Edited to add details:
Blair Valley Loop, Anza Borrego Desert State Park, with hiking to Ghost Mountain (Marshal South home site), Morteros and Pictograph Hiking Trails.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.
Meet Time / Spot: Saturday March 3, 2012 -
10:00 AM at
Blair Valley Primitive Camp, Anza Borrego Desert State Park, San Diego County.
Approx. 5.5 miles south of Scissors Crossing (the spot where County Road 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. The campground, and even most of the trails we'll be on, are clearly marked on the Auto Club San Diego Region paper map, on all Anza Borrego Desert State Park paper maps, and on pretty much all other paper maps of the area.
This route should be stock and even 2WD friendly the entire way, but I have not been out there since Fall 2011 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.
You can read about Marshal South here:
http://marshalsouth.com/index.aspAfter lunch somewhere in the valley (we know a good spot that we've used in the past) 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 other parts of Anza Borrego so the vegetation is completely different, and much more abundant. From the rock it's another 1/2 mile or so out to an amazing overlook view of the Carrizo Badlands. On the way back out to the highway, if time permits, we can also do the easy half mile or so hike to the Morteros, the site of an old Indian village.
Optional Camping Saturday Night: I don't plan to camp, but there are several options for camping on Saturday (or Friday) 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. Let me know if you want some specific suggestions or ideas. Keep in mind that ground fires are not allowed in the State Park, you will need a metal fire container.
Reference:Wells
Guide to So Cal Backroads & 4WD Trails, number 53, page 191.
Comm:FRS Channel 3, sub-code 24CB Channel 24 (let me know in advance, as I may not turn on the CB otherwise).
Let me know if you're interested. Also, anyone coming from the San Diego area is welcome to caravan out with me. Check with me for details of where to meet. I'll be leaving the area of the intersection of Scripps Poway Parkway and Pomerado Road at 8:00AM.
Please post any comments, suggestions or questions.
Also - Please be sure to let me know you're coming so we don't wind up waiting too long at the meet spot.
