2009 BorregoFest (Painted Gorge / Carrizo Mtn Run) Report

[OLLIE]

Tell us about the run and share your photos here.

[AMAESING]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNemWCqVc6w

[BorregoWrangler]

Good pics there, AMAESING.

Well, it turned out to be a great run. We ended up with two YJ Jeep Wranglers, three FJs, and one VW Touareg. A big thanks to raYGunn, AMAESING, Arkarck, Voodoo Blue 57 and his friend for coming along. Heading out of camp and down Hwy S-2 we traveled just past the desert town of Ocotillo where we made a quick stop for fuel before heading east on Hwy S80 to Painted Gorge Road where we aired down. This area provides some of the most wonderful geology that the southern California desert has to offer. The begining of the trail passes through Plaster City OHV Area into a wide open area. The graded road soon becomes a trail as it nears the sandy wash of Painted Gorge and quickly enters the canyon. Embedded rocks litter the wash, which eventually turns into a very narrow, rocky, loose shelf road as it nears the summit of Carrizo Mountain. Everyone made it up and then down the mountain without any issues.

Once we were back down on flat terrain, we turned off Painted Gorge road onto a sandy wash towards Ocotillo instead of hitting the pavement. For lunch we stopped under the bridge that took Hwy S80 over the wash. Afterwards, we followed the remains of Old Hwy 80, along the railroad tracks and under Interstate 8 back towards Ocotillo. After another quick stop for fuel and ice we contnued west along Old Hwy 80 before it deteriorated into the desert. Lower Devil's Canyon took us to Dos Cabezas Road and along the old San Diego & Eastern Arizona Railroad tracks. The cholla forest throughout this area were quite impressive. Soon we had made our way through a narrow, rocky slot canyon and on out to a short, steep drop-off that took us along Jojoba Wash and then back out to Hwy S-2. From there we aired up and rolled on back to camp, where the pool was calling me!

Route Overview:


Heading out, with raYGunn hot on my trail.


Autumn likes those mirror shots.


Voodoo Blue 57 heading up the pass.


Entering Painted Gorge.










Looking out over the gorge.




The Yuha Desert in the background.


Superstition Mountain can be seen to the far upper left.


Still climbing...


Nearing the summit.


Looking out at the Cliffhanger Trail.




Taking in the view.








2408 feet elevation.











Heading back down.








A little OHV Area fun!






Lunch under Hwy S80.


Old Hwy 80 looking west.


East.


Chillin' under S80 with Carrizo Mountain in the background.


Along the railroad tracks and under Interstate 8.


Southern Anza-Borrego desert.


Dos Cabezas Road.


Playing on the rocks.






Dos Cabezas Siding, the final stop on the San Diego & Eastern Arizona Railroad before entering the rugged Carrizo Gorge.


What a poser!








Checking out the drop-off.


























Time to air up and roll on back to camp. It was a great run through some of the most interesting and beautiful areas of the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.




Sunset back at camp.

[AMAESING]

Sweet picts Jon, or make that Autumn I posted a video recorded from my mini cam on the first post too....

[raYGunn]

Good pics! This was a fun run, John and Autumn are always fun to tag along with and seeing Carl and his VW Touareg in action was a treat. Nice meeting everyone else too! Here are a few I took.


John knows Borrego!

[BorregoWrangler]

Sweet picts Jon, or make that Autumn I posted a video recorded from my mini cam on the first post too....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNemWCqVc6w

Oh nice, I just saw that. Man, I wish we had a video camera for this trip.

This was a fun run, John and Autumn are always fun to tag along with...

Thanks Jesse! We had a blast. We'll have to get out there again soon!

[raYGunn]

I forgot to post Autumns Jeep air conditioning system!

Bag of Ice:


Just kidding!

[photojeeper]

Looks like you had a really good run too. Hey that video was cool, you need to slow down, man you FJ's really know how to move... . There is never a bad photo of Anza Borrego.

JJ

[Arkarch]

Great photos... loved the video.

Ok, here is a select dump of my photos.

[BorregoWrangler]

I forgot to post Autumns Jeep air conditioning system!

Ok, here is a select dump of my photos.

Cool pics, Carl! It was great watching your Touareg get around. Usually the only VW's you see out in the desert are Baja Bugs.