Dos Cabezas Water Tower

Piedras Grandes
Elevation: 2,601′
Miles: ~2
Trailhead

Indian Hill
Elevation: 2,240′
Miles: ~2
Trailhead

On this Sunday morning, I scrambled atop a small rise and saw a large coyote turn and look at me, then run down the rise into the desert floor below, joining other coyotes to disappear among the cactus and chaparral.

The morning was beautiful, the sun was shining on my back and the breeze had enough chill in it to cool me from my exertion. Other than the birds, it was completely silent and I was the only person for miles. I was completely filled with the joy to be alive at that moment. I took a breath and continued up the mountain.

I found out later, that at roughly the same time, someone dear to me had passed away. It was sudden, and it wasn’t supposed to be her time to go. She was too young and too healthy. Random. Shocking.

Over the last few days, I have moved from denial to grief and acceptance. She was my favorite aunt. She gave me my first cassette tape, U2’s Unforgettable Fire, when I was 12. I was initially disappointed, since I didn’t know any songs on it. But it quickly became one of my favorite albums of all time. I learned every word and nuance on the album. Over the years, I felt like she always understood me. Her sons, my cousins, became my good friends throughout my childhood years.

She wasn’t my aunt by blood, but that didn’t matter to me, or to anyone in my family. She could always be counted on. Since my childhood, we grew apart, as people do, I moved away and I saw less of my cousins and my aunt. I still enjoyed her company on holidays and always knew she was there.

My wife had to break the news to me and I’ve made it very clear over the years that this aunt was very special to me. She took care of all of those around her, from her mother to her grandchildren.

As my emotions run all over, I’d like to think that the coyote I saw on Sunday was a message sent from the spirit world saying a last goodbye before she rejoined other spirits in the great desert basin of the sky.

Their video compression leaves a little to be desired, but it is a good introduction to the world of desert wildflowers we have here at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. From March, 2010.

Villager Peak from Rabbit Peak

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
200 Palm Canyon Dr
Borrego Springs, CA 92004
760-767-5311
anzaborrego@parks.ca.gov
Agency: California State Parks

Other Links:
The Anza-Borrego Foundation
The Anza-Borrego Natural History Organization

Encompassing 600,000 acres, Anza-Borrego Desert SP is one third of San Diego County. While mostly desert, there are a few places in the higher elevations that have some pine trees and have seasonal snowfall. A large draw for visitors is the annual spring wildflower bloom, which is especially powerful after a wet winter. There is also an extensive trail system for OHV, as well as a great variety of hiking trail of all difficulties. The area is so large that driving long distances is necessary to see the popular locales within the park, such as Fonts Point or Borrego Palm Canyon.

Ocotillo on the way to Villager Peak

Every year around this time, people start wanting to know if the wildflowers in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park have started blooming yet. After all, much of the park is about a 2-hour drive from most of the county and people want to know if the drive for a day-trip will be fruitful.

From what I understand, the bloom is about to be upon us. We are expecting some more rain in the park on Saturday, but the weather report indicated that Sunday, February 28th will be beautiful.

The bloom is starting right now, with a great amount in the coming week or so and should last in various forms until April. Reserve your lodging as soon as possible, since March tends to be the park’s busiest month.

The website that I always check is the Anza-Borrego Desert Natural History Association (ABDNHA). They regularly update their observations of the wildflower bloom situation and include recent pictures and descriptions, as well as current locations of blooming flowers.

Another resource is the Wildflower Telephone Hotline at 760-767-4684.

If you head out there, be prepared for wide weather and temperature fluctuations, lots of wind, bring plenty of water, and make sure your vehicle is sufficiently fueled, for the service stations can be few and far between.

I am not sure if I am going to be able to get out there for the peak of the blooming, but I hope you do.

Update 02/25/2010: The Anza-Borrego Desert State Park page updated their information about the Wildflowers and included a map. Scroll to the bottom and click on the PDF, or you can get it below:

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Wildflower Map (PDF – 1.71MB)

Ocotillo on the way to Villager Peak

Villager Peak:
Elevation: 5,756′
Miles: ~13.78

Rabbit Peak:
Elevation: 6,640′
Miles: ~8.9

Trail head

This was my first peak summiting with a group (Gut Check Fitness with Joe Decker) and the first overnight trip, as well. I have been wanting to do this hike for along time, since the epic scope of it seems unlike any other hike in San Diego. Although I summited two peaks on this trip, only Villager Peak counts, since Rabbit Peak is in Riverside County. Both peaks, however, are on the Hundred Peaks Section of the Angeles Sierra Club.

Elevation: 6,533′
Miles: .4
Trailhead

This weekend I had the privilege to have access to a peak that has been closed since Labor Day 2004. From what I could ascertain, it was closed due to the behavior of some individuals who did not respect the tribal lands, including OHV drivers and campers.

Elevation: 5,700′
Miles: .75
Trailhead

On the same trip as the trip to Garnet Peak, I made a quick side trip up to Garnet Mountain, while the rest of the family waited at the Kwaaymii Point trail head, which turns out is a hang glider launching point.

