Southern California Club Xterra
Southern California Club Xterra => SCCX Xcursions => Topic started by: FrankB on December 09, 2009, 10:02:16 PM
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I thought we would explore the washes in the north side of Anza Borrego around Arroyo Salado and 17 Palms Oasis, hike out to 5 Palms Oasis, check out the Pumpkin Patch, then work our way back towards Short Wash, Vista del Malpais (excellent view of the Badlands) and eventually Font's Point. December can have some pretty spectacular sunsets, and Font's Point is great place to view them from.
This will be an easy run, suitable for stock vehicles, but will require 4WD for some areas of very soft sand. Plan for all day, lunch on the trail, and I would expect it to get a bit chilly once the sun sets. Photographers will want to bring a tripod, if it looks like a good sunset we'll set up and get some shots. The last few times I've done these routes we've always wound up airing up in the dark.
MEET SPOT: Arroyo Salado Primitive Camp, Anza Borrego Desert State Park, located between Mile Markers 34 and 35 (0.8 miles east of Mile Marker 34) on the south side of County Road S-22, otherwise known as the Borrego-Salton Seaway. It's closer to Mile Marker 35, on your right as you're traveling east from Borrego Springs, and on your left not long after Mile Marker 35 if you're heading west from Salton City and Hwy 86. You can't see the campground from the road, and the sign is pretty easy to miss. If coming from the west, the entrance is just about 0.1 miles after Ella Wash, look for a little brown State Park campsite marker. We can meet a little past the vault toilets. If the trail you turn off the pavement on to heads straight south, instead of more or less east, you are on Ella Wash. You want to be on Arroyo Salado. The campground is marked on all Park maps that I have seen.
The Massey book shows the following GPS coordinates for the turn off from S-22, but I can not say for sure if they are accurate: N33 16.98 W16 09.09
For those who can easily get to I-10, you may find it easier and faster to take I-10 east to Hwy 86 South in Indio, then follow that down along the west shore of the Salton Sea to Salton City, turning right on the Borrego-Salton Seaway. For those who are coming this way the meet spot is a lot closer for you than going all the way to the State Park Visitor Center.
DATE / TIME: Saturday December 19th, meet at 10:00AM.
If anyone coming from the San Diego area wants to caravan out there let me know in advance and we can arrange a meet spot. I'm east of I-15 off of Scripps Poway Parkway, and plan to leave around 8:00AM.
Reference:
Parts of these trails are covered in Massey's Backcountry Adventures So. Calif. - South Coast #27 (Font's Point) and South Coast #28 (Arroyo Salado).
Communication:
FRS Channel 12, sub-code 24
CB Channel 24
Please post any comments, suggestions or questions, and let us know if you're coming.
Thanks - Frank B.
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Trixie the (formerly) Wonderdog, Noon, and their driver Paul.
Updated - we're out. I have a case of the most violent food poisoning I've ever experienced. Running a fever just under 101 which is the point where I'm suppose to hit the emergency room. No coughing, sneezing, or other H1N1 symptoms. I've haven't felt this much pain since I had food poisoning 25 years ago in the USN. :'(
Woo hoo hit 103.0 degrees! :o
Meeting spot is N33 16.98 W 116 09.09
Amateur radio: 146.520 (2M FM)
Fonts Point Trail
Difficulty rating: 2 (dirt trails)
Scenic rating: 9
Total mileage: 4.1 miles
Map: http://mapshare.delorme.com/Consumer/V.aspx?p=p7ff52mp
Arroyo Salado Trail
Difficulty rating: 3 (rough road)
Scenic rating: 9
Total mileage: 14.1 miles 4.25 miles
Map: http://mapshare.delorme.com/Consumer/V.aspx?p=2hbxtbyt
Weather:
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 74. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 53. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 73.
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I should be able to make it for this run. Frank, I'd like to caravan out with you as well. Do you have a meet spot/time?
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I should be able to make it for this run. Frank, I'd like to caravan out with you as well. Do you have a meet spot/time?
Brian #2, we can meet at the Chevron Station that is on the corner of Scripps Poway Parkway and Pomerado Road at 8:00AM if that works for you. This is about 3.5 miles east of I-15. I actually live just a few blocks from there, and Scripps Poway Pkwy will take us directly to Hwy 67, which leads up to Ramona and Hwy 78.
What part of town are you in? (If you were coming up Hwy 67 from Lakeside, for example, or up Hwy 78 from Escondido, it might be better to meet in Ramona.) I'll send you a PM with my cell phone number.
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Paul, that looks like pretty cool map software. As for the Arroyo Salado trail you marked on the map, I was thinking we were only going to be on a short portion of it, out to 17 Palms and that area. After that I was thinking we would turn around and head west through some of the other washes to end up at Font's.
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Frank, I'm in Santee...meeting in Ramona might be better? The 67 is close by so I can just take that north.
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Ill see if i can make it but i have an 11-3 that day...
