Anza Borrego update

dirtykj · **Posted:** Mon Feb 27, 2006 1:39 pm

This was a fun pre-run. We will have to be sure to be there for the actual run date, and maybe make it a three-day weekend so we get to spend more time in the desert.

LuckeyDuckey · **Posted:** Mon Feb 27, 2006 3:54 pm

hi, i just need a little clarification--is the actual run on 3/11 or 3/25?

thanks!

sandiegodave · **Posted:** Mon Feb 27, 2006 8:27 pm

The run is on March 12th but if you’re a weekender I have a special run for the morning of the 11th and the afternoon of the 11th.

Well eight people showed up for my pre-run to the 3.5M year old tracks.

And what a great time we all had. This time the campground had over 20 Large eared Owls. From the tone of the audience everyone felt the same way as me about seeing the tracks, they were awed! Our big concern is that the some of the cracks we saw in the rocks were not in the photos I took just a short time ago. We may be the last ones to see some of these tracks.

A lot of people took pictures during this prerun but I did not. The only picture I took was when I got home and it is a long story. To make it short. After the “EASY offroading” trail to the tracks, I took the Jeep Liberties on a little more challenging trail and my 4WD became a 2WD (photo attached). The good news is that my Jeep has a 7 Year 100,000 mile warranty and it’s 100% covered and will be repaired before our run on the 12th.
See you all then.
Dave

LuckeyDuckey · **Posted:** Mon Feb 27, 2006 9:08 pm

good lord dave! anza eats another jeep! but did you fly like the general lee like we did? really, if you wanted to see the inside of the diff. there were easier ways :wink:

sandiegodave · **Posted:** Thu Mar 02, 2006 11:22 pm

Well the run to the 3.5M year old tracks is coming up soon.
Sunday March 12th.

After talking to a few people that want to camp for the weekend I have decided on a camp site that will work for everyone. As you drive down Hwy 78 just before you get to Split mountain Rd there is a dirt Rd on the left with a sign that states Main St. Turn left and look for a 30ft RV with Camp Jeep flags hanging out the window and my Blue Jeep Liberty parked next to it. This camp is a convenient location, it’s free, it allows Large RVs and tents and has restrooms and tables. The only negative is that sometimes the dune buggies don’t know when to quit. I will be getting there Friday and I will try to hold an area using some caution tape.

If you are arriving on Saturday I plan a fun trail run in the morning and one in the afternoon. So if you miss the morning run just find my RV and we’ll have fun on the afternoon run.

On Sunday the run is to the 3.5M year old tracks. The Sunday run starts promptly @ 9:00AM at “My Desert Rose Café”. If you would like there breakfast buffet make sure you get there early enough to finish by 9:00AM.

If you interested in joining me let me know so I will have a vehicle & head count.
Also let me know if you are camping and if you have a rig so I can save space.
Dave

jpzkj · **Posted:** Fri Mar 03, 2006 12:35 am

Dave, you got your Jeep fixed already ?

sandiegodave · **Posted:** Fri Mar 03, 2006 1:58 am

The dealer said corporate made it easy for them.
They do not have to rebuilt the diff, corporate sent a complete unit.
It arrived at noon today and they said they would install it tomorrow.
I guess it would be wrong to ask for my locker back.
Dave

jpzkj · **Posted:** Fri Mar 03, 2006 9:26 pm

....couldn't hurt ask !!

sandiegodave · **Posted:** Sun Mar 05, 2006 3:48 pm

Many have said they might show up on Sunday but only a few said they would be there for the weekend.

Maybe this will help you decide. Saturday as a group we will decide to either take a hike thru Hawk canyon, take a trail to the Pumpkin patch, or just find another adventurous trail to see. Also if you RSVP I will be making my famous BBQ ribs, Potato salad and maybe Prickly pear cactus for Saturday night dinner so bring your appetite. If you know you’ll be there by 6:00 for dinner let me know.

For those that will be showing up for the Sunday run. On the prerun, after looking at my old pictures and maps I think we could have gone farther up Sandstone canyon. So we will this Sunday.
See you this weekend on the trail
Dave

skrracing · **Posted:** Sun Mar 05, 2006 6:20 pm

Please dont ask for the locker... They are going to swap the entire front end...Dont make any waves on this...Or believe me it will turn around and bite you in the butt. A new front locker is cheap compare top having to pay for an entire front end. Beside I am sure the locker is toast as well. Youdove this back withoput fluid right? Later...Clint

sandiegodave · **Posted:** Sun Mar 05, 2006 10:39 pm

I was joking about asking for the locker back.
I saw the mechanics notes and it said the pinion gear threw a tooth.
So I was glad to see them change out the entire unit.
Also I think my next locker will be an air locker in the back.
Dave

bthomas · **Posted:** Fri Mar 10, 2006 4:27 pm

Wondering about the status of Sunday 3/12, given the extreme weather warnings from NOAA?

dirtykj · **Posted:** Fri Mar 10, 2006 5:42 pm

Extreme weather warning? Cool! I've wanted to do some water fording ...

sandiegodave · **Posted:** Mon Mar 13, 2006 8:59 pm

As you read this think it’s all perspective. At any time a bad perspective or attitude could have ended this great adventure and also your perspective is what you remember. Think happy thoughts and be happy.

Friday I loaded up my RV attached my Jeep and headed toward the desert. It was raining, windy and snowing in the mountains. Instead of driving the direct route thru Julian and over the mountains (1 ½ hours) I had to travel a longer southern route (3 1/2 hours). It was raining and snowing but we were lucky enough to follow a snow plow over the highest pass and across the longest wind swept bridge. I told Cynde that we have never seen the desert in a storm and it will be an great experience.

