2009-10-25: BorregoFest Yaqui Valley to Culp Valley

[OAUSA Board Members]

Yaqui Valley to Culp Valley

Lead: OLLIE
Tail Gunner: TBD
Comms Designee: OLLIE
Difficulty: Easy
Meeting Time: 10:30 am
Meeting Place: Stagecoach Trails Group Campsite
Departure Time: 11:00 am
CB Channel: 34
2M Simplex: 147.510
2M Repeater: Monument 147.240+ (PL: 103.5)

Signed Up:
1. OLLIE
2. BorregoWrangler
3. brentbba
4. Rfjtoy
5. Chazz Lane
6. gon2srf
7. BruisedFJ
8. McJeep
9. Heartless
10. BigDouggieDoug
11. JHCB
12. AMAESING
13. rgb101
14. FJsRkool
15. Sunnygrill
16. Cruiserlarry
17. Jaytil
18. jroc79
19. Voodoo Blue 57 #1
20. Voodoo Blue 57 #2
21. unwiredadventures
22. 1slickfj
23. raYGunn
24. cowboy4x4
25.

Route Description:
This run is my Sunday exit strategy. It is a fairly easy run with some narrow brush in a few spots so pin striping will occur. This route takes us from Yaqui Pass and spits us out near the top of Montezuma Grade. This will allow us to finish our day in Borrego Springs before heading home. This trail system offers a variety of views that most of us haven't seen before and makes for a fun little trail. I would imagine it will take a few hours in a group but allow us to finish our day at a reasonable hour for that drive home.

Grapevine Canyon trail follows one of the earliest route used to reach the Borrego Valley region from the west. The canyon gained it’s name from the wild grapes that early travelers found along the canyon. By 1922 the route fell into disuse. This is a narrow, sometimes sandy trail that runs between the Volcan Mountains and Grapevine Hills into Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. The trail starts on Yaqui Pass Road just south of the Tamarisk Grove Campground, passing Yaqui Well and a primitive camping area. The well is surrounded by ironwood trees and attracts bluebirds, roadrunners, cactus wrens, hummingbirds, and rattlesnakes. Across Yaqui Flat the trail undulates across the terrain through thick stands of cacti. Before turning north on the rougher Jasper Trail, the route passes Stuart Spring, which flows into a small trough, and close to Angelina Spring. The trail ends on Montezuma Valley Road, 10.4 miles east of the intersection with San Felipe Road.

[brentbba]

You say top of Montezuma Grade...yet finish in Borrego Springs? From the top of Montezuma, we could continue on out thru Warner Springs to Temecula, right, instead of backtracking to Borrego Springs?

[OLLIE]

You say top of Montezuma Grade...yet finish in Borrego Springs? From the top of Montezuma, we could continue on out thru Warner Springs to Temecula, right, instead of backtracking to Borrego Springs?

That is a fact sir... You could certainly do that too. Or if gas isn't an issue and you're heading to San Diego you could top off in Ramona too.

[BorregoWrangler]

This is a nice run. Im in!

[brentbba]

Sounds like a lot more fun than pavement going home. Put me down and add RFJTOY also. He may bugger out earlier, but we'll see. Sounds like fun Ollie!!

[OLLIE]

Sounds like a lot more fun than pavement going home. Put me down and add RFJTOY also. He may bugger out earlier, but we'll see. Sounds like fun Ollie!!

Sounds good. I added you both to the roster.

[Chazz Layne]

I'm in, I was planning to run up the mountain and through Idyllwild to get home anyhow.

[gon2srf]

In.

[BruisedFJ]

You say top of Montezuma Grade...yet finish in Borrego Springs? From the top of Montezuma, we could continue on out thru Warner Springs to Temecula, right, instead of backtracking to Borrego Springs?

Brent, are you traveling North to get home? I am also, so if you want to plan a break-away point from this run to head to Temecula, I'd join you.

[brentbba]

Sounds good to me. I haven't looked at any maps to see where Ollie is taking us, so just assumed that when we hit the pavement at the top of Montezuma that I'd hang a left and head out thru Warner Springs to Temecula and home...with a stop for a DQ ice cream cone in Temecula of course! DQ optional if you don't want to stop.

The more the merrier!