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Ill see if i can make it but i have an 11-3 that day...
A 9? Dang, I figured the best you'd do is maybe a 6. Good job Bruce.
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Ya lost me Mitch :P Its a 4 hour shift at work lol
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Damn, I was really wanting to go to this but I'll actually be in the four-corners region that weekend. I might do some wheeling in Monument Valley. I'll post pics if I do.
On another note, what type of radios are you guys using? I'm totally ignorant on this subject. Maybe someone could give me a quick intro or a good link for the type of radios you're using? Thanks!
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A 9? Dang, I figured the best you'd do is maybe a 6. Good job Bruce.
11 minus 3 equals 8 Mitch.
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thats what i thought he was trying to do but Mitch isnt that dumb.... :P
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thats what i thought he was trying to do but Mitch isnt that dumb.... :P
New math ?
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Lack of proof readig skills. I meant 8 but hit 9 and didn't care. New math. Take your pick. It had been a 13 hour day and I was dilusional. At any rate, the chick is definately out of Bruces league but he should still go for it.
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Mitch i think the word you were looking for was check... and yes i have to go for it b/c i missed a week of work this week which is really bad.
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Sturndog, Diana,Kennedy will be there Frank. Hopefully Dan and Mitch will not be out running over everything (http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t318/sturndog/th_IMG_0214-1.jpg)
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Sturndog, Diana,Kennedy will be there Frank. Hopefully Dan and Mitch will not be out running over everything (http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t318/sturndog/th_IMG_0214-1.jpg)
Or running into anything. I seem to recall this was taken at 17 Palms Oasis in December of 2007.
(http://frankbaiamonte.smugmug.com/So-Cal-Club-Xterra-SCCX/Xmas-in-Anza-Borrego-Dec-2007/palms200718/533044552_A7MyD-L.jpg)
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Yeah as soon as Dan or Mitch scrap the roadkill off their vehicles, it is on to the next victim.(http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t318/sturndog/IMG_4938.jpg?t=1260812523)
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11 minus 3 equals 8 Mitch.
This new learning amazes me! Who are you who are so wise in the ways of science?! ::)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrzMhU_4m-g
Can't make it this weekend, but it should be excellent for sunset photography, if the forecast holds. There should be some nice high clouds streaming past in the sky!
Bummer, maybe next time..
Marty
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Wish I could make this run but my folks have something going on, Merry Christmas!
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Hi Frank, we would like to do this run. We had a good time on the last one and it was nice meeting everyone.
Should be a great day out in the Desert. I will be coming up the 67 and can meet up with you in Ramona or at the Pie co if you are stopping along the way.
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Hi Frank, we would like to do this run. We had a good time on the last one and it was nice meeting everyone.
Should be a great day out in the Desert. I will be coming up the 67 and can meet up with you in Ramona or at the Pie co if you are stopping along the way.
JohnL, I'm meeting Brian#2 and Grizzly at the McDonald's in Ramona at 8:30AM, you can meet up with us there. I've not decided yet if I'll be stopping for pies this time. That might actually put us at the meet spot late.
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We will meet you there.
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I'll see everybody tomorrow at the McD's.
My two boston terriers will be with me, and they like to jump and lick...I'll keep them controlled, but just letting you know :)
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Have fun guys ....I'm ill. Updated condition in second thread post.
:'(
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Have fun guys ....I'm ill. Updated condition in second thread post.
:'(
Hope you get better Paul. That fever etc does not sound like fun.
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Me and Diana got food poisoning too, but symptons are receeding and no fever. However my blood pressure is high and I am on new meds, so I am off to Doctor tommorrow rather than 4 hour drive. :(
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Me and Diana got food poisoning too, but symptons are receeding and no fever. However my blood pressure is high and I am on new meds, so I am off to Doctor tommorrow rather than 4 hour drive. :(
You guys are dropping like flies here . . . this is sounding really fishy. Or, maybe you just got some bad fish. Be careful with the blood pressure, that's something to take seriously. Hope you get better soon.
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Back from the doctor. Elevated heart rate, 101 degree temperature, and higher than normal blood pressure. An IV and an anti-nausea shot and I'm feeling much better. Still feeling pretty weak. :-\
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That sucks Paul. Get well soon.
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Well, we had a great time today. The weather out in the desert was pretty much perfect. Small turnout, with 5 trucks, but it was fun. Thanks to everyone who showed up.
I'll start a picture thread everyone can post in.
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Frank, thanks for leading the run. I had a great time and I think the puppies enjoyed it too. They were passed out more than usual the next day. I'll have to sort through the few pictures I took to see if there are some good ones. I'll post them up in a bit if there are any.
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Frank, thanks for leading the run. I had a great time and I think the puppies enjoyed it too. They were passed out more than usual the next day. I'll have to sort through the few pictures I took to see if there are some good ones. I'll post them up in a bit if there are any.
It was great meeting you and the dogs Brian. I we don't see you again before you leave best wishes in your new assignment.