No railing here

It was a short jog up what looks like a jeep trail.

The trail leads up

After a couple of hundred feet of minor off-trail hiking (not really bushwhacking, since the bushes are low-growing). I was on the peak. I signed the summit register, allowed the breeze to cool me off and drank in the views to the east into Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.

In a couple of minutes I was back down.

Whale Peak from Garnet Mountain

Garnet Mountain summit register

Garnet Peak from Garnet Mountain summit

Elevation: 3,420′
Miles: 3.0
Trailhead

This was likely to be the last blazing hot hike of the year. This was a test run to see how far Sophie could travel with me. I have come to the conclusion that the Azna-Borrego Desert State Park is too far for Sophie at 18 months of age. Even though the hike was relatively short (3 Miles), it was simply too hot for her, as well. I will stick to short drives and shady hikes when I am taking her along.

One mile to the cabin, an additional half mile to the peak

After a winding drive through Ramona and down the Banner Grade, we drove for about three miles on a dirt road to the trail head, where there is a sign pointing to the trail and a marker describing the history of the Marshall South Cabin. Sophie was ready to get out of her car seat by then. We slathered on some sun screen and had a snack and headed up the mountain.

The little one, ready to go

The trail ahead

The first mile to the cabin was very steep as the temperature rose into the 90s. We encountered a mom with her three daughters in tow. They really weren’t interested in the cabin and simply wanted to get to a swimming pool. I talked with them a bit while Sophie played with some rocks and sand (her favorite) and then I walked around trying to find a trail to the actual summit. Sophie pointed to Granite Mountain and said, “Big mountain!” It is pretty big, I’d say.

Soph at the Marshall South Cabin

Not finding anything to lead me up to the top, we set off, alternating between rock-hopping, which is hard to do with a 20lbs girl on your back, and bushwhacking, which is hard to do when the bushes are cacti and aloe.

After several false summits and two shins full of bloody scratches, we made it to the summit. By that time, Sophie was over Ghost Mountain and wanted nothing more to do with it. Given the heat, the perils of bushwhacking, and the seemingly growing weight on my back, I was ready to get back to the car, as well. It was a great view, though.

Granite Mountain from Ghost Mountain

The edge of the Sawtooth Mountains

Monument Peak, where I hiked with my father a few days ago

My father and I atop Mount Whitney in 1984

This was a special hike for me, since I invited my father to come along. He has been hiking and camping with me on many occasions, including the fantastic trip to Mount Whitney in 1984. We’ve canoed together, hiked in the snow, went for 50-mile bike rides and have gone water skiing, mostly with the boy scouts. He is 71 years old, but is very active and seems like he is 58. I found myself trying to keep up with him as he bounded up the trail ahead of me, only occasionally taking a breather. We went to see Spamalot last week and there were many elderly people there in scooters and walkers. He turned to me and said, “What’s with all the old people?” This was funny to me since they were all practically the same age as him, but his activity is keeping him young, as well as his laid-back outlook. I realized again, as I have done many times in my life, that my insatiable curiosity and my attention to detail can be attributed directly to him. It was a great day, topped off with a pretty good burger at the Alpine Inn and some pleasant company.

Elevation: 6,271′
Miles: 2.9
Trailhead

On to the trip report. We got a later start, but it was OK, since it was fairly cool, with the clouds threatening to continue the rain that had arrived the night before. However, once on the trail, we warmed up and the clouds let the sun shine on us from time to time. We hiked through some meadows and pine trees, which was a nice break from the sun-beaten rocky ridges that dominate most of the hikes I have completed thus far.

Big Laguna Trail

After a couple of missed turns due to subtle signing, we found our way to the Pacific Crest Trail and made our way towards Monument Peak. As we ascended, the pine trees gave way to dense thickets of manzanita that were shoulder high.

My dad on the trail to the summit

Once we got near the peak, we encountered a great deal of equipment, some of it protected by a chain link fence. The peak’s prominence at the edge of the desert makes it ideal for antennae equipment and some laser research at the adjacent Stephenson Peak.

The fence on the way to the peak

After the fence we got onto a service road and were immediately hit with some fierce winds that buffeted us all the way to the top and the entire time we spend on the peak. There was one sheltered spot by some rocks and a large manzanita that gave us some respite. The view into the Anza-Borrego Desert was incredible. For such a short hike, it was truly a panoramic view. To the east there was the desert, and to the west, we had views into the lush Laguna and Cuyamaca areas.

Whale Peak over Anza-Borrego from Monument Peak Summit

Monument Peak Summit Register

Monument Peak Summit Benchmark

My dad on the peak, enjoying the view

Hawaii-like ridge next to Stephenson Peak

The Sawtooth Mountains

We shared the peak with some very large equipment and then, happy to be leaving the challenging gusts behind, made our way back down the mountain. It was a fairly easy hike and I always enjoy the drive through Mount Laguna.

My dad on the way back down the service road. Almost out of the wind.