7/17/2011
Topic:
Plane Wrecks
DesertWRX
|
That's a great site! It's going to take me a while to go through it.
Thanks Daren |
6/2/2012
Topic:
Best Mylar Ballon Trip
DesertWRX
|
We call the Clark Dry Lake area "The place where Mylar balloons go to die". They are all over the valley. Here's a morning pic of the smoke dipping into Clark Dry Lake.
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/BillFX/Fire.jpg[/IMG] |
6/7/2012
Topic:
Best Mylar Ballon Trip
DesertWRX
|
This was last summer and from the reservation fire up above us in Warner Springs. Found a New Years mylar balloon a few nights ago in San Felipe Wash near the Buttes. |
6/27/2012
Topic:
Best Mylar Ballon Trip
DesertWRX
|
Not in the park but at the old Salton Sea Navy station recently
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/BillFX/Mylar.jpg[/IMG] |
7/9/2012
Topic:
2012 Annual Bighorn Sheep Count
DesertWRX
|
I was lucky enough this year to be assigned to the 1st palm grove in Palm Canyon. Beautiful spot with lots of sheep used to humans and we also had plenty of hikers to watch!
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/BillFX/IMG_0381.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/BillFX/IMG_0377.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/BillFX/IMG_0375.jpg[/IMG][IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/BillFX/IMG_0380.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/BillFX/IMG_0404.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/BillFX/IMG_0390.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/BillFX/IMG_0373.jpg[/IMG] |
7/10/2012
Topic:
2012 Annual Bighorn Sheep Count
DesertWRX
|
We had a pretty good count. We were not in the traditional area (down closer) with poor shade and no place for chairs! Won't do that again! The sheep are very used to hikers in Palm Canyon. On the last day we had a ewe walk over to us and pass behind! Guess she was curious. Counters can sit close to the sheep here.
Now on to the 911 call. We spotted 2 hikers who turned around and went back. After a while a young man came by looking like he shouldn't have been there. In about 10 minutes his dad came up calling for him. He said his son was sick and he had called 911. John Peterson of our group went down with the dad and found the son in the grove. They got him wet, hydrated, and feeling better. The father was able to call 911 to cancel even though he had no signal. Ranger Steve Beir happened to be at the trail head when the fire dept. showed up. He got a copter going and started to prepare for trip up when the fire dept. was called off.
The father was dressed for the hike and the flabby computer geek/gamer son was not prepared. First pic is the son going up. I took pictures of him because he was out of place. The second picture is of the dad and him going back.
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/BillFX/IMG_0399.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/BillFX/IMG_0401.jpg[/IMG] |
7/10/2012
Topic:
2012 Annual Bighorn Sheep Count
DesertWRX
|
He did pull a bottle out of his pocket and we couldn't see how full it was.
The canyon is the home for these sheep. They seem to be quite accustomed to the hikers. We walked right through them when we walked out one evening. It you make sudden moves they move fast. If you just do things slowly they move back a little and let you pass. Several hikers got great shots of the sheep around them and above them on rocks. I'm talking sheep about 15 feet away from them. One of the counters was telling me that he had a face to face with a ram at a distance of about 3 feet when he was hiking in that area! He wasn't too comfortable with that. |
7/10/2012
Topic:
2012 Annual Bighorn Sheep Count
DesertWRX
|
Notice the damage to the top of the right horn on the left ram. Pretty major stuff. This was one of the biggest rams we saw. |
7/12/2012
Topic:
2012 Bighorn Sheep Count
DesertWRX
|
Great photos Daren! That is one serious hike to get to your spot and I wish I was in that shape. You certainly didn't have to worry about another site seeing your sheep.
As far as aircraft counting sheep that is the only way they are able to count sheep away from the Borrego Valley and there's talk about more flights soon. If we have more volunteers I'm sure that southern areas could be staffed for the count as there are a lot of water sources down there.
I liked your spot for the cover. We were not in the right spot and were uncomfortable at our location at the 1st palm grove. |
7/17/2012
Topic:
Best Mylar Ballon Trip
DesertWRX
|
7-17-12 A trip up Coyote Canyon today to do our Adopt A Trail/Wash duties. Found only 1 Mylar balloon where the road gets close to Coyote Mtn.
Last week a friend and I were in Ocotillo Wells to look what the rain done to the park Friday (WOW!) and found 1 balloon (might have been in ABDSP, not sure). |
7/17/2012
Topic:
Big Ram in Coyote Canyon!
DesertWRX
|
Daren are you in the same group as we are? The Adopt a Trail/Wash? |
7/17/2012
Topic:
Big Ram in Coyote Canyon!
