The past weekend I ventured south to the Anza-Borrego Desert. This arid location lies well east of San Diego and covers a large area from Interstate 8 up to the areas west of the Salton Sea. This area, like Moab, was created from huge expanses of ancient seas now connected by the Colorado River.
Last year VegasMatt, another Matt, and I were guided by FJ Ollie and tailgunner FrogEye through Canyon Sin Nobre, the Diablo area, and Split Rock.
Coverage of this trip can be found here -
http://www.clubtouareg.com/forums/f66/anza-borrego-southern-california-november-22-a-20437.html
Both FJ Ollie and FrogEye have very well-built rigs, as do many in the Outdoor Adventure USA group. OAUSA is not vehicle specific - there are many Jeeps, Hummers, even some other Touaregs have joined their adventures. However one look around and you'll notice a definite bias to FJ Cruisers.
This trip was centered on BorregoFest, OAUSA's annual weekend in the desert. About 30-40 rigs were out there on several trails throughout the region - from Truckhaven to Coyote Canyon to a guided trip to the the mines near Julian CA.
I chose the Carrizo Mountain - Painted Gorge run. This area was in and around the community of Ocotillo CA, just off Interstate 8 very close to the Mexican border. The desert floor was near or below sea level, with the peak at 2400'. We would climb over 2000' to park just a short hike to the top. On our way there, we would travel through Painted Gorge.
The trek up Carrizo Mountain - wow - put foot-size boulders and talus and steps along an unforgivng shelf road with 2000' drops and the sensory overload is intense! There were places that were very narrow, with the Touareg hugging the wall. And there was plenty of air-lift action as I switched from Offroad to Xtra to get over boulders, and just soon enough back to Offroad to lower the center of gravity.
Views from the top - spectacular! From the top one could see across the desert east to the Salton Sea, or south to Mexico. Closer, we could see the extreme switchbacks of Cliffhanger trail, a super-narrow steep switchback look that our trailboss BorregoWrangler and FJ Ollie had run this past summer... for experienced offroaders who play on Mesa cliffs and eat up Black Bear, this was an ultimate. We were not going to play there.
Back down, we played in an OHV Sand area with big dune hills, then lunch under a wooden bridge. Then back on the old road 80, quickly disentegrating into a trail that follows the right-of-way of the old San Diego and Eastern. This trail is Dos Cabezas and it leads high into the hills loosely following the SD & E into Carrizo Canyon. Crossing the tracks twice, we completed the trail at a steep drop-off at Norito Wash.
Later in the evening after potluck dinner and a raffle, a dozen vehicles ventured up Rodriguez Canyon. Lots of rock in parts.. Quite fun in the dark.
Photos - First the Adventure
![Image]()
Painted Gorge
![Image]()
Lower section of Carrizo Mountain ascent.
![Image]()
Rocky Shelf road
![Image]()
Look to the right - it is a long way down!
![Image]()
Summit
![Image]()
Cliffhanger Trail as viewed from the Summit
![Image]()
The desert to the east
![Image]()
Our trail boss leads the way down.
![Image]()
Stay ON THE TRAIL!!!
Last year VegasMatt, another Matt, and I were guided by FJ Ollie and tailgunner FrogEye through Canyon Sin Nobre, the Diablo area, and Split Rock.
Coverage of this trip can be found here -
http://www.clubtouareg.com/forums/f66/anza-borrego-southern-california-november-22-a-20437.html
Both FJ Ollie and FrogEye have very well-built rigs, as do many in the Outdoor Adventure USA group. OAUSA is not vehicle specific - there are many Jeeps, Hummers, even some other Touaregs have joined their adventures. However one look around and you'll notice a definite bias to FJ Cruisers.
This trip was centered on BorregoFest, OAUSA's annual weekend in the desert. About 30-40 rigs were out there on several trails throughout the region - from Truckhaven to Coyote Canyon to a guided trip to the the mines near Julian CA.
I chose the Carrizo Mountain - Painted Gorge run. This area was in and around the community of Ocotillo CA, just off Interstate 8 very close to the Mexican border. The desert floor was near or below sea level, with the peak at 2400'. We would climb over 2000' to park just a short hike to the top. On our way there, we would travel through Painted Gorge.
The trek up Carrizo Mountain - wow - put foot-size boulders and talus and steps along an unforgivng shelf road with 2000' drops and the sensory overload is intense! There were places that were very narrow, with the Touareg hugging the wall. And there was plenty of air-lift action as I switched from Offroad to Xtra to get over boulders, and just soon enough back to Offroad to lower the center of gravity.
Views from the top - spectacular! From the top one could see across the desert east to the Salton Sea, or south to Mexico. Closer, we could see the extreme switchbacks of Cliffhanger trail, a super-narrow steep switchback look that our trailboss BorregoWrangler and FJ Ollie had run this past summer... for experienced offroaders who play on Mesa cliffs and eat up Black Bear, this was an ultimate. We were not going to play there.
Back down, we played in an OHV Sand area with big dune hills, then lunch under a wooden bridge. Then back on the old road 80, quickly disentegrating into a trail that follows the right-of-way of the old San Diego and Eastern. This trail is Dos Cabezas and it leads high into the hills loosely following the SD & E into Carrizo Canyon. Crossing the tracks twice, we completed the trail at a steep drop-off at Norito Wash.
Later in the evening after potluck dinner and a raffle, a dozen vehicles ventured up Rodriguez Canyon. Lots of rock in parts.. Quite fun in the dark.
Photos - First the Adventure
Painted Gorge
Lower section of Carrizo Mountain ascent.
Rocky Shelf road
Look to the right - it is a long way down!
Summit
Cliffhanger Trail as viewed from the Summit
The desert to the east
Our trail boss leads the way down.
Stay ON THE TRAIL!!!
