it. There can be a lot of brush depending on the route you take. Ysidro and the Thimble used to be short-ish hikes from Cherry Canyon. However, with that parking area gone, it's a more serious hike from S2.

4/6/2024 Topic: Middle Ysidro tekewin Posts: 367	tekewin Posts: 367 Topic: Middle Ysidro Britain wrote: Nice! Looks like your back on the trails! Yes, great to be moving again.

3/29/2024 Topic: Middle Ysidro Brian Posts: 224	Brian Posts: 224 Topic: Middle Ysidro Nice trip report. I made a half hearted attempt at the western summit last spring but ended up not wanting to deal with the amount of brush on the final approach to the ridge.

3/29/2024 Topic: Middle Ysidro Britain Posts: 600	Britain Posts: 600 Topic: Middle Ysidro Nice! Looks like your back on the trails!

3/29/2024 Topic: Middle Ysidro tekewin Posts: 367	tekewin Posts: 367 Topic: Middle Ysidro I retired on 12/13/23 and had grand plans. Middle Ysidro was early on the list. Unfortunately, on 1/1/24 I rolled my right ankle while running breaking the fibula just below the ankle joint. On vacation in Hawaii. Aloha! First broken bone in my life. Wore a boot for a month, lost half my right calf muscle, and did physical therapy for two more months. I had done a couple of small hikes in February, but this was going to be a real test. My friend Sean and I started out from S2 just past the Anza-Borrego sign. We made our way past the Bonnie and Clyde benchmarks, then spent a couple miles side-hilling around White BM. As a bonus, I wanted to check out some granite formations that caught my attention on a previous trip. There were four towers (30'-70') on a shelf above the drainage that leads to Hob BM. I called these Hobs Knobs #1-#4. They are nearly in a direct line between The Thimble and Goat BM. Number 4 was the closest and I found an easy ledge to the top. Next, I checked out Number 1 to the east. I saw a good class 3 line using ledges and slabs. I saved the others for a future trip. We crossed the drainage and started up the ridge toward Hob. It would have been easier if we had followed the major gully east of Hob since it had less brush. After reaching the ridge line, we got a look at Middle Ysidro across a brushy saddle. Knob #1 Me on Knob #1, hard to see Half way up the ridge At the base of Middle Ysidro Sean led the route up some boulders to avoid the worst vegetation. The highest point was northeast of the false summit. The high point was a boulder requiring a single class 3 mantle. There were no marks and no register. Views from the middle of the range were striking. It took us six hours to reach Middle Ysidro. I had planned an eight hour round trip, so water and food were going to be a problem. On the way back, Sean collected some emergency water from a small snow patch and from a puddle on top of a boulder. We descended the gully and made better time. Instead of going back through Hobs Knobs, we followed the drainage, trading extra steps for an easier grade. We took frequent breaks in the shade on the way back. I rationed both food and water. Sean treated the murky water he collected with purification pills and drank up. I drank some of the snow melt, but was not keen on the boulder water. Sean's route finding was key in certain places and I don't think I would have completed this hike without his help. When we reached the truck, I guzzled the water I had, but was very dehydrated. We stopped at the Pala mini-mart on the way back and I loaded up on ice cold drinks. After downing a Gatorade, I was right as rain. I underestimated the effort required for Middle Ysidro. My ankle was sore, but with minimal swelling and no lingering pain. The ankle appears to be back in working order. Hope I can get to the desert a couple more times before it gets too hot. Sean on the summit block Amazing Ysidro ridge Rest stop on the way back Nursing the last bottle of water 11 miles, 4211' gain, 11 hours

3/28/2024 Topic: Panamint City Brian Posts: 224	Brian Posts: 224 Topic: Panamint City Not Anza Borrego, but I thought this trip report would still fit here. I did a quick trip to Panamint City (Death Valley National Park) last week. Managed to get a weather window where the bottom of the hike was low 80s and the top was 60s in the day / 40s at night. Just a couple days later on the weekend, the forecast was for lows in the 20s. Glad I wasn't around for that. This was my first time doing this hike after thinking about it for years. All of the challenges which I anticipated were there but not as bad as I feared. The road to the trailhead did have some spots that were marginal for a Subaru, but I still made it to the end. The parts where you have to walk in the stream and climb wet waterfalls were manageable. There is 3600' of gain, but that was also manageable. There was some minor bushwhacking. The part I didn't expect - and my least favorite part of the hike - was that the last few miles which I anticipated would be on the former road often ended up in a dry rocky creek bed instead. That made for slow going and foot pain. This used to be a road until it was washed out in 1983 Some trucks didn't make it out before the road turned into a waterfall One of the better sections of the dry portion of the hike, after the initial 3 miles of jungly conditions A couple views of the iconic smelter the "Panamint Hilton" leftover equipment from the mining days my accommodation for the night and town overview

3/24/2024 Topic: upcoming? Rosa (looking for advice) Buford Posts: 456	Buford Posts: 456 Topic: upcoming? Rosa (looking for advice) Nice ram skeleton. I don't see any exposure on the ridge, I see a trail It's been windy most times I've been up in that area.

