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Friday, May 18, 2012

SoCal & AZ Overland Adventure Dec. 2011 Part II

The journey continues... Cibloa Wildlife Refuge Trail to Ferguson Lake 

Sunrise over the Colorado River.

As soon I started out I noticed that I had a flat...


Another campsite along a lagoon, once part of the original river channel.

Palo Verde lagoon.

One of many camps along the old river channel.

I'll have to come fishing here sometime.

Now on to Black Mountain.


A partially difficult trail, Black Mountain Road starts at CA 78 and ends near Ogilby and Indian Pass Road.

Although the road up is paved, it is quite deteriorated at times.


The trail at first takes you on a graded road along the base of Black Mountain. This soon changes to a single-lane paved road as you start ascending the northern section of the mountain. The terrain is largely made up of black volcanic boulders and a mix of vegetation like ocotillos, chollas and creosore bushes.

The summit up ahead.

Spectacular views...

At the top of the Black Mountain you see communication towers. The view also includes the Chocolate Mountains, parts of Colorado river, Arizona, Cargo Muchacho Mountains and Picacho Peak.

Looking west towards the Imperial Sand Dunes, Salton Sea, and Laguna Mountains.


When you descend Black Mountain the trail again turns into a dirt road and it gets quite steep. The ground is made up of loose soil which gets worse when it rains. At the bottom, the trail moves across a bajada and small washes.


Getting steeper...

Looking back up.

Made it!

Driving the pole line road to Indian Pass.

Picacho Peak in the distance.

Indian Pass.


One hundred years ago Picacho was a gold mining town with about 100 citizens. Today the site is a State Park, popular with boaters, hikers, anglers and campers.


4-S Beach Camp.


Continuing through the park.

Taylor Lake.


Mule Deer.


Meeting up with a couple friends, Steve and Shellie, we set off for camp along Ferguson Lake.


Ferguson Lake is a backwater connected to the lower Colorado River that provides camping, fishing, boating, hiking, and hunting opportunities. A number of undeveloped shoreline campsites provide recreational boating access and stunning views of the Colorado River. Trails leading into the adjacent Little Picacho Wilderness Area provide idea day-hiking opportunities from your campsite.

Home for the evening.

To be continued...

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