tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16023124816196301622024-03-13T14:00:05.162-07:00Carrizo GorgeCarrizo Gorge is known for the famous Goat Canyon Trestle and the Impossible Railroad. At it's heart it is a remote and rugged wilderness area located within the Anza Borrego Desert State Park and BLM Wilderness boundaries.Daren Sefcikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15263407636242945068noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1602312481619630162.post-8484637365638159622015-05-31T02:03:00.000-07:002015-05-31T02:03:13.417-07:00Carrizo Gorge Wilderness Backpack - ABDSPGary and I spent the long 3 day Memorial Day weekend leisurely traversing the Carrizo Gorge Wilderness with no more of an agenda other than getting back to our trucks sometime by the end of the day Monday. Mr Tom was kind enough to drop us off at Jacumba on Sat morning and was going to hike with us for the day but the weather was kinda cold and blustery and I guess his jacuzzi and booze back home sounded better so it was just Gary and I.<br />
<br />
Carrizo Gorge is one of those easy to get to wilderness areas that just never gets old and it has a long history with the railroad and the now famous Goat Canyon Trestle. The trestle seems to be growing exponentially in popularity and I suspect that will continue until the railway patrols pickup again. This particular trip we saw as many as 10 motorcycle adventurers in addition to all of the usual hikers and MTB'ers.<br />
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There is something about the Gorge that seems to beckon film photography and I always enjoy taking at least one older analog camera with me. The B/W photos here are from my Fuji GW690 6x9 medium format camera and the film is Fuji Acros 100 developed 1+2+100 in PMK Pyro @13 minutes. A few of the photos I took were an attempt to mirror photos found in the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0738581488/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0738581488&linkCode=as2&tag=daresefc-20&linkId=C2IACAZL5KBNNZ7Y">The Impossible Railroad</a> book.<br />
<br />
Carrizo Gorge with Sombrero Peak way off in the distance to the right<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-05-23-2015/49611363_XXs8QZ#!i=4095953918&k=KKRpcKb&lb=1&s=A" title="View of Carrizo Gorge Anza Borrrego Desert State Park from the Railroad Tracks"><img src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-05-23-2015/i-KKRpcKb/0/M/Carrizo%20Gorge%20Canyon%20View%202015-05-28-0010-M.jpg" title="View of Carrizo Gorge Anza Borrrego Desert State Park from the Railroad Tracks" alt="View of Carrizo Gorge Anza Borrrego Desert State Park from the Railroad Tracks"></a><br />
<br />
Following the tracks, some of the trestles are in good shape, others not so much<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-05-23-2015/49611363_XXs8QZ#!i=4095956868&k=C5D69Sz&lb=1&s=A" title="Carrizo Gorge Train Tracks near Tule Spring in Quad 19 USGS Maps"><img src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-05-23-2015/i-C5D69Sz/0/M/Carrizo%20Gorge%20Train%20Tracks%202015-05-26-0003-M.jpg" title="Carrizo Gorge Train Tracks near Tule Spring in Quad 19 USGS Maps" alt="Carrizo Gorge Train Tracks near Tule Spring in Quad 19 USGS Maps"></a><br />
<br />
One particular set of railway cars that has been out on the tracks for several years now has been heavily vandalized.<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-05-23-2015/49611363_XXs8QZ#!i=4095956047&k=mM95vJc&lb=1&s=A" title="Inside one of the railraw cars abandoned on the tracks. It has suffered quite a bit of vandalism over the years, When I first saw it there was no graffitti or broken windows."><img src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-05-23-2015/i-mM95vJc/0/M/Carrizo%20Gorge%20Train%20Seats%202015-05-26-0005-M.jpg" title="Inside one of the railraw cars abandoned on the tracks. It has suffered quite a bit of vandalism over the years, When I first saw it there was no graffitti or broken windows." alt="Inside one of the railraw cars abandoned on the tracks. It has suffered quite a bit of vandalism over the years, When I first saw it there was no graffitti or broken windows."></a><br />
<br />
On page 36 of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0738581488/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0738581488&linkCode=as2&tag=daresefc-20&linkId=C2IACAZL5KBNNZ7Y">The Impossible Railroad</a> book there is a picture showing the Young & Crooks Camp 1 and all of the workers tents and the compressor plant equipment. This is the roughly the same photograph but the only thing you can still see are foundations of cement and many of the cleared areas that were built up with rocks to form a tiered foundation for the large tents they used<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-05-23-2015/49611363_XXs8QZ#!i=4095963875&k=wwgBPSh&lb=1&s=A" title="Young & Crooks Camp 1 in Carrizo Gorge. This view is looking straight down at the camp area and was me trying to capture the same image as on page 36 of the San Diego And Arizona Railway Impossible Railroad book"><img src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-05-23-2015/i-wwgBPSh/0/M/Young%20%26%20Crooks%20Camp%202015-05-27-0006-M.jpg" title="Young & Crooks Camp 1 in Carrizo Gorge. This view is looking straight down at the camp area and was me trying to capture the same image as on page 36 of the San Diego And Arizona Railway Impossible Railroad book" alt="Young & Crooks Camp 1 in Carrizo Gorge. This view is looking straight down at the camp area and was me trying to capture the same image as on page 36 of the San Diego And Arizona Railway Impossible Railroad book"></a><br />
<br />
Gary at a few of the railroad camps<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-05-23-2015/49611363_XXs8QZ#!i=4095959058&k=KpBqFw7&lb=1&s=A" title="Gary at Railroad Camp near Indian Hill"><img src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-05-23-2015/i-KpBqFw7/0/M/Gary%20at%20Indian%20Hill%202015-05-27-0002-M.jpg" title="Gary at Railroad Camp near Indian Hill" alt="Gary at Railroad Camp near Indian Hill"></a><br />
<br />
This workers camp overlooks the gorge and has approx 5-6 built up tiers for large tents. Most of it is overgrown with cholla now though.<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-05-23-2015/49611363_XXs8QZ#!i=4095960528&k=394D6xz&lb=1&s=A" title="Gary standing on an overlook at tunnel 17"><img src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-05-23-2015/i-394D6xz/0/M/Gary%20Standing%20on%20Railroad%20Camp%20Overlook%20of%20Carrizo%20Gorge%20at%20Tunnel%2017%202015-05-28-0007-M.jpg" title="Gary standing on an overlook at tunnel 17" alt="Gary standing on an overlook at tunnel 17"></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-05-23-2015/49611363_XXs8QZ#!i=4095955674&k=QTBFccL&lb=1&s=A" title="When building the Carrizo Gorge Railway sections the workers would build camp sites on the bypass roads for the tunnels. Some of the rock wall foundations are still visible and are quite elaborate"><img src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-05-23-2015/i-QTBFccL/0/M/Carrizo%20Gorge%20Railroad%20Camp%20Rock%20Walls%202015-05-28-0009-M.jpg" title="When building the Carrizo Gorge Railway sections the workers would build camp sites on the bypass roads for the tunnels. Some of the rock wall foundations are still visible and are quite elaborate" alt="When building the Carrizo Gorge Railway sections the workers would build camp sites on the bypass roads for the tunnels. Some of the rock wall foundations are still visible and are quite elaborate"></a><br />
