If there really is a WWII tank half buried in Military Wash, we couldn't find it, but we did find a lot of other interesting stuff along the way. In WWII troops trained in this area.
Marty and Fred agreed to help out in the search, and Fred had 2 passengers riding with him as well. We started out in Ella Wash, tracking south from S-22 down to Short Wash, then continuing south through Fault Wash and Cut-Across Wash to the top of Military Wash. We travelled south the length of Military Wash, stopping to explore along the way. No sign of any buried tank, but we did find the reinforced concrete remains of two "rake stations", lots of .50 cal and 20mm projectiles, some in better shape than others.
All of the recent rain has produced some really green palo verdes, and even some in bloom. This one is in Ella Wash just south of S-22.
Exploring in Anza Borrego - Sunday 2/1/09
Fault Wash has some amazing rock formations.
Exploring in Anza Borrego - Sunday 2/1/09
I found descriptions of this rock outcropping in an old military document detailing the clean up of the area, It sounds like there may have been a track along the length of it on which targets were pulled. We found a lot of 20mm and .50 cal projectiles here. We left what we found in place.
Exploring in Anza Borrego - Sunday 2/1/09
Exploring in Anza Borrego - Sunday 2/1/09
Here's what I think is a 20mm armor piercing projectile. (That's not where we found it, by the way.)
Exploring in Anza Borrego - Sunday 2/1/09
Here you can see the hardened core of the 20mm round (on the left).
Exploring in Anza Borrego - Sunday 2/1/09
Exploring in Anza Borrego - Sunday 2/1/09
It's amazing what can happen when one projectile hits another.
Exploring in Anza Borrego - Sunday 2/1/09
Exploring in Anza Borrego - Sunday 2/1/09
The natural stuff in Military Wash is interesting too.
Exploring in Anza Borrego - Sunday 2/1/09
After Military Wash we worked our way west along San Felipe Wash, with a side trip down Borrego Canyon Wash.
Exploring in Anza Borrego - Sunday 2/1/09
Exploring in Anza Borrego - Sunday 2/1/09
Exploring in Anza Borrego - Sunday 2/1/09
Exploring in Anza Borrego - Sunday 2/1/09
Exploring in Anza Borrego - Sunday 2/1/09