SoCal Trail Rides

Impressions from a few trail rides in Southern California... The following pictures were taken during a number of trail rides in the deserts east of San Diego between 1997 and early 1999. They are not necessarily in chronological or exact geographical order, as you can see from the vehicle itself. The GMC is stock in most pics, 3.08 axles with 32 inch tires, and the running boards still look good. Most of this is definitely not heavy-duty fourwheeling. However, trails like the Arroyo loop and Diablo Dropoff in the Anza Borrego, or Red Canyon trail east of the Salton Sea, are done much more safely in four wheel drive. In addition, it's fun to get in low range every once in a while. The usual caveats for desert travel apply if you go: good preparation for vehicle and passengers, good maps, plenty of water, and the iron rule not to try anything fancy after 3 p.m. on a Sunday...
Font's Point Wash A clear day, plenty of sun, my truck in good shape, a stash of film - what could be better?
The Santa Rosa Mountains White sand in the wash, a bush covered in yellow, lavender mountains on the horizon, and the sky a dark blue: looking north from Font's point wash towards the Santa Rosa mountains that form the northern border of the Anza Borrego desert. Some of my friends say I should take it easy on the polarizer, but I can't help it... go there, see for yourself!
	Font's Point Overlook: The Borrego Badlands The overlook at Font's point offers a marvelous panorama towards the South. In the foreground are the Borrego Badlands, a bizarre landscape of soft earth sculpted by wind, water, and erosion. Pinyon mountain and the Vallecito mountains form the background. The spot is named after Padre Font, a member of the exploration party led by Padre Anza that eventually founded San Francisco. Word has it that Padre Font was highly skilled in the "art of complaining". When you stand up there and take in this dramatic panorama, I can't help but to think that there really is nothing to complain about.
Looking back towards Borrego Springs One of many splendid days had my truck parked at the end of Font's Point wash. Looking back to the west, one can see the green spot that is Borrego Springs protected by the steep escarpment of the San Ysidro Mountains. With an endless dark blue sky, the sharp contrasts of mountains and desert leave with me an almost outworldish impression.
	Arroyo Seco del Diablo Spring 1998, another tour: Came up on pavement from Ocotillo, took Canyon sin Nombre, then up Arroyo Seco del Diablo, down the Diablo dropoff, over to Fish Creek wash and out to pavement. Driving up Arroyo Seco, you start about 60 feet below the desert floor. As you slowly work your way up the Arroyo, you get closer and closer to the surface, and you finally come out close to the Diablo dropoff. The Arroyo Seco's flanks are rock, in contrast to Arroyo Tapiado, where the walls are mud, with a number of mud caves that are worth a separate trip. Driving Seco means sand and narrow curves. There is no way out to the sides, so it's a good idea to check the weather before, and yes, it does rain out there!
At the Diablo Dropoff... I had read about Diablo Dropoff in one of Harry Llewellyn's books and had to try it. It brings you down to the level of Fish Creek wash and moves you back in terms of geology. Supposedly, there are three drops,and the first one is the most difficult. Well, we look at it, no sweat, we'd done more difficult things on some Arizona trails, you're supposed to go one way only anyway, so off we go in stride.
	The second drop... Well, no big deal, wonder what all the fuss is about, right? Right. That was until we got to the second part: rather steep, with gravel and dirt, and deep berms. Can't go back now...
