SoCal 200-series BLM Camp Invite Mar 1-3 (1 Viewer)

[TeCKis300]

Several SoCal locals have been throwing around the idea of a weekend LC BLM Camping trip. Here's my attempt to get one together. I know there's a separate forum for this, but hopefully the mods will be kind enough to leave this in the 200-series area a few days for visibility.

PM me your email and cell number to RSVP

What: Family friendly BLM primative camping and off-roading​

When: March 1-3, Friday evening through Sunday morning
Where: Overland Camping in Anza Borrego
Who: Anyone is welcome but preferably those with a meaningful 200-series connection here. Kids and family welcome. Stock LCs are fine. AWD passenger vehicles may not have enough clearance.
Weather - 65° hi / 45° lo, light winds - Borrego Springs, CA Weather Conditions | Weather Underground - https://www.wunderground.com/weather/us/ca/borrego-springs/KCABORRE80

Itinerary​

Friday, Mar 1
Waypoint 1 - 4:15P, depart 4:30	Don's Market / Julian Pie Company	Groceries, food, supplies. Fuel across street
Waypoint 2, Trailhead - 5:45P, depart 6:00	Mud Caves On S2 Turnoff	Air down at S2 Turnoff trailhead
Waypoint 3, Campsite A - 6:30P	32°53'36.4"N 116°09'47.9"W - https://maps.app.goo.gl/cjxxrWqTpmVhZFLt5	Elevated site above Arroyo Seco Del Diablo
Waypoint 3alt, Backup Campsite	Hollywood-Vine Campsite · California - https://maps.app.goo.gl/D4S1wsgaguTEXKuv8	Backup if Campsite A is occupied
Saturday, Mar 2
Depart campsite 10:00A
To Sin Nombre Canyon	Sin Nombre Canyon · California - https://maps.app.goo.gl/yHfDFLHWHZWGHuneA
To Great Southern Overland Stage Route	32°52'37.6"N 116°12'24.7"W - https://maps.app.goo.gl/wZTCTnkGdnvhHuPU7
Waypoint 4, Mud Caves 11:00, depart 11:30A	Arroyo Tapiado Mud Caves	Short peek/hike into Arroyo Tapiado Mud Caves
Waypoint 5, Diablo Dropoff - 12:30P, depart 2:00P	Diablo Drop Off	Lunch and Play on different lines
Waypoint 6, Sandstone Canyon - 3:00P, depart 4:00P	Sandstone Canyon	Run Sandstone
Waypoint 7, Campsite B - 5:00P	33°00'14.9"N 116°14'22.2"W - https://maps.app.goo.gl/jNgF2Ltgvsn4AXoC8	North end of Fish Creek
Sunday, Mar 3
Depart campsite - 9:30A
Waypoint 8, Windcaves -10:30A, depart 11:30A	Wind Caves Trailhead · 32°59'28.0"N 116°06'45., 2nd, Julian, CA 92036 - https://maps.app.goo.gl/c6y5wHZfymeCUPDv8	Run Fish Creek, Windcaves half mile hike from wash
Leave towards Ocotillo Wells, 12:30P	Ocotillo Wells · California 92004 - https://maps.app.goo.gl/XP4xS7KJ4H6aS4pd6	Finish Fish Creek and exit area

Notes

• Will setup a shared document for contact info and detailed coordination
• This is primative overland camping, no water, no toilets.
• Cold nights, expect lows in the 40°F, possibly medium winds Sat.
• Tent camping is possible but highly recommend car or RTT camping
• Get this radio for group comms - https://www.amazon.com/BAOFENG-Portable-Rechargeable-Handheld-Black-1Pack/dp/B07VVG726G
• Cell reception is spotty. Trailhead has cell reception. Trails and campsites have no to little cell reception

Interested Parties​

1. @Tighe
2. @gluaisrothai
3. @ty240 , possibly +few friends
4. @LC Mike

Map​

 

[DesmoPilot]

Interested

 

[Tighe]

I’m in. Stock LX on 33’s.

My brother is possibly in as well. Stock 100 on 33’s.

 

[TeCKis300]

Cool! I've got a buddy with a 100-series that may join as well.

Feel free to reach out to others in the community. If we can get a handful of people, that would be fun.

 

[CreeperSleeper]

I might be able to make a blitz trip for this... If you are okay with a web-foot PNW guy joining. LOL!

 

[RET2]

Very interested.

 

[elcajon]

I am in for Saturday and Sunday …

 

[teejnut]

I'm interested, I have to see about my kid's soccer schedule though.

 

[TeCKis300]

Very cool. Should be a good size group. Now that we have a date, we're spinning some ideas for location.

