Anza Borrego - South Fork Palm Wash

I've explored Palm Wash and the Calcite Mine in this general area of the desert last spring. This time I set out on a solo hike up the South Fork Palm Wash. I left a detailed directions and description of my route with Linda and I did not divert from my route. I did not see a soul all day out there. After winding my way up the wash and through some of the most incredible slots, I took in some true solitude, silence and beautiful view of the desert as I ate lunch and rested on my desert mountain perch.

Slot Canyon Panoramas

Here are some Panorama shots of the slot canyons that Robbie and I explored in the Anza Borrego Desert. Robbie took these pics and emailed them to me.

Anza Borrego - Culp Valley to Upper Hellhole Canyon

Taking advantage of another cool day in the desert, Ron, Robbie and I headed out to Culp Valley for an off trail excursion into upper Hellhole Canyon. Ron wasn't feeling well so he turned around to go back to the truck for some rest and small excursions not far from the truck. Robbie and I, however ventured on to conquer one of the most strenuous hikes we have done yet. We hiked mostly the whole way Up and down huge mountainsides scrambling over rocks, boulders and loose scree all the while getting zapped here and there by some of the most prickly, spiny, thorny plants. The ausome beauty and solitude around the whole area made the effort totally worth it. I didn't see any signs of human activity down in the canyon. Robbie almost stepped on a rattlesnake as we were crossing the creek at a very marshy leaf littered area of the creek. He got lucky though as the snake just rattled a little and slithered away quickly. It was strange how the snake did not rattle until Robbie's foot was right next to the snake.

The first three pics below were taken at the beginning of the hike. Those clouds were coming just over the mountain all day and burning of before they could reach the desert Spraying us with a light fine mist most of the day. Nice. These were the fastest moving clouds that I have ever seen, Zooming by in the sky all day long. Also the wind would blow so hard at times that it would almost knock me down.

The two pics below were taken as we gained the ridge at the top of the mountainside leading down into the canyon.

Below looking down into upper Hellhole Canyon that we descended into. Our destination was a waterfall near the patch of trees that you can see up into the tributary just above the center of the picture. The tributary creek was nearly dry though with only some seeps coming up here and there.

Below looking back at the mountain that we descended down to get into the canyon. Parts of that mountain are almost straight up vertical. What a cardiovascular, leg burning, knee knocking time. Really good workout.


Below the view looking into the upper reaches of Hellhole canyon.
Below back at the trailhead resting, eating, drinking, taking in the killer views.

Anza Borrego Desert

After several scorching days of hot weather, a slight cool down prompted a trip back down to the Anza Borrego desert. The first half of the day was rough. We drove all the way down into the southern Anza Borrego desert 25 miles from one small store that we seen and about 6 1/2 miles out into the desert on a dirt road. Our battery died at the trailhead to the mudcaves. Luckily a group of four whell drives came along and gave us a jump. We got lucky and made it 40 some miles to Borrego Springs and found a battery for the truck. We decided to go to the Calcite mine area. I was recently here but instead of hiking the dirt roads this time we hiked the washes and slot canyons all the way up to the min and the climbed a small peaklet above the mine area. Really fun hike. The first pic below is of Lake Henshaw on our way out to the desert.

Anza Borrego Calcite Mine and Slot Canyons

On our way out to the Anza Borrego Desert a road was closed so we were detoured up the south grade road to Palomar mountain where just the day before it had received a dusting of snow from a storm that moved quickly in and out. Then we drove down the east grade road to get back in route through the rolling grasslands, through oak woodlands, through the Pinyon - Juniper transition zone and the finally dropping down into the vast Anza Borrego desert, then winding across the desert to the southern spurs of the Santa Rosa Mountains. This was my first time hiking in this type of terrain. It was incredible. We explored the washes and slot canyons and then hiked up into the mountains a little further and explored the old Calcite crystal mines. We got down into some of the trench mines and seen the huge veins of crystal in the rock. We got to see two desert iguanas along the way. Its amazing to see them run super fast along the desert floor. Great day of contrasting landscapes and total peace and serenity while perched up in those badlands eating lunch and looking out over the desert and the Salton Sea basin.