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abschmitt Posts: 11
10/9/2013
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Got away last weekend for a solo camp/hiking trip to Blair Valley.
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DSC01063 by schmitthappenz, on Flickr" border="0">"
I immediately headed to Blair Valley to grab a good camp spot before I headed out on my first hike of the season....Cool Canyon
This is looking back across S2 towards the Pinyon Mountain area after hiking a ways up cool canyon.
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Butterflies everywhere! I was surrounded by butterflies the entire hike...very cool
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Finally got to try my new macro lens filter on my NEX-6
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Saw some tracks here not sure what they are...anyone?
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Also saw this when I stopped for lunch at the large dry waterfall
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DSC01099 by schmitthappenz, on Flickr" border="0">"
After my short hike in cool canyon I headed back to blair valley and set up all my camp gear. Should have took a pic of this because I car camp like a pro....next time I guess. After I set up camp I threw some tri-tip on the grill, cracked open a beer and enjoyed the view.
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DSC01154 by schmitthappenz, on Flickr" border="0">"
The next day I contemplated several hikes in the area...but I eventually decided to make my way up pinyon mountain rd for a look at that great pain in the rear boulder that has blocked my way to the trail head previously. The first time I went to investigate this trail I had 2 wheel drive and there was no way I was making it. This time I was equipped with my new to me F150 4X4 and good thing too because the road was much softer than it was last year. I was very tempted to try my luck going over this bad boy but I chose to play it safe especially since I was alone.
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DSC01173 by schmitthappenz, on Flickr" border="0">"
Guess I'll have to wait to conquer Whale Peak until I get that jeep.
I decided to park close by and improvise a hike up some of the lower mountains. On a positive note I got to exercise my back country navigation skills using topo map & compass. Until now I have been using mainly my hand held GPS unit, but I really want to learn how to navigate with only a map & compass.
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Well it wasn't too bad for a first trip of the season, weather was perfect and I needed a weekend to relax. I'll be out there again soon!
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edited by abschmitt on 12/9/2013
edited by abschmitt on 12/10/2013
edited by abschmitt on 12/10/2013
edited by abschmitt on 12/10/2013
edited by abschmitt on 12/10/2013
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hikerdmb Posts: 423
10/9/2013
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Nice trip. I bet your truck could make it over that spot. That area is so green for fall. Sounds like you have a luxury camp.
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abschmitt Posts: 11
10/9/2013
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hikerdmb wrote:
Nice trip. I bet your truck could make it over that spot. That area is so green for fall. Sounds like you have a luxury camp.
haha yup I may have to sack up and go for it next time. It looks way more menacing when it's right in front of you.
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surfponto Administrator Posts: 1362
10/10/2013
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Wow  Those butterflies are cool. I have never seen that. Looks like you had great weather.
I agree with David, I am sure you could have made it over that obstacle.
edited by surfponto on 10/10/2013
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https://www.anzaborrego.net/
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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2609
10/10/2013
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Hard to tell from your photo and no size reference but I would guess either fox, bobcat or coyote. That is bees honeycomb, I was gonna ask if you saw any, I saw a nice big patch of honeycomb right near the small dry fall when I last hiked thru Cool Cyn.
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http://www.sefcik.com
http://www.darensefcik.com
http://www.carrizogorge.com
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anutami Posts: 491
10/10/2013
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Nice post! can't wait to see some butterflies hopefully this weekend as we are finally headed out! Thanks for the pic of pinyon mtn road, it lookes like there has been some erosion and the protruding boulder is protruding even more! It helps having a spotter to make it over. I made it in 2011 with my f350 crew cab long bed with a camper no problems. I would guess fox or Coyote for your tack photos, It is hard to tell but they look to have claw marks on the front pads.
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ziphius Posts: 911
10/10/2013
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Very nice trip! Thanks for posting. Those caterpillars are *everywhere* right now, Blair Valley, Oriflamme, Cool Cyn.... my girlfriend researched them and found out they belong to the white-lined sphinx moth. Apparently, the natives would harvest them in great masses for food. The thousands and thousands of butterflies that are out there right now are California Patch butterflies, they seem to be crawling over every fresh scat or moisture patch that you find out there right now. That wasp in your photo looks interesting... not sure what flavor that is.
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http://www.coyotelearning.org
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abschmitt Posts: 11
10/10/2013
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Nolan (anutami) wrote:
Nice post! can't wait to see some butterflies hopefully this weekend as we are finally headed out! Thanks for the pic of pinyon mtn road, it lookes like there has been some erosion and the protruding boulder is protruding even more! It helps having a spotter to make it over. I made it in 2011 with my f350 crew cab long bed with a camper no problems. I would guess fox or Coyote for your tack photos, It is hard to tell but they look to have claw marks on the front pads.
Well if you made it in that rig I should have no problem I will be out there again soon to give it another shot.
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tommy750 Posts: 1040
10/11/2013
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Great trip report. Those butterflies are amazing. That spot on Pinyon Mt Rd looks worse than ever. Have made it through with my Tundra once but usually stop there and hike. Tom
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abschmitt Posts: 11
10/12/2013
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tommy750 wrote:
Great trip report. Those butterflies are amazing. That spot on Pinyon Mt Rd looks worse than ever. Have made it through with my Tundra once but usually stop there and hike. Tom
Thanks it was cool. I thought about hiking from there, it would just double the length of the hike. 8 Miles total. Maybe next time
edited by abschmitt on 12/9/2013
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