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tekewin Posts: 365
11/13/2023
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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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Buford Posts: 453
11/19/2023
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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: 2609
12/18/2023
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I retired summer 2021, same as surfponto I believe....can't imagine ever getting up every day and going to work again..I have not missed a single day or work!!
Longer story coming soon about that though.
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http://www.sefcik.com
http://www.darensefcik.com
http://www.carrizogorge.com
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Britain Posts: 596
12/23/2023
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Retired in 2014. Consulted a bit but found out I really didn’t like working. Best thing about retired and hiking is hit it on the off days when the crowd is gone.
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Cant drive 55
Britain
http://icorva.com
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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2609
11/16/2023
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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: 1362
11/16/2023
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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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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2609
11/19/2023
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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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surfponto Administrator Posts: 1362
11/23/2023
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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:
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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: 365
11/23/2023
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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: 1362
12/1/2023
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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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tekewin Posts: 365
12/18/2023
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dsefcik wrote:
I retired summer 2021, same as surfponto I believe....can't imagine ever getting up every day and going to work again..I have not missed a single day or work!!
Longer story coming soon about that though.
Congrats on the retirement! I'd be interested in hearing that story.
It's hard for me to imagine NOT getting up every day and going to work. I plan to do some online tutoring, but I want to work 2-3 days a week. I need to be doing something productive since my wife has a few years to go for her pension. I don't think I'll miss the full time grind, but I will miss some of the people.
edited by tekewin on 12/18/2023
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surfponto Administrator Posts: 1362
12/19/2023
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Same. Missed some of the day-to-day interactions but not enough to make me want to go back.
Now two years in I am good and enjoying the freedom.
Hiked out in Pine Valley on a Monday. We never saw a single person. 😉
Arrastar
Old Oak
tekewin wrote:
dsefcik wrote:
I retired summer 2021, same as surfponto I believe....can't imagine ever getting up every day and going to work again..I have not missed a single day or work!!
Longer story coming soon about that though.
Congrats on the retirement! I'd be interested in hearing that story.
It's hard for me to imagine NOT getting up every day and going to work. I plan to do some online tutoring, but I want to work 2-3 days a week. I need to be doing something productive since my wife has a few years to go for her pension. I don't think I'll miss the full time grind, but I will miss some of the people.
edited by tekewin on 12/18/2023
edited by surfponto on 12/19/2023
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https://www.anzaborrego.net/
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DHeuschele Posts: 87
3/12/2024
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Retired January 2022. I seem to be as busy as ever and not taking as many trips as I did pre retirement. Will be going out tomorrow to check out the flowers. May do fonts point and the serpent. I typically do a stop at the serpent.
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