DesertWRX
|
That's what we originally wanted to do then I talked to the park headquarters and they pointed me towards the Adopt a Wash/Trail group. If today was a taste of the job, then it will be a long dirty job with a lot of satisfaction! |
7/30/2012
Topic:
Best Mylar Ballon Trip
DesertWRX
|
Thursday night (7-26-12) in Beckman Wash found a plain silver one. |
8/7/2012
Topic:
Split Mountain/Sandstone Canyon after the Rains!
DesertWRX
|
Even though the day started out nice there were flash flood warnings for that day. Luckily 911 on cell phones work without having any bars. A helicopter flew them out from the Wind Caves. |
8/10/2012
Topic:
Best Mylar Ballon Trip
DesertWRX
|
Save your Mylar balloons that you find in ABDSP!
Supervising Ranger Sue McLaughlin wants those pesky mylar balloons. Why? The State Park needs balloons to decorate their float for Borrego Days. Sue said you can bring the balloons to ranger headquarters and drop them off. Mention that they are for the float. If you are not familiar with the location of ranger headquarters it is at the intersection of Palm Canyon Dr. and S-22 (Montezuma Valley Rd.) in the old realty building. |
8/16/2012
Topic:
Split Mountain/Sandstone Canyon after the Rains!
DesertWRX
|
State parks says that it is the owner's responsibility to remove it. After that it could get more expensive I bet! |
8/22/2012
Topic:
The Destruction of Ocotillo Ca
DesertWRX
|
I started going through there in the mid 60's for our camping trips to Bow Willow. You get used to the area and think it will always be there "as is". It is so sad that public land was sold(?) to a commercial operation. And the land will have visual destruction as well as the land destroyed. Sad to think that the land was protected from off-roading but sold so some business could make money off it. |
8/24/2012
Topic:
The Destruction of Ocotillo Ca
DesertWRX
|
Are there public records anywhere that show what these industrialist payed for this desert wasteland? I'm sure that's what the BLM and businesses think of this land. Also, does anyone think that the dozer drivers and workers on this property have been told that they are to ignore any bones or other obects of interest?
<em>edited by DesertWRX on 8/24/2012</em> |
9/15/2012
Topic:
The Destruction of Ocotillo Ca
DesertWRX
|
http://www.basinandrangewatch.org/OcotilloWind-Spring2011.html |
9/15/2012
Topic:
After The Rains
DesertWRX
|
We've had 3 pretty big storms out here this summer. Each time the flood waters change the washes where the trails are. So, if you want to have some fun bring your 4WD out and try to figure where you are! Some areas are washed out, some are very sandy, and some washes are super wide, it's all great! Some signs remain to keep you from getting into areas that you don't want to go into. A simple trip up to Fonts in your mini van or rental car is a thing of the past. When nature removes or hardens the sand then they can still get up there and who knows how long that will take. Plus someone can make a lot of money pulling tourists out of Fonts Wash! |
9/16/2012
Topic:
After The Rains
DesertWRX
|
This is that fall in Sandstone Canyon early August. You used to drive up and over it on the far left. You need a rock crawler vehicle to do it now! We made it through another way.
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/BillFX/552662_10150958052736372_2039347431.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/BillFX/480470_10150958054011372_2041740162.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/BillFX/559230_10150958054726372_1265418446.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/BillFX/550969_10150958057176372_1378741298.jpg[/IMG]
We just drove through the narrow spot to get out! |
9/17/2012
Topic:
It's Not a 4WD But It Does More!
DesertWRX
|
Mute the music. Too bad it doesn't have car sounds... |
9/17/2012
Topic:
After The Rains
DesertWRX
|
We got some scratched fender flares going through the rough stuff and attempting to come back that way. We gave up on the way back and did the easy drive thru! |
9/30/2012
Topic:
Borrego Badlands
DesertWRX
|
Great trip you took everyone on. Is that a Subaru Forester in your group? How did it do on the Calcite Mine road? |
10/15/2012
Topic:
Culp Valley Fire
DesertWRX
|
Nature caused. |
10/31/2012
Topic:
Best Mylar Ballon Trip
DesertWRX
|
We were out of town and missed all the excitement. Borrego Days is the biggest event for this town. |
10/31/2012
Topic:
Rockhouse Cyn Road Conditions Report
DesertWRX
|
The rocks have been put in the parking area by rangers so people are "forced" to walk the quarter mile up the wash to get to the spring.
edited by DesertWRX on 10/31/2012
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/BillFX/photo.jpg[/IMG]
<em>edited by DesertWRX on 10/31/2012</em> |
11/7/2012
Topic:
Truck Camper
DesertWRX
|
Went to SEMA 2 years ago and they had some nice roof mount camping systems. Some were really exotic. Even with a small porch! Quite a selection. |
11/7/2012
Topic:
It's Not a 4WD But It Does More!