<br />
Here is another photo from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0738581488/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0738581488&linkCode=as2&tag=daresefc-20&linkId=C2IACAZL5KBNNZ7Y">The Impossible Railroad</a> book<br />
on page 40 showing tunnel 15 where they eventually gave up on that tunnel and built the tracks around it<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-05-23-2015/49611363_XXs8QZ#!i=4095962148&k=V6xKzBj&lb=1&s=A" title="Carrizo Gorge Tunnel 15a near Goat Canyon Trestle. This tunnel was abandoned after multiple collapses and the tracks were built around the side of the mountain. This view was me trying to capture the same image as on page 40 of the San Diego And Arizona Railway Impossible Railroad book"><img src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-05-23-2015/i-V6xKzBj/0/M/Tunnel%2015a%20%26%20The%20Seven%20Sisters%202015-05-27-0007-M.jpg" title="Carrizo Gorge Tunnel 15a near Goat Canyon Trestle. This tunnel was abandoned after multiple collapses and the tracks were built around the side of the mountain. This view was me trying to capture the same image as on page 40 of the San Diego And Arizona Railway Impossible Railroad book" alt="Carrizo Gorge Tunnel 15a near Goat Canyon Trestle. This tunnel was abandoned after multiple collapses and the tracks were built around the side of the mountain. This view was me trying to capture the same image as on page 40 of the San Diego And Arizona Railway Impossible Railroad book"></a><br />
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We found a huge horseshoe, looked more decorative than useful<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-05-23-2015/49611363_XXs8QZ#!i=4095960165&k=xhNDjL7&lb=1&s=A" title="We found a large horseshoe at one of the railroad camps, it looks decorative and not functional"><img src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-05-23-2015/i-xhNDjL7/0/L/Gary%20with%20Horseshoe%202015-05-27-0001-L.jpg" title="We found a large horseshoe at one of the railroad camps, it looks decorative and not functional" alt="We found a large horseshoe at one of the railroad camps, it looks decorative and not functional"></a><br />
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This is one of the cooler tunnels out there<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-05-23-2015/49611363_XXs8QZ#!i=4095962700&k=S6Hvh9r&lb=1&s=A" title="This is a cool tunnel built deep into a large boulder mountain"><img src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-05-23-2015/i-S6Hvh9r/0/M/Piedras%20Grandes%20Camp%20Tunnel%202015-05-28-0011-M.jpg" title="This is a cool tunnel built deep into a large boulder mountain" alt="This is a cool tunnel built deep into a large boulder mountain"></a><br />
<br />
Gary heading into tunnel 16, this one has a history of fires and collapses which is evidenced by the tweak on the top. The inside supports you see in the other tunnels are missing which I am guessing is from the 1986 fire that burned it out<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-05-23-2015/49611363_XXs8QZ#!i=4095959173&k=9v4bPxJ&lb=1&s=A" title="Gary walking towards tunnel 16"><img src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-05-23-2015/i-9v4bPxJ/0/M/Gary%20at%20Tunnel%2016%202015-05-28-0005-M.jpg" title="Gary walking towards tunnel 16" alt="Gary walking towards tunnel 16"></a><br />
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What would a trip thru the Gorge be without a photo of the Trestle<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-05-23-2015/49611363_XXs8QZ#!i=4095960353&k=44XXFJH&lb=1&s=A" title="Goat Canyon Trestle in Carrizo Gorge"><img src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-05-23-2015/i-44XXFJH/0/M/Goat%20Canyon%20Trestle%202015-05-28-0006-M.jpg" title="Goat Canyon Trestle in Carrizo Gorge" alt="Goat Canyon Trestle in Carrizo Gorge"></a><br />
<br />
Eventually we found our way to the East Fork and the Carrizo Palms. There was some water and lots of wildlife tracks<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-05-23-2015/49611363_XXs8QZ#!i=4095957301&k=Z6ZSFgh&lb=1&s=A" title="One of the several palm groves in the East Fork of Carrizo Gorge"><img src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-05-23-2015/i-Z6ZSFgh/0/M/Carrizo%20Palms%202015-05-27-0003-M.jpg" title="One of the several palm groves in the East Fork of Carrizo Gorge" alt="One of the several palm groves in the East Fork of Carrizo Gorge"></a><br />
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Unfortunately this poor gal was not able to make it to the water source. I was able to go out a few days later with a Fish & Game Biologist to perform a post-mortem and the cause of death was determined to be from disease <br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-05-23-2015/49611363_XXs8QZ#!i=4095957493&k=n6Mh6Jc&lb=1&s=A" title="Dead Ewe we found in a remote canyon. Cause of death was most likely dieasese as evedince of horn and foot dieasese was present. The collar indicates she was about 13 years old."><img src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-05-23-2015/i-n6Mh6Jc/0/L/Dead%20Ewe%20Front%20View%202015-05-28-0004-L.jpg" title="Dead Ewe we found in a remote canyon. Cause of death was most likely dieasese as evedince of horn and foot dieasese was present. The collar indicates she was about 13 years old." alt="Dead Ewe we found in a remote canyon. Cause of death was most likely dieasese as evedince of horn and foot dieasese was present. The collar indicates she was about 13 years old."></a><br />
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Rock Art<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-05-23-2015/49611363_XXs8QZ#!i=4095955225&k=WjzvxKq&lb=1&s=A" title="Carrizo Gorge Pictographs"><img src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-05-23-2015/i-WjzvxKq/0/M/Carrizo%20Gorge%20Pictographs%202015-05-27-0004-M.jpg" title="Carrizo Gorge Pictographs" alt="Carrizo Gorge Pictographs"></a><br />
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I did manage to get some digital shots as well, love the sunrise photos with a super zoom<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-05-23-2015/49611363_XXs8QZ#!i=4096046692&k=8fDfdqd&lb=1&s=A" title="Sunrise over the Coyote Mtns"><img src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-05-23-2015/i-8fDfdqd/0/M/dscf0369_2015-05-23-M.jpg" title="Sunrise over the Coyote Mtns" alt="Sunrise over the Coyote Mtns"></a><br />
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The Goat Canyon Trestle has several "catwalks" built in to facilitate repairs and maintenance duties and there is also an elaborate fire supression system built into the trestle with many pipes and valves that lead up to the water tanker on the hillside above. This photo is looking straight thru the first catwalk and some of the water pipes are visible. I can't recommend walking these catwalks at all, they are sketchy at best<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-05-23-2015/49611363_XXs8QZ#!i=4095970515&k=JFjpbJP&lb=1&s=A" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"><img src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-05-23-2015/i-JFjpbJP/0/L/carrizo%20gorge%20catwalk%2003_1-L.jpg" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug" alt="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"></a><br />
