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Author Topic: Blair Valley and Oriflamme Canyon 2-2009  (Read 18559 times)

Paul

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Blair Valley and Oriflamme Canyon 2-2009
« on: February 22, 2009, 06:28:13 PM »
Blair Valley started out fun - a bit of water to play in.  :o

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/02-09%20Blair%20Valley/BlairValley01.jpg
Blair Valley and Oriflamme Canyon 2-2009


http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/02-09%20Blair%20Valley/BlairValley02.jpg
Blair Valley and Oriflamme Canyon 2-2009


First stop was the Marshall South homestead - Yaquitepec or Ghost Mountain. The "mile" walk up about a 900 foot high hill was a nice work out.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/02-09%20Blair%20Valley/BlairValley03.jpg
Blair Valley and Oriflamme Canyon 2-2009


http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/02-09%20Blair%20Valley/BlairValley04.jpg
Blair Valley and Oriflamme Canyon 2-2009


Nice views up there but really!

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/02-09%20Blair%20Valley/BlairValley05.jpg
Blair Valley and Oriflamme Canyon 2-2009


http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/02-09%20Blair%20Valley/BlairValley06.jpg
Blair Valley and Oriflamme Canyon 2-2009


http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/02-09%20Blair%20Valley/BlairValley08.jpg
Blair Valley and Oriflamme Canyon 2-2009


We came down and went off a bit to have lunch. Frank provide his famous Julian Dutch Apple pies.  :)

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/02-09%20Blair%20Valley/BlairValley09.jpg
Blair Valley and Oriflamme Canyon 2-2009


http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/02-09%20Blair%20Valley/BlairValley10.jpg
Blair Valley and Oriflamme Canyon 2-2009

« Last Edit: February 22, 2009, 08:25:54 PM by Paul »
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Paul

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Blair Valley Part Two
« Reply #1 on: February 22, 2009, 06:34:55 PM »
During lunch the clouds rolled in and we were treated by a couple of fly-bys by pairs of Navy F/A-18's.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/02-09%20Blair%20Valley/BlairValley11.jpg
Blair Valley and Oriflamme Canyon 2-2009


Next trip was to the Morteros which are small holes ground into the rocks by the native Kumeyaay indians to grind seeds.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/02-09%20Blair%20Valley/BlairValley12.jpg
Blair Valley and Oriflamme Canyon 2-2009


The small holes were located in many places. According to research done by Eric they seemed to be filled with mostly mouse urine.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/02-09%20Blair%20Valley/BlairValley13.jpg
Blair Valley and Oriflamme Canyon 2-2009


The view downwards into the valley

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/02-09%20Blair%20Valley/BlairValley14.jpg
Blair Valley and Oriflamme Canyon 2-2009


The next trip was off to pictographs. This walk was much easier than the first two. Here's my wife checking them out to see if they're written in Thai.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/02-09%20Blair%20Valley/BlairValley15.jpg
Blair Valley and Oriflamme Canyon 2-2009


Here's Mitch seeing if they're written in space alien.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/02-09%20Blair%20Valley/BlairValley16.jpg
Blair Valley and Oriflamme Canyon 2-2009


Jeff watching.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/02-09%20Blair%20Valley/BlairValley17.jpg
Blair Valley and Oriflamme Canyon 2-2009


Come evening we found another lengthy water spot to play in.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/02-09%20Blair%20Valley/BlairValley18.jpg
Blair Valley and Oriflamme Canyon 2-2009


Pictures right before Frank and Mitch had to leave.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/02-09%20Blair%20Valley/BlairValley20.jpg
Blair Valley and Oriflamme Canyon 2-2009


« Last Edit: February 22, 2009, 07:21:11 PM by Paul »
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Paul

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Blair Valley Part Three
« Reply #2 on: February 22, 2009, 06:38:57 PM »
Saying good-bye and trying to decide were to camp.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/02-09%20Blair%20Valley/BlairValley21.jpg
Blair Valley and Oriflamme Canyon 2-2009


A view downwards into Little Blair Valley from where we eventually camped.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/02-09%20Blair%20Valley/BlairValley22.jpg
Blair Valley and Oriflamme Canyon 2-2009


Trixie the Wonder Dog in a less than wondrous moment.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/02-09%20Blair%20Valley/BlairValley23.jpg
Blair Valley and Oriflamme Canyon 2-2009


That night the coyotes were all around us - you could hear the howling all night long as the pack found kill after kill. Jeff was going to sleep out under the stars but thought the better of it. It did rain just the slightest amount Saturday night. It got down to 41 degrees according to my thermometer.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/02-09%20Blair%20Valley/BlairValley24.jpg
Blair Valley and Oriflamme Canyon 2-2009


Morning looking down on the campers.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/02-09%20Blair%20Valley/BlairValley25.jpg
Blair Valley and Oriflamme Canyon 2-2009
« Last Edit: February 22, 2009, 07:21:43 PM by Paul »
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Paul

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Oriflamme Canyon
« Reply #3 on: February 22, 2009, 06:50:34 PM »
The next morning we decided for a short run though Oriflamme Canyon which is a black square/moderate rated trail just to the west of Blair Valley. There's a nice loop there where you can go up Oriflamme and down Rodriquez Canyons. There were also some really nice meadows up just outside the park border on Oriflamme which would support several trucks. Great spots along the stream bed with trees and sandy tent sites.

The entrance to Oriflamme is just down the S-2 about 5 miles. Someone knew we were coming.  :D

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/02-09%20Blair%20Valley/OriflammeCanyon01.jpg
Blair Valley and Oriflamme Canyon 2-2009


There were lots of bumps and rocks but nothing too serious. A couple two or three spots that you had to choose your line correctly. About a quarter of the way into the canyon it starts climbing the typical shelf road.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/02-09%20Blair%20Valley/OriflammeCanyon02.jpg
Blair Valley and Oriflamme Canyon 2-2009


Lance and Eric posing backed up to about a 200 foot drop off.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/02-09%20Blair%20Valley/OriflammeCanyon03.jpg
Blair Valley and Oriflamme Canyon 2-2009


Don catching a bit of air!

