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tekewin Posts: 351
20 days ago
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My wife and I camped at Palm Canyon over the weekend. It was our first time staying there. Fancy campground with showers, really nice.
Since it was only her second time in the park, we visited some of the classics. Maidenhair Falls, Slot loop, Calcite mine. Maidenhair was barely a trickle. Dark, stagnant water at the base and lots of bees. Also a lot of tarantula hawks along the trail. I was surprised by the $10 day hike fee at the trailhead. I haven't been there in a few years, maybe it's not new.
The last time I was at the Slot was about 10 years ago. Since then, a toilet building has been added, the parking area is larger with an overflow, and a park employee was set up collecting the $10 fee on the drive in. What shocked me was the crowds. When we got there at 8:30 AM, about a dozen vehicles were already there. We passed a family of 8 and other parties slowly working their way through the slot. We did a loop around the back toward Borrego Mountain, then made a failed attempt to get back to the main canyon by just heading in that general direction. Hit dead ends about 200' from the main canyon according to GPS. Easy to backtrack and get out, but it was fun to explore some of the side slots. When we got back to the parking lot, there were 40 vehicles and dozens of people wandering around. I am guessing social media (plus the holiday) has exploded the popularity of the Slot.
There were also a lot of people at the Calcite mine. At least 10 trucks passed us either driving in or out.
It wasn't the sparsely populated park I remember even from the last couple of years. Maybe it's because I tend to hang out in harder to reach places, but the crowds were a real bummer. /rant off.
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surfponto Administrator Posts: 1329
19 days ago
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I totally get it.
We also try to visit the quiet areas.
The only "established" campground we have stayed at was Bow Willow but we usually do dispersed camping.
We did see this guy this past Saturday in Jojoba Wash
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/L68sLXfjS38
Bob
tekewin wrote:
My wife and I camped at Palm Canyon over the weekend. It was our first time staying there. Fancy campground with showers, really nice.
Since it was only her second time in the park, we visited some of the classics. Maidenhair Falls, Slot loop, Calcite mine. Maidenhair was barely a trickle. Dark, stagnant water at the base and lots of bees. Also a lot of tarantula hawks along the trail. I was surprised by the $10 day hike fee at the trailhead. I haven't been there in a few years, maybe it's not new.
The last time I was at the Slot was about 10 years ago. Since then, a toilet building has been added, the parking area is larger with an overflow, and a park employee was set up collecting the $10 fee on the drive in. What shocked me was the crowds. When we got there at 8:30 AM, about a dozen vehicles were already there. We passed a family of 8 and other parties slowly working their way through the slot. We did a loop around the back toward Borrego Mountain, then made a failed attempt to get back to the main canyon by just heading in that general direction. Hit dead ends about 200' from the main canyon according to GPS. Easy to backtrack and get out, but it was fun to explore some of the side slots. When we got back to the parking lot, there were 40 vehicles and dozens of people wandering around. I am guessing social media (plus the holiday) has exploded the popularity of the Slot.
There were also a lot of people at the Calcite mine. At least 10 trucks passed us either driving in or out.
It wasn't the sparsely populated park I remember even from the last couple of years. Maybe it's because I tend to hang out in harder to reach places, but the crowds were a real bummer. /rant off.
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https://www.anzaborrego.net/
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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2586
17 days ago
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I only remember them charging to park at the visitor center...wow, $10 to hike? No thanks.
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http://www.sefcik.com
http://www.darensefcik.com
http://www.carrizogorge.com
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surfponto Administrator Posts: 1329
17 days ago
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Yeah unfortunately I heard they implemented that a few years back. Not sure it is always enforced.
dsefcik wrote:
I only remember them charging to park at the visitor center...wow, $10 to hike? No thanks.
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https://www.anzaborrego.net/
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Buford Posts: 447
14 days ago
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Oh yeah. It has been getting more and more crowded over the last 10 years or so. If you go off the beaten path you can still find places without people. You used to be able to do that on seldom used roads, now you have to do it on foot. Peak bagging is increasingly popular too.
They have been improving roads like Calcite Mine and Boulder Alley. They have been adding fire rings to the primitive camps like Culp Valley and Arroyo Salado. I heard rumors they may start charging for those too if they haven't already. They have been charging to camp at Sheep Canyon for a while now.
Too many people, not enough outdoors.
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Links to my photos: ABDSP photos, Bighorn sheep photos, ABDSP time lapse video, Wildlife photos (mainly birds)
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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2586
14 days ago
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Going the CNF route, charge access fees anywhere services are provided, ie trash cans, porta potties, parking areas, etc.
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http://www.sefcik.com
http://www.darensefcik.com
http://www.carrizogorge.com
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tommy750 Posts: 1030
12 days ago
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I guess the upside would be at least more people are interested enough in visiting and exploring our federal and state lands. Hopefully that will translate into wanting to preserve and protect them.
My "workaround" as an old guy is to retire soon and visit the park only during weekdays. Also, get one of those parking permits for volunteering 40 hours a year. Not sure if it will work at the slot which I'm not familiar with, but at least it will get you into the visitor center.
BTW, has anyone read the wikipedia entry for the park? I learned that obsidian, pumice and fish bones are "artifacts." Cupule petroglyphs suggest food processing was hard. To get from the coast to the park, you drive through mountains that are 2,400 feet above sea level. All good stuff to know!
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surfponto Administrator Posts: 1329
10 days ago
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That has been our strategy Tom. Retired two years ago and we try to do al of our trips starting on a Monday. Occasionally we will meet friends and do a weekend trip but I try to avoid it for the all the reasons stated in this thread.
I tend to blame social media and hashtags 🙄
tommy750 wrote:
....
My "workaround" as an old guy is to retire soon and visit the park only during weekdays. Also, get one of those parking permits for volunteering 40 hours a year. Not sure if it will work at the slot which I'm not familiar with, but at least it will get you into the visitor center.
....
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https://www.anzaborrego.net/
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tekewin Posts: 351
10 days ago
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surfponto wrote:
That has been our strategy Tom. Retired two years ago and we try to do al of our trips starting on a Monday. Occasionally we will meet friends and do a weekend trip but I try to avoid it for the all the reasons stated in this thread.
I tend to blame social media and hashtags 🙄
Will be my strategy too next year. Retiring at the end of the year, or at least downshifting. Might still work part time.
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surfponto Administrator Posts: 1329
3 days ago
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Congrats on your upcoming retirement 👍
tekewin wrote:
surfponto wrote:
That has been our strategy Tom. Retired two years ago and we try to do all of our trips starting on a Monday. Occasionally we will meet friends and do a weekend trip but I try to avoid it for the all the reasons stated in this thread.
I tend to blame social media and hashtags 🙄
Will be my strategy too next year. Retiring at the end of the year, or at least downshifting. Might still work part time.
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https://www.anzaborrego.net/
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tekewin Posts: 351
3 days ago
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surfponto wrote:
Congrats on your upcoming retirement 👍
Thanks! It's exciting but also weird.
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surfponto Administrator Posts: 1329
2 days ago
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You get used to it.
Have been retired for a year and a half.
First few months were a bit strange but then I really started enjoying it.
We did a couple of big trips which helped.
tekewin wrote:
surfponto wrote:
Congrats on your upcoming retirement 👍
Thanks! It's exciting but also weird.
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https://www.anzaborrego.net/
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