In the dropoff... Well, we didn't go back. Claudia said somebody has to take pictures, and, after all, it's my truck anyway. The approach itself was quite fascinating: one moment you are horizontal, cliff line left, truck hood, cliff line right. The next moment, the truck goes down, the cliff line now is at the side window, then disappears, and it gets darker because there's not much sun in the crevasse. The truck is in first gear low, the auto tranny doesn't help much, so I'm on the brakes, it's only 30 yards. The suspension does try to do its thing, axles are all crossed up. As the front drops in the berm on the driver's side, the truck very softly puts the right rear in the air. (The cameraperson in charge sez she too excited to shoot!?). The cab is creaking, probably from some frame flex, and no, normally there's no dent in the cab roof, see, on the second picture, it's gone! After scraping the running boards a bit in the dirt, I'm back on all four again, and soon down at the bottom, it truly was a lot of fun. Third time's charm, and so was the third drop, nothing further to report except a little down the trail I got to use my brand new yank strap (from Off-Road Warehouse in El Cajon, same guys who later did my axle gears and rear air locker; splendid job, so I thought I give them a plug). Two kids had gotten their little Jeep Wrangler crossed up with one front tire against a rock, the other in the air, and one rear tire in really loose dirt. A little tug, and the rig pointed in the right direction, and they were on their way. I've alway appreciated the helpful attitude that prevails among people out in the desert and made it my philosphy too, since it is not about whether it's your turn to need help, it's about when....
	Canyon sin Nombre To me, this canyon does not necessarily need a name since its rugged, unforgiving beauty speaks for itself!
Red Canyon Trail July 1998. We decided to explore part of the historic Bradshaw Trail in the desert east of the Salton Sea and then head north, across the Orocopia Mountains on the Red Canyon Trail back towards civilization and Interstate 10. The Bradshaw Trail, a historic transport route for gold from the Colorado river towards San Francisco, can be accessed from a spot on the Coachella Canal service road east of the Salton Sea. The trail heads northwest, along the foothills of the Chocolate Mountains, skirting the Chocolate Mountains Aerial Gunnery Range to the South. Once past the main part of the Orocopia mountains to the north, the Red Canyon trail points northeast across the desert.
	So, we're headed north on the Red Canyon trail, after a slight detour. We mistook the sign for Red Canyon itself for the Red Canyon Trail sign, went in the canyon, left it on a nice side trail scaling the left bank, found the real trail..... and got hung up on a steep gravelly hillclimb about 100 feet from the intersection with the main trail. Claudia wisely declined to be part of another attempt - I tried it anyway, almost made it, but not quite, and here I am, on a gravel ridge with decent drops on both sides, and the truck is starting to slide sideways. Claudia, sitting at the main trail, said she could see me transpire from 100 feet out. Anyways, I backed it down very slowly, got back in the canyon, back to Bradshaw, and found the main trail to meet up with the oh-so-wise lady of my heart. Learned my lession (NOT: should not have done it, BUT: wrong equipment, way too much air pressure in the tires, and I need a locker...)
A whole day like this... The whole trip turned out to be like this picture. After a few steep climbs to leave Bradshaw and get out of the Salt Creek valley and gain elevation, the trail follows Red Canyon on the right, eastern side, high up on the cliff. The trail itself was in good shape, very smooth for an unmaintained desert trail. Of course, a lot of smaller canyons and arroyos join Red Canyon on both sides, and one ends up going on a roller coaster ride - down into a side canyon, up on the other side, a few bends and curves up on the cliff, down into an arroyo, up the other side. and so on.... Later, when we look on the map, we realize that there was almost no real elevation gain except the first climb. Never mind that it felt as if we've been crawling uphill all day.
	A tailgate in the shade... Claudia takes advantage of the bit of shade provided by the truck. Yes, the truck has A/C, but at the time it was broken, and I wouldn't turn it on out there anyway to take it easy on the engine. However, crazy as this might sound, we both really enjoy the dry desert heat, and as long as you have enough water, there is no real problem. Plenty of water, plenty of gas, a high-lift jack, a few straps and a second spare tire will go a long way out there.
Chocolate Mountains on the Horizon... We camped trailside at the turnoff to an old mine just before the main trail leads into Maniobra Valley. Interstate 10 is 3 miles away as the bird flies, but behind a mountain range, so we can't hear it. It's a quiet July night, many stars, and a slightly dusty air fragrant with the smells of desert plants. We are about 35 miles from Palm Springs, yet we met only three souls through a day and a half of riding. I guess the fabulous golf courses of Palm Desert do a great job for the solitude out here. The sun of the late afternoon illuminates where we came from - the Chocolate mountains on the horizon, across the foothills of the Orocopia Mountains to the right, and "against the grain" of the desert.