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tommy750 Posts: 1040
8/27/2012
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On Friday, decided to take a drive out to the Yuha Basin, a place I'd never been. Stopped off at BLM El Centro and picked up a few maps and headed out. It's between I-8 and Hwy 98 southeast of Ocotillo. In 1962, a USBP pilot spotted some curious shapes on a ridge and thus "discovered" the Yuha Geoglyphs. They apparently had already been discovered by vandals and SDSU spent the next decade restoring them. In 1975, they were totally trashed and after further restoration are still badly damaged. Compared to the Blythe Intaglios I posted on before, these are in a miserable state.
Yuha Geoglyph by tomteske, on Flickr
Yuha Glyph by tomteske, on Flickr
Centinela From Yuha Glyphs by tomteske, on Flickr
This is looking toward Carrizo and the Coyote Mts
Carrizo Mt From Yuha Glyphs by tomteske, on Flickr
Not too many people have been out here since the torrential rains a few weeks back so a lot of the roads have no fresh tracks.
Tundra on EC 301 by tomteske, on Flickr
Fresh Tracks by tomteske, on Flickr
EC 301 by tomteske, on Flickr
The Yuha Well was used by Anza's party in 1775. Their Indian guide's name was Sebastian Tarabal and farther to the north, San Sebastian Marsh, their next water source, is supposedly named after him.
Yuha Well by tomteske, on Flickr
The well is not currently flowing and the visible ruins reportedly date to the mid-1900's.
Yuha Well2 by tomteske, on Flickr
Found these funny looking tracks. One looks like a sidewinder and the other maybe a lizard?
Tracks2 by tomteske, on Flickr
Tracks by tomteske, on Flickr
Here's a Desert Iguana losing his skin.
Shedding by tomteske, on Flickr
This is in Yuha Wash. The wash really gets you into some deep sand as you head east.
Red Button by tomteske, on Flickr
El Boton Rojo by tomteske, on Flickr
Didn't have time to check out the large shell reefs nearby. Next time. Enjoy. Tom
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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2609
8/27/2012
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I would go with side winder and desert iguana
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http://www.sefcik.com
http://www.darensefcik.com
http://www.carrizogorge.com
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rockhopper Posts: 668
8/27/2012
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Nice report. That's getting out towards the Yuma to San Diego wooden road. Yes? Nice photos! Hats off you all troopers heading out into the 110 Deg. heat. I saw Ocitillo Wells hit 120 Deg. a few days back. When Death Valley hit 126Deg. OMG! Those turbine guys getting it. I suppose. Staying coastal and surfing google earth for next next expedition.
Again, thanks and interesting report.
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ziphius Posts: 911
8/27/2012
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Thanks for the tour! I remember reading "The Anza Trail and The Settling of California" years ago. Real explorers back then, without any emergency buttons to push! 
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http://www.coyotelearning.org
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tommy750 Posts: 1040
8/27/2012
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rockhopper wrote:
That's getting out towards the Yuma to San Diego wooden road. Yes?
That's a good question. We're talking about the origins of Old Hwy 80, the link from San Diego to Yuma. It first followed The San Diego to Fort Yuma Wagon Road and passed somewhere through the Yuha Desert south of I-8. The old plank road came in the early 1900's and was 6-8 miles of wooden planks that crossed the Algodones Dunes far to the east. I stole most of this info from Chris Wray's great book, "The Historic Backcountry." That book has everything about San Diego and Imperial County historic sites. Tom
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tommy750 Posts: 1040
8/27/2012
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ziphius wrote:
Thanks for the tour! I remember reading "The Anza Trail and The Settling of California" years ago. Real explorers back then, without any emergency buttons to push!
Exactly. Those "red buttons" will probably go the way of the roadside emergency phones when everyone on planet earth has a cell phone. Which is probably soon! Tom
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