Once we got there it was a delight to see that Henry and Jean also made it over the snowy mountains. We parked our RV and the four of us set out to see the flock of owls. It was only raining slightly but we braved it and we counted at least 13 Long Eared Owls we believed the rest of the flock was out haunting it was getting late. So we decided to come back Saturday when the light was better. That night Henry cooked up a great meal as we discussed the fact that we were lucky to get over the mountain and maybe it will be only the four of us sharing the trip on Sunday. The evening ended with a great video show from Henry’s collection.

Saturday was overcast but dry enough to try short drives and hikes. We ventured out to Slot Canyon and hiked down into it, then a short off road and hike took us to Hawk Canyon to see a large rapture nest. Our last adventure was back to see the owls in a little more light. This time we were told about another grove of trees in the same campground with some Barn Owls. So we were delighted to see the Long Eared Owls and the Barn Owls. What a treat. It started to rain so the afternoon was spent day playing bridge and looking out into the rain swept desert. In the evening I provided the meal with some ribs, potatoes salad and Prickly Pear Pads. I thought this day was a great way to really get to know a fellow MTRP naturist.

We woke up Sunday to see the sun shining and hoping to see more people show up for the run to the tracks. In the distance towards the mountains you can see the clouds. My phone started to ring with messages but would not let me hear the messages. Then I found a spot to hear the messaged but I could not call anyone back. The messages stated that the roads were closed and it looked like no one could get over the mountains. We were ready to start the run when people started to show up with stories about the road signs stating the roads were only open to residents but they kept on driving. Also Hwy 8 was only open with a police escort. We waiting an hour and believe it or not we started the run with 10 people. It was a great run. The biggest problem was going home thru Julian. The signs and a call to the hwy patrol stated that chains were required and I did not want to put chains on my RV but we pressed on. In fact the roads were dry and clear but the wait to get thu the Julian stop sign was 1 ½ hours.

I can say that my run was a great success. 8 people on the prerun and 10 people on the run itself. I thank all of you that went though the trouble to make my run. I think it will be one we remember. I’m sorry if you could not make one of the runs. I do not have another planned trip out to the desert but If you find time in the future to take a run out into the desert just give me a call or send me an e-mail I would love to join you. I think with all the rain in two weeks the desert wild flowers might be in bloom and it would not take too much to twist my arm into another desert adventure.
Happy trails,
Dave

dirtykj · **Posted:** Tue Mar 14, 2006 2:36 pm

Many thanks for putting this run together, Dave. We always enjoy every chance we get to go out together, and the kids had a blast.

According to the "eyewitness reports", the interminable wait was due to a wreck that had to be cleaned up. You were lucky to wait 1.5 hours. We got there earlier and had to wait 2.5 hours, with the fuel light on :twisted:

Next closest gas station was seven miles down the hills.

Next time I go out I'm packing the fuel can, period. Can never be too prepared. :oops:

bthomas · **Posted:** Tue Mar 14, 2006 4:51 pm

Dave, I was pleased to catch you in Fish Creek Wash of a gloriously sunny Sunday. What a wonderful day you must have had. I'd initially planned on wheeling with a geocaching group on Saturday, then catching your group on Sunday, but with the weather I delayed one day in leaving San Francisco. FYI, the geocaching group says they had a great time in the snow flurries on Saturday in Anza. I'll post two pix of your rig and Dirty KJ's when I figure that out.

sandiegodave · **Posted:** Wed Mar 15, 2006 12:16 am

What a great day to run the desert!
The Only day we had sun all day was run day..

DirtKJ
Enjoyed your family and I'm glad to meet another desert rat. I’m glad you made it out again to show your wife the tracks. Millie and Pete saw the chains required sign on the way to Julian and turned around to take the long way home (an added 1 ½ more hours of driving) and they were stopped on Hwy 8 for 2.5 hours. So I can’t complain about my 1 ½ hour delay.

Bthomas
I was just glad to see another Liberty off roading. That’s why when I saw your Liberty and you were hiking I put the LOST Bcard on the window. I’m always trying to market our club to Liberty’s I see in San Diego. I don’t have a GPS yet but I was thinking about getting one. Was your GPS hunt a LOST activity? If not what group are you in? Are you from SF? I live in SD but I have relatives in the bay area and get up there from time to time. Maybe we could meet on a trail up there some time.

Dave

padrino · **Posted:** Thu Mar 16, 2006 12:23 pm

Dave,

Any chance you might put another of these fossil runs (the rocks, not the old timers) together for say April or May? Weather would be better and maybe I could make a run during that period. Would love to see these rocks before they're gone!!!

Padrino

sandiegodave · **Posted:** Thu Mar 16, 2006 7:54 pm

Padrino
I'm always up for going out to the desert.
With the major rains the flowers should be blooming in about 2 weeks.
At this time I'm not planning an organized run.
But
March 25th my neighbors asked if I could take them out to see the flowers and the tracks.
Also
Any time you or anyone else would like to go just let me know and I’d love to join you.
Dave

CtrlAltDel · **Posted:** Fri Mar 17, 2006 1:41 am

Dave, glad to hear the weather cut you guys a break on Sunday. The pre-run was a lot of fun so I was looking forward to spending the day out there on Saturday but assumed after all the severe weather warnings that you'd be rained out. :roll:

Went to play in the snow at Mt. Palomar instead.

If you head out that way, I'd love tag along again. Don't need much of an excuse to spend time out in the desert. Maybe check out the mud caves, pumpkin patch or head over to Oriflamme Canyon?

Anza Borrego update

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