Description
This is what to expect on the Sept.18, Saturday night run to Anza Borrego State Park. Make your way out Highway 78 to S-2 and turn right. Travel to mile marker 53 and pull off the East side of the road at Carrizo Badland Overlook. Be there at 8:15 PM. Air down. A stock 4X4 can make this run.
Tow rigs can be left in Ramona as Sizzler or Stagecoach Trails in Shelter Valley off S-2.
We start off at 8:30 down Canyon sin Nombre jeep trail. Expect it to be hot. When we get to Carrizo Creek wash we will turn right. Soon this will turn into wet ground, then submerged ground and the creek will be our road bead for about 1/4 mile. It gets much cooler in the creek. From the creek exit we will travel East to the bombing range. No souvenirs please. We turn around and go back through the water & Carrizo Creek wash until we get to Arroyo Tapiado. Here it is a turn to the North. We will stop in the canyon to explore a mud cave. Bring a flash light. It's cooler in the cave. From the Mud cave we will find Diablo Drop Off. Folks will want to stay for awhile and go up and down the various obstacles. From the Drop Off area we will make our way East down Fish Creek (dry) to almost pavement and camp.
I say "camp" in quotes. I anticipate to temperature to have cooled off to the mid 70's by 1 AM. Bring a sleeping mat to make the ground sort of soft and do not expect a camp fire. At sun up it heats up. We hit the pavement not too far from camp and go North past the Iron Door bar to Ocotillo Wells & Highway 78. Turn left (West) on Highway 78 and haul butt out of the heat towards home.
Meet at Carl's Jr. in San Clemente, at the I5 & Christianitos 4 PM Saturday afternoon; we'll leave at 4:30. I plan to get last gas and early dinner in Ramona.
Join us for chow or make your own arrangements.
Should be at Sizzler in Ramona at 5:30 PM for dinner on Saturday night.
I also plan to have breakfast in Ramona Sunday morning.
A note about temperatures. The historic daytime high was 114, low of 53, expect it to be 103 at 8 PM.
To learn more about the mud caves, go to:
http://www.hiddensandiego.com/wiki/index.php?title=Preview_Arroyo_Tapiado
Location
Rendezvous @ San Clemente Carl's Jr
Make your way out Highway 78 to S-2 and turn right. Travel to mile marker 53 and pull off the East side of the road at Carrizo Badland Overlook. Be there at 8:15 PM. Air down.