Talk about a trip you took out to Anza Borrego
Alta Seca Bench
|
Rocko1 Posts: 632
3/24/2026
|
A couple of weekends ago Brian and I did an overnight backpacking trip starting near Toro Peak, dropping off the Alta Seca bench and camping on the ridge, 5 miles south of where we started. This was plan B as another heat wave had hit and it was too hot near Rockhouse. It was nice and cool at the top of Toro although plenty warm near camp at 5,800ft. Our goal was to make it south along the ridge until we met up with the trail that goes down to Stiff.
It was easy sailing through the pine forest sections of the bench.
The real work started when we had to drop off the bench. Steep, brushy, lose rocks, cairns strewn sporadically from different routes-this made it harder for some reason. It’s slow going-1mph. Lots of back pedaling to get around obstacles. We stopped a couple miles short of the ridge that came up from Stiff and decided to just make camp. It was plenty warm. 
After a while I decided to try to make it to the spot above Stiff. Brian stayed back-the smart move. I wanted to see how fast I could get there-just over an hour for 1.75 miles-that was really pushing it. That section of the ridge was also relatively free of brush but you just can’t go much faster. There are nice pinon pines at that spot and plenty of places to camp had we made it.
Looking north at the bench. The saddle to the right of the center peak is where you have to go.. 
Made it back to camp and was cooked. Was a windy night in the spot I had set up.
The morning on the SR ridge are magical. The colors always blow me away.
In the morning we started back up the bench-which was easier than going down.
Besides a couple of navigation snafus it was an uneventful hike back to the pine forest-
cool and less bugs than the day before. We talked about doing the entire ridge but near the end of the hike I think we both decided it was too much. Doing sections may be the best way to complete the entire ridge.
Brian supplied the best pre and post hike beverage. I was very grateful.
10 miles, 2700ft gain/loss not including side trip to ridge above Stiff-that was 3.5 miles, 800ft gain extra.
|
|
|
+2
link
|
|
Brian Posts: 262
3/24/2026
|
I'll add that the Santa Rosa Truck Trail is in significantly worse shape than a year ago. There are a couple areas that are badly rutted. It's still passable with a Subaru, but it's slow going.
|
|
|
+1
link
|
|
surfponto Administrator Posts: 1385
3/25/2026
|
The views from the top are awesome. Crazy there was still snow up there.
--
https://www.anzaborrego.net/
|
|
|
+1
link
|
|
Rocko1 Posts: 632
3/25/2026
|
surfponto wrote:
The views from the top are awesome. Crazy there was still snow up there.
Yes we walked through some patches of snow. The pines at the top and on the bench are really fantastic. You do not feel like you are in Socal. Some sections of San Gorgonio-south side of Anderson Peak have some similar areas-giant old growth trees.
|
|
|
link
|
|
rockhopper Posts: 691
3/28/2026
|
Nice expedition and great photos. Thanks for sharing.
I also enjoy getting up there in the old growth trees.
|
|
|
+1
link
|