Carrizo Gorge: February 2012

Scotty "C" and I headed out to hike down the length of Carrizo Gorge from the DeAnza Springs Resort to Egg mountain. We have been down in the Gorge several times before and knew what to expect, catclaw, reeds, water and plenty of solitude. We hiked about 2 miles on the tracks from DeAnza and then dived down into the thick of the catclaw where there were old remains of railway cars. There were about 4 sets of wheels and axles, a small car chassis and other debris. Along the way we also found two encampments with more debris. It was about 12 miles thru the Gorge to get to the end of the jeep road and then about another 7 miles on sandy jeep road to egg mountain. We got to the jeep road just before dusk and hiked the remaining 7 miles to the truck in the dark under an almost full moon. It was a perfect night for hiking without lights and we managed to pull this trip off in 12 hours.

Photos from the trip can be seen here

Scott knows there is catclaw down in the Gorge so he prepared his pack with anti catclaw plastic wrap

This is where we decided to drop down into the Gorge, about 2 miles from DeAnza

This is where we decided to try and go down into the gorge, about 2 miles away from DeAnza

Some old railway debris on the side of the Gorge

This looked a small ore cart or something, it was halfway down the hill. The wheels are dated 1909

Down in the Gorge Scotty "C" straps on the catclaw armor

Nice water pond area

Panorama of the small pond area in Carizzo Gorge

Busting thru some carrizo

Old mining debris

An old gear up on the cement foundations

Cholla and cactus forest

Down in the Gorge near Goat Canyon, two years ago this was flowing with water

This is about 1 mile south of Goat Canyon. 2 years ago we were here and it was a flowing river with water pools

Looking up at the train trestles and the two old railway cars that have fallen over the side. You can't actually see the big famous trestle from down in the Gorge, you need to climb up to see it.