High Sierra Topix

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:

www.backpackthesierra.com/post/anza-borrego

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

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

photos.app.goo.gl/MJP6cXZd9gMXVSYg8

Thank you Paul for this report - sounds like you really enjoyed it. I really like Anza Borrego myself, and have been meaning to take my wife here (again ... took her many years ago with a couple of our kids). I've never done the "Slot" trail, so thanks for the tip.
I pondered your stop in Lancaster for a moment (seemed out of the way), and then figured out that avoiding the Eaton fire area was worth a slight detour.

Nice report, Paul. We've been to Anza-Borrego several times for spring wildflowers and did some of those same hikes, including the palm groves by Agua Caliente. Why did the first ranger think the hikes would be too difficult? Is it because you look "mature"? Or would have to walk further because you didn't have 4-wheel drive to get all the way to the trailheads?

Interesting to hear that you are originally from Coalinga. We've driven through there a couple of times when taking the "scenic route" from the Bay Area to southern California via Pinnacles NP. One time we stopped at Coalinga Mineral Springs and hiked the trail up to Kreyenhagen Peak. Empty country there.

-Phil

I'm heading to the A-B next week for a winter backpacking trip. Your report got my juices flowing.

Grampy, you are correct, Lancaster avoided both the Eaton Fire and some LA traffic.

Wildhiker, here's more on that ranger's suggestions:

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