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tekewin Posts: 394
11/30/2025
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It's been too long since I visited Anza-Borrego. I went back to pick up some lesser peaks I've missed like Plum Peak (unofficial near Sentenac). After that quickie, I drove up Yaqui Pass Road and parked at a turnout on the west side below Ship Benchmark. Ship had a benchmark with a lot of signatures. From there, I went cross country to Yaqui Peak (aka peak 3398). I debated whether to take a gully up or stick to the ridges. There were three major gullies, I took the middle one that ended on a ridge south of the summit. There were also a series of class 2 dry falls that made it fun. I spotted some cairns at a few falls marking bypass routes. This gully was not a stranger to humans. After intersecting the ridge, I continued another mile weaving around cactus. On the way, I stumbled across a rosy boa, the first I'd seen in over 100 trips to the desert. It's head was in a hole and it was sluggish in the cool weather.
Ship Benchmark
Yaqui Peak on the right
In the gully
Yaqui Peak summit, ammo box. Wilson Benchmark somewhere on the ridge behind.
Yaqui Peak had a metal ammo box containing several registers going back to 1997. Yaqui sported a beautiful view of Borrego Springs to the north and some of my favorite desert mountains: San Ysidro, Indianhead, Coyote, the Santa Rosa ridge, and even snowy San Jacinto. Yaqui exceeded expectations. It seemed this peak is only climbed a few times a year. Heading down, I stuck to the ridge which was a little easier. The ridge ended at Yaqui Pass Road and I walked back along a sandy wash about 30' below the road. 7 miles round trip, 2000' gain.
Looking back at where I started
Borrego Springs below. Snowy San Jacinto distant left.
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surfponto Administrator Posts: 1376
12/1/2025
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Looks like a great trip and the weather looks perfect.
Have never seen a rosy boa out there only a red racer when Daren and I were hiking around Indian Valley.
Thanks for posting.👍🏻
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https://www.anzaborrego.net/
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Scooter Posts: 121
12/1/2025
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Nice trip. I have not considered doing that one.
Thanks for the trip report.
One Rosy Boa crossing the road in Blair Valley a few years ago.
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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2639
12/1/2025
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Nice TR 
Only a hair more to go see the guzzlers. I went up Ship many moons ago, nice little bump off the hwy.
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http://www.sefcik.com
http://www.darensefcik.com
http://www.carrizogorge.com
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tekewin Posts: 394
12/1/2025
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dsefcik wrote:
Nice TR
Only a hair more to go see the guzzlers. I went up Ship many moons ago, nice little bump off the hwy.
I knew they were up the ridge somewhere, but wasn't sure how far. I wish I would have wandered up that way to take a look. Maybe next time.
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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2639
12/1/2025
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Every time I have driven out there I have always looked up and thought about an ascent from the cactus loop trail / yaqui campground area up one of the those fingers. Another trip I have thought of would be to park out in Culp Valley and backpack out to Yaqui peak and camp for the night and hike back the next day, exploring all the way.
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http://www.sefcik.com
http://www.darensefcik.com
http://www.carrizogorge.com
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tekewin Posts: 394
12/2/2025
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dsefcik wrote:
Every time I have driven out there I have always looked up and thought about an ascent from the cactus loop trail / yaqui campground area up one of the those fingers. Another trip I have thought of would be to park out in Culp Valley and backpack out to Yaqui peak and camp for the night and hike back the next day, exploring all the way.
That would be a great trip from Culp Valley. I don't think the ridge between Wilson Benchmark and Yaqui is much traveled.
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Brian Posts: 262
12/3/2025
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Nice trip report. Rocko1 and I went to the guzzler from the other direction last year, starting from the Wilson trail.
https://www.anzaborrego.net/AnzaBorrego/Forum/topic1729-pinyon-ridge-and-the-guzzler.aspx
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tekewin Posts: 394
12/3/2025
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Brian wrote:
Nice trip report. Rocko1 and I went to the guzzler from the other direction last year, starting from the Wilson trail.
https://www.anzaborrego.net/AnzaBorrego/Forum/topic1729-pinyon-ridge-and-the-guzzler.aspx
Very nice!
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tommy750 Posts: 1096
12/5/2025
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Nice TR Tekewin and thanks for getting the forum's winter season going! Pardon my ignorance, but can you drive all the way to the top of the western Pinyon Ridge on Jasper Trail/Old Culp Valley Rd or are those dirt roads closed? Have never been on Pinyon Ridge but looks like an interesting place to hike/camp.
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tekewin Posts: 394
12/5/2025
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tommy750 wrote:
Nice TR Tekewin and thanks for getting the forum's winter season going! Pardon my ignorance, but can you drive all the way to the top of the western Pinyon Ridge on Jasper Trail/Old Culp Valley Rd or are those dirt roads closed? Have never been on Pinyon Ridge but looks like an interesting place to hike/camp.
I don't know if those roads are open and/or in good shape. It's been quite a few years since I was hiking in that area. Hopefully, someone in the forum knows the answer and current status. I think those roads are all on public land.
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dsefcik Administrator Posts: 2639
12/5/2025
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tommy750 wrote:
Nice TR Tekewin and thanks for getting the forum's winter season going! Pardon my ignorance, but can you drive all the way to the top of the western Pinyon Ridge on Jasper Trail/Old Culp Valley Rd or are those dirt roads closed? Have never been on Pinyon Ridge but looks like an interesting place to hike/camp.
Old Culp Valley Rd for sure (or at least in 2021 and before) but most likely 4WD as there are deep ruts and off camber sections. I wanna say yes to Jasper trail but I never drove it that I remember. You can drive and camp OCVR out to the Pinyon Ridge trailhead.
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http://www.sefcik.com
http://www.darensefcik.com
http://www.carrizogorge.com
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Brian Posts: 262
12/6/2025
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tommy750 wrote:
can you drive all the way to the top of the western Pinyon Ridge on Jasper Trail/Old Culp Valley Rd or are those dirt roads closed?.
I've generally found the section from Ranchita to the Wilson TH to be in really good shape. The turnoff for Jasper trail is just after you start going downhill from Ranchita and it is super easy to miss unless you know right where it is. From there to Old Culp Valley road is easy enough to do in a passenger car. From the intersection with Old Culp Valley Road down to the Wilson trail is also generally good except sometimes has a lengthwise rut which I have generally been able to steer around.
From the Wilson trail downhill to Culp Valley I would classify as 4WD only.
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tommy750 Posts: 1096
12/8/2025
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Thank you all for the info! Will have to check it out.
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