Topic: Anza Borrego - Sat 21 Jan 2012 - anyone interested?

[FrankB]

I'm thinking of heading back out to Anza Borrego on Saturday, 21 January, and thought I would see if anyone here is interested in joining.

I'm not sure just where I'll be going yet, will decide based on weather Saturday morning, and maybe what Heather prefers to see. She wasn't able to go last weekend, so I may just let her decide. We can meet at the State Park Visitor Center at 10:00AM.

Possible routes include:

• 17 Palms Oasis - 5 Palms Oasis - Pumpkin Patch - Vista del Malpais - Short Wash - Fonts Point.

• San Felipe Wash - Borrego Mountain Wash - Blow Sand Canyon - Goat Trail - Hawk Canyon - Buttes Pass.

• Fish Creek - Sandstone Canyon.

This would be an all-day thing, with stops for photos and maybe some light hiking along the way. Plan to bring a lunch. If you're new here, and/or have not been with me on a run, please be sure to read the Xcursion Requirements thread. Anyone coming from San Diego can caravan out with me if desired.

4WD required, since we don't know where we're going yet.

If interested, be sure to let me know in advance, as I may bypass the Visitor Center if it's just going to be me.

Edit 1/19: Going to Fish Creek. Will not be stopping at Visitor Center.

[Impact619]

Aww, man, would love to go, but I'm up in OC and LA this weekend.  Definitely up for going some other time, though... Especially the first two route options that I haven't done yet!

Have fun!

-Thomas-

[Ghost65]

Thanks for the offer, but I have a work function both Saturday and Sunday. 

Hopefully some of the new members can make this one, I know there have been quite a few inquiries about an ABDSP trip.

[occupantX]

Thanks Frank, yes I'm interested!  Haven't been to 17 Palms Oasis before, and years since I've been in Sandstone Canyon.

[FrankB]

Thanks Frank, yes I'm interested!  Haven't been to 17 Palms Oasis before, and years since I've been in Sandstone Canyon.

Hi Hennie. The latest forecast says chance of showers on Saturday, so we'll wait until last minute to decide where exactly to go out there. It doesn't rain that hard out there this time of year, and there may not be much at all really.

How about we meet at the Chevron station by my house (Pomerado and Scripps Poway) at around 8:00AM?   Depending on where we decide to go we may skip the Visitor Center stop if no one else is meeting there.

[KickinTires]

Frank,

Yup, I'm in...  I'll meet you and Hennie @ 8:00am at the Chevron gas station as per normal.  My vote is for Fish Creek -Standstone Canyon area, but I'm open to all options...

[FrankB]

Looks like it will be Fish Creek, with a hike up to the Wind Caves followed by a drive to see what Sandstone Canyon looks like these days. I've not been out there since last Spring.

For anyone else thinking of joining - I'm going to skip the stop at the Visitor Center, since it's out of the way coming from San Diego. Contact me directly and we can figure out where to meet.

[InsideOut104]

Hey Frank! My gf and dogs and I might be tagging along. Won't know for sure until tonight. Pretty sure I have your phone number though so I will call you and let you know for sure for sure. Is a text better?

Do you know if you plan to get out and walk around at all? My dogs will need to get out and stretch a little bit during the trip..

[FrankB]

Hey Frank! My gf and dogs and I might be tagging along. Won't know for sure until tonight. Pretty sure I have your phone number though so I will call you and let you know for sure for sure. Is a text better?

Do you know if you plan to get out and walk around at all? My dogs will need to get and stretch a little bit during the trip..

If I'm driving (i.e. after 8AM) a call is probably better than a text. We're going to meet at the Chevron at the corner of Pomerado and Scripps Poway Parkway at 8:00AM. I seem to recall you may be coming from Santee or thereabouts. If you want, you can meet us as we pass the intersection of Hwy 67 and Scripps Poway Pkwy at about 8:15AM. There is a little paved parking area where you can wait for us on the north side of 67 right across from SPP.  Best to call and let me know if you do plan to go.

We do plan to get out and walk - we're going to hike up to the Wind Caves for sure, maybe also a walk to the end of Sandstone Canyon too.  Wind Caves is about a mile each way, easy to moderate in a couple of spots. Maybe at least a mile or so in Sandstone Canyon too.

Re the dogs: the State Park regs say that dogs can only be on the roads, and are not allowed on the hiking trails or just out and about. It's up to you what to do - I like dogs, and I've seen lots of dogs out there, but I also know that there is almost always a ranger or two in Fish Creek. That area gets a lot of use, and thus a lot of ranger patroling as well. I don't know how strictly they enforce that rule, but just wanted you to be aware of it. Sometimes they get pretty picky about things.

[Orphanboy]

I'm new and old (48) and our names are Jeff and Shanlynn,

Got a 2011 S 4x.  We keep her out in AZ, we have a place in Superior.

Thinking I should bring her back to SD with so many Enthusiasts in the area we may be able to use her waay more out his way than that.

Seems you have some great places to go.  I have been in SD for 9 years (Navy) and I am sure much of where you go will be new to us!

Thanks/

Jeff/Shan

[Xtracrispy]

I would go but I'm already heading out to a different part of the desert to go riding. 

[FrankB]

I'm new and old (48) and our names are Jeff and Shanlynn,

Got a 2011 S 4x.  We keep her out in AZ, we have a place in Superior.

Thinking I should bring her back to SD with so many Enthusiasts in the area we may be able to use her waay more out his way than that.

Seems you have some great places to go.  I have been in SD for 9 years (Navy) and I am sure much of where you go will be new to us!

Thanks/

Jeff/Shan

Welcome to the club Jeff and Shan.  Let us know when you get the Xterra out here from AZ, and we can set something up.  There is a fairly active Xterra club in AZ though, you might want to check that out as well.

[FrankB]

Heather and I had a great time today. Thanks for joining us Mark and Hennie.

We went to Fish Creek and Sandstone Canyon. We hiked up to the Wind Caves and also the last 1.2 miles or so of Sandstone Canyon (from the point of the Easter 2010 rockfall back to just beyond the farthest spot you used to be able to drive to.

One thing different about this trip, compared to all the other times I've been out there, was the very high wind. We got seriously sandblasted walking up Sandstone Canyon, to the point of it being painful at times. The sand got into everything. We also got to see first hand how all those little cholla balls wind up on the floor of the canyon. Turns out they get down there with enough speed to pierce clothing and even skin (mine).

A couple of observations for anyone thinking of heading out that way:

As of right now you do the entire route up Fish Creek and to the end of Sandstone Canyon in 2WD. The only time I even engaged 4WD was in Loop Wash, which is the optional route for a portion of the way. Obviously trails can change, but for now there are no big rocks, and very little soft sand patches.

There is a bypass of sorts carved around both the first and second rockfalls in Sandstone Canyon. We didn't try them, electing to walk instead. We did see a 4-door Jeep that had gone through (and a couple more that did not attempt). I think any lifted Jeep would have no problems, anything bigger, or with maybe less articulation might have a few issues. I think a stock height Xterra might get hung up in a couple of spots. One with lift and bumpers could probably get over both with some care.

I'll get some pictures up a little later.
 

[IRON X]

I was actually out in ocotillo wells earlier today (my group and I camped last nite). We went out riding on some trails and had a good time, but when we came back to our campsite we found that the wind had done a number on our tents and everything we had set up :/ We were gonna stay tonite also but the strong wind and sand was too much to handle.