DesertWRX
|
Another great 2 wd off-road vehicle is my Manx clone. Drove it up to the top of Calcite Mine with nary a problem!
edited by DesertWRX on 11/21/2012 |
1/3/2013
Topic:
First Trips to ABDSP
DesertWRX
|
We camped regularly from the mid 60's on up and never really took pictures. I wish my parents had!
Here's one in Bow Willow with me and my mom.
edited by DesertWRX on 1/3/2013 |
1/30/2013
Topic:
Favorite Photos from 2012
DesertWRX
|
The handy work of termites
Arroyo Salado campground
Lone ocotillo in bloom on a mudhill December Arroyo Salado
December evening from Arroyo Salado campgound
It's going to rain! Arroyo Salado
My buggy wet & ready to go home!
Super heated steam from Complex Fires taken from the north side of West Butte
Not the safest thing to do with your kids! Top of Calcite Mine in October
Sunrise over the Salton Sea from the Calcite Mine
Fonts Point taken from the mine on West Butte in the summer
Summer storm in the Santa Rosas
Stormy summer eve from West Butte
edited by surfponto on 1/31/2013 |
1/31/2013
Topic:
Favorite Photos from 2012
DesertWRX
|
Thanks for getting my photobucket pics working! |
2/1/2013
Topic:
Favorite Photos from 2012
DesertWRX
|
I'll try that if it's a fail! |
2/1/2013
Topic:
Modern day homesteader
DesertWRX
|
Well, a bucket of parts cleaner falling out of an Osprey won't punch through their roof! |
2/1/2013
Topic:
Borrego off trail camping
DesertWRX
|
If you want to camp near bathrooms then Bow Willow, Arroyo Salado, and Fish Creek are good free campgrounds. If you have a 4wd, then there are hundreds (thousands?) of places to go near roads. mrkmc's post with the pdf is good.
edited by DesertWRX on 2/1/2013 |
2/20/2013
Topic:
Villager/Rabbit/Dawns Via Mojave & Rockhouse Cyn
DesertWRX
|
Great trip report and really enjoyed the photos. You should have seen the snow up there this morning! |
3/8/2013
Topic:
Post your Anza Borrego Sunrise Photo
DesertWRX
|
Taken from the Calcite mine.
edited by DesertWRX on 3/8/2013 |
3/30/2013
Topic:
ABDSP is just too vast
DesertWRX
|
Found there was a $10 fee up in Sheep Canyon's backcountry campground. I guess you pay it if you use an established site with table and fire ring. There's an "Iron Ranger" there to deposit your money in. |
4/3/2013
Topic:
Indio Fish Traps and SSTB
DesertWRX
|
surfponto wrote:
I remember camping 20 +years ago in the proximity of the Navy range. (Carrizo Impact Area)
We pulled up in the dark and in the morning realized we were actually in the no-camp zone 
Supposedly there were un-exploded ordinances all over that area at one point, or so I have heard.
A couple weeks ago the park detonated a found explosive device out there. Also the Navy does live firing out near the sand dunes at the old SS test base. There are no signs saying KEEP OUT!
edited by DesertWRX on 4/3/2013 |
4/4/2013
Topic:
ABDSP is just too vast
DesertWRX
|
Nolan (anutami) wrote:
I am thinking about heading out there next week for a backpack trip. Is there water in the canyon? Did you check out cougar canyon? How is boulder ally? Thanks
There's water in all 3 crossings. Not very deep. In the afternoon the water in First Crossing goes underground. The Bypass Rd, also know as Boulder Alley is just a steep bumpy road now days. I'm toying with the idea of trying to do it in a 2 wd vehicle. Parked at 3rd crossing was an Audi A4 the other day. Goes to show ya that a driver in a low car and some smarts can get a long way in Coyote Canyon.
edited by DesertWRX on 4/4/2013
edited by DesertWRX on 4/4/2013 |
4/5/2013
Topic:
Coyote Canyon "Boulder Alley"
DesertWRX
|
The Bypss Road is now a steep cobblestone route. Bumpy, but easy to get up. |
4/5/2013
Topic:
West Mesa and Ancient Lake Cahuilla
DesertWRX
|
http://www.scahome.org/publications/proceedings/Proceedings.08Laylander.pdf |
4/5/2013
Topic:
West Mesa and Ancient Lake Cahuilla
DesertWRX
|
|