Explorer 1
Explorer 1
Anza Borrego GHFC 4-Wheel Friends January 2013
Our first stop was Tamarisk Grove camp grounds where we will meet up with Matt, Ryan and Will later that evening, (Saturday). We arrived early enough to unload some of our gear and then venture out to explore Blair Valley. Here are a few interesting sites especially for those into old Indian camps. The odd couple that decided to go Bohemian and withdrawal from the world to live so to speak off the land in a rather primitive way made the abode just off of lair Valley on Ghost Mountain. Their experiment stared in 1932, They raised two kids and built a small home. I like what one of the guide books says "The experiment ended in 1947 when the two got a divorce.
Blair Valley has several open desert camping sites and I'm sure it is a real attraction to some, but I found the valley rather boring.
Our friends made it to our campsite about 10:30 pm, we got up early to enjoy a full breakfast next to the fire and head off to a full day exploring.
First trail was the Pinyon Mountain road with obstacles names the "Squeeze" and Heart Attack Hill".
In our group of 5 vehicles there wasn't a single locked rear axle. Two had locked front axles and the other three were open all around. I was driving our groups "project" vehicle, a 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee with 215,000 miles. It has the in line 6 cylinder with the Chrysler automatic transmission and the 242 transfer case. The front is a Dana 30 and rear the Dana 35. We recently added a 2 " lift and 32" BFG Km2s. There was an 1995 XJ with 270,000 miles and a 1987 MJ with 205,000. Lets' see, that's beginning to get close to 3/4 a million miles between three XJ's. The other vehicles were a older Land Rover Disco and a 1998 XJ.
We all made it through the Squeeze without damage and proceeded through the rock gardens and climbs shortly thereafter. Only once did we need to pull out the tow strap when the Disco couldn't make it over one of the rock climbs along the trail.
We took a sharp right into Sandstone canyon and shortly before one of the narrow parts where a vehicle size rock has fallen and narrowed the canyon, a group of newer FJ Cruisers all decked out with their fancy off road gear was parked with their "off road" BBQ's having lunch. I guess they didn't want to chance a scratch continuing through the more narrow part.
From this point Sandstone Canyon has in an increased frequency either narrower sections or an rock obstacle that would cause wider or lesser skilled driver to back off. I decided to allow the weakest link of our group to decide how far we went. I kept quiet and waited for one of the guys to complain.........to the less experienced driver's credit, they never did and we made it all the way to the end.
Our project vehicle a 1997 ZJ, did great!
The canyon is rather narrow at the end and turning around a small group can require some odd maneuvering. Here is where we had our first "breakdown" it seems the Disco driver trying to turn around struck a large rock and unknown to him severely bent his tie rod. Then trying to turn used the push from his power steering unit to complete the bend. Darkness was only a few hours away and this was a less than desirable place to camp, so he gathered his essential gear and we left the Disco to find a better camp spot.
Interesting enough the Disco owner has a spare..... that is a spare Disco or the same vintage in his driveway at home for spare parts. The plan will be to find cell service and have one of his friends transport the spare tie rod out to Borrego Springs the next day where we'll meet and then travel back up the canyon for a fix.
We traveled out to Fish Creek wash to a side canyon to camp arriving in the dark, ( I just love setting up camp and cooking in the dark!)
Instead of setting up a tent, one slept under the vehicle!
Contact made with the friend, we'll meet him at the traffic circle in Borrego Springs at 1 pm. So with some time the next day we heading off to Canyon Sin Nombre via Diablo Dropoff.
Some fun climbs and minor rock obstacles which all made on the own power. Then off to town where we successfully picked up our tie rod. At he traffic circle we found this jewel waiting to be pick up by someone, a bit over priced though,
Then off to Sandstone Canyon this time via Fish Wash and Split Mountain.
The Disco was fixed quickly and we were of again but this time we headed for pavement and then home.
One of the guys fixed a Go Pro camera to his hood and along with some other footage he made a movie showing both views synchronized on a single screen, very cool. Maybe I'll post some of the squeeze or some other part he did. So much to see and explore around Anza Borrego, sure to visit again.