<br />
Gary enjoying some of the water at Carrizo Palms<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-05-23-2015/49611363_XXs8QZ#!i=4095971570&k=rQHK22r&lb=1&s=A" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"><img src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-05-23-2015/i-rQHK22r/0/M/gary%20at%20carrizo%20palms_1-M.jpg" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug" alt="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"></a><br />
<br />
Reptiles were out and about, we found 2 in the same spot with head injuries, pretty strange, anybody have any ideas? We were thinking hawks or such<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-05-23-2015/49611363_XXs8QZ#!i=4096047096&k=cf9vvpG&lb=1&s=A" title="2 dead snakes with their heads bitten into"><img src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-05-23-2015/i-cf9vvpG/0/M/img_2900_2015-05-24-M.jpg" title="2 dead snakes with their heads bitten into" alt="2 dead snakes with their heads bitten into"></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-05-23-2015/49611363_XXs8QZ#!i=4096047030&k=TQcP4JG&lb=1&s=A" title="Bloody head of one of the snakes"><img src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-05-23-2015/i-TQcP4JG/0/M/img_2901_2015-05-24-M.jpg" title="Bloody head of one of the snakes" alt="Bloody head of one of the snakes"></a><br />
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This guy was chilling in the shade of the tunnels<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-05-23-2015/49611363_XXs8QZ#!i=4096047562&k=Zrdr8md&lb=1&s=A" title="Snake in a dark tunnel"><img src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-05-23-2015/i-Zrdr8md/0/M/img_2924_2015-05-24-M.jpg" title="Snake in a dark tunnel" alt="Snake in a dark tunnel"></a><br />
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Railroad camp debris, re-purposing a shovel for something?<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-05-23-2015/49611363_XXs8QZ#!i=4096047429&k=RxhJXqg&lb=1&s=A" title="Curious hole cut out of a shovel"><img src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-05-23-2015/i-RxhJXqg/0/M/img_2909_2015-05-24-M.jpg" title="Curious hole cut out of a shovel" alt="Curious hole cut out of a shovel"></a><br />
<br />
This is more my speed, a real fifth bottle of whisky<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-05-23-2015/49611363_XXs8QZ#!i=4096046830&k=NPz5kSw&lb=1&s=A" title="A real fifth of whisky"><img src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-05-23-2015/i-NPz5kSw/0/M/img_2896_2015-05-24-M.jpg" title="A real fifth of whisky" alt="A real fifth of whisky"></a><br />
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Anyways, thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed...time to turn in.....<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-05-23-2015/49611363_XXs8QZ#!i=4096312318&k=PjQWLgD&lb=1&s=A" title="Sleep setup in the Gorge"><img src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-05-23-2015/i-PjQWLgD/0/M/img_2943_2015-05-25-M.jpg" title="Sleep setup in the Gorge" alt="Sleep setup in the Gorge"></a><br />
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-----Daren R. Sefcikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13798795352517991700noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1602312481619630162.post-56846692695102518182015-02-23T23:47:00.001-08:002015-02-24T00:05:21.880-08:00The Impossible Railroad & Carrizo Gorge Solo BackpackSpent a few days hiking and backpacking around Jacumba and Carrizo Gorge
with an emphasis on trying to find some of the old railroad
construction camps. Inspired by the book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0738581488/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0738581488&linkCode=as2&tag=daresefc-20&linkId=C2IACAZL5KBNNZ7Y">The Impossible Railroad</a>
I backpacked out into the Gorge battling the Tamarisk and ticks and
found several of the camps, train wreckage, historic artifacts and even
more interest in this fascinating story of a railway that was jinxed
from the beginning. I encourage you to read this book if you want to
learn more about the history and see many unpublished photos of the
railroad as it progressed from 1919 to our present day fiasco it still
is.<br />
<br />
I will post some of my favorite photos of the trip here but you can see many more in my photo gallery <a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-14-2015/47570766_kjZnHW">here</a> <br />
<br />
The railroad tracks are completely blocked off as of 02-14-2015 at the
De Anza resort. The old train cars that have been off to the side for
years have been pulled up onto the tracks completely blocking access to
railway vehicles. You can see in this picture that whatever large
vehicle it took to move those rail cars have dented and smashed down the
actual tracks. The picture is deceiving, it looks like the rail car is
on the tracks normally but they are actually laid cross wise on the
tracks, like a big tractor or such just dragged them up and onto the
tracks at an angle. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-14-2015/47570766_kjZnHW#%21i=3885036684&k=RBtVGJV&lb=1&s=A" title="Tracks are closed off near De Anza resort. Tracks are also looking pretty smashed up from whatever vehicle was used to move that rail car onto the tracks"><img alt="Tracks are closed off near De Anza resort. Tracks are also looking pretty smashed up from whatever vehicle was used to move that rail car onto the tracks" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-14-2015/i-RBtVGJV/0/M/dscf9962_2015-02-14-M.jpg" title="Tracks are closed off near De Anza resort. Tracks are also looking pretty smashed up from whatever vehicle was used to move that rail car onto the tracks" /></a><br />
<br />
Young & Crooks Camp 1 down in the gorge<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-14-2015/47570766_kjZnHW#%21i=3885037756&k=b7xrckD&lb=1&s=A" title="Young & Crooks Camp 1"><img alt="Young & Crooks Camp 1" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-14-2015/i-b7xrckD/0/M/dscf9976_2015-02-14-M.jpg" title="Young & Crooks Camp 1" /></a><br />
<br />
Most of the construction sites built up tiered foundations on the hillsides. They were very elaborate and quite impressive<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-14-2015/47570766_kjZnHW#%21i=3885029289&k=m7zRbKr&lb=1&s=A" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"><img alt="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-14-2015/i-m7zRbKr/0/M/dscf0028_2015-02-14-M.jpg" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-14-2015/47570766_kjZnHW#%21i=3885028836&k=j67pqV2&lb=1&s=A" title=""><img alt="" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-14-2015/i-j67pqV2/0/M/dscf0026_2015-02-14-M.jpg" title="" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-14-2015/47570766_kjZnHW#%21i=3885029221&k=z84w8z5&lb=1&s=A" title=""><img alt="" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-14-2015/i-z84w8z5/0/M/dscf0027_2015-02-14-M.jpg" title="" /></a><br />
