2009 SoCal TTORA Anza Borrego Run

[SAR_Squid79]

Has anybody looked at dates for this year yet?

Last year it was 14 - 16 November.

This year: 6 - 8 November? ...and let's NOT camp at Truckhaven again!

Discuss.

[SAR_Squid79]

Nevermind!

...I just went to the CORRECT folder and saw the official schedule of events.

Originally Posted by Pray4Surf

This will work out great! ...I'll be in Vegas from the 10th - 14th.

[pray4surf]

Originally Posted by SAR_Squid79

...and let's NOT camp at Truckhaven again!

Discuss.

Truckhaven is desirable because it is 'no man's land'. Otherwise we have to deal with the rules/regulations that govern the A-B areas.

With that said, I've always felt that Truckhaven was kinda far from the trails (specially, Pinyon/Canyon Sin Nombre areas).

Coyote Canyon is a beautiful area to camp, but 2WD's are incapable of making the rocky climb after the last creek crossing which gets us into Coyote Canyon. The Fish Creek wash is another alternative I've considered. And this location puts us much closer to the harder trails, yet keeps Ocotillo Wells nearby for the 2WD's/Easy 4WD trails....

Any other suggestions?

[SAR_Squid79]

Truckhaven is cool for that reason, but it was 70 MILES to the trailhead! ...and like 40 miles back to camp. ...and wide open and windy.

I was thinking just inside of Fish Creek Wash at Split Mountain, off Split Mountain Road. Just past the "anticline". There are a bunch of good campsites to the left as you're travelling South. Someone would have to get there a little early, to make sure we got the space we need.

The place I'm thinking about is totally accessible by 2WD, and pretty secluded and sheltered from the wind.

[SiRMarlon]

Coyote Canyon was pretty nice when we went a few months ago! But the wind was pretty brutal! Hahaha

[dtrujillo63]

Originally Posted by SiRMarlon

Coyote Canyon was pretty nice when we went a few months ago! But the wind was pretty brutal! Hahaha

+1

"Coyota" Canyon was awesome!

[sparky]

x3 Watch out for scorpions! lol

[pray4surf]

Originally Posted by sparky

x3 Watch out for scorpions! lol

That is no longer an issue with my RTT

Though, Coyote Canyon is out of the question (at least for the 2WD's) and it is still miles from the 'favored' trails...

I'm in favor of the Fish Creek wash area that SAR_Squid79 identified. Do we have any other suggestions?

[sgmartz]

Just to get an idea, how difficult are these trails? Recommended specs for these trails?

[pray4surf]

Originally Posted by sgmartz

Just to get an idea, how difficult are these trails? Recommended specs for these trails?

For the most part, the trails are fairly tame/easy - with only an obstacle or two which nearly any 4WD vehicle is capable of traversing... 2WD is another story. But we can spend an entire day driving around the park and never require 4WD (as long as we avoid those trails which require 4WD)....

For the 4WD trails, we recommend 33" tires, sliders, full-size spare and tools to change a tire. A rear locker is a plus, but not required.

Rick

[pray4surf]

While we are on the subject of Anza Borrego.... Last January, we encountered a park ranger who took us on a guided tour of the Northeast roads/trails (most of these behind the 'Road Closed' signs). I believe everyone in attendance enjoyed the tour and came away with a deeper appreciation for the area. At the end of the tour, the ranger mentioned that if we came back out and wanted another tour, to give him a call.

Shall we take him up on the offer?

Here is the website writeup on this run
http://www.ttora-socal.com/component...report-mar2009

Well done guys!

[sgmartz]

Originally Posted by pray4surf

For the most part, the trails are fairly tame/easy - with only an obstacle or two which nearly any 4WD vehicle is capable of traversing... 2WD is another story. But we can spend an entire day driving around the park and never require 4WD (as long as we avoid those trails which require 4WD)....

For the 4WD trails, we recommend 33" tires, sliders, full-size spare and tools to change a tire. A rear locker is a plus, but not required.

Rick

Hmmm, so my painfully stock OR tacoma would be iffy. Hoping to get a lift soon enough but I dont think I'll have it by the time this run comes around.

[pray4surf]

Originally Posted by sgmartz

Hmmm, so my painfully stock OR tacoma would be iffy. Hoping to get a lift soon enough but I dont think I'll have it by the time this run comes around.

But only for the 'hard' runs...

Last year, I led the 'Easy' run. I was the only 4WD vehicle in the group. The rest were 2WD's; a mild Tundra, a bone-stock 4Runner and a couple of others in between them.

The Anza-Borrego run is a perfect opportunity to come on out, meet your imaginary Internet friends and have a little fun with your truck - whether it is bone-stock or highly modified - there is something for everyone...

[SAR_Squid79]

I would say that 85% of the places in Anza Borrego are totally doable for a stock Tacoma 4WD with good tires.

If you have sliders, you'll be good for 100% of Anza Borrego.

A locked PreRunner with a lift, tires, and sliders will be good for 90% of AB. A bone stock PreRunner would still be able to do 85% of the trails without much problem.

I think a locked PreRunner would be able to make it up Coyote Canyon, and Coyote Canyon is pretty awesome - but as Rick said - that is still pretty far from the trail systems that we would be running.

Originally Posted by pray4surf

Shall we take him up on the offer?

I would say so!

...I would like to do the "HARD" run this year, though. Maybe the Ranger tour on Sunday?

