Anza Borrego in winter

[Paul Wagner]

We took a week to make the long drive down to Anza Borrego, hoping to have some fun in the desert. Warm days, cold nights, there is lots to see down there. We found palm oases, slot canyons, great hikes, and even some Native America artifacts.

Even without a 4X4, we were able to see a lot of the park, and we certainly found a few places where there were few other people. Happily, despite signs to the contrary, we avoided dying.

The full report is here, in two parts:

http://www.backpackthesierra.com/post/anza-borrego

http://www.backpackthesierra.com/post/anza-borrego-ii

And as usual, we have the whole photo log here:

photos.app.goo.gl/MJP6cXZd9gMXVSYg8

[Terran Terran]

On the faultline. Nice write up. I don’t blame the ranger for discouraging you. She didn’t know your abilities. Surprisingly, people do get lost or over estimate their abilities. Only you know what you’re capable of. If there was a recent rain, the sand will be more compact and easier to manage. They get the tourists and little did she know about your life experience. The Salton Sea can be lovely on a nice day while leaving a stench in the air when she burps. A large body of stagnant water, fed by drainage ditches, created by accident, and overpopulated by imported fish used for cleaning the canals.

[Paul Wagner]

Here’s more on Anna the discouraging ranger.  Note that we did share that we had backpacked and hiked extensively in Death Valley. And it hadn’t rained since March.

 

When we first stopped in at the visitors center in Borrego Springs, a young ranger named Anna offered to help us plan out our visit. We were delighted. We shared with her that we had camped, hiked and backpacked extensively in Death Valley, and done some of the main hikes in Joshua Tree as well. What could we explore in her park?

She was not encouraging. She told us that most of the trails were quite challenging, and that almost all of them required a 4X4 vehicle to access. She warned us against tackling any of the other roads. Our only real option was the hike out of the campground, a 3 mile round trip in Borrego Palms Canyon. She discouraged us from taking any of the other trails.

Hmmm. That left us disconcerted. We’d scheduled five days of hiking here. And there was one tiny note in her recommendations–a comment about older people–that set off a small alarm bell. She told us she’d taken a group of people “like you” to one of the hiking areas, and they had found it very challeging. She was not sure we could do it on our own. We should definitely avoid one section of the trail, which was very steep, and another which would be impossible to follow.

Happily, over the following days, we talked to other rangers and volunteers who were more encouraging. The trail Anna had describe as steep wasn’t steep. It was a bit exposed as you walked along the ridge, but nothing unreasonable. The trail that was impossible to follow was one that we followed happily to connect one set of palm groves to another in the Mountain Palm area. It was our favorite hike of the trip. And the only other people we saw on that hike were hiking in a group of about 10-12, all of them over the age of 70.

In the end, we did a series of hikes:

The Borrego Palm Canyon–one that Anna had suggested.

Hellhole Canyon–that Anna did not recommend, as it would be difficult. We did it before lunch.

Little Surprise Canyon–A short and easy hike that had cool geology

The Calcite Mine and Slot Canyon loop-that Anna thought would be too hard.

The Slot (different slot!) and Narrows. Anna thought we would not be able to drive to that one.

Mountain Palm Loop, which Anna said was very steep, and impossible to follow in sections.

Yeah, I know Anna meant well. But she needs to get out more, and meet more hikers on the trail. She’ll find that a lot of those “older people” can probably leave her behind on the trail, and give her some good advice while they do it.

Here’s another link to our photos from all the hikes: https://photos.app.goo.gl/MJP6cXZd9gMXVSYg8

[Terran Terran]

Maybe she’s used to dealing with the Glamis crowd. Some folks are over cautious. Better they make a mistake than give dangerous advice. Only we know what we know. My dad was an expert on desert soils and traveled all the back roads. Even he got stuck a few times. I had the sunburns to prove it.. I’m sure I’ve been to Anza Borrego, but many years ago. I always liked seeing the palms in the desert. Often a sign of water. Usually on the faultline. Thank you for the write up. Well done.

[Paul Wagner]

You may be able to see that in  my photos.  The Palms are usually where a canyon drops to bedrock, but a few of them are in a cirque at the base of the cliffs–again, clearly where water seeps down bedrock until it comes close to the surface.

One thing that surprised me was that the palms are not a recent immigrant species.  In fact, they are the last remnants of the vast swampy plain that covered this area 10,000 years ago.

[Terran Terran]

Washingtonia Palm. Quite a few around JTNP. A small forest in the Indian canyons south of Palm Springs. Touristy, but a really nice spot with a small Creek to follow.

 

[Brad W]

Glad you had a good time. I used to live in Socal and I have spent countless days in AB hiking, backpacking, etc. The road condition they list and supposedly update often almost alway says high clearance 4×4 for nearly every single road, that’s not true. I would say except for after big storms, most roads are passable with decent clearance 2wd. That’s not to say there are not 4×4 only roads, but it’s not nearly as many as they would have one believe.

There are countless backpacking opportunities in the park if one is even moderately versed in desert travel and map reading. I go where there is no one. It’s not hard or far to do. Solitude is easy to find. If you go back and want some ideas feel free to reach out.

 

 

[Paul Wagner]

Thanks, Brad.  It’s a long drive for us in Northern California, but we definitely enjoyed our time there.

[Terran Terran]

While mining isn’t considered environmentally friendly, this may provide the resources to clean up the Salton Sea while providing resources for clean energy. Not to mention a boost to the economy.

 

Salton Sea Lithium

[Paul Wagner]

I’m not sure if Lithium mining will clean up anything—the stuff is quite toxic–but in the currrent (pun intended) climate for electric vehicles, it might well be profitable. I wonder about the people who live there. I think most are retired. Would they trade a dying community with no access to the water for a viable community with serious pollution concerns? I’m betting it will be controversial, to say the least.

 

[Terran Terran]

I wouldn’t want to breath the dust there now. There’s been efforts to revamp the Salton Sea, but the funds were never there. There are some nice communities in the surrounding hills. California has pretty strict regulations on particulate matter as well as ground water protection. Bringing money into the area may serve to protect it more. IDK I try to stay positive.

Actually lithium in the brine of the geothermal plants is old news. It hasn’t been commercially viable. Perhaps a survey is the only thing new.

[AK Granola]

I find Anna’s attitude pretty poor for an outdoor rec job working with the public, and if I were her boss, we’d be making some changes together. a group of people “like you” is something that should never be said by anyone in the outdoor industry, to any person or group; it’s pigeonholing and unacceptable. In this case it’s age discrimination pure and simple. In other circumstances it could be racism, sexism, fat phobia, or any other ism if said to another group based on the speaker’s bias. Instead she should be retrained to give specific advice about each trail and the type of skill it requires. The hikers can judge for themselves if they have better information to make the call.

I also think people have a right to get in trouble out there and push their limits. Yes, even if it makes more work for her and her team. If people only encounter employees trying to keep them out, instead of logical information, they will ignore all advice. Instead, give the advice people need to choose wisely and be successful, at least most of the time. The other times, when poor decisions are made, come with the territory of the outdoor industry, parks, etc.

Thanks for your great reports! Looks like a lovely area.

[Terran Terran]

Public employees just trying to do their job. I don’t always agree. I thank them for being there to serve the public.

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