Talk about a trip you took out to Anza Borrego
Sombrero and False Sombrero
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tekewin Posts: 365
1/7/2018
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I had a great day in the desert bagging a couple more peaks from Indian Valley. The first was Sombrero and there are already several reports on this route so I'll keep it brief. At the top, I found two boulders that were candidates for the high point. The first one (and probably highest by inches) was a class 1 walk up. The other was somewhat difficult. The easiest way I found to get up was to climb a 12' crack using hand jams. Other routes were class 5. On top of the second boulder, I found a benchmark from the Division of Beaches and Parks. I don't think many people find it and it isn't mentioned in most trip reports. 3.5 miles round trip, 2000' gain, 3 hours.
Sombrero and False Sombrero from the road fork
Easiest way up (I think this boulder is probably second highest)
Sombrero benchmark on the second summit block
Found this weird pole and chain on the way down, a few hundred feet below the summit
Next, I drove to the end of the North Indian Canyon Road to tackle False Sombrero. The hike had two parts. The first part was climbing up a rough gully and the second part was a steep sandy slope. The sand was 3" deep and it was like walking on the beach at a 35 degree angle. It was only a mile to the summit, but the route gained 1359' in that one mile. Stiff. The summit block was easy and the register there went back to 1989 and was only a little over half full. I recognized almost half the names. The views were even better than from Sombrero, especially of the Sawtooth Mountains and the Inner Pasture. I hung around the summit for 20-30 minutes, an eternity for me, resting and enjoying the sights and perfect weather. I couldn't help but think of the poor souls in most of the country dealing with sub-freezing and sub-zero temps.
North gully and False Sombrero
Looking down the sandy slope, Sombrero in the background
Indian Valley from False Sombrero
Laguna Mountains, Inner Pasture, Sawtooth and Red Top
Some day!
Hey, I know that name. Via Canebrake!? How does that work? Oh, cliff bar is long gone.
I looked at the topo and could not figure out how to get there from Canebrake without a long approach. Returning was much easier as I casually plunge stepped the sandy slope and scrambled back down the gully. I know I'll be heading back to Indian Valley, but maybe not until next year. 2 miles round trip, 1359' gain, 2.5 hours.
edited by tekewin on 1/7/2018
edited by tekewin on 1/7/2018
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tekewin Posts: 365
1/10/2018
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RobMay wrote:
I used Greg Gerlach and Patrick ONeill's gps tracks. I like to load multiple tracks so I have options. It's the same route you describe. I camped on the small ridgeline due North of the lowest pass you cross over. The plan was to hike Stage BM the next morning but that didn't happen. I hiked Villager/Rabbit/Mile High four days prior and I wasn't fully recovered from that hike. I found a lot of pottery shards so I spent way too much time exploring, and I deviated from the gps tracks going up Sawtooth and summited from the South-West side of the peak. Huge mistake. I was thinking about leaving Groan as my last just because I feel like the name is an apt one to finish on!
OK, cool. Names like Groan are great! The pain benchmarks, ha. Groan, Gasp, Moan, Puff, Grunt.
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