[pray4surf]

Originally Posted by SAR_Squid79

I think a locked PreRunner would be able to make it up Coyote Canyon, and Coyote Canyon is pretty awesome - but as Rick said - that is still pretty far from the trail systems that we would be running.

I tried to get into Coyote Canyon before I added the front drivetrain to my truck. I made it about 80% of the way up the rocky climb before I got stuck and needed a tug. Of course, this was before the rangers came along and crushed some of the bigger rocks into smaller ones...

Depending on the turnout of particpants, the "Easy" group may want to take a look at attempting this trail. It is only this one short rocky section that nearly requires 4WD - and the rest is pretty cool with water crossings and some beautiful scenery up in the upper reaches of the canyon.

I'd hate to specify this location as the Camping/Drivers Meeting location because of this one rocky section....

[roastbeef]

you guys mind if a nissan comes?

[SAR_Squid79]

...great - next there'll be Jeeps wanting to come too!








J/K! I hold no official position in SoCal TTORA anymore, but I say "the more the merrier". If your Nissan wants to come, you're more than welcome.

[Pikeman]

I did Tierra Del Sol last year in a completely stock 98 4Runner with All Season tires and open diffs. It is held in basically the same area and I was fine. I am not familiar enough with the names of the trails to say wether they are the same but it is a fun area with somethign for everyone. If I am not on duty that weekend I will try to attend.

[BrandonH]

Of course your welcome to come mike!!!!

[sparky]

Originally Posted by pray4surf

. . . . Last year, I led the 'Easy' run. I was the only 4WD vehicle in the group. The rest were 2WD's; a mild Tundra, a bone-stock 4Runner and a couple of others in between them.

The Anza-Borrego run is a perfect opportunity to come on out, meet your imaginary Internet friends and have a little fun with your truck - whether it is bone-stock or highly modified - there is something for everyone...

I'll be prepped and ready for this run. I have no issue leading the 'Easy' runs if you need a volunteer. Though, the only time I've been to Anza was earlier this year for our "Expo run". I'm map savy and have a Garmin gps. Rick, if you can get a "run" list, I'll be glad to take a trail-leader position. And if the group wants to try Coyote, neither I nor my truck have a problem helping anybody up that obstacle.

And if not, I'm still going!

[Wgasa84]

bump for Anza Borrego. This is one of my favorite areas to explore. Easy wheelin', great views, and it's a huge area!

[mangus7175]

If there are other 2WD's coming along I would like to come...had fun last year

Fish Creek looks to be a good area to camp.

[d33pt]

I'm in for this trip. The ranger guided trip sounds really cool too. Anyone want to do some mud cave exploring?

[Scuba]

I should be down to be out there that weekend.
We will see.

[roastbeef]

anyone else interested in checking out the trestle? i was looking on google earth, and it seems like we could drive up a wash and get pretty close to it if we head south down the wash. we would be below it, but at least we could get to see it.
hiking to it from the south side would put us above it, but its quite a hike, and i'm lazy.

[MonkeyProof]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

anyone else interested in checking out the trestle? i was looking on google earth, and it seems like we could drive up a wash and get pretty close to it if we head south down the wash. we would be below it, but at least we could get to see it.
hiking to it from the south side would put us above it, but its quite a hike, and i'm lazy.

isn't the hike around 3 miles? i don't think it's an established hiking trail either to the tressle.

[Scuba]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

anyone else interested in checking out the trestle? i was looking on google earth, and it seems like we could drive up a wash and get pretty close to it if we head south down the wash. we would be below it, but at least we could get to see it.
hiking to it from the south side would put us above it, but its quite a hike, and i'm lazy.

IDEK WTF a trestle is..

[LBPtaco]

Originally Posted by SAR_Squid79

I think a locked PreRunner would be able to make it up Coyote Canyon, and Coyote Canyon is pretty awesome

my prerunner has made it up coyote canyon a couple times, and yes, it is awesome!

[LBPtaco]

Originally Posted by MonkeyProof

isn't the hike around 3 miles? i don't think it's an established hiking trail either to the tressle.

ive heard its closer to 5 miles, but would be really cool to see in person!

[ShowStop]

Some friends of mine are planning a trip to the trestle bridge in Feb 2010. Here are the basic details:

The Goat Canyon Trestle is the highest curved wooden railroad trestle ever built. It is 186 feet high and 630 feet long. It was needed for the San Diego and Arizona Eastern Railroad, and was one of 21 major trestles (plus 16 major tunnels) on that line. Construction on the railroad started before World War I, and finished in 1919, at a cost about $18 million Dollars. After some tunnels collapsed they decided to reroute the road slightly, and the Goat Canyon Trestle was built in 1932--the objective being shorter tunnels and a longer trestle.



It is reached by hiking in from the nearest 4x4-access at Mortero Canyon trailhead, which is a 6.7 mile drive from pavement.

There are two options for the hike.

Option A, you can hike to where you can see and photograph the trestle from about 300 yards away. This is 5 mile hike (round trip) that is said to take 5 to 6 hours. The altitude starts at about 2,000', you climb to about 3,200', and then descend to about 2700'.

Option B, you can continue to hike to the actual trestle. This adds a mile and an hour or two. This involves significant rock scrambling and is more strenuous than the initial part of the hike. The trestle is about 2,400' elevation, and the last half-mile appears to be a definite challenge. Upon arriving at the trestle, there are also tunnels (including abandoned, caved-in tunnels) which might be explored by the brave.

A couple of relevant websites:

http://www.tradboy.com/hiking/goatcanyon/logistics.htm

http://www.stowell.org/trestle2000/traveloguemain.htm