2009-10-24: BorregoFest (Painted Gorge / Carrizo Mtn Run)
Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2009 11:47 pm
Painted Gorge / Carrizo Mountain
Lead: BorregoWrangler
Tail Gunner: TBD
Comms Designee: TBD
Difficulty: Moderate
Meeting Time: 8:30 am
Meeting Place: Stagecoach Trails Group Campsite
Departure Time: 9:00 am
CB Channel: 36
2M Simplex: 146.400
2M Repeater: Monument 147.240+ (PL: 103.5)
There will be 12 rig maximum for this run.
Signed Up:
1. BorregoWrangler
2. Arkarch
3. Voodoo Blue 57 (FJC)
4. Voodoo Blue 57 (Jeep)
5. The Dietsch
6. raYGunn
7.
8.
9.
10.
Route Description:
This trail is a strong moderate to a light difficult rating due to the shelf roads and loose shale-covered terrain. A stock 4x4 can make the trip but a novice driver may be a bit nervous. It's 47 miles to the trail head with a gas station at 43 miles in Ocotillo. Painted Gorge provides some of the most wonderful geology that Anza Borrego has to offer. Desert USA has the following to say about Painted Gorge,"The Painted Gorge, located on the eastern side of the Coyote Mountains, consists of sedimentary, metamorphic and ingenious rocks. Heat and movement over time has created fantastic shapes and colors. Oranges, reds, purples, and mauves mixed with browns and blacks create a palette of color as the sun illuminates and plays shadows upon this geologic wonder called the Painted Gorge." 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. There are great views of the Yuha Desert and Salton Sea along this trail.
On the way down from the mountain, depending on how many rigs we get, I'll give everyone an introducton to an extremely difficult trail in the area that I like to call Cliffhanger. We'll stop before it gets too difficult, just to give everyone a taste of how interesting it is.
This trail is also subject to a seasonal closure for the lambing of bighorn sheep from january to june. So by the time BorregoFest rolls around this area will only be accessible for another two months until june of 2010. As can be seen from the picture below, a simple mistake or lapse in attention can have serious consequences. Depending on how long it takes to get a group through here we may take a detour along Doz Cabezas road / Mortero Wash on the way back to camp.
Keep your eyes on the trail.
Lead: BorregoWrangler
Tail Gunner: TBD
Comms Designee: TBD
Difficulty: Moderate
Meeting Time: 8:30 am
Meeting Place: Stagecoach Trails Group Campsite
Departure Time: 9:00 am
CB Channel: 36
2M Simplex: 146.400
2M Repeater: Monument 147.240+ (PL: 103.5)
There will be 12 rig maximum for this run.
Signed Up:
1. BorregoWrangler
2. Arkarch
3. Voodoo Blue 57 (FJC)
4. Voodoo Blue 57 (Jeep)
5. The Dietsch
6. raYGunn
7.
8.
9.
10.
Route Description:
This trail is a strong moderate to a light difficult rating due to the shelf roads and loose shale-covered terrain. A stock 4x4 can make the trip but a novice driver may be a bit nervous. It's 47 miles to the trail head with a gas station at 43 miles in Ocotillo. Painted Gorge provides some of the most wonderful geology that Anza Borrego has to offer. Desert USA has the following to say about Painted Gorge,"The Painted Gorge, located on the eastern side of the Coyote Mountains, consists of sedimentary, metamorphic and ingenious rocks. Heat and movement over time has created fantastic shapes and colors. Oranges, reds, purples, and mauves mixed with browns and blacks create a palette of color as the sun illuminates and plays shadows upon this geologic wonder called the Painted Gorge." 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. There are great views of the Yuha Desert and Salton Sea along this trail.
On the way down from the mountain, depending on how many rigs we get, I'll give everyone an introducton to an extremely difficult trail in the area that I like to call Cliffhanger. We'll stop before it gets too difficult, just to give everyone a taste of how interesting it is.
This trail is also subject to a seasonal closure for the lambing of bighorn sheep from january to june. So by the time BorregoFest rolls around this area will only be accessible for another two months until june of 2010. As can be seen from the picture below, a simple mistake or lapse in attention can have serious consequences. Depending on how long it takes to get a group through here we may take a detour along Doz Cabezas road / Mortero Wash on the way back to camp.
Keep your eyes on the trail.
Not very nice Borregowrangler. 