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Debris from the construction camp<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-14-2015/47570766_kjZnHW#%21i=3885026475&k=dg7RHzN&lb=1&s=A" title=""><img alt="" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-14-2015/i-dg7RHzN/0/L/dscf0009_2015-02-14-L.jpg" title="" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-14-2015/47570766_kjZnHW#%21i=3885026089&k=8cfFdm9&lb=1&s=A" title=""><img alt="" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-14-2015/i-8cfFdm9/0/L/dscf0011_2015-02-14-L.jpg" title="" /></a><br />
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The May 1965 derailed Coors Beer trailer<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-14-2015/47570766_kjZnHW#%21i=3885039741&k=rSG9tZR&lb=1&s=A" title="Coors Beer Trailer that derailed in May 1965"><img alt="Coors Beer Trailer that derailed in May 1965" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-14-2015/i-rSG9tZR/0/M/dscf9990_2015-02-14_v2-M.jpg" title="Coors Beer Trailer that derailed in May 1965" /></a><br />
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The wheels wedged into a dry fall<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-14-2015/47570766_kjZnHW#%21i=3885040245&k=tPhfjBz&lb=1&s=A" title=""><img alt="" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-14-2015/i-tPhfjBz/0/M/dscf9993_2015-02-14-M.jpg" title="" /></a><br />
<br />
I found several small rooms dug into the hillsides that must have served as offices or temporary shelters<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-14-2015/47570766_kjZnHW#%21i=3885029962&k=ZhGmWnV&lb=1&s=A" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"><img alt="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-14-2015/i-ZhGmWnV/0/M/dscf0030_2015-02-14-M.jpg" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-14-2015/47570766_kjZnHW#%21i=3885029499&k=Sg59gFh&lb=1&s=A" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"><img alt="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-14-2015/i-Sg59gFh/0/M/dscf0031_2015-02-14-M.jpg" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-14-2015/47570766_kjZnHW#%21i=3885035563&k=qXhXrXL&lb=1&s=A" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"><img alt="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-14-2015/i-qXhXrXL/0/M/dscf0082_2015-02-15-M.jpg" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug" /></a><br />
<br />
Or perhaps they were the supply rooms for the important stuff<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-14-2015/47570766_kjZnHW#%21i=3885035436&k=j74PnVP&lb=1&s=A" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"><img alt="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-14-2015/i-j74PnVP/0/M/dscf0084_2015-02-15-M.jpg" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug" /></a><br />
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Plenty of beautiful blooms starting to happen now<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-14-2015/47570766_kjZnHW#%21i=3885036819&k=Twzv5kk&lb=1&s=A" title="Cleveland's Beardtongue, Penstemon clevelandii"><img alt="Cleveland's Beardtongue, Penstemon clevelandii" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-14-2015/i-Twzv5kk/0/L/dscf0103_2015-02-15-L.jpg" title="Cleveland's Beardtongue, Penstemon clevelandii" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-14-2015/47570766_kjZnHW#%21i=3885029069&k=BTSW58t&lb=1&s=A" title="Fishhook Cactus"><img alt="Fishhook Cactus" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-14-2015/i-BTSW58t/0/M/dscf0029_2015-02-14-M.jpg" title="Fishhook Cactus" /></a><br />
<br />
Most of the tunnel bypass roads were clear but some had landslide debris
covering them or worse cholla land mines, this one I did not win, I
took heavy casualties, even my hiking pole got several stuck on it!<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-14-2015/47570766_kjZnHW#%21i=3885029798&k=BBGBjXP&lb=1&s=A" title="Tunnel bypass "><img alt="Tunnel bypass " src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-14-2015/i-BBGBjXP/0/M/dscf0032_2015-02-14-M.jpg" title="Tunnel bypass " /></a><br />
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Here is a nice view down the gorge towards the Seven Sisters and in the foreground is the original tunnel 15<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-14-2015/47570766_kjZnHW#%21i=3885031025&k=HKq3PFQ&lb=1&s=A" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"><img alt="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-14-2015/i-HKq3PFQ/0/M/dscf0044_2015-02-15-M.jpg" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug" /></a><br />
<br />
A bit more old debris in some other construction sites<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-14-2015/47570766_kjZnHW#%21i=3885032210&k=gswvSgd&lb=1&s=A" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"><img alt="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-14-2015/i-gswvSgd/0/M/dscf0055_2015-02-15-M.jpg" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-14-2015/47570766_kjZnHW#%21i=3885033718&k=f9MB6Pv&lb=1&s=A" title=""><img alt="" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-14-2015/i-f9MB6Pv/0/M/dscf0065_2015-02-15-M.jpg" title="" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-14-2015/47570766_kjZnHW#%21i=3885033583&k=2cNbTf9&lb=1&s=A" title=""><img alt="" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-14-2015/i-2cNbTf9/0/M/dscf0067_2015-02-15-M.jpg" title="" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-14-2015/47570766_kjZnHW#%21i=3885034298&k=sTjzRzG&lb=1&s=A" title=""><img alt="" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-14-2015/i-sTjzRzG/0/M/dscf0072_2015-02-15-M.jpg" title="" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-14-2015/47570766_kjZnHW#%21i=3885036267&k=DnvJBbW&lb=1&s=A" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"><img alt="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-14-2015/i-DnvJBbW/0/M/dscf0089_2015-02-15-M.jpg" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug" /></a><br />
<br />
About the only graffiti I wasn't discouraged to see<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-14-2015/47570766_kjZnHW#%21i=3885036193&k=js8TGhn&lb=1&s=A" title=""><img alt="" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-14-2015/i-js8TGhn/0/M/dscf0091_2015-02-15-M.jpg" title="" /></a><br />
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<br />
Total Mylar Balloons this trip - 5 (no pictures sorry..!)<br />
<br />
<br />
More photos in my gallery <a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-14-2015/47570766_kjZnHW">here</a>Daren Sefcikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15263407636242945068noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1602312481619630162.post-22359377973281749742014-11-17T00:12:00.000-08:002015-02-24T00:13:49.615-08:00Carrizo Gorge Backpack - ABDSPHeaded out for an overnight backpack trip with Tom in Carrizo Gorge. We
parked at the end of the 4WD drive road and started out late in the day
with about 30 minutes of daylight left. We managed to get to Goat Canyon
in the dark where we setup camp. We poked around the next day for about