Thanks,
Fred
Explorer 1
Our first stop was Tamarisk Grove camp grounds where we will meet up with Matt, Ryan and Will later that evening, (Saturday). We arrived early enough to unload some of our gear and then venture out to explore Blair Valley. Here are a few interesting sites especially for those into old Indian camps. The odd couple that decided to go Bohemian and withdrawal from the world to live so to speak off the land in a rather primitive way made the abode just off of lair Valley on Ghost Mountain. Their experiment stared in 1932, They raised two kids and built a small home. I like what one of the guide books says "The experiment ended in 1947 when the two got a divorce.
Blair Valley has several open desert camping sites and I'm sure it is a real attraction to some, but I found the valley rather boring.
Our friends made it to our campsite about 10:30 pm, we got up early to enjoy a full breakfast next to the fire and head off to a full day exploring.
First trail was the Pinyon Mountain road with obstacles names the "Squeeze" and Heart Attack Hill".
In our group of 5 vehicles there wasn't a single locked rear axle. Two had locked front axles and the other three were open all around. I was driving our groups "project" vehicle, a 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee with 215,000 miles. It has the in line 6 cylinder with the Chrysler automatic transmission and the 242 transfer case. The front is a Dana 30 and rear the Dana 35. We recently added a 2 " lift and 32" BFG Km2s. There was an 1995 XJ with 270,000 miles and a 1987 MJ with 205,000. Lets' see, that's beginning to get close to 3/4 a million miles between three XJ's. The other vehicles were a older Land Rover Disco and a 1998 XJ.
We all made it through the Squeeze without damage and proceeded through the rock gardens and climbs shortly thereafter. Only once did we need to pull out the tow strap when the Disco couldn't make it over one of the rock climbs along the trail.
We took a sharp right into Sandstone canyon and shortly before one of the narrow parts where a vehicle size rock has fallen and narrowed the canyon, a group of newer FJ Cruisers all decked out with their fancy off road gear was parked with their "off road" BBQ's having lunch. I guess they didn't want to chance a scratch continuing through the more narrow part.
From this point Sandstone Canyon has in an increased frequency either narrower sections or an rock obstacle that would cause wider or lesser skilled driver to back off. I decided to allow the weakest link of our group to decide how far we went. I kept quiet and waited for one of the guys to complain.........to the less experienced driver's credit, they never did and we made it all the way to the end.
Our project vehicle a 1997 ZJ, did great!
The canyon is rather narrow at the end and turning around a small group can require some odd maneuvering. Here is where we had our first "breakdown" it seems the Disco driver trying to turn around struck a large rock and unknown to him severely bent his tie rod. Then trying to turn used the push from his power steering unit to complete the bend. Darkness was only a few hours away and this was a less than desirable place to camp, so he gathered his essential gear and we left the Disco to find a better camp spot.
Interesting enough the Disco owner has a spare..... that is a spare Disco or the same vintage in his driveway at home for spare parts. The plan will be to find cell service and have one of his friends transport the spare tie rod out to Borrego Springs the next day where we'll meet and then travel back up the canyon for a fix.
We traveled out to Fish Creek wash to a side canyon to camp arriving in the dark, ( I just love setting up camp and cooking in the dark!)
Instead of setting up a tent, one slept under the vehicle!
Contact made with the friend, we'll meet him at the traffic circle in Borrego Springs at 1 pm. So with some time the next day we heading off to Canyon Sin Nombre via Diablo Dropoff.
Some fun climbs and minor rock obstacles which all made on the own power. Then off to town where we successfully picked up our tie rod. At he traffic circle we found this jewel waiting to be pick up by someone, a bit over priced though,
Then off to Sandstone Canyon this time via Fish Wash and Split Mountain.
The Disco was fixed quickly and we were of again but this time we headed for pavement and then home.
One of the guys fixed a Go Pro camera to his hood and along with some other footage he made a movie showing both views synchronized on a single screen, very cool. Maybe I'll post some of the squeeze or some other part he did. So much to see and explore around Anza Borrego, sure to visit again.
Thanks,
Fred
Explorer 1
