Sightseeing in Anza Borriego

Since we are spending more time exploring, we decided to cross the road, literally, from the Calcite mine and check out more of Anza Borriego. One of the things that caught our eye, were the wildflowers in bloom. While the quantity wasn't the greatest, we still enjoyed checking them out. I hope you do too.

Sunflower

Creosote Flowers

This is the area we are heading into

Varied wildflowers

I thought this rock caught in the tree was interesting, its about the size of a large cantaloupe

No matter where I go, I'm always looking for the best views

As we continue down into the wash we start to see different layers in the canyon walls

We've been seeing this beetle on our trips to Anza Borriego, they always fascinate me

Various wildflowers

Bees on flowers

Driving through the wash

After driving through the wash, we arrived at Fonts Point. Here is a truly spectacular location with views that just don't quit. Of course Roy and I have to "check it out" at a closer and perhaps mentally unbalanced level. While this terrain is spectacular, it turns out to be nothing more than dried mud for the most part, with a few rocks thrown in. In a wetter area this would be gone in the blink of an eye, geologically speaking.

View from Fonts Point

With such spectacular views, it's a popular place

OK Roy, just a step to the left

Looking toward the southwest, soon we'll be hiking down there

Roy gingerly picking his way down

Come on across Cameron, it's easy!

Easy my foot!

Hey Roy, why aren't you making it look easy?

Roy finds a geo cache

Lupines

Beavertail Cactus

Verbenia

I've heard that Anza Borriego was used for target practice during WWII

We are headed up the wash, Fonts Point is in the distance

Come on Roy, it's easy

Roy on one of the more interesting sections of the climb

People on top of Fonts Point, we are about halfway up from the wash

Looking back down at the way we came up

Looking up at Fonts Point

Roy nearing the top of Fonts Point

After our little hike, we decided to go look at the fish traps on way towards home. We did quite a bit of wandering and saw some interesting stuff, but the fish traps in this area are still eluding us.

A very colorful rock that caught my eye

Smoothed out area overlooking ancient Lake Cahuilla, possibly a campsite?

Old Native American trail on hillside, beneath the possible campsite

A look at a rock that split before it was covered with travertine or tufa

Have these rocks been lined up, or is this how they were naturally deposited?

Seashells not too far from the Salton Seashore, from ancient Lake Cahuilla

Roy on the lookout

Broken pottery

It ended up being a very full day. All told we were able to check out the wildflowers, hike the Fonts Point area and check out some Native American sites along the shores of ancient Lake Cahuilla. A great time was had by all!

Slot Canyon in Anza Borrego

February 21, 2010

Anza Borrego State Park

Sometimes you just have to go when the spirit moves you. This was one of those days. I remembered checking out the badlands area near the Calcite Mine in Anza Borrego and I knew I wanted to go back. One day, I was sitting around home when suddenly it hit me, why waste time doing nothing, when we had enough time to go for a hike. I asked Calvin and in spite of the short notice, he consented to come along. It must have been one of those celestial object alignments. Soon we were in the car heading south to Anza Borrego.

After about an hour drive, we were at the turn off to the Calcite Mine. Since we were driving a sedan instead of Roy's Blazer, we opted to walk from the pavement.

I'm headed down the road towards the Calcite Mine

Since the road is so rugged, it really didn't take all that much longer than driving, Ok, it was longer but it didn't seem like it.

Looking at a small mesa I've been told is called "Redtop"

Looking out at the Salton Sea on the hike in

Soon we reached the area where I wanted to explore

After hiking in an easy mile, we then took off from the road and headed over to the area where Roy and I had recently been rained out. During that trip I had decided that I had to come back for some exploring. I knew from the past trip that the canyon ran into a vertical dry waterfall that appeared to be about 12 to 15 feet high, I wasn't going that way, so we headed downstream.

Calvin getting psyched up for the hike as he looks around at the cliffs

Thank goodness, a duck, we're not lost, although I don't know how you would go any other way in a slot canyon?

Very soon the wall became quite narrow, in places about shoulder width

As we walked down the canyon it was interesting to see the different layers in the walls

Sometimes the canyon would open up a bit and then narrow down again

It appears that perhaps intelligent life forms have preceded us

Me walking through the canyon

Yes, it's about this wide

The different shapes and sculpturing were truly a treat to see

After a while the canyon began to open up and get wider

And even wider, here Calvin is walking under a huge overhang

When suddenly what should appear, but the natural bridge we'd seen on the previous trip

Calvin weight lifting

Calvin stomping the pillar back into place after lifting it ; )

From the natural bridge it was just a short walk back to the road we came in on and then out to the car. We both agreed that this was a great hike, not too long, but a real jewel.