6 miles total into the gorge before we turned around and headed back.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-11-15-2014/45773586_KFMcCF#%21i=3701363682&k=xSnSqnG&lb=1&s=A" title="Driving into Carrizo Gorge"><img alt="Driving into Carrizo Gorge" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-11-15-2014/i-xSnSqnG/0/M/dscf8608_2014-11-15-M.jpg" title="Driving into Carrizo Gorge" /></a><br />
<br />
Tom<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-11-15-2014/45773586_KFMcCF#%21i=3701363869&k=MGk5hNK&lb=1&s=A" title="Tom"><img alt="Tom" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-11-15-2014/i-MGk5hNK/0/M/dscf8610_2014-11-15-M.jpg" title="Tom" /></a><br />
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Looking south thru the gorge, Goat Canyon is just ahead and to the left<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-11-15-2014/45773586_KFMcCF#%21i=3701364137&k=CpFmX3x&lb=1&s=A" title="Carrizo Gorge, Goat Canyon is ahead on the left"><img alt="Carrizo Gorge, Goat Canyon is ahead on the left" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-11-15-2014/i-CpFmX3x/0/M/dscf8611_2014-11-16-M.jpg" title="Carrizo Gorge, Goat Canyon is ahead on the left" /></a><br />
<br />
I call this the Mighty Groan but I think the actual BM is above this point a bit.<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-11-15-2014/45773586_KFMcCF#%21i=3701364393&k=58PCPkp&lb=1&s=A" title="The Mighty Groan (sorta)"><img alt="The Mighty Groan (sorta)" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-11-15-2014/i-58PCPkp/0/M/dscf8616_2014-11-16-M.jpg" title="The Mighty Groan (sorta)" /></a><br />
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Breaking camp<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-11-15-2014/45773586_KFMcCF#%21i=3701364536&k=bMvqPSK&lb=1&s=A" title="Camp"><img alt="Camp" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-11-15-2014/i-bMvqPSK/0/M/dscf8619_2014-11-16-M.jpg" title="Camp" /></a><br />
<br />
I hardly recognized the Gorge this trip, the Tamarisk removal efforts have removed much of the thick brush.<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-11-15-2014/45773586_KFMcCF#%21i=3701365114&k=DDQKQsQ&lb=1&s=A" title="Tamarisk cleared out of the Gorge"><img alt="Tamarisk cleared out of the Gorge" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-11-15-2014/i-DDQKQsQ/0/M/dscf8627_2014-11-16-M.jpg" title="Tamarisk cleared out of the Gorge" /></a><br />
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We found some wildlife...wasn't too wild at the time though...<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-11-15-2014/45773586_KFMcCF#%21i=3701365305&k=4h26r5T&lb=1&s=A" title="Bighorn Sheep Ram"><img alt="Bighorn Sheep Ram" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-11-15-2014/i-4h26r5T/0/M/dscf8631_2014-11-16_v2-M.jpg" title="Bighorn Sheep Ram" /></a><br />
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Here is the lower jaw bone<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-11-15-2014/45773586_KFMcCF#%21i=3701365432&k=RnJFjfw&lb=1&s=A" title="Bighorn Sheep lower jaw bone"><img alt="Bighorn Sheep lower jaw bone" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-11-15-2014/i-RnJFjfw/0/M/dscf8632_2014-11-16_v2-M.jpg" title="Bighorn Sheep lower jaw bone" /></a><br />
<br />
Figured I would try the Macro mode on my new <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FPKDRVY/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00FPKDRVY&linkCode=as2&tag=daresefc-20&linkId=3PPN7TNQL6UAS2JI">Fuji XE-1</a> so here is a close up of the jaw bone<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-11-15-2014/45773586_KFMcCF#%21i=3701365317&k=vxnNXZt&lb=1&s=A" title="Bighorn Sheep lower jaw bone"><img alt="Bighorn Sheep lower jaw bone" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-11-15-2014/i-vxnNXZt/0/M/dscf8632_2014-11-16_v3-M.jpg" title="Bighorn Sheep lower jaw bone" /></a><br />
<br />
Upper jaw and macro shot<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-11-15-2014/45773586_KFMcCF#%21i=3701365657&k=TFbMBc9&lb=1&s=A" title="Bighorn Sheep upper jaw"><img alt="Bighorn Sheep upper jaw" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-11-15-2014/i-TFbMBc9/0/M/dscf8634_2014-11-16_v2-M.jpg" title="Bighorn Sheep upper jaw" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-11-15-2014/45773586_KFMcCF#%21i=3701365361&k=C26vPB4&lb=1&s=A" title="Bighorn Sheep upper jaw"><img alt="Bighorn Sheep upper jaw" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-11-15-2014/i-C26vPB4/0/M/dscf8634_2014-11-16_v3-M.jpg" title="Bighorn Sheep upper jaw" /></a><br />
<br />
This next photo is what i think is the intestine/colon of the ram, you
can see pellets inside. From what I understand, sheep, goats and such
are very efficient in using every last drop of moisture in their bodies
and they literally squeeze the moisture out of their feces so the
pellets form inside the colon.<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-11-15-2014/45773586_KFMcCF#%21i=3701365863&k=6KRb5Fj&lb=1&s=A" title="Bighorn Sheep intestine with feces inside"><img alt="Bighorn Sheep intestine with feces inside" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-11-15-2014/i-6KRb5Fj/0/M/dscf8638_2014-11-16_v2-M.jpg" title="Bighorn Sheep intestine with feces inside" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-11-15-2014/45773586_KFMcCF#%21i=3701365609&k=6KCDLhV&lb=1&s=A" title="Bighorn Sheep intestine with feces inside"><img alt="Bighorn Sheep intestine with feces inside" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-11-15-2014/i-6KCDLhV/0/M/dscf8638_2014-11-16_v3-M.jpg" title="Bighorn Sheep intestine with feces inside" /></a><br />
<br />
Tom with the Seven Sisters above<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-11-15-2014/45773586_KFMcCF#%21i=3701366271&k=DV6BcJQ&lb=1&s=A" title="Tom and The Seven Sisters above"><img alt="Tom and The Seven Sisters above" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-11-15-2014/i-DV6BcJQ/0/M/dscf8643_2014-11-16-M.jpg" title="Tom and The Seven Sisters above" /></a><br />
<br />
There are several rail cars over the side here, one is rusted just enough that it blends in with the natural desert terrain<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-11-15-2014/45773586_KFMcCF#%21i=3701366173&k=Nzt4NBc&lb=1&s=A" title="Railcars"><img alt="Railcars" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-11-15-2014/i-Nzt4NBc/0/M/dscf8647_2014-11-16_v2-M.jpg" title="Railcars" /></a><br />
<br />
Here are a couple close ups of the different rail cars<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-11-15-2014/45773586_KFMcCF#%21i=3701365908&k=dFwWp8Q&lb=1&s=A" title="Railcars"><img alt="Railcars" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-11-15-2014/i-dFwWp8Q/0/M/dscf8647_2014-11-16_v3-M.jpg" title="Railcars" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-11-15-2014/45773586_KFMcCF#%21i=3701365955&k=T4xndSS&lb=1&s=A" title="Rail cars"><img alt="Rail cars" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-11-15-2014/i-T4xndSS/0/M/dscf8648_2014-11-16_v2-M.jpg" title="Rail cars" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-11-15-2014/45773586_KFMcCF#%21i=3701363484&k=TsVPS99&lb=1&s=A" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"><img alt="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-11-15-2014/i-TsVPS99/0/M/dscf8605_2014-11-15_v2-M.jpg" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug" /></a><br />
<br />
