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Talk about a trip you took out to Anza Borrego

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anutami
anutami
Posts: 491


3/11/2013
anutami
anutami
Posts: 491
I have been itching to get back out in the park and decided to take a short trip to Elephant Knees (thanks for the suggestion Daren) to search for some fossils and get a different perspecitve of the park.

On the way out we encoutered some snow




and rainbows


and sinking pits of clay



Beautiful Washes


Sleeping at a slant all night (stuck in the clay pit all night), I was up at the crack of dawn and got some morning photos smile



I called the ranger headquarters on Friday to see if there were any rangers in the area, and all were off for the day. I am greatful Ranger Steve got the message and headed out to help me on Saturday morning. He is a great guy for helping me. We both put our rigs in 4wd LOW and he backed up while I drove forward! Wheels spun for a bit, but then the rig started to move. He would not even accept a tip or a soda or anything. All I could do was give him a big man hug. I will just include his tip in my next donation to the Anza Borrego Foundation.


I learned my lesson not to drive on redish ground with salt crust anymore. It was like driving into the La Brea CLAY Pits. Now I know where all the Native Americans made all those ollas from. Every shovel full to try and dig the rig out was approx 15lbs! I was soooo sore the morning. It was a great work out.


After about 15 hours of being delayed we could set our sites on Elephant Knees


there are ancient reefs all over the place. The kids and I for that matter could not believe this was once a shallow ocean!!!


Millions and Millions of fossilized sea life all over


On another planet...Tatooine?


Any Sand People around here?


We took Direct route up


Views looking to the South/ southwest from the top


Kids had a blast on the way down.

And even more of blast when they found this. This really made then believe this actually was an Ocean!!!
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dsefcik
dsefcik
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Posts: 2609


3/11/2013
dsefcik
dsefcik
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Posts: 2609
Awesome....did you see a small shrine on a hill north of the top of the knees? I am glad your kids made it to the top, that is a steep climb!

So since it was my idea to go out there you gonna tell Steve to just send me the bill?

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ziphius
ziphius
Posts: 911


3/11/2013
ziphius
ziphius
Posts: 911
Boy, THAT looks like a great adventure and a great location to check out. I bet the kids weren't even worried, heh? Awesome photos, especially the sunrise! To the point that you got stuck, what are the road conditions like? 2wd-driveable?

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hikerdmb
hikerdmb
Posts: 423


3/11/2013
hikerdmb
hikerdmb
Posts: 423
Another great trip/adventure/learning experience for your kids. I love the rainbow pic. Glad you got out okay. Looked like a good stuck.
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tommy750
tommy750
Posts: 1036


3/11/2013
tommy750
tommy750
Posts: 1036
Nice trip Nolan and glad you got out okay. So, what's the forum wisdom on getting unstuck when out by yourself? Saw this neat little cartoon on the science of really dropping tire pressure but I'm a novice at knowing what works. Tom


tire pressure by tomteske, on Flickr
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anutami
anutami
Posts: 491


3/12/2013
anutami
anutami
Posts: 491
dsefcik wrote:
Awesome....did you see a small shrine on a hill north of the top of the knees? I am glad your kids made it to the top, that is a steep climb!


So since it was my idea to go out there you gonna tell Steve to just send me the bill?


Yeah, there was a pile of rocks placed in a circle on the top of a mud hill. Was that it? It looked very interesting.

I bet Steve's next joke will probably incorporate me somehow, so I am glad to keep his jokes going.
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surfponto
surfponto
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Posts: 1354


3/12/2013
surfponto
surfponto
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Posts: 1354
It is usually those trips where something goes wrong that are most memorable smile
Great rainbow picture with the Brittlebush in the foreground and really cool fossils

Bob

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https://www.anzaborrego.net/



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surfponto
surfponto
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3/12/2013
surfponto
surfponto
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Posts: 1354
Dropping tire pressure can really help out.