3/21/2024 Topic: Knee replacement Britain Posts: 600	Britain Posts: 600 Topic: Knee replacement surfponto wrote: Glad you are able to get back out there and hope it keeps improving. I like the solitude of that Jacumba Jim's hike. Wife likes Jacumba Jim’s. We may end up there yet.

3/21/2024 Topic: Wildflowers starting to bloom around June Wash surfponto Administrator Posts: 1364	surfponto Administrator Posts: 1364 Topic: Wildflowers starting to bloom around June Wash 4 axles in a LandCruser?! dammm DHeuschele wrote: Heading out tomorrow to check the flowers near borrego springs (Henderson canyon and coyote canyon) with the wife. Taking the wives little Range Rover so will not be doing any 4x4 road. Two of my beast vehicles are down right now. Son managed to break a piece out of torsion bar, a king shock, and break an axel on the LC100 (4th axel he has broke in 2 years). I try to tell him the skilled drivers do not need to ram the car to do challenging 4x4 roading. So flowers, fonts point, lunch, and serpent is probably all we will be doing. Looking forward to it as I have not been out to ABSP yet this season. I had 2 hiking trips planned this season but had to cancel on both. edited by DHeuschele on 3/12/2024

3/21/2024 Topic: Knee replacement surfponto Administrator Posts: 1364	surfponto Administrator Posts: 1364 Topic: Knee replacement Glad you are able to get back out there and hope it keeps improving. I like the solitude of that Jacumba Jim's hike.

3/21/2024 Topic: upcoming? Rosa (looking for advice) surfponto Administrator Posts: 1364	surfponto Administrator Posts: 1364 Topic: upcoming? Rosa (looking for advice) Nice pictures Yeah I kind of don't blame you since you were solo hiking. Maybe we can get Daren to take a visit out west. 🤔 Brian wrote: Rocko1 wrote: That ridge is calling my name! I'd try it again if I had you along for moral support. And if it wasn't super gusty. edited by surfponto on 3/21/2024

3/18/2024 Topic: Greeting! dtoujours Posts: 11	dtoujours Posts: 11 Topic: Greeting! Thanks! tekewin wrote: Welcome!

3/18/2024 Topic: upcoming? Rosa (looking for advice) Brian Posts: 224	Brian Posts: 224 Topic: upcoming? Rosa (looking for advice) Rocko1 wrote: That ridge is calling my name! I'd try it again if I had you along for moral support. And if it wasn't super gusty.

3/18/2024 Topic: upcoming? Rosa (looking for advice) Rocko1 Posts: 596	Rocko1 Posts: 596 Topic: upcoming? Rosa (looking for advice) Brian wrote: dsefcik wrote: At least you gave it a go and spent the day out in the desert....now you have an excuse to go again..! Exactly. It was a nice day and I used the extra time to check out the section of Coyote Canyon road between the gate closure and boulder alley. My nemesis Unlucky former resident of Palo Verde Canyon They weren't kidding about Coyote Creek taking over the road Boulder alley is back to looking the way it did in 2012 That ridge is calling my name!

3/16/2024 Topic: upcoming? Rosa (looking for advice) Scooter Posts: 113	Scooter Posts: 113 Topic: upcoming? Rosa (looking for advice) That happens, makes you want to go back even more !

3/16/2024 Topic: My Retriement Scooter Posts: 113	Scooter Posts: 113 Topic: My Retriement Congratulations Darren !! I retired 7 years ago and never looked back. Love the ability to go mid week without the crowds. Moved to Fountain Hills in Arizona, so many hiking trails 5 minutes from my house Still get back to Borrego about 4 times a year. Enjoy. I hope the blog keeps going. It is so helpful

3/16/2024 Topic: Greeting! tekewin Posts: 367	tekewin Posts: 367 Topic: Greeting! Welcome!

3/16/2024 Topic: Knee replacement tekewin Posts: 367	tekewin Posts: 367 Topic: Knee replacement Good job getting outside. It sounds like it was an improvement, though I am sure it was painful.

3/16/2024 Topic: My Retriement tekewin Posts: 367	tekewin Posts: 367 Topic: My Retriement Congrats on retirement! Even though it was a couple years ago. Those are awesome photos. Very different critters there. I read why you chose Florida, but wow, going from one of the driest parts of the country to wettest. I love mountains too much to live somewhere flat. I don't do harsh winters any more either, so that rules out much of the country for us. Best of luck going forward and hope you get back to the desert soon.

3/16/2024 Topic: upcoming? Rosa (looking for advice) dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622	dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2622 Topic: upcoming? Rosa (looking for advice) You coulda taken that ridgeline, there is even a trail on it...🙂

3/16/2024 Topic: upcoming? Rosa (looking for advice) Brian Posts: 224	Brian Posts: 224 Topic: upcoming? Rosa (looking for advice) dsefcik wrote: At least you gave it a go and spent the day out in the desert....now you have an excuse to go again..! Exactly. It was a nice day and I used the extra time to check out the section of Coyote Canyon road between the gate closure and boulder alley. My nemesis Unlucky former resident of Palo Verde Canyon They weren't kidding about Coyote Creek taking over the road Boulder alley is back to looking the way it did in 2012

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