anza borrego trails on feb. 17-18

[viter]

Hi guys and girls,
I will be in the desert nearby ocotillo on Saturday, feb. 17 to help pit for a friend of mine who is racing a truck in a FUD 200 race. race starts at 8 am and will probably be over for me by about 12. Majority of my friends will be driving back to San Diego right after it but I would like to go on a small 4-wheeling trip since I am already in the desert.

I thought something like this could be fun - from Ocotillo take imperial highway (S2) to canyon sin nombre, then onto arroyo seco del diablo, thru diablo drop-off to fish creek canyon, then either visit wind caves by following east thru fish creek wash and then coming back to the junction and continuing west on fish creek wash to the hapaha flat road or just go straight west thru fish creek wash to hapaha flat road, take that to Pinyon drop-off, drive it backwards (up) and continue back to S2 on Pinyon mountain road. Then take S2 a little south to rodriguez canyon road and take that (or a little detour thru oriflamme canyon and chariot canyon) to road 78, then 78 east to 79 south, to 8, and back to san diego.

little background info:

While I drove around the desert by Ocotillo/Superstition/Sand Dam somewhat a lot, I am quite unfamiliar with the planned route, except for running canyon sin nombre and down carrizo creek wash to the east.

I drive a 2003 double cab tacoma, 4x4 with rear trd locker, 31" bfg mt tires, about 2" lift, and NO sliders. I do have an M8000 winch, as well as high lift, some aluminum boards to use as sand-ladders, shovel, strap, and a small hand winch. Also have snorkel and a cb.

questions:

1. anybody wants to come?

2. (for people familiar with this area) how long approximately do you think this trip will take?

my guess is that it will be impossible to do it in Saturday afternoon and consequently plan would be to drive part of it on Saturday, then make camp, and then finish on Sunday morning/day.

3. consequently, where could be a nice place to camp along the way if I was to split this trip in two halfs?

4. any suggestions on the route and interesting things to see along the way?

5. are wind caves worth the detour?

I know some of you guys know this area quite well and I would really appreciate your suggestions!

 

[calamaridog]

I so want to come, but I'm packing and moving Grandma on the 17th.

It's too bad Mason Valley Truck Trail is gated at the 79. Otherwise, you could skip a good portion of the pavement. I'm not sure why they lock the gate?

 

[goodtimes]

If you have never been up Pinyon Drop off (AKA: Heart attack hill), you might want to give yourself some extra time. I have tried several times to go that route, but someone in the group always either decided not to go up it, or can't make it up the hill, so we have always had to back track our way back out the east end of Fish Creek Wash. It usually takes us a full day to run the basic route you are talking about, with one detour to see the mud caves (depending on how far up the mud caves you want to hike, add 1 - 2 hours), then back tracking Fish Creek from west to east as I already mentioned.

Diablo Drop off has gotton very tame, at least the last time I was there (2 years ago). In fact, I drove up it...in reverse...with no problem.

What you have is a nice route...I'd do it again if I was closer.

Oh, there is a good camp spot along Fish Creek Wash, west of Split Rock, east of HAH. There is a road heading north (very obvious trail). I don't recall how it is signed...oh, see #9 on the map you posted...that appears to be it. Good level spot, big enough for 6 or 8 vehicles at the end of that road....

 

[MountainBiker]

Looks like a nice trip!

A few side trips that are interesting:
-Carrizo Creek Wash east, interesting drive through the water (if there is enough water)
-Wind Caves are pretty neat, they are a ~1 mile uphill hike away from the road.
-Sandstone Canyon is an awesome detour!

 

[viter]

thank you for all your suggestions everybody!
I will try to do the wind caves and sand stone canyon and possibly carrizo creek wash east. Although I've been thru carrizo creek wash east before (on New Year) and am thinking that there might be more water there than I'd like to go through - considering on New Year there were some spots just somewhat deep, after recent rains I am not sure how deep it got. Anybody know how deep it gets there after rains (not flashflood, just after some rains)?

 

[Gear]

PM sent.

 

[Scenic WonderRunner]

Viter,

I'm following your planning thread. If I were not heading up to the Randsburg, CA. area this weekend........I would join you!

The areas you suggest are just 65 miles from my home.

Anytime you get the urge to head out there just give me a shout!

Last year after some heavy rains, I attempted to head up the del Diablo trail and the drop off.

The rains made a mess of the start of the del Diablo and the clay like muddy muck formed a solid ring around my tires. Filling in all my lugs.....so I was just spinning freely and could not get traction at all.

I turned around to live for another day.

So just watch out for the muck that can stop you in your tracks out there. Don't get sucked in without any help.

Have FUN!

 

[viter]

thanks for advice on the phone Justin!

scenic wonderrunner, I'll post it here again if I go again in the future; oh and I like mud but only till I get stuck in it for hours and definitely not during an hour spent washing my truck off asfterwards we'll see what happens

 

[calamaridog]

Weather should be clear until Sunday PM, it looks like. Have fun. Very sorry to miss this, you'll be right in my backyard.

 

[viter]

thanks! I will!

 

[viter]

well, I guess it is a good thing I could not find anybody to go with me cause my truck broke for the first time in 90000 miles this Saturday and had to be towed back to SD on a trailer by my good friends.
On friday night when we got out to the desert I noticed that my steering rack had gotten a lot more worn out and was making loud clunking noises. This led to a decision that probably going out on my own for a 24 hour 4wheeling adventure might not be a good idea - don't want to beat up the steering rack to a point where it stops working at all and all the power steering fluid leaks out and the pump gets fried. Next day after watching and helping out at the race (FUD 200) as we were driving back on the highway to the freeway my rear wheel bearing seized up , started dragging, and spitting out diff fluid at the wheel. Since no replacement was available (nor was I sure how to do it) my truck had to be towed back to SD on a u-haul trailer by one of my friends' dad - which was very nice of him and saved me a ton of money.

when I fix my truck I am sure I'll try to do this run again and this time with other people and vehicles for sure

 

[calamaridog]

Sorry about your troubles. Good luck with your repairs. Hopefully, I'll be able to make the next date.