Problem is when you are stuck in mud/muck you can't jack the car up and put stuff under the tires.. (another trick)


tommy750 wrote:
Nice trip Nolan and glad you got out okay. So, what's the forum wisdom on getting unstuck when out by yourself? Saw this neat little cartoon on the science of really dropping tire pressure but I'm a novice at knowing what works. Tom


tire pressure by tomteske, on Flickr


--
https://www.anzaborrego.net/



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anutami
anutami
Posts: 491


3/12/2013
anutami
anutami
Posts: 491
The road is easily accessible with a 2wd vehicle with high clearance (right now).

I tried all the tricks to get out of the clay...dropped my psi 25. Tried to suck pieces of 2x4 under the tires, tried to dig out under the tires and hammer pieces of 2x4. Dug out and piled a bunch of rocks. Got a huge flat boulder and tried to jack up the rear end, but the rock kept sinking....I just ordered a hi-lift jack http://www.hi-lift.com/hi-lift-jacks/index.html though it wouldn't have worked in the clay.
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dsefcik
dsefcik
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3/12/2013
dsefcik
dsefcik
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Posts: 2609
surfponto wrote:
Problem is when you are stuck in mud/muck you can't jack the car up and put stuff under the tires.. (another trick)

Ummmm..sorry, isn't the problem here the driver of the *stuck* vehicle..????

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http://www.darensefcik.com
http://www.carrizogorge.com
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surfponto
surfponto
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Posts: 1354


3/13/2013
surfponto
surfponto
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Posts: 1354
Yeah and he doesn't even have a driver's license . smile

dsefcik wrote:
surfponto wrote:
Problem is when you are stuck in mud/muck you can't jack the car up and put stuff under the tires.. (another trick)

Ummmm..sorry, isn't the problem here the driver of the *stuck* vehicle..????


--
https://www.anzaborrego.net/



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anutami
anutami
Posts: 491


3/15/2013
anutami
anutami
Posts: 491
surfponto wrote:
Yeah and he doesn't even have a driver's license . smile

dsefcik wrote:
surfponto wrote:
Problem is when you are stuck in mud/muck you can't jack the car up and put stuff under the tires.. (another trick)

Ummmm..sorry, isn't the problem here the driver of the *stuck* vehicle..????


Bob, How did you get out of that one? I'll bet you were covered in Mud!
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surfponto
surfponto
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Posts: 1354


3/15/2013
surfponto
surfponto
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Posts: 1354
Hey Nolan,
We yanked it out with another diesel Land Cruiser. Funny thing was I went off the main road to avoid the salty water and ended up getting buried in the salty muck. wink
Which brings up another point. Always travel with at least two vehicles.....in Baja anyway


Nolan (anutami) wrote:
surfponto wrote:
Yeah and he doesn't even have a driver's license . smile

dsefcik wrote:
surfponto wrote:
Problem is when you are stuck in mud/muck you can't jack the car up and put stuff under the tires.. (another trick)

Ummmm..sorry, isn't the problem here the driver of the *stuck* vehicle..????


Bob, How did you get out of that one? I'll bet you were covered in Mud!


--
https://www.anzaborrego.net/



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AdventureGraham
AdventureGraham
Posts: 170


3/18/2013
AdventureGraham
AdventureGraham
Posts: 170
Looks like a fun trip and you have some fantastic photos! It was awesome that the ranger was able to come out and give you a hand with your stuck rig. Its been ages since I've been in that area of the park.
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JoeTime
JoeTime
Posts: 3


3/21/2013
JoeTime
JoeTime
Posts: 3
Yikes, heading out that way this this weekend, only one vehicle so I'll have to be extra careful to avoid that kind of stuff. My lady wont be happy if an overnighter turns into a couple days.. Although I wouldn't mind! haha

Nice pics though. I might need to try that climb up the Knees.
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anutami
anutami
Posts: 491


3/21/2013
anutami
anutami
Posts: 491
JoeTime wrote:
Yikes, heading out that way this this weekend, only one vehicle so I'll have to be extra careful to avoid that kind of stuff. My lady wont be happy if an overnighter turns into a couple days.. Although I wouldn't mind! haha

Nice pics though. I might need to try that climb up the Knees.


Have fun!
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