Looking at the Anza Borrego Fish Creek was region. There's some really cool features - Diablo Dropoff, Sandstone canyon, Fish Creek wash, wind caves, mud caves.

I might be able to make a blitz trip for this... If you are okay with a web-foot PNW guy joining. LOL!

PNW is such a lush gorgeous area. If you're interested in arid landscapes, it'd be awesome to have you join us.

 

[ryanCA]

interested

 

[gluaisrothai]

Interested! I have been looking for an excuse to explore SoCal.

 

[ty240]

Interested! May have a couple friends that would join as well.

 

[TeCKis300]

Looking to be a healthy turnout. Added planning detail to the first post.

SoCal 200-series BLM Camp Invite Mar 1-3

Several SoCal locals have been throwing around the idea of a weekend LC BLM Camping trip. Here's my attempt to get one together. I know there's a separate forum for this, but hopefully the mods will be kind enough to leave this in the 200-series area a few days for visibility. PM me your email...

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[sdnative]

Not trying to be a downer here, but technically Diablo Dropoff is one-way (down).

https://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/638/files/abdsp_Park_Map201704.pdf

There have been a lot of people that ignore that and tear up the hill and create new paths. Please consider this when planning a large camp spot where the temptation will be to tackle the steepest hill (witnessed it first-hand many times), or take a shortcut up the dropoff instead of the long way around.

I don't recall there being a large area up there on the mesa suitable for a large number of vehicles? I can imagine people driving off of the established roads to find parking or places to set up camp.

Surely there are better areas for a large group? Maybe fish creek primitive camp, or the BLM area by the train tracks? Have fun and enjoy yourself, but be a good example and not part of the problem.

 

[TeCKis300]

Not trying to be a downer here, but technically Diablo Dropoff is one-way (down).

https://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/638/files/abdsp_Park_Map201704.pdf

There have been a lot of people that ignore that and tear up the hill and create new paths. Please consider this when planning a large camp spot where the temptation will be to tackle the steepest hill (witnessed it first-hand many times), or take a shortcut up the dropoff instead of the long way around.

I don't recall there being a large area up there on the mesa suitable for a large number of vehicles? I can imagine people driving off of the established roads to find parking or places to set up camp.

Surely there are better areas for a large group? Maybe fish creek primitive camp, or the BLM area by the train tracks? Have fun and enjoy yourself, but be a good example and not part of the problem.

Thank you. I think that's a fair comment. Things have changed over the years and there's at least one major bypass that people use to go up. Still, with a potentially large group, this deserves a re-think. Fish Creek Primitive camp is actually a really good idea.

 

[sdnative]

I appreciate the consideration and not blowing it off. Things may have changed recently I don't know. May be worth a call to the park HQ? That area is in the park and not BLM. I have seen fairly large groups along other parts of Fish Creek wash around Split Mtn and further in as well.

I freely admit I have gone up the dropoff a few times to avoid going all the way around, but we should obey the rules, tread lightly, and police ourselves to try to avoid getting access to our public lands shut down. Carry on

 

[TeCKis300]

I appreciate the consideration and not blowing it off. Things may have changed recently I don't know. May be worth a call to the park HQ? That area is in the park and not BLM. I have seen fairly large groups along other parts of Fish Creek wash around Split Mtn and further in as well.

I freely admit I have gone up the dropoff a few times to avoid going all the way around, but we should obey the rules, tread lightly, and police ourselves to try to avoid getting access to our public lands shut down. Carry on

Reached out to a couple people. One talked directly to a ranger a few weeks ago and they are not deterring nor concerned by people going up Diablo. When you got factory Rivian teams going up, I guess it is what it is. I've probably been there 5 times in the past few years and there's now 4 lines, with a 5th bypass. The more recent rains have carved out quite the obstacles. People tend to congregating there to watch and play on the different lines.

There's a large campsite a couple hundred yards just south of Diablo which has a great view and is an awesome spot. Close enough to the fun, but far enough away. The camp spot is worth the trip alone.

 

[sdnative]

Wow things have changed quite a bit it seems. Good to know. Props to you for making the call, much appreciated.

Last time I was there was around two years ago I think. I was surprised to see all the new lines that were made. There were a bunch of guys in Raptors and other trucks going up every which way engines reving trying to make it all the way to the top. Kind of stuff I would expect to see in the OHV area. It was concerning to say the least.

 

[Tighe]

I was looking at this area on Google Maps today and it's actually documented with Street View. Images are from this month (Jan 2024) as well. Looks like the Rubicon made it down no prob!

Link to Street View of DDO.

A lot of the area actually has Street View or Photo Spheres available.

 

[aptos]

Also interested, if I can make it down from Santa Cruz for the weekend