2010-1-23 Canyon Sin Nombre to Ocotillo Wells

[BlueFJ]

Another great day of wheeling in Anza Borrego. John (Borrego Wrangler) and I met up with the guys from SoCal Ultimate 4x4 at the Texaco station just south of Ocotillo, which had no gas (thanks for nothing, Texaco ) We then rolled up the road to the trail head where we aired down and headed for Diablo Drop Off, Fish Creek Wash, and Split Mtn. Split Mtn Rd was washed away where Fish Creek intersects it. After heading east on the 78 to gas up at the Blu Inn, we cruised over to Devils Slide. From there we headed back to the 78 to air up and say our goodbyes. Thanks to Borrego Wrangler, the guys from SCUFF, and my buddy John Doran (who rode shotgun with me) for a long but very fun day!

[BorregoWrangler]

Yes Ollie, I made it back. You know you're having a good time when you get stuck or break something every now and then. We had a good time! With the weather the way it was around town, I wasn't sure how it would be out over the desert. However, we were greeted with blue skys and beautiful conditions. All of the washes had been, well, washed out. There was no dust as we had to cut new trails through the canyons and washes that had been smoothed out by all the water.

I had been running in 2WD the whole time until I came upon a section of very soft mud/sand in Arroyo Seco Del Diablo Canyon. I had just made it out when BlueFJ and one of the Wagons got stuck. A few tugs with the recovery straps had them out in no time. However, I would still not finish this run unharmed...

A lot of the rocks down past Diablo Dropoff had been filled in with sand so it was easy going in Broken Shaft Gultch, I guess is what it's called now. After coming out Split Mountain we got fuel down the highway and then headed out to Devil's Slide in Ocotillo Wells OHV Area. There was lots of water and mud that had to be dodged along the way. When we had all lined up on the dune I noticed that something wasn't quite right with my Jeep. The front right shackles holding the spring to the frame had been busted off. So with a little help from the High-Lifts I took one of the good shackles from the driver's side to support the passenger side. With the strength of the shackles now cut in half I limped on out to the 78 and made it back home without any further issues. Thanks to Craig for meeting up on such short notice and taking pictures.

[Chazz Layne]

Oooo... I see pretty full-sized Jeeps.

I'd love to have a J-series parked out back...

[OLLIE]

Glad everything turned out good other than the breakage. I think Craig should start putting a tick mark on his rig somewhere for every time he needs a strap.

[BorregoWrangler]

Here are a few pics from some of the other guys we were with.

[salad_man]

Wow, mucho mud, ha ha, I could imagine the water that must have passed through there. Nice pics

[BlueFJ]

I think Craig should start putting a tick mark on his rig somewhere for every time he needs a strap.

Yea, well...

IMG_3370.jpg (97.47 KiB) Viewed 3154 times

[BorregoWrangler]

Now that was just too low, Craig!

[BlueFJ]

Yes, yes it was.

[OLLIE]

Touche' Nice one.