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I had a great time today. We started the trail with four Jeeps. Materdaddy, Commando Man, Skittles, and Me. We explored all of the canyons we set out for and a few more too. Our day started at 8:30 am at the Carrizo Badlands Overlook. We aired down and started our trek thru Canyon Sin Nombre. Although the canyon was short it was very impressive. We spotted a few spots that looked perfect for setting up a base camp for a weekend of exploring.
When we came out of Canyon Sin Nombre we headed up Carrizo Creek. This was an unintentional side trip but I think we were all glad for it. The creek was barely flowing but it was enough to get some mud on our Jeeps. Which is great in these tough economic times. I am going to save some money this week on spray on mud for my mall crawler. We followed the creek bed all the way to the Carrizo Impact Area. It was at this point we realized exactly where we were. We turn around and made one more trip thru the muddy trail. On the way out we advised a f-150 with street tires it would be best not to try it alone. Who knows if he listened.
We headed up Arroyo Seco Del Diablo next. And we only overshot the Diablo Drop off by 4-5 miles. We found some cool camp spots but not much else. The first drop required lots of flex but was otherwise very manageable. About 150 yards down the trail we found the second drop. We all did a great job making it down the second drop and thru "Broken Shaft Gulch". Although these were the hardest obstacles we faced all day I think we all could have managed going up the drop off despite the trails one way markings on the map. I think the markings are sugested to keep the trail from getting too rutted. The upper drop off was very sandy and I could imagine digging some deep holes trying to get up. "Broken Shaft Gulch" was the only 4low section of the day. After we made it thru we stopped and ate some lunch at it's intersection with Fish Creek.
Fish Creek was the interstate highway of the Carizo Badlands. We saw more people here then we did the entire rest of the day. And it is no mystery why. It is an amazing place. The beauty of the geology is something that I will associate with Anza Borrego forever. There are only so many places like this in the world. I wonder how few people take time to came and enjoy places like this.
After stopping a few times to marvel we came out of Fish Creek to Split Mountain Road. We aired up our tires and headed home. At Highway 78 we split up and Mary headed east to the 86 and we headed west to Julian. We of course stopped for pie. After our short pie stop I came out to find my Jeep seemingly without a single volt of power. My volt meter was inconveniently out of power also. My jumper box was fully charged but made no difference when hooked up. We hooked up some jumper cables and still nothing. After looking thru some fuses and finding none missing my Jeep somehow regained power? After it was running again we headed down the hill from Julian. On the drive home I noticed that my dash volt meter was reading below 12 volts. I figured out that as soon as I turned the heater off it would jump back up to 14 volts. So I have a short in my hater blower motor it would seem. After I got home I noticed a splash guard behind my right front fender was no longer attached. I figure I was a little over zealous driving thru some of the puddles in upper Carrizo Creek. Some water must have splashed onto my heater blower motor. The motor sticks thru the fire wall about six inches from where my splash guard is supposed to be. Lesson learend, those spach guards are useful, and also take it slow thru the puddles. In true Jeep fashion I just happen to have a spare heater box in the garage.
When we came out of Canyon Sin Nombre we headed up Carrizo Creek. This was an unintentional side trip but I think we were all glad for it. The creek was barely flowing but it was enough to get some mud on our Jeeps. Which is great in these tough economic times. I am going to save some money this week on spray on mud for my mall crawler. We followed the creek bed all the way to the Carrizo Impact Area. It was at this point we realized exactly where we were. We turn around and made one more trip thru the muddy trail. On the way out we advised a f-150 with street tires it would be best not to try it alone. Who knows if he listened.
We headed up Arroyo Seco Del Diablo next. And we only overshot the Diablo Drop off by 4-5 miles. We found some cool camp spots but not much else. The first drop required lots of flex but was otherwise very manageable. About 150 yards down the trail we found the second drop. We all did a great job making it down the second drop and thru "Broken Shaft Gulch". Although these were the hardest obstacles we faced all day I think we all could have managed going up the drop off despite the trails one way markings on the map. I think the markings are sugested to keep the trail from getting too rutted. The upper drop off was very sandy and I could imagine digging some deep holes trying to get up. "Broken Shaft Gulch" was the only 4low section of the day. After we made it thru we stopped and ate some lunch at it's intersection with Fish Creek.
Fish Creek was the interstate highway of the Carizo Badlands. We saw more people here then we did the entire rest of the day. And it is no mystery why. It is an amazing place. The beauty of the geology is something that I will associate with Anza Borrego forever. There are only so many places like this in the world. I wonder how few people take time to came and enjoy places like this.
After stopping a few times to marvel we came out of Fish Creek to Split Mountain Road. We aired up our tires and headed home. At Highway 78 we split up and Mary headed east to the 86 and we headed west to Julian. We of course stopped for pie. After our short pie stop I came out to find my Jeep seemingly without a single volt of power. My volt meter was inconveniently out of power also. My jumper box was fully charged but made no difference when hooked up. We hooked up some jumper cables and still nothing. After looking thru some fuses and finding none missing my Jeep somehow regained power? After it was running again we headed down the hill from Julian. On the drive home I noticed that my dash volt meter was reading below 12 volts. I figured out that as soon as I turned the heater off it would jump back up to 14 volts. So I have a short in my hater blower motor it would seem. After I got home I noticed a splash guard behind my right front fender was no longer attached. I figure I was a little over zealous driving thru some of the puddles in upper Carrizo Creek. Some water must have splashed onto my heater blower motor. The motor sticks thru the fire wall about six inches from where my splash guard is supposed to be. Lesson learend, those spach guards are useful, and also take it slow thru the puddles. In true Jeep fashion I just happen to have a spare heater box in the garage.
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