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/02-09%20Blair%20Valley/OriflammeCanyon04.jpg
Blair Valley and Oriflamme Canyon 2-2009


The clouds were out again and we took a few rain drops.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/02-09%20Blair%20Valley/OriflammeCanyon05.jpg
Blair Valley and Oriflamme Canyon 2-2009


The Chariot Mine site.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/02-09%20Blair%20Valley/OriflammeCanyon06.jpg
Blair Valley and Oriflamme Canyon 2-2009


Looking back towards the east to Blair Valley

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/02-09%20Blair%20Valley/OriflammeCanyon07.jpg
Blair Valley and Oriflamme Canyon 2-2009


Above and to the south of the Chariot Mine site were two unusual sites at the top of the opposite side of the valley from us. The sites had a double razor wire fence, what looks to be a guard tower - a lot of effort but what is it? I've got to Google Earth the site and see what it looks like.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/02-09%20Blair%20Valley/OriflammeCanyon08.jpg
Blair Valley and Oriflamme Canyon 2-2009


http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/02-09%20Blair%20Valley/OriflammeCanyon09.jpg
Blair Valley and Oriflamme Canyon 2-2009


Not everyone makes it out of Oriflamme Canyon alive!  :-\

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/02-09%20Blair%20Valley/OriflammeCanyon10.jpg
Blair Valley and Oriflamme Canyon 2-2009




http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y215/paul1960/Xterra/02-09%20Blair%20Valley/OriflammeCanyon02.jpg
Blair Valley and Oriflamme Canyon 2-2009
« Last Edit: February 22, 2009, 07:21:58 PM by Paul »
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Blackx

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Re: Paul's Blair Valley and Oriflamme Canyon 2-2009
« Reply #4 on: February 22, 2009, 07:41:29 PM »
Great shots Paul!  I had a good time with everyone and glad I chose to sleep in the truck  ;D

Here are mine...

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm281/jejallo1/02-21-09%20SCCX%20Borrego/IMG_4741.jpg
Blair Valley and Oriflamme Canyon 2-2009


http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm281/jejallo1/02-21-09%20SCCX%20Borrego/IMG_4742.jpg
Blair Valley and Oriflamme Canyon 2-2009


Dan and Mitch at the end of our extremely difficult trail.

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm281/jejallo1/02-21-09%20SCCX%20Borrego/IMG_4748.jpg
Blair Valley and Oriflamme Canyon 2-2009


http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm281/jejallo1/02-21-09%20SCCX%20Borrego/IMG_4750.jpg
Blair Valley and Oriflamme Canyon 2-2009


http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm281/jejallo1/02-21-09%20SCCX%20Borrego/IMG_4755.jpg
Blair Valley and Oriflamme Canyon 2-2009


http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm281/jejallo1/02-21-09%20SCCX%20Borrego/IMG_4757.jpg
Blair Valley and Oriflamme Canyon 2-2009


http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm281/jejallo1/02-21-09%20SCCX%20Borrego/IMG_4759.jpg
Blair Valley and Oriflamme Canyon 2-2009


http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm281/jejallo1/02-21-09%20SCCX%20Borrego/IMG_4760.jpg
Blair Valley and Oriflamme Canyon 2-2009


http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm281/jejallo1/02-21-09%20SCCX%20Borrego/IMG_4761.jpg
Blair Valley and Oriflamme Canyon 2-2009


http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm281/jejallo1/02-21-09%20SCCX%20Borrego/IMG_4764.jpg
Blair Valley and Oriflamme Canyon 2-2009


http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm281/jejallo1/02-21-09%20SCCX%20Borrego/IMG_4771.jpg
Blair Valley and Oriflamme Canyon 2-2009


http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm281/jejallo1/02-21-09%20SCCX%20Borrego/IMG_4777.jpg
Blair Valley and Oriflamme Canyon 2-2009


http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm281/jejallo1/02-21-09%20SCCX%20Borrego/IMG_4783.jpg
Blair Valley and Oriflamme Canyon 2-2009


http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm281/jejallo1/02-21-09%20SCCX%20Borrego/IMG_4784.jpg
Blair Valley and Oriflamme Canyon 2-2009
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XterracerX

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Re: Blair Valley and Oriflamme Canyon 2-2009
« Reply #5 on: February 22, 2009, 10:08:04 PM »
Wow! Great pics! That last section looked like fun! Thanks for sharing.
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Hope for the best. Prepare for the worst!

strikedistance

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Re: Blair Valley and Oriflamme Canyon 2-2009
« Reply #6 on: February 23, 2009, 07:04:51 PM »
Great Pictures!!! sad i missed it
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xperienced

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Re: Blair Valley and Oriflamme Canyon 2-2009
« Reply #7 on: February 26, 2009, 02:43:34 PM »
I'm sad I missed it!
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4x4forfun

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Re: Blair Valley and Oriflamme Canyon 2-2009
« Reply #8 on: March 01, 2009, 01:19:03 AM »
Great photos paul. In the star shot you got Orions belt in the upper right corner
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But he said it was stock friendly!!

fleury123

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Re: Blair Valley and Oriflamme Canyon 2-2009
« Reply #9 on: March 01, 2009, 12:13:15 PM »
great shots of Frank and his apple pie addiction.

That was priceless the shot of the adobe house that still have the bed frame. Reminded me of the Merdocks Bathhouse in Galveston. Three of fours walls gone and one picture still hanging on the wall untouched
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