Topic: CANCEL - LACK OF INTEREST Sunday 4/11: Anza Borrego - Blair Valley Loop & Hiking

[FrankB]

Since it looks like Brian has postponed the Mojave Road trip, I'll set up a day trip to Blair Valley in Anza Borrego if anyone is interested. I'm busy on Saturday so we'll do this one on Sunday, but if anyone wants to camp out on Saturday night there are lots of options in that area.

Blair Valley Loop, Anza Borrego Desert State Park, with hiking to Ghost Mountain (Marshal South home site), Morteros and Pictograph Hiking Trails.

Sunday April 11: This is a mild one, with probably more time out of the trucks hiking than driving. Blair Valley Loop is an easy 14 miles or so of mostly sandy trail, with 3 nice hikes along the way. We've done this one a few times in the past, there are picture threads in case you're wondering what it looks like.

This route should be stock and even 2WD friendly the entire way, but I have not been out there since late November 2009 to confirm.

We'll start out driving the long way around through Blair Valley to the trailhead for Yaquitepec, the site of Marshal South's family home on the top of Ghost Mountain. The hiking trail is a steep 1-mile each way, with a significant elevation gain on the way up. Wear sturdy shoes. At the top are the remains of the adobe home and South's elaborate water system. The views from the home site on the summit of Ghost Mountain are spectacular. The cactus flowers should be in bloom too.

You can read about Marshal South here: http://marshalsouth.com/index.asp

After lunch somewhere in the valley we'll drive to the trail head for the Pictograph Hiking Trail, an easy 1-mile each way trail that leads to a large boulder covered with Indian pictographs. This area sits at a much higher elevation than where we were in November (Fish Creek), the vegetation is completely different, and much more abundant. I have not seen it, but I understand that if we continue on past the Pictograph rock for another 1/4 mile or so there is a nice overlook view of the Carrizo Badlands. If time permits we can also do the half mile or so hike to the Morteros, the site of an old Indian village.

Camping Saturday Night: There are several options for camping on Saturday if anyone is interested. There is a State Park Primitive Camp at Blair Valley, with vault toilets. You can also camp in other parts of the valley, there are marked and unmarked spots in both Blair Valley and Little Blair Valley. Across S-2 and south a bit is the entrance to Chariot and Rodriquez Canyons, there are a few nice camp spots in there as well.

Meet Time / Spot: Sunday April 11 - 10:00 AM at Blair Valley Primitive Camp, Anza Borrego Desert State Park, San Diego County
Approx. 5.5 miles south of Scissors Crossing (where S-2 crosses SR 78) on County Road S-2, look for the campground and vault toilet building on the left, just before mile post 23.

Reference:

Wells Guide to So Cal Backroads & 4WD Trails, number 53, page 191.

Comm:

FRS Channel 4, sub-code 24
CB Channel 24

Let me know if you're interested, and if you plan to camp the night before. Also, anyone coming from the San Diego area is welcome to caravan out with me.

Please post any comments, suggestions or questions.

[FrankB]

Lots of views but I guess no one is interested.  I'll give it till maybe Wednesday then decide about canceling for lack of interest.

[fleury123]

I will give you a maybe but its a drive for me. i am dying to test out the new X. I have only driven on some fire roads on base...sigh

[FrankB]

Looks like no one was interested, so I've cancelled this one.  Maybe someone else can come up with an idea for a run this month.

[Goldfish]

Thanks for trying Frank. Don't get discouraged. It has been a long time since Denise and I have been out with the club. One thing or another always seems to fall on the same day as an xcursion lately.

[Paul]

And this is my annual Las Vegas week long trip. 

[Ghost65]

Looks like no one was interested, so I've cancelled this one.  Maybe someone else can come up with an idea for a run this month.

Frank, I am really sorry that I couldn't make this.    Really want to support your SCCX efforts! 

I am actually working on Saturday the 10th, and it is my Mom's birthday on Sunday the 11th. 

Is there another weekend day over the next few weeks you would like to go? 

I was just out in Borrego last week, and it was very windy on Wednesday when we played golf, but beautiful on Thursday and Friday when we hiked the Culp Valley Riding and Hiking trail from the Hellhole Canyon trialhead parking lot, right at the bottom of S22.  I also drove out to Fonts Point, the Thimble Trail, and did a little trail noodling in the Truckhaven area.