Total Mylar Balloons this trip - 1 (Tom snagged it)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Daren Sefcikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15263407636242945068noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1602312481619630162.post-89165102934376516152014-11-13T00:15:00.000-08:002015-02-24T00:15:59.064-08:00Rockhouse Canyon in Carrizo Gorge Backpack Veterans Day solo backpack trip out to Rockhouse Canyon in Carrizo
Gorge. Was supposed to go with Tom but he couldn't make it. Took the new
Fuji XE-1 camera, I still don't feel in command of it yet, especially
with the night and star photos. The camera works quite differently then
my Sony DSLR cameras. Biggest problem I noticed was it seems to focus
past infinity but of course I couldn't tell until I got home and looked
at the pictures. Good trip, found the palm oasis and stopped by the
pictograph site. The old ranchers shack is still standing.<br />
<br />
Remnants of the old road into the canyon before the park put the bollards up<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Rockhouse-Canyon-Carrizo-Gorge/45703967_hbcscT#%21i=3694073446&k=GMtPSWc&lb=1&s=A" title="Heading into Rockhouse Canyon at dusk"><img alt="Heading into Rockhouse Canyon at dusk" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Rockhouse-Canyon-Carrizo-Gorge/i-GMtPSWc/0/M/dscf8358_2014-11-10-M.jpg" title="Heading into Rockhouse Canyon at dusk" /></a><br />
<br />
I got in late at night and started looking for a place to put my sleeping gear down and found this guy<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Rockhouse-Canyon-Carrizo-Gorge/45703967_hbcscT#%21i=3694073592&k=pNSXWnM&lb=1&s=A" title="Spotted this tarantula at night while looking for a place to put my sleep gear down for the night"><img alt="Spotted this tarantula at night while looking for a place to put my sleep gear down for the night" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Rockhouse-Canyon-Carrizo-Gorge/i-pNSXWnM/0/M/dscf8367_2014-11-10_v2-M.jpg" title="Spotted this tarantula at night while looking for a place to put my sleep gear down for the night" /></a><br />
<br />
Not proud of any of these star shots, I need to dial in the new camera and it's settings<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Rockhouse-Canyon-Carrizo-Gorge/45703967_hbcscT#%21i=3694073555&k=rtBjPP6&lb=1&s=A" title="Milky Way"><img alt="Milky Way" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Rockhouse-Canyon-Carrizo-Gorge/i-rtBjPP6/0/M/dscf8372_2014-11-10_v2-M.jpg" title="Milky Way" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Rockhouse-Canyon-Carrizo-Gorge/45703967_hbcscT#%21i=3694073973&k=2b8FnWf&lb=1&s=A" title="Orions Belt"><img alt="Orions Belt" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Rockhouse-Canyon-Carrizo-Gorge/i-2b8FnWf/0/M/dscf8417_2014-11-11-M.jpg" title="Orions Belt" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Rockhouse-Canyon-Carrizo-Gorge/45703967_hbcscT#%21i=3694074015&k=Rbd6tct&lb=1&s=A" title="Orions Belt"><img alt="Orions Belt" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Rockhouse-Canyon-Carrizo-Gorge/i-Rbd6tct/0/M/dscf8419_2014-11-11-M.jpg" title="Orions Belt" /></a><br />
<br />
Moonrise<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Rockhouse-Canyon-Carrizo-Gorge/45703967_hbcscT#%21i=3694073691&k=7Kt4rJW&lb=1&s=A" title="This is the moon rising, great orange glow"><img alt="This is the moon rising, great orange glow" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Rockhouse-Canyon-Carrizo-Gorge/i-7Kt4rJW/0/M/dscf8380_2014-11-10-M.jpg" title="This is the moon rising, great orange glow" /></a><br />
<br />
Here is a photo of the ranchers shack from an April 1947 Desert Magazine
article and below is one I took on this trip. Much of the ocotillo
still stands but one in particular right behind the shack is now gone.<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Misc-ABDSP/18757639_zxSbv2#%21i=2506399449&k=pV6dxS6&lb=1&s=A" title="Cattlemans shack in Rockhouse Canyon in Carrizo Gorge from an April 1947 Desert Magazine article"><img alt="Cattlemans shack in Rockhouse Canyon in Carrizo Gorge from an April 1947 Desert Magazine article" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Misc-ABDSP/i-pV6dxS6/0/M/cattlemans_shack_rockhouse_canyon_carrizo_gorge-M.jpg" title="Cattlemans shack in Rockhouse Canyon in Carrizo Gorge from an April 1947 Desert Magazine article" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Rockhouse-Canyon-Carrizo-Gorge/45703967_hbcscT#%21i=3694075493&k=BdjNK6x&lb=1&s=A" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"><img alt="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Rockhouse-Canyon-Carrizo-Gorge/i-BdjNK6x/0/M/dscf8461_2014-11-11_v2-M.jpg" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug" /></a><br />
<br />
And some random shots inside the shack<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Rockhouse-Canyon-Carrizo-Gorge/45703967_hbcscT#%21i=3694074532&k=jbL8M25&lb=1&s=A" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"><img alt="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Rockhouse-Canyon-Carrizo-Gorge/i-jbL8M25/0/M/dscf8445_2014-11-11-M.jpg" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Rockhouse-Canyon-Carrizo-Gorge/45703967_hbcscT#%21i=3694074653&k=LFLzBMD&lb=1&s=A" title=""><img alt="" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Rockhouse-Canyon-Carrizo-Gorge/i-LFLzBMD/0/M/dscf8446_2014-11-11-M.jpg" title="" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Rockhouse-Canyon-Carrizo-Gorge/45703967_hbcscT#%21i=3694074941&k=XVhCQgv&lb=1&s=A" title=""><img alt="" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Rockhouse-Canyon-Carrizo-Gorge/i-XVhCQgv/0/M/dscf8448_2014-11-11-M.jpg" title="" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Rockhouse-Canyon-Carrizo-Gorge/45703967_hbcscT#%21i=3694074925&k=w6SkwTx&lb=1&s=A" title="Nice place to punch bottle caps into"><img alt="Nice place to punch bottle caps into" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Rockhouse-Canyon-Carrizo-Gorge/i-w6SkwTx/0/M/dscf8453_2014-11-11-M.jpg" title="Nice place to punch bottle caps into" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Rockhouse-Canyon-Carrizo-Gorge/45703967_hbcscT#%21i=3694075125&k=HqqXTM3&lb=1&s=A" title="View out the window into rockhouse canyon"><img alt="View out the window into rockhouse canyon" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Rockhouse-Canyon-Carrizo-Gorge/i-HqqXTM3/0/M/dscf8457_2014-11-11-M.jpg" title="View out the window into rockhouse canyon" /></a><br />
<br />
So now for the real agenda of the trip....follow the water pipe from the trough up the mountainside and see where it goes<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Rockhouse-Canyon-Carrizo-Gorge/45703967_hbcscT#%21i=3694075499&k=Wx6xB23&lb=1&s=A" title=""><img alt="" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Rockhouse-Canyon-Carrizo-Gorge/i-Wx6xB23/0/M/dscf8464_2014-11-11-M.jpg" title="" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Rockhouse-Canyon-Carrizo-Gorge/45703967_hbcscT#%21i=3694075772&k=BHG2nNx&lb=1&s=A" title=""><img alt="" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Rockhouse-Canyon-Carrizo-Gorge/i-BHG2nNx/0/M/dscf8467_2014-11-11-M.jpg" title="" /></a><br />
<br />
Along the way I found a Sky Blazer, lot 61 Oct 2010(?)<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Rockhouse-Canyon-Carrizo-Gorge/45703967_hbcscT#%21i=3694076141&k=xwhnPSV&lb=1&s=A" title="SkyBlazer"><img alt="SkyBlazer" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Rockhouse-Canyon-Carrizo-Gorge/i-xwhnPSV/0/M/dscf8468_2014-11-11-M.jpg" title="SkyBlazer" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Rockhouse-Canyon-Carrizo-Gorge/45703967_hbcscT#%21i=3694075878&k=NCSFV4h&lb=1&s=A" title="Expired Oct 1961"><img alt="Expired Oct 1961" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Rockhouse-Canyon-Carrizo-Gorge/i-NCSFV4h/0/M/dscf8469_2014-11-11-M.jpg" title="Expired Oct 1961" /></a><br />
<br />
Those damn ranchers were tough, that pipe went up 1,000+ feet to a palm oasis up on the ridge<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Rockhouse-Canyon-Carrizo-Gorge/45703967_hbcscT#%21i=3694076355&k=hngx4Cn&lb=1&s=A" title="Palm Oasis 1,000' up the ridge"><img alt="Palm Oasis 1,000' up the ridge" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Rockhouse-Canyon-Carrizo-Gorge/i-hngx4Cn/0/M/dscf8471_2014-11-11-M.jpg" title="Palm Oasis 1,000' up the ridge" /></a><br />
<br />
I lost the pipe in several places and it is now since broken apart but I could find sections all the way up to the palm grove<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Rockhouse-Canyon-Carrizo-Gorge/45703967_hbcscT#%21i=3694076525&k=BGNCzRz&lb=1&s=A" title="Palm Oasis"><img alt="Palm Oasis" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Rockhouse-Canyon-Carrizo-Gorge/i-BGNCzRz/0/M/dscf8472_2014-11-11-M.jpg" title="Palm Oasis" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Rockhouse-Canyon-Carrizo-Gorge/45703967_hbcscT#%21i=3694077379&k=gvNXMFb&lb=1&s=A" title="Palm Oasis"><img alt="Palm Oasis" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Rockhouse-Canyon-Carrizo-Gorge/i-gvNXMFb/0/M/dscf8490_2014-11-11-M.jpg" title="Palm Oasis" /></a><br />
<br />
Awesome views of Carrizo Gorge and the desert floor up at the palm grove<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Rockhouse-Canyon-Carrizo-Gorge/45703967_hbcscT#%21i=3694076618&k=gthbfTL&lb=1&s=A" title="Looking down into Rockhouse and Carrizo Gorge form the Palm Oasis"><img alt="Looking down into Rockhouse and Carrizo Gorge form the Palm Oasis" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Rockhouse-Canyon-Carrizo-Gorge/i-gthbfTL/0/M/dscf8483_2014-11-11_v2-M.jpg" title="Looking down into Rockhouse and Carrizo Gorge form the Palm Oasis" /></a><br />
<br />
Some artifacts along the way<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Rockhouse-Canyon-Carrizo-Gorge/45703967_hbcscT#%21i=3694076817&k=3G63GZk&lb=1&s=A" title="Broken large arrow point"><img alt="Broken large arrow point" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Rockhouse-Canyon-Carrizo-Gorge/i-3G63GZk/0/M/dscf8506_2014-11-11-M.jpg" title="Broken large arrow point" /></a><br />
<br />
Figured I would stop and check out the pictographs while I was out that way<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Rockhouse-Canyon-Carrizo-Gorge/45703967_hbcscT#%21i=3694076930&k=PDcdvTN&lb=1&s=A" title="Carrizo Gorge Pictographs"><img alt="Carrizo Gorge Pictographs" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Rockhouse-Canyon-Carrizo-Gorge/i-PDcdvTN/0/M/dscf8524_2014-11-11_v2-M.jpg" title="Carrizo Gorge Pictographs" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Rockhouse-Canyon-Carrizo-Gorge/45703967_hbcscT#%21i=3694077372&k=6z864fr&lb=1&s=A" title="Carrizo Gorge Pictographs"><img alt="Carrizo Gorge Pictographs" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Rockhouse-Canyon-Carrizo-Gorge/i-6z864fr/0/M/dscf8535_2014-11-11-M.jpg" title="Carrizo Gorge Pictographs" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Rockhouse-Canyon-Carrizo-Gorge/45703967_hbcscT#%21i=3694077400&k=HTPJbK9&lb=1&s=A" title="Carrizo Gorge Pictographs"><img alt="Carrizo Gorge Pictographs" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Rockhouse-Canyon-Carrizo-Gorge/i-HTPJbK9/0/M/dscf8536_2014-11-11-M.jpg" title="Carrizo Gorge Pictographs" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Rockhouse-Canyon-Carrizo-Gorge/45703967_hbcscT#%21i=3694077809&k=HdJpDXd&lb=1&s=A" title="Carrizo Gorge Pictographs"><img alt="Carrizo Gorge Pictographs" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Rockhouse-Canyon-Carrizo-Gorge/i-HdJpDXd/0/M/dscf8537_2014-11-11-M.jpg" title="Carrizo Gorge Pictographs" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Rockhouse-Canyon-Carrizo-Gorge/45703967_hbcscT#%21i=3694077855&k=Zr7C5HS&lb=1&s=A" title="Carrizo Gorge Pictographs"><img alt="Carrizo Gorge Pictographs" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Rockhouse-Canyon-Carrizo-Gorge/i-Zr7C5HS/0/M/dscf8551_2014-11-11-M.jpg" title="Carrizo Gorge Pictographs" /></a><br />
<br />
Total Mylar Balloon count this trip - 3 (sorry, no picture)<br />
<br />
<br />
Daren Sefcikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15263407636242945068noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1602312481619630162.post-51731675276776309572012-02-07T00:16:00.000-08:002015-02-24T00:18:22.627-08:00Carrizo Gorge hike to Egg Mtn - ABDSP 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.<br />
<br />
Photos from the trip can be seen <a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-04-2012/21364900_xMrH32">here</a><br />
<br />
Scott knows there is catclaw down in the Gorge so he prepared his pack with anti catclaw plastic wrap<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-04-2012/21364900_xMrH32#%21i=1702220776&k=Q4JZHVt&lb=1&s=A" title="Scotty C and his Catclaw proof pack"><img alt="Scotty C and his Catclaw proof pack" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-04-2012/i-Q4JZHVt/0/M/dsc040272012-02-04v2-M.jpg" title="Scotty C and his Catclaw proof pack" /></a><br />
<br />
This is where we decided to drop down into the Gorge, about 2 miles from DeAnza<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-04-2012/21364900_xMrH32#%21i=1701943216&k=3Jxqgpc&lb=1&s=A" title="This is where we decided to try and go down into the gorge, about 2 miles away from DeAnza"><img alt="This is where we decided to try and go down into the gorge, about 2 miles away from DeAnza" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-04-2012/i-3Jxqgpc/0/M/dsc040292012-02-04v2-M.jpg" title="This is where we decided to try and go down into the gorge, about 2 miles away from DeAnza" /></a><br />
<br />
Some old railway debris on the side of the Gorge<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-04-2012/21364900_xMrH32#%21i=1701943312&k=52ZXL3j&lb=1&s=A" title="This looked a small ore cart or something, it was halfway down the hill. The wheels are dated 1909"><img alt="This looked a small ore cart or something, it was halfway down the hill. The wheels are dated 1909" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-04-2012/i-52ZXL3j/0/M/dsc040322012-02-04v2-M.jpg" title="This looked a small ore cart or something, it was halfway down the hill. The wheels are dated 1909" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-04-2012/21364900_xMrH32#%21i=1701943880&k=SdschWm&lb=1&s=A" title="This looked a small ore cart or something, it was halfway down the hill. The wheels are dated 1909"><img alt="This looked a small ore cart or something, it was halfway down the hill. The wheels are dated 1909" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-04-2012/i-SdschWm/0/M/dsc040342012-02-04v2-M.jpg" title="This looked a small ore cart or something, it was halfway down the hill. The wheels are dated 1909" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-04-2012/21364900_xMrH32#%21i=1701946941&k=DSFpdRm&lb=1&s=A" title="More train wheels"><img alt="More train wheels" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-04-2012/i-DSFpdRm/0/M/dsc040452012-02-04v2-M.jpg" title="More train wheels" /></a><br />
<br />
Down in the Gorge Scotty "C" straps on the catclaw armor<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-04-2012/21364900_xMrH32#%21i=1701948342&k=xP9JkJC&lb=1&s=A" title="Scotty C gets his Catclaw armor on"><img alt="Scotty C gets his Catclaw armor on" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-04-2012/i-xP9JkJC/0/M/dsc040462012-02-04v2-M.jpg" title="Scotty C gets his Catclaw armor on" /></a><br />
<br />
Me<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-04-2012/21364900_xMrH32#%21i=1704813383&k=K7wQgdB&lb=1&s=A" title="Me"><img alt="Me" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-04-2012/i-K7wQgdB/0/M/DSCN2136v2-M.jpg" title="Me" /></a><br />
<br />
Nice water pond area<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-04-2012/21364900_xMrH32#%21i=1702237182&k=fKKXhSP&lb=1&s=A" title="Panorama of the small pond area in Carizzo Gorge"><img alt="Panorama of the small pond area in Carizzo Gorge" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-04-2012/i-fKKXhSP/0/M/carrizogorgewaterpond-M.jpg" title="Panorama of the small pond area in Carizzo Gorge" /></a><br />
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Busting thru some carrizo<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-04-2012/21364900_xMrH32#%21i=1701950082&k=dLChFd3&lb=1&s=A" title="Scot wacking some carrizo down"><img alt="Scot wacking some carrizo down" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-04-2012/i-dLChFd3/0/M/dsc040542012-02-04v2-M.jpg" title="Scot wacking some carrizo down" /></a><br />
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Old mining debris<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-04-2012/21364900_xMrH32#%21i=1701955285&k=hLSn55z&lb=1&s=A" title="An old gear up on the cement foundations"><img alt="An old gear up on the cement foundations" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-04-2012/i-hLSn55z/0/M/dsc040722012-02-04v2-M.jpg" title="An old gear up on the cement foundations" /></a><br />
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Cholla and cactus forest<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-04-2012/21364900_xMrH32#%21i=1701956484&k=BC4LB9R&lb=1&s=A" title="Cholla and Cactus field, looking south"><img alt="Cholla and Cactus field, looking south" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-04-2012/i-BC4LB9R/0/M/dsc040752012-02-04v2-M.jpg" title="Cholla and Cactus field, looking south" /></a><br />
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Down in the Gorge near Goat Canyon, two years ago this was flowing with water<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-04-2012/21364900_xMrH32#%21i=1701959075&k=znjwFhp&lb=1&s=A" title="This is about 1 mile south of Goat Canyon. 2 years ago we were here and it was a flowing river with water pools"><img alt="This is about 1 mile south of Goat Canyon. 2 years ago we were here and it was a flowing river with water pools" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-04-2012/i-znjwFhp/0/M/dsc040882012-02-04v2-M.jpg" title="This is about 1 mile south of Goat Canyon. 2 years ago we were here and it was a flowing river with water pools" /></a><br />
<br />
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.<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-04-2012/21364900_xMrH32#%21i=1701958885&k=rDMfhLZ&lb=1&s=A" title="Nice curves on the trestles. You can see the train cars on the side of the hill"><img alt="Nice curves on the trestles. You can see the train cars on the side of the hill" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-04-2012/i-rDMfhLZ/0/M/dsc040922012-02-04v2-M.jpg" title="Nice curves on the trestles. You can see the train cars on the side of the hill" /></a><br />
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A 98 second exposure of the jeep road as we hiked out at night under an almost full moon<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-04-2012/21364900_xMrH32#%21i=1701960000&k=StjgcPX&lb=1&s=A" title="A 98 second exposure of Carrizo Gorge road with a 3/4 full moon. We traveled the road at night"><img alt="A 98 second exposure of Carrizo Gorge road with a 3/4 full moon. We traveled the road at night" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-04-2012/i-StjgcPX/0/M/dsc041102012-02-04v2-M.jpg" title="A 98 second exposure of Carrizo Gorge road with a 3/4 full moon. We traveled the road at night" /></a><br />
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Some pictographs I have not seen before<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-04-2012/21364900_xMrH32#%21i=1701961061&k=PXZDgML&lb=1&s=A" title="The Lizard Pictograph"><img alt="The Lizard Pictograph" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-04-2012/i-PXZDgML/0/M/dsc041402012-02-05v2-M.jpg" title="The Lizard Pictograph" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-04-2012/21364900_xMrH32#%21i=1701941403&k=mwkxtcR&lb=1&s=A" title="Pictographs in remarkably good condition"><img alt="Pictographs in remarkably good condition" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-04-2012/i-mwkxtcR/0/M/dsc039692012-02-03v2-M.jpg" title="Pictographs in remarkably good condition" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-04-2012/21364900_xMrH32#%21i=1701960232&k=P64DBzq&lb=1&s=A" title="Some pictographs I had not seen before"><img alt="Some pictographs I had not seen before" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-04-2012/i-P64DBzq/0/M/dsc040992012-02-04v2-M.jpg" title="Some pictographs I had not seen before" /></a><br />
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Mandatory scat photo<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-04-2012/21364900_xMrH32#%21i=1701941429&k=BJBMzkf&lb=1&s=A" title="Not sure who these crosses are for, maybe migrants??"><img alt="Not sure who these crosses are for, maybe migrants??" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-04-2012/i-BJBMzkf/0/M/dsc040202012-02-03v2-M.jpg" title="Not sure who these crosses are for, maybe migrants??" /></a><br />
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GPS Track Log from Google Earth<br />
<a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-04-2012/21364900_xMrH32#%21i=1709827637&k=qCn62xS&lb=1&s=A" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug"><img alt="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug" src="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-04-2012/i-qCn62xS/0/M/carrizogorgegpstrack-02-04-M.jpg" title="Photo & Video Sharing by SmugMug" /></a><br />
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Total mylar balloons for this trip - 1<br />
<br />
This was a great trip and a tough 19 miles in about 12 hours, more photos from the trip can be seen <a href="http://www.darensefcik.com/Photography/Anza-Borrego-Desert-State-Park/Carrizo-Gorge-02-04-2012/21364900_xMrH32">here</a>Daren Sefcikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15263407636242945068noreply@blogger.com1