BorregoFest 2012

We always head out into the desert each October to attend OutdoorAdventureUSA's BorregoFest event, held in the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Since 2007, my wife and I have enjoyed participating in the festivities which include camping, 4wheeling the various trails, great food at the potluck, and trying our luck at the raffle.

This year's event was held at the Butterfield RV Ranch Resort, from October 19th to 21st. There are tree-shaded grassy areas to camp at, pools and spa to enjoy, as well as a lounge and general store. Although I may prefer more primitive campsites, this is a great venue for families and organized events. Since my wife had to work Friday, we didn't get into camp until after 11PM. After setting up the tent, getting our bedding organized, and chatting for a bit with those who were still up, we called it a night. I planned to be up early on Saturday to make sure everything was ready for a run I was leading through the Borrego Badlands. After a quick breakfast, I made my way to everyone who had singed up for my run to make sure they were ready to head out.

Our route for the day began at Fonts Point Wash and over to the overlook of the weathered badlands landscape. We then took Short Wash to Palo Verde Wash over to the Cut-Across Trail to Tule Wash into Ocotillo Wells OHV Area to the Pumpkin Patch were we had lunch. It was then on to Seventeen Palms oasis along Arroyo Salado Wash and then the historic Truckhaven Trail, where we eventually reached paved Highway S-22. From there we aired up and made our way back to camp to enjoy the pool and great food served at the potluck.

I think we passed out rather early Saturday night from a food coma. Sunday morning brought very strong winds to camp. The walls of the tent blowing down onto us kinda freaked out our daughter. We eventually got all our gear packed back into the Jeep and gathered for the raffle. I didn't win anything this time around but did manage to snag an issue of the Overland Journal. After saying our goodbyes and grabbing a few drinks at the store we hit the road and headed home, but not before taking Oriflamme Canyon on up to Banner, along with Don and his son in his Chevy pickup. The trail up the grade was very washed out and I managed to rip off the passenger side running board from my Jeep. The wife was not amused.

It was a fun filled weekend spent in the desert with like-minded people. We're already looking forward to next year's event.

Parked at the campsite.

Old firetruck at camp.

Sleeping beauties.

She always has to say hi to the dogs.

Airing down at Fonts Point Wash trail head.

With my lovely wife and daughter at the overlook.

Awesome views!

Lined up for lunch at the Pumpkin Patch.

There were 10 rigs along for this run.

Precious daughter at Seventeen Palms.

View from the plateau above the oasis.

Looking down at Seventeen Palms.

Truckhaven Trail.

Random tire in the desert wash.

Campsite at the bottom of Oriflamme Canyon.

Found some scat here...

Plenty of Native American mortars in the area.

A great end to an awesome weekend!

For more photos and reports of 2012 BorregoFest, click this link: 2012 BorregoFest Reports

All my photos can be viewed here: Photobucket Photos

ABDSP: Borrego Badlands

It was time to head on out to the desert again and pre-run a route for the upcoming BorrefoFest event hosted by Outdoor Adventure USA. I invited a small group of folks to come along and we camped at the Culp Valley Campground the night before.

In the Anza-Borrego Desert of southeastern California lies a tract of land some 20 miles wide by 15 miles long, known as the Borrego Badlands. Once undersea, the region today is a maze of hills and arroyos which, when seen close-up, reveal a hidden treasure of native palms, remote springs and mysterious concretions.

(Photo by  Daniel Lichterman.)

We started at the historic Truckhaven Trail off Highway S22, then went onto Fonts Point, Short Wash, Vista del Malpais, Palo Verde Wash, Cut Across Trail, Tule Wash, the Pumpkin Patch in the Ocotillo Wells OHV Area, Seventeen Palms, Arroyo Salado Wash, back onto Truckhaven Trail, Calcite Mine, Cross Over Trail, back into Arroyo Salado Wash to Pole Line Road, Gas Domes Trail, and Tarantula Wash to Highway 78.

I spotted the elusive Ranchita Yeti on my way to camp!

Culp Valley.

Enjoying the campfire. All fires must be kept in a metal container in ABDSP.

Home for the night.

Heading down the grade the next morning.

Welcome to Borrego Springs!

Airing down along the old Truckhaven Trail.

A local desert traveler.

The historic Truckhaven Trail. 

On our way to Fonts Point. The wash was very soft and sandy.

Fonts Point is named after Father Pedro Font, a chaplain who traveled with Juan Buatista de Anza. They traveled through the Borrego Badlands in 1774 and 1775. Font kept a diary of his travels and referred to the view of the badlands as the “sweepings of the earth.” Fonts Point is regarded by many to have one of the best views within Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. The easy sandy trail is passable by most vehicles. The trail finishes at a loop that passes below Fonts Point. 

It is a few steps up to the viewpoint, high over the Borrego Badlands. From here one can see the convoluted washes and eroded canyons of the badlands, Vallecito Mountains, the Borrego Valley, the Peninsular Range, Borrego Buttes, and Pinyon Mountains.

Parking at Fonts Point.

From Fonts Point we head east on Short Wash to the next overlook.

I haven't lost anyone yet!

I almost stepped on this little guy.

Vista del Malpais overlook.

Heading south on Palo Verde Wash.

Cut Across Trail.

We soon find out way to Tule Wash and the Pumkin Patch, located within Ocotillo Wells OHV Area.

The unique landscape of the Pumpkin Patch is the result of wind and water continuously eroding the surface soil and revealing globular sandstone concretions that look much like pumpkins in size and shape. Such concretions are believed to be formed by the natural cementing of sand particles to a small object such as a piece of shell, a grain of sand or even an insect. Help preserve the Pumpkin Patch and the nearby ridges where new pumpkin-size concretions grow.

Five Palms oasis in the distance.

Seventeen Palms is a well-known watering hole for the regional wildlife of the Borrego Badlands. The palms at both Oases are often green and brilliant compared to the stark and barren desert that surrounds them. These verdant oases have attracted humans for thousands of years. Nomadic aborigines, wayfaring emigrants and determined prospectors have all taken shade and water from these islands in the badlands.

Remnants of a time when grasslands, streams, and herds of camels and mammoths covered an ancient landscape, the native palms exist today only because water surfaces here. As the spring here was unreliable, early travelers with extra water would leave it in large glass jars. Thirsty visitors came to rely on the jars hidden in the shade of the palms. The desert wanderers would leave notes attached to the jars.

 Today the custom of leaving messages in the prospector’s post office is carried on by visitors. In the post office barrel hidden in the 17 Palms, among the palm tree bases, lies a visitor’s log book, notes and of course, bottles of water.

Mandatory scat photo!

From Arroyo Salado Wash we return to the historic Truckhaven Trail.

Completed in 1930, the Truckhaven Trail climbs in and out of the deep badland washes. Doc Beaty, an early settler, was instrumental in the road's creation, dragging a mule-drawn scraper through the badlands to the Truckhaven gas station to create the first rough road.

It was not a route for speedy travel, and trucks and autos took their time weaving through the weathered landscape. In 1968, the Borrego-Salton Seaway (Hwy S22) was dedicated. This paved road follows Doc's road closely, and sections of the old route remain. Since World War II, the old road has been popular with 4WD folk who wish to sample the rugged badlands terrain rather than travel the faster blacktop. This section has some loose, eroded, low-traction climbs to negotiate.

(Photo by  Daniel Lichterman.)

Here I am climbing up one of the self roads of Truckhaven Trail. Parts of this route used to be washed out and considerably more difficult.

(Photo by  Daniel Lichterman.)

Across from where the Truckhaven Trail meets Highway S22 is Calcite Mine Trail.

Workin' our way up...

View from the top.

During World War II, the U.S. government commissioned specialist to inspect calcite deposits found in the wind and water carved sandstone region around this trail. Optical grade calcite crystals were processed for use in gun sights and rocket launchers.

 The trail ends at the Calcite Mine area, on a flat turnaround that offers good views toward Mexico. Climbing many of the wind-pocked rocks will give a great view east over the Salton Sea.

Daniel's truck slid sideways on a section of trail coming up and received a bit of damage.

Working our way back down from the mine.

Roughest part of the trail.

After a few miles on the pavement we head south on the Cross Over Trail and then east on Arroyo Salado Wash.

Its not uncommon to come across a bit of mud or standing water in this wash.

Heading south on the long straightaway of Pole Line Road.

We soon  make our way east for a bit on the Gas Domes Trail to check out the... Gas Domes.

Wow, all this way for a couple of mud holes...

More than 85,000 acres of magnificent desert are open for off-highway exploration and recreation within the boundaries of Ocotillo Wells OHV Area. Outside the boundaries, to the south and east, large tracts of BLM land (U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management) are also open to off-highway vehicles. The western boundary and part of the northern boundary connect with the half-million acre Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, which is closed to off-highway recreation, but open to exploration by highway-legal vehicles along established primitive roads.

Once back into our rigs we make our way west to Tarantula Wash and take that south to Highway 78.

We soon reach the end of our route...

...but not before someone get stuck in the mud!

Video clip of recovery.

Group shot.

Here's a map of our journey through the desert.

It was a fun day spent running the trails and checking out various points of interest along the way. I'll be looking